Corporate strategies inevitably have to consider the political environment in which a firm operates. In federal systems the situation can be complicated because one political party may rule at the national level and another at the state or provincial level, indicating political pluralism, or one party may control both, indicating hegemony. New research finds ... Read More

Confidence is a necessary trait in CEOs. It can help them to be decisive in taking risks, convey their vision and persuade others to follow them. But when confidence crosses the line into overconfidence, or hubris, it can put a firm at a disadvantage. Researchers have shown that overconfident CEOs lead their firms to pay higher acquisition premiums, rely on ... Read More

Conditions in the womb and at birth have increasingly been shown to have long-term effects on people's health and mortality. Similarly, research has found that conditions surrounding the development and launch of new companies may affect whether they become operational and survive. Organizations founded in adverse conditions appear to have a higher mortality ... Read More

Expatriate managers can find themselves facing two conflicting demands: carrying out the strategy of their MNE, and adapting to the circumstances of their subsidiary and host country. A manager's success at juggling these demands can make a difference in whether the subsidiary succeeds. The MNE therefore has a vital stake in understanding how to make the ... Read More

A new overseas market opens and a few foreign companies move in to establish themselves and their products. These early prominent players can play an important role in establishing the legitimacy of their "population". And interestingly, their success can benefit their seeming competitors - those who follow them into the market or who have a lower profile ... Read More

Cultural distance can be a key factor in how firms enter a foreign market and the type of investment they make, as research has shown. But what about when firms in the host country seek foreign involvement in their projects at home? Does cultural distance affect their decisions, too? Jiatao Li of HKUST and co-authors Seung-Hyun Lee and Oded Shenkar consider ... Read More