Clusters and Regional Management Structures by Western MNCs in Asia: Overcoming the Distance Challenge

Recent literature suggests that multinational companies pursue regional rather than global strategies. Therefore, this study investigates regional management structures, using French multinational companies (MNCs) in the Asia–Pacific region as an empirical context, to address two research questions: first, do MNCs split Asia into subregions and, if so, what are the resulting clusters of countries and clustering criteria? Second, what kind of regional management structures do MNCs establish in Asia, and what are their roles and functions? Factors, such as MNC size, the size of host markets, or the nature of their activities, might explain some differences. The authors conducted 77 face-to-face interviews with expatriated managers in charge of the subsidiaries or regional management structures of 47 French MNCs located in 11 countries in Asia, then crossed these data with secondary sources of information. Nearly half the MNCs subdivide the Asia–Pacific region into clusters of countries, where they locate regional management centres (regional headquarters, regional offices, distribution centres, local offices) with substantial functions and roles. The main drivers of a regional Asian strategy and organisation are the overall size of the MNC and its sales in Asia; the presence of manufacturing activities does not exert any influence. This research identifies ten clusters of countries in Asia, determined by the French MNCs in our sample, on the basis of four main criteria: market orientation/economic logic, geographical and institutional proximity, cultural differences, and the MNC’s own characteristics. Smaller MNCs do not slice Asia into clusters but rather centralise regional decisions and control procedures, implementing few regional management centres in Asia and giving them limited roles and functions.     

面向地域文化创意产品设计的服务平台构建

目的探索面向地域文化创意产品设计的服务平台构建方法,通过强化设计服务供给,提升地域文化创意产品设计水平。方法以设计服务需求整合结果和一般设计流程为基础制定平台主体框架。主要分为地域文化设计资源整合子平台、设计辅助子平台和快速原型制造子平台三大模块,力求为多方面的设计需求服务。结论论述了平台主要架构和构建的重要节点,并将研究结果在实践中予以运用。经验证,为设计活动提供辅助服务的平台构建,能够有效地提升地域文化创意产品设计效率和水平。     

Subsidiary Divestment: The Role of Multinational Flexibility

We take the multinational flexibility perspective and examine the conditions under which multinational corporations’ (MNCs’) foreign manufacturing subsidiaries in labor-intensive industries are not divested from their host country markets under the influence of their host country’s rising labor costs. We examine in this paper the effects of intra-firm product shifts within the same MNC network on foreign subsidiary divestment. We utilize a panel of data of Korean MNCs’ foreign subsidiaries in labor intensive industries and employ a Cox proportional hazard rate model as an event history analysis methodology on STATA 10. We find that intra-firm product shifts within the same MNC network reduce the probability of subsidiaries exposed to rising labor costs in their host countries being divested earlier. We also find that greater cross-country labor cost differentials and more country options in the same MNC network are helpful in facilitating intra-firm product shifts and lowering divestiture rates of the subsidiaries. Contrastingly, we find from control variables that weaker performing, smaller, and stand-alone subsidiaries, in riskier countries, facing currency appreciation, and increasing labor costs are more likely to divest. We conclude from our findings that MNCs are able to enhance multinational flexibility by using intra-firm trade connections among affiliated firms in flexible responses to cross-border cost and value differentials.     

Regional and Global Technological Knowledge Search Strategies and the Innovative Performance of Large Multinational Corporations

This study focuses on the innovative performance implications of large MNCs' regional and global technological knowledge search strategies. In networked MNCs, the parent can still offer valuable knowledge to subsidiaries. The parent's and a subsidiary's knowledge becomes complementary if an MNC appropriately adopts a global strategy at the parent level and a regional strategy at the subsidiary level. An analysis of the world's largest firms in the Electrical Equipment industry shows that, in general, a global strategy improves the innovative performance of the MNC. Meanwhile, only the combination of a global strategy at the parent level and a regional strategy at the subsidiary level is positively associated with the innovative performance of the MNC. This study contributes to the literature on networked MNCs and the debate of globalization and regionalization. Managerial implications are discussed as well.     

Practice Standardization in Cross-Border Activities of Multinational Corporations: A Resource Dependence Perspective

This study examines the relationship between power dependence and practice standardization in the context of cross-border alliances. Existing studies have typically assumed that standardization or adaptation is a unilateral decision made by multinational corporations (MNCs) but ignored the influence of the relative power of multinational and local partners under conditions of government influence. Drawing on resource dependence theory (RDT), we argue that the power imbalance between multinational and local firms may shape the standardization of practices in their established alliances. The results, based on a sample of 243 Fortune 500 US companies, indicate that when the level of government influence is high, the positive effect of MNCs’ resource importance on practice standardization diminishes and the negative effect of local firms’ alternative resources becomes stronger. These findings suggest that RDT has important implications for understanding standardization versus adaptation in cross-border alliances.     

Stopford and Wells were Right! MNC Matrix Structuresdo fit a “High-High” Strategy

• This paper seeks to address a primary question about matrix structures: under which strategic condition should multinational companies (MNCs) use matrix structures instead of other structures? To answer this question, the seminal Stopford and Wells Model (1972) is re-examined.
• Stopford and Wells (1972) predicted in their model that MNCs tend to use matrix structure to implement high levels of dual strategies??foreign product diversification and area diversification. Their prediction, however, has remained theoretically unclear and empirically unproven.
• To address this gap in the strategy-structure literature, we re-examine and revise the Stopford and Wells Model to explain the strategic condition in which MNCs tend to use matrix. The key of the revision is to use ??corporate integration?? instead of ??foreign product diversification??.
• The revised model is preliminarily supported by the data from a study of German MNCs. This suggests that corporate integration, together with area diversification, are the two over-riding strategies that lead to MNCs?? use of matrix.

     

智慧旅游与标准体系建设的研究——以武夷山旅游为例

智慧旅游是我国旅游产业的发展趋势。智慧旅游与标准体系建设是商业模式与行政管理的互为补充,在提升旅游产品品质及服务质量上存在协同效应。在遵循《旅游业标准体系表》的编排思路下,基于智慧旅游与旅游标准体系关系研究,从设施标准、管理标准、信息标准、质量与评价标准、安全与应急标准等五个方面建构了智慧旅游标准体系的框架。最后,以武夷山为例,提出武夷山智慧旅游标准体系设想。     

Relationship with Headquarters and Divestments of Foreign Subsidiaries: The Hysteresis Perspective

This paper examines the conditions under which foreign subsidiaries of multinational corporations (MNCs) are less prone to divestments. In the study, we examine the importance of foreign subsidiaries to MNCs based upon (1) product-level vertical integration, (2) human capital investments, and (3) technological investments in the subsidiaries. Given that we examine the probability that a subsidiary divestment will occur under the condition that all other subsidiaries are also at risk during the same time period, we employ a Cox proportional hazard rate model as a commonly used statistical method in the event history analysis. For empirical testing, we utilized a sample of Korean 439 MNCs and its 5306 foreign subsidiaries over a period of 1990–2011. We find that even under hostile host market demand conditions, MNCs are less likely to divest their foreign subsidiaries when those subsidiaries are vertically integrated with their headquarters, benefiting from a top management team dispatched from their headquarters or other affiliates, or possessing technological knowledge shared by their headquarters. These findings imply that relationship-specific investments with headquarters cause a hysteresis effect that deters these subsidiaries from being divested, even during times when divestments seem most likely because of unfriendly economic conditions in their host countries.     

地域文旅饮食文化服务系统设计研究

目的 梳理文旅视域下的服务设计一般流程,基于地域文旅视域构建服务设计流程与研究方法,探究文旅视域下的饮食文化服务设计方法,提升文旅产品设计思路,增强用户沉浸式文化体验.方法 将饮食文化作为文旅发展的切入点,运用基于情境代入的服务设计方法,从饮食文化资源价值转化、饮食行为中的情境化塑造以及饮食文化产品服务系统设计策略三个层面切入,以桃江擂茶为例,将文旅设计与服务设计相结合,通过服务设计方法运用于文旅领域中,对文旅产品服务流程进行全面规划,多角度多层次为用户构建体验式情境,考虑用户的行为要素,提出有针对性可行的文旅用户体验流程.结论 服务设计可为文旅产品服务提供全面的流程规划,为用户打造沉浸式文化体验.基于文旅视域下的服务设计理论研究以及方法应用,能构建系统的服务设计流程方法,提升文旅产业的升级与创新.     

地域文化产品造型多维评价模型

目的 对地域文化产品造型多维评价模型的构建方法及流程进行研究与实践.方法 从造型风格、地域气质、文化意象3个维度,采集与地域文化相关的语义词,将其提炼为可做评价指标的核心语义词,邀请专家对评价指标、评价维度进行权重评估,获得各维度评价指标以及3个维度间的权重矩阵,用于构建多维评价模型.结果 按照多维评价模型的构建方法及流程,顺利地开展了川蜀文化公共设施(垃圾箱)设计项目,并且,最终设计方案的地域性和地域特色均得到了较好的认可.结论 基于评价模型,可从潜在用户评价打分中获取方案的维度评估值B与综合决策值E,辅助设计者筛选更具发展前途的原型方案及明确其优化方向,有助于提升设计迭代效率,降低项目开发成本,故多维评价模型是面向地域文化产品的一种高效、可行的设计方法.     

地域文化创意产品设计研究

目的 探索地域性文化创意产品设计的主要原则与思路。方法 首先,对地域文化和文创产品分别进行论述,并对两者进行艺术层面的关联研究,引出地域文化创意产品设计趋势。其次,提出现实情况和未来发展综合作用下的地域文化创意产品设计原则与思路,根据去表面化、丰富功能、突出内涵等原则,总结可以进行尝试的探索方向。最后,在实践层面深入探索,结合传承与创新、情感的丰富与升华、市场趋势和可持续化等具体方向进行设计实践的尝试与落实,研究地域文化创意产品设计的具体呈现方式。结论 积极推进地域文化创意产品设计的丰富与发展,让这些承载独特地域风格的文创产品成为一张名片,助力文创设计领域不断创新。     

基于地域特色的地域性产品设计研究

在比较中论述了环境对文化的影响,生产和生活方式可以理解为人对自然的适应方式,所以有什么样的生活环境便有什么样的生活方式,也就有相应的物质载体,在此基础上提出了基于自然环境的地域性产品设计的基本原理,并将该原理初步应用在海尔集团针对西北农村的地域性设计调查实践中。     

地域文化元素在文创产品设计中的应用

目的以地域文化元素与文创产品设计的特点为引,分析地域文化元素在文创产品设计中的应用策略及未来发展。方法从文创产品的基本概念、特点及功能开始,对其地域性元素的缺失展开分析,并以地域文化元素的基本构成及其赋予文创产品的认知、情感、美学、社交等功能为参考,从地域文化元素在文创产品中的具体应用原则和思路等方面展开深入探究,结合纹样、色彩、材质、文化等细节进行全面细致的论述,同时列举海南、安徽、江苏等地在文创产品设计中对特色地域文化符号的有效应用,提出两者融合的发展思路。结论地域文化元素在文创产品设计中的应用,能够催发个性化的产品设计创意及形式,使文创产品更具识别性、文化性和情感性,从而使人们在购买的过程中享受到一种亲切感和代入感,体会到不同的地域文化所展现出的独特魅力。     

区域旅游服务标准化实施方法构建

开展区域旅游服务标准化工作,对区域旅游发展有重要作用.本文提出了区域旅游服务标准化实施方法,并应用到连南瑶族自治县旅游服务标准化示范区试点,建立了区域旅游服务标准体系,提升了该区域旅游服务质量和水平,扩大其品牌影响力,并提出了实施的建议.     

基于海南地域文化元素的旅游文创产品设计

目的 以海南地域文化元素与旅游文创产品结合设计为切入点,分析海南多种地域文化元素在旅游文创产品中的设计应用;探索旅游文创产品在海南地域文化滋养下所造就的各种设计形式与创新方法。方法 从海南旅游文创产品设计的现状、应用及发展的视角出发,提出将海南经典地域文化元素与旅游文创产品设计融合,对海南特色文化元素进行分析,并具体论述海南旅游特色文创产品与黎族文化元素、海南特有坡鹿文化元素的融合设计应用;并以两者结合的重要价值为依据,深入总结旅游文创产品中的设计构思、产品受众、创意形式等思路,探讨了文化、功能、情感等层面的有效应用与创新。对此进一步提出海南本地特色文化应与当地旅游文创产品深度结合发展的建设性意见。结论 在旅游文创产品设计中融入海南地域文化元素,并聚焦其有价值的元素,对此展开深度的挖掘,给予文创更多的地域文化内涵,更好地体现海南地域文化元素的特征。将海南当地黎族地域文化元素与旅游文创产品结合设计、创新应用,有利于推动旅游文创产品及创新设计,可以让海南旅游文创产品设计更具有历史性、文化性、独特性。地域文化视域下旅游文创产品设计应以丰富的内涵和文化属性迎合当代人的审美观念,并以人们日常生活与地域文化为主要参考,突出设计者的独特创意,构建人与产品、文化的完美结合,以丰富而独特的旅游文创产品赢得良好的社会效果。     

The Recent Growth Performance of US Firms in the Industrial Design Sector: An Exploratory Study

This paper assesses the competitive factors associated with company growth in the US industrial design sector. This small but technologically advanced sector delivers critical innovation inputs to firms that produce durable goods. Evidence from a survey of 85 US design companies suggests that competitive success hinges upon service diversity. Specifically, the most commercially buoyant companies have diversified their service offerings beyond product or component design. These firms have developed strategic competencies in fields such as contract research, prototype development, product testing, technological forecasting, market analysis and even advertising. Although most US design companies are small-to-medium-sized enterprises, successful firms do not differ from their less successful counterparts in terms of employment size, occupational structure, regional location or market focus (client sectors). Instead, the key differences lie in service diversity and the quality of human capital. The paper concludes with a brief discussion of the implications of the empirical findings for future research on the dynamics of the design industry.     

基于地域文化的高速公路服务区品牌化构建研究

目的针对高速公路服务区转型发展的迫切需求,以地域文化为突破口对其品牌建设路径进行分析与探讨。方法通过分析高速公路服务区品牌现状及问题,以及地域文化对于服务区品牌塑造的价值意义,归纳出将地域文化与服务区品牌进行创新结合的方法。结果针对高速公路服务区品牌定位、品牌形象与品牌体验等提出了基于地域文化的高速公路服务区品牌化构建路径。结论针对现阶段高速公路服务区品牌定位不明、同质化严重、资源利用不足等症结,高速公路服务区应当依托在地文化基因整合地区资源,以文化沟通产业进行价值重构与品牌定位,以用户感知需求构建功能化视觉体系,以文化体验提升服务业态,使服务区成为具有识别性与持续动力的交通商业体。     

基于湛江地域文化的创意产品设计研究

目的探析湛江的地域文化资源,为设计开发具有显著湛江地域文化特色的文创产品提供有力的参考和支持。方法以湛江的地域文化为核心,对湛江文化资源进行分类;研究文创产品的具体属性,对湛江文创产品进行设计梳理;构建基于湛江地域文化的创意产品设计模型,并通过具体的设计案例进行展示。结论通过对湛江地域文化资源进行挖掘、整理、归纳,探析文化创意产品的属性,构建设计模型,为湛江地域文化创意产品的设计提供思路,有利于提升湛江地域文化和文创产品的双重价值。     

北部湾地域文化视域下南珠品牌包装设计研究

目的 探索以北部湾地域文化为核心的南珠产品包装及品牌形象的设计方法及设计理念,塑造南珠产品品牌形象,提升南珠产品品牌知名度,促进南珠产业发展。方法 通过分析南珠产业发展现状,指出南珠产品包装及其品牌形象与南珠产品优良品质存在巨大差距的现实,深入分析北部湾地域文化对于南珠品牌发展的重要意义,提出南珠产品的品牌塑造应在以地域文化为核心的基础上,通过其产品包装的智巧性与绿色设计来传达品牌形象,并从色彩、图形、文字、材质及形态等5个方面深入讨论北部湾地域文化在南珠产品包装及品牌形象中的文化延伸。结论 以北部湾地域文化为核心的南珠产品包装及品牌形象设计能够凸显地域文化特色,赋予南珠产品品牌以行业识别特征与品牌差异特性,加强南珠产业与北部湾地域文化的双向促进作用。