Research

 

Strategic interaction between firms
The complexity of production in modern international business requires interaction among firms for their development and growth. Prof. Contractor studies alliances and governance of firms, finding the reason of firms' cooperation and choices and determinants of alliance. Prof. Cantwell researches on subsidiary business network embeddedness, such as MNC subsidiaries develop and embed in local knowledge sourcing networks, competence-creating activities instead of competence-exploiting, and patterns of technology creation in MNCs.


Strategic interaction between firms and their environment

On the one hand firm’s environments (economical, industrial, technological, natural) influences firm strategy; on the other hand these environments can be changed by firm activities. Prof. Contractor does research on outsourcing/offshoring and government policy. These research attempt to find out the determinants of firms’ choices of outsourcing/offshoring, firm’s internationality and performances, and the influence of government policy on FDI flows. Prof. Christmann is interested in natural environment and standards in MNCs. She studies on MNC strategy responsiveness to host country pressures,standard-based management (ISO 9000), self-regulation, and the social aspect of supply chain issue. Prof. Gaur undertakes research on Japanese MNC management, focusing on host country institution and mode of entry.

Institutional change and firm strategy (emerging markets)

Emerging markets are going through institutional changes that largely affects the investment environment for MNCs. Prof. Contractor studies changes and individualism of Indian MNCs. Prof. Christmann researches standard setting and emerging economy, such as ISO9000 in China , and regulatory uncertainty and enforcement in Mexico. Prof. Gaur's research here is on institutional transition and firms, especially government policy influences on emerging firms (China and India), and Institutional change, firm strategy, and performance. Prof. Chen make a comparative study between Individualism and collectivism in Indian firms.

Technological change and MNCs

Technological change captures the process from technological invention to innovation. Prof. Contractor's research interest here is focused on evaluation of intangible assets and share of value captured by alliance partners. Prof. Cantwell conducts investigation on international innovation network, technological change as a cumulative process with the development of industries and internationalization, virtuous cycle between foreign subsidiary and local company, and technological diversification and international specialization. Prof. Christmann does research on quality standards in tech. implementation, such as development of competing standards.

Geographic location and cross-country variations

Geographical location and culture differences influence firm’s technological strategy and individual behaviors.Prof. Chen's research goes on national identity and cultural distance, investigating cross-cultural comparison in individualism/collectivism, univeralism/particularism, country difference of personal relationship and decision making, culture difference and trust, and culture differences and behavior between expatriates and local employee. Prof. Cantwell researches on cross-border locational hierarchies, emphasizing on local geography of the corporate organization of innovation and cross-border connections between major industrial centers through internationally integrated networks. Prof. Gittelman's study is concetrated on national differences in career paths of scientists, such as combining human capital and organizational capabilities and career mobility of scientists between US and France.