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AIB 2012 Annual Meeting 
Washington, DC, USA
June 30-July 3, 2012



Call For Papers


Theme: Rethinking the Roles of Business, Government and NGOs in the Global
Economy

Submission Deadline: Monday, January 16th, 2012

Program Chair: Susan Feinberg, Rutgers/Temple University

 

In industrialized and emerging economies, institutional capacity has become
strained. As a result, the roles of business, government and NGOs have
changed dramatically. In advanced economies, reeling from slow growth and
aging populations, governments increasingly depend upon business to
stimulate economic growth and NGOs to provide services governments can no
longer afford. The push and pull of global and domestic priorities in
business-government relations has intensified. Governments in industrialized
countries increasingly rely on foreign inflows of capital and incoming FDI
while at the same time they pressure domestic firms to locate activity
domestically and boost exports. In contrast, rapid economic growth and
increasing complexity has strained the capacity of existing institutions in
emerging economies. To relieve pressure on these institutions, emerging
economies have implemented far-reaching regulatory and trade reforms and
privatized state-owned enterprises. As new professional bureaucracies are
established to administer the reformed rules, traditional ways in which
business and government interact to further their individual and shared
interests are in flux. As both industrialized and emerging countries compete
to lure capital and technology, stimulate innovation and boost exports, the
institutional environment of business has emerged as powerful element of
global competition.

The aim of the Washington, DC conference is to enhance our understanding of
the roles and relationships between business, government and NGOs in the
global economy. Have changing economic conditions altered the dynamics of
these relationships? Has the balance of power between domestic governments
and multinational firms changed? Do our existing theories still apply? Has
increasing NGO participation in traditional government functions changed
NGO-business relations? How do firms plan and execute long-term strategies
in environments characterized by sweeping institutional change?

The big questions in global business-government-NGO relations require us to
examine the actions and motivations of participants at all levels of
analysis using diverse disciplinary and interdisciplinary lenses. The
challenge for the Academy is to advance our knowledge of these issues
through rigorous theoretical and empirical analyses that are relevant to
policy-makers and managers. As IB scholars drawing insights from different
disciplines, we can all inform the policy debate. See you in DC!


 


Paper And Panel Submissions


Paper and panel submissions for AIB 2012 need to be categorized into one of
eleven topical tracks. Each paper or panel proposal must be submitted to
only one track. Please select the track closest to your proposal from the
list below.All single country studies must focus on IB-relevant topics such
as MNCs, international institutions, trade, global value chains, etc.

1. Institutions, Governance, and CSR
Track chair: Paul Vaaler, University of Minnesota  <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
[log in to unmask]

This track invites manuscripts that examine how institutions influence the
behavior of MNCs, domestic firms and managers and how the behaviors of these
actors, in turn, shape the institutional environment. Papers on global or
comparative aspects of corporate governance and CSR are also within the
domain of this track. Papers using diverse theoretical lenses that focus on
a variety of levels of analysis- individual, firm, industry, regional,
country and global-are encouraged. We are especially interested in studies
that examine change and adoption of new practices in a changing environment.
Papers that explore the interaction between (a subset of) MNCs, domestic
firms, governments and NGOs are of particular interest. Relevant
institutional characteristics include both formal and informal rules such as
law, culture, and institutional norms that shape actions of firms and
individuals or firms and governments/NGOs; governance characteristics might
include the rights, responsibilities, and interests of different types of
shareholders and stakeholders and the relationships among those actors; and
CSR characteristics might include firms' and individuals' actions that might
lead to positive social change beyond the narrow economic, technical and
legal requirements of the firm. Finally, consistent with the conference
theme, we encourage submissions that address how firms interact with
institutions, governments and NGOs to achieve both individually and
collectively desirable outcomes. We welcome submissions that examine how
changes in the economic and institutional environments in developed and
emerging economies affect traditional patterns of firm-state-NGO
interactions.

Keywords: Political aspects of MNC activity; Sovereignty; Business and
society; Business and the environment; Business-government interaction;
Corporate political strategy; Political Aspects of MNE activity; Political
Strategies; Civil society; Global institutions; Transnational institutions;
NGOs; International legal domain; Regulation of MNC; Global market
integration; MNCs' bargaining power; MNE-host country relations;
Globalization; Political systems; History and IB; Legal systems; Financial
markets; Country risk; Stakeholder capitalism; Varieties of capitalism;
Business systems; Comparative Economic Systems; Shareholder categories;
Governance structure; Directorship interlocks; Upper echelons perspective;
Accountability; Transparency; Top management teams; Voting rights;
Sustainability; Triple bottom line; Environment and strategy; Green
management; White collar-crime; Corporate corruption; Corporate values;
Bottom of the pyramid; Ethics and codes of conduct.

 

2. International Marketing Management and Supply Chain
Track chair: Saeed Samiee, University of Tulsa
<mailto:[log in to unmask]> [log in to unmask]

This track addresses challenges faced in managing global marketing and
supply chain functions. Contributions focusing on any aspect of the way
marketing or supply chain managers are affected by risk or uncertainty in
the international marketplace are welcome; work offering important
conceptual and empirical insights into the nature and processes of
cross-border marketing is of special interest. Mainstream marketing issues
such as segmentation, product positioning, channel development, and pricing
are also encouraged. We are particularly interested in papers that examine
the impact of institutional, political and regulatory factors on marketing
and supply chain management issues, and the effects of institutional change
on marketing and supply chain processes.

Keywords: Market orientation; Branding; Advertisement; New product
development; Global logistics; Cross-border marketing activities;
Multinational marketing operations; Operations management; Buyer behavior;
Buyer-Supplier relations; Global supply chain management

 

3. IB Theory, FDI, and Entry Mode
Track chair: Bennet Zelner, University of Maryland
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Volatility and interconnectedness in the global economic and institutional
environment create new challenges for theories of multinational enterprises
(MNEs) and foreign direct investment (FDI). Do environmental volatility and
institutional change affect the explanatory power of theories of FDI and the
MNE? This track invites papers that explore various aspects of the MNE and
FDI, including motivations for undertaking investment, drivers and
determinants of location choices and entry mode decisions, and issues
pertaining to how MNC headquarters and affiliates interact with and effect
host-country firms, governments and institutional environments. Papers in
this track include studies of FDI spillovers and other local linkages. This
track invites papers that explore the nature of MNE decision making and
strategies in uncertain economic, political and institutional contexts.

Keywords: Adaptation to local contexts; Entry mode/Entry strategy; Global
networks of operations; Institutional perspectives on FDI; Interactions
between foreign-owned and indigenous firms; Internalization theory;
Internationalization processes; Knowledge and productivity spillovers;
Liabilities of foreignness; Local linkages; Location of FDI; Location
strategy; Institutional Change and MNE theory; Institutional Change and FDI;
MNEs and local economic development; Real options perspectives on FDI;
Resource-based perspectives of FDI; Ownership-Location-Internalization
paradigm; Uncertainty in decision making and strategy.

 

4. Global Strategy, Alliances, and Competitiveness
Track chair: Jaeyong Song, Seoul National University
<mailto:[log in to unmask]> [log in to unmask]

This track invites conceptual and empirical papers that deal with firms'
global strategies and alliances and their impact on competitiveness. Firms
must determine optimal entry strategies to successfully enter a foreign
market. Firms can choose among many strategies - for example international,
multidomestic, global, and transnational strategies - and the right
selection will enable them to efficiently use their resources to enhance
corporate performance. We encourage papers that examine the relationship
between global strategies and how these relate to institutional or economic
changes in home and host countries. Papers that examine how regulatory or
political environments and institutional and political risk affect global
strategy choice are encouraged. An important aspect of global strategy is to
examine the role of alliances both formal and informal in increasing MNE
competitiveness. How does the alliance strategy fit within the overall
strategy of the firm and how do institutional and industry characteristics
affect the attractiveness of alliances? Finally, to what extent do
parent-subsidiary relationships help MNEs to formulate and implement
effective strategies that would strengthen their performance?

Keywords:Global/Multidomestic/International/Transnational Strategies;
International alliance; International joint ventures and alliances;
Inter-firm linkage; Social capital; Parent-subsidiary relationships;
Performance; Competitiveness.

 

5. MNC Management and Organization
Track chair: Charles Dhanaraj, Indiana University
<mailto:[log in to unmask]> [log in to unmask]

Theoretical insights from international business research on MNCs have
contributed to our understanding of relationships between structure,
systems, culture, strategy, and firm performance. IB research on managing
across multiple institutional and cultural environments also contributes
significantly to management theory and practice. This track seeks to extend
existing research by exploring new ways in which MNCs configure themselves
internally and externally, using virtual teams, networks and other novel
organizing frameworks, across geographic locations and organizational
boundaries. How do these organizing frameworks help MNCs manage the
complexity and tensions inherent in their activities, and in turn create
capabilities and competitive advantage? How do these organizing frameworks
affect intrafirm and interfirm innovation and knowledge flows? How are
value-added activities managed within and across organizational boundaries?
Further, in line with the conference theme this year, we are also interested
in how management and organization of the MNCs affects and is affected by
diverse and changing political, economic and institutional environments.

Keywords: Organization; Configuration; Structure; Systems; Culture;
Networks; Teams; Headquarters; Subsidiaries; Knowledge; Knowledge flows;
Heterarchy; Transnational; Metanational; Geographic Location; Regional;
Local embeddedness; Power; Influence; Tension; Autonomy; Control;
Coordination; R&D; Innovation; Learning; Incentives; Capability; Evolution;
Communication.

 

6. Innovation and Knowledge Management
Track chair: Anu Phene, George Washington University
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This track addresses how knowledge is created, transferred, assimilated,
transformed and used. This can occur through the processes of innovation,
learning, Research and Development (R&D), etc. The track will explore MNCs
and internationalizing firms learn, manage knowledge and innovate. Some
examples of topics of interest include: the interactions between global and
local networks for innovation; international networks for knowledge creation
and exchange; the governance mechanisms for knowledge development; transfer
of knowledge and/or organizational practices across borders. We especially
welcome studies that address global knowledge management issues in the
context of diverse and challenging institutional, political and economic
environments.

Keywords: Intra-firm and inter-firm networks for innovation; Innovation in
MNCs; MNCs and global innovation; MNCs and regional innovation systems;
Internationalization of R&D; The role of context in
learning/knowledge/innovation; Exploration vs. exploitation; Organizational
learning in MNCs; Learning in international business networks; Learning
across borders; Learning alliances; Global and local knowledge; Knowledge
seeking; Knowledge search; Knowledge access; Knowledge acquisition;
Knowledge creation; Knowledge sourcing; Knowledge exchange; Knowledge
sharing; Knowledge transfer; Reverse knowledge transfer; Knowledge
governance mechanisms; Knowledge strategies; R&D outsourcing/offshoring

 

7. Doing Business in Emerging Economies
Track chair: Laszlo Tihanyi, Texas A&M University
<mailto:[log in to unmask]> [log in to unmask]

Emerging economies' share of global production is increasing rapidly as
growth in these markets far outpaces that in OECD countries. If present
trends continue, global incomes and living standards could converge as they
did in the late 19th century. This track covers all issues related to doing
business in emerging economies including those at the country level,
industry level, as well as firm and subsidiary levels. We especially
encourage papers that examine institutional aspects of emerging economies
and the challenges these pose for MNCs.

Keywords: FDI and trade to emerging economies; Competitive and comparative
advantages of emerging economies; Economic development and competitiveness
in emerging economies; Competitive strategies of developed economy firms for
emerging economies; Entry strategies for emerging economies; Theory of MNCs
as it relates to emerging economies; Comparison of institutional
environments across emerging economies; SMEs in emerging economies;
Knowledge creation and diffusion in emerging economies; Regional integration
of emerging economies; Performance in emerging economies; Formal and
informal networks in emerging economies; Foreignness and emerging economies;
Corporate governance in emerging economies; Marketing in emerging economies;
Cross-cultural issues in the context of emerging economies; Sustainable
development in emerging economies; Human rights and business in emerging
economies.

 

8. Developing Country Multinational Companies
Track chair: Preet Aulakh, York University
<mailto:[log in to unmask]> [log in to unmask]

The ascendancy of some Developing Country MNCs (DMNCs), e.g. Cemex, to
global industry leadership has been the focus of a growing academic
literature. Some researchers argue that these firms are a new phenomenon
that requires new theories, while others argue that their behavior can be
easily explained with existing theories. This track welcomes studies on
DMNCs that seek to advance our understanding of this phenomenon. Papers
submitted to this track should aim to identify and overcome the limits of
existing theories of the MNC, as they relate to DMNCs. How do diverse DMNC
home countries affect DMNC behavior? We are especially interested in how
home and host country institutional, political and economic environments
affect DMNC strategy and performance.

Keywords: Competitive advantage of DMNCs; Competitive disadvantage of DMNCs;
Competition between DMNCs and advanced economy multinational firms;
Internationalization and entry strategies of DMNCs; Performance of DMNCs;
Structure of DMNCs; Knowledge creation and transfer in DMNCs; Corporate
governance in DMNCs.

 

9. Cross-cultural Management and International HRM
Track chair: Dave Thomas, Simon Fraser University  <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
[log in to unmask]

This track addresses the challenges associated with managing people in
diverse intra- and international environments. We invite submissions from
the fields of international human resource management and cross-cultural
management, including comparative HR and subsidiary HR issues. Papers that
can challenge the prevailing theoretical perspectives in these areas are
particularly welcome. Key topics include the war for talent, cross-national
diversity, intra-national diversity, multicultural work teams, international
assignments, expatriate returnees and HR practices in a global context. The
track welcomes conceptual and empirical papers that draw on international or
cross-cultural data as well as methodological papers that deal with the
innovative use of qualitative research methods in international fieldwork.

Keywords: Bicultural identity; Careers; Cross-cultural management;
Cross-national Diversity; Employment systems; Expatriates; Foreign
assignments; Global mindsets; Global leader competencies; HRM strategies and
practices across countries; Intra-national Diversity; Multicultural work
teams; Qualitative and comparative research method; Emerging global labor
market; War for talent.



10. International Economics, Finance and Accounting
Track chair: Nigel Driffield, Aston University
<mailto:[log in to unmask]> [log in to unmask]

Papers written from a discipline base of Economics, Finance and Accounting
or papers covering issues or topics in International Finance, Accounting,
Taxation (e.g. M&As, valuation, capital flows, transfer pricing, etc.), and
Economics (e.g., international trade, exchange rates, international
political economy, international economic development, etc.) should be sent
to this track. Applied or theoretical economics papers and/or economics
research methods papers should also be sent to this track. Papers that
develop theory or test hypotheses using the theory development tools of
economics and papers on areas of economics such as international trade and
development are appropriate for this track. Papers should address topics
that are inherently international (e.g., MNCs and economic development,
international trade, exchange rates, etc.) or provide substantive
comparisons across countries and not simply non-North American single
country studies.

Keywords: Bailouts; Capital market development; Capital structure;
Comparative accounting systems and practice; Cost of capital; Ownership
structure; Corporate performance; Corporate control; Initial Public
Offerings (IPOs); Cross-border M&As; Institutional investors; Current
account adjustment; Duration models; Econometrics; Economic theory; Exchange
rate exposure; Exchange rates; Exporting/Importing; International
macroeconomics; Financial risk management; Fiscal policy; Foreign portfolio
investment; G8; G20; Game theory; Government intervention; Hedging;
Heterogeneity; International accounting; International asset pricing;
International cross-listing; International economics; International finance
and taxation; International financial integration; International financial
reporting; Economic development; International investment; International
migration; International trade flows; International trade; Mergers and
acquisitions; Monetary policy; Non-linear models; Panel data models; Policy
coordination; Quantitative research methods; Short-term capital movements;
Stimulus packages; Trade and environment; Transfer pricing; WTO.



11. SMEs, Entrepreneurship, and Born Global
Track chair: Patricia McDougall, Indiana University
<mailto:[log in to unmask]> [log in to unmask]

International business long has been dominated by large, well-resourced
multinational enterprises (MNCs). However, large numbers of small and
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are emerging to participate in international
trade, investment, and sourcing. Emergence of international SMEs is
facilitated by globalization, advanced information and communications
technologies, and other trends. Born globals (also known as "international
new ventures") are firms that conduct international business at or near
their founding. The emergence of such businesses is associated with
'international entrepreneurship', which reflects innovative, proactive, and
risk-seeking behaviors that cross national borders and create value in
organizations. International entrepreneurship emphasizes two tendencies: the
growing international role played by young entrepreneurial firms and "born
globals" and the international, entrepreneurial activities of established
firms. Traditional theories of the MNC have emphasized internalization and
advantages characteristic of large, well-established international firms.
Such perspectives may need to be extended or elaborated to account for
widespread internationalization of born globals and other international
SMEs. Papers that examine how differences in institutional, political and
economic environments affect international entrepreneurship by MNCs, born
globals or SMEs are particularly encouraged.

Keywords: International SMEs; Born-global firms; Born globals; International
new ventures; Global start-ups; International entrepreneurship; Early
internationalization; Rapid internationalization; International strategy for
SMEs; Exporting/Importing by SMEs; International SMEs versus large MNEs;
International entrepreneurial orientation; International entrepreneurial
ventures; Globalization and SMEs; Advanced technologies and SMEs.



12. Global Organization and Reconfiguration of Value Creation and Work
Track chair: Ram Mudambi, Temple University  <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
[log in to unmask]

This track invites papers focusing the global dispersion of value creation,
the rise of new centers of economic activity in emerging markets and the
integration of formerly peripheral regions into the global economy. The main
phenomenon of study in this track is the accelerating shift from trade in
goods and services to trade in tasks or activities, resulting in a much
finer international division of labor. This phenomenon underpins many of the
most important trends in the world economy, including the
offshoring/outsourcing of increasingly sophisticated activities to emerging
market economies and the growing dispersal of innovative activities within
MNE networks. This track encompasses research from many fields including
economic geography, international economics, organization and operations
management, location theory and strategy.

Keywords: Economic geography and location; Global value chains; Fine
slicing; Disaggregation of value chains and re-aggregation of value
propositions; Value chain organization and configuration; Offshoring;
Outsourcing; Global production networks; International migration; Diasporas;
Clusters; Intangibles; National and regional innovation systems; Trade in
tasks.

 

Special Track: Teaching International Business
Track chair: David Berg, Hamline University  <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
[log in to unmask]

For more information, please refer to a separate
<http://aib.msu.edu/events/2012/TeachingIBTrack.asp> "Teaching IB" call.


Special Track: International Business Research Methods
Track chair: Harry Bowen, Queens University  <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
[log in to unmask]

For more information, please refer to a separate
<http://aib.msu.edu/events/2012/IBResearchMethodsTrack.asp> "IB Research
Methods" call.

 

  _____  

We will be accepting two types of submissions - papers and panels. Paper and
panel submissions need to be categorized into one of the eleven topical
tracks or into one of the two special tracks described above. Each paper or
panel proposal must be submitted to only one track. For the special tracks
on teaching and research methods, please contact the track chairs to discuss
the preferred format of the sessions.

All submissions will be handled through the AIB online submission system.
All manuscripts and proposals must be submitted by January 16, 2012. Please
refer to the  <http://aib.msu.edu/events/2012/submissioninstructions.asp>
detailed submission instructions page for additional information on how to
prepare and submit your submission. For up-to-date information about the
conference and related events, please check the conference website at
<http://aib.msu.edu/events/2012/> http://aib.msu.edu/events/2012/. Any
questions regarding this call for papers should be addressed to the track
chairs or the Program Chair, Susan Feinberg, at  <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
[log in to unmask]

Susan Feinberg
Program Chair, AIB 2012 Annual Meeting
Rutgers University/Temple University
 <mailto:[log in to unmask]> [log in to unmask]

 


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