Social Media (SM), in recent years, is emerging as a common platform for low cost information exchange, and has attracted a critical mass of users both at corporate and retail levels.Theoretically, SM can thus be used as a tool to strengthen e-procurement in the public sector.Towards this end, we have prepared a conceptual model drawing on literature reviews and some examples while identifying a set of expected benefits and challenges within four stages of e-procurement.Using the framework, a case study has been conducted involving Australian public procurement initiatives and 15 federal government senior officials engaged in e-procurement.They have been interviewed to shed light on the possibilities and challenges of using SM in the public e-procurement context.The findings of the study suggest a limited scope for SM usage in the Australian public sector e-procurement process.The implications of the findings are discussed and some recommendations offered.
Over the years, poor governance is undermining development of many of the developing countries. Appreciating the need of improved governance, both developed and developing country governments, which have good record of governance, explore new ways of better governance. E-governance came up as one of the means of better governance due to advancement in technology. Diverse technological options create the opportunity to find out proper delivery channel of e-governance. Successful adoption of call centres by private sector has built the ground for public sector in thinking call centres as a mean of e-governance. This paper aims to present a framework between e-government and call centre in developing countries in line with technological ability and improved governance necessity in these countries with associated case studies and debates at this moment.
In this chapter, we explore the 'darker' faces of international business (IB). Over a decade ago, Eden and Len way (2001) raised the need for examining both the 'bright' and the 'dark' side of globalization in order to achieve a better understanding of the concept and of its impact on IB activities. In doing this, they posited the multinational enterprise (MNE) as the 'key agent' and 'f.1ee' of globalization and discussed, primarily, the relationship between MNEs and nation-states as the central interf.1ce of its impact. Additionally, they posited that, by and large, the community of IB scholars positioned themselves at the bright end of the globalization spectrum, seeing it as essentially positive, whilst most non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international
political economy (IPE) academics set themselves at the dark end. Whilst they acknowledged their own 'bright side' tendencies, they called for a more nuanced consideration of MNEs as what they referred to as the Janus bee' of globalization.
Networking through international joint ventures (IJVs) is considered to be an important mechanism of exchanging skill sets across culturally different societies. IJVs could be used as an internationalisation entry mode by foreign companies to access, and participate in, the different and changing cultural environments of the host country and the host organisations through direct interactions with host partners creating opportunities for such networking activities. In a qualitative study involving nine Australian-Indian IJVs in India, this paper elaborates on a selection of issues relevant to inter-firm linkages and learning. The study has found IJVs as an effective networking tool and inter-partner learning plays an important role in motivating a firm to form IJVs which is also considered a key success factor.
Conventional international business (IB) theories generally view multinational corporations (MNCs) as agents of economic exchange and as ethically benign or neutral. This article explores a darker side of IB, with numbers of IB firms involved in activities that could be considered unethical or illegal, or both. Drawing on a taxonomy of 'black international business' (black IB), and both historic and recent examples, this article outlines such MNC activities. It explores impacts of these activities on stakeholders, including nation-states, businesses and individuals. The authors call for academics within the field of organizational studies to create awareness and understanding of such activities.
Purpose – Perceived differences in the composition of goods and services forms the basis of a significant degree of analysis of the firm internationalisation process. In particular, product inseparability is highlighted as a distinguishing feature of service offerings and purports to explain the different approaches to internationalisation strategy adopted by service firms. The research, however, proposes that the division of goods and services into distinct products is outmoded. Rather, it is important to understand the extent of service components that embody, or are embedded in, a product offering. The authors argue that this “service embeddedness” influences the process by which a firm internationalises. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – Based on ten case studies of Australian international firms, this paper examines the impact of service embeddedness on a firm’s internationalisation process. Findings – The research underlines that firms approach internationalisation with a view of ensuring that the various activities that combine to form their product offering are available to their international clients. Research limitations/implications – From an academic perspective, a dichotomous approach to products (good or service) underestimates the role that embedded services have on a firm’s internationalisation process. The research, therefore, has implications for researchers and practitioners as it highlights the importance of delivering products internationally that comprise of both good and embedded service components. Originality/value – The research develops a deeper understanding of the extent and nature of separability within individual product categories from international production and operations perspectives.
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