The adoption of performance-related pay schemes is part of the wider market-type reforms occurring in public services today. However, this ‘managerial revolution’ has prompted an academic debate for and against these practices. The main questions raised revolve around the novelty,...

This thesis addresses two main questions. Firstly “Are there significant differences between the level of academic achievement (qualification) of German senior managers and their British counterparts?” Secondly if so, “why should this be so?” These two questions lead to a third,...

Today’s business requires managers who can make an impact by competing successfully in the context of globalisation. Organisational learning contributes to a firm’s ability to compete. However, particularly in small and medium enterprises, research into managers’ approaches to transferring...

This paper explores some of the theoretical issues involved in the process of designing introductory undergraduate courses in OB (organisational behaviour). The basis of reflection for this study is the authors’ recent experience at Lancaster University. It focuses on undergraduate...

Based on 26 case studies, this paper investigates the socio-economic causes of the inflow of FDI and its policy implications in Dongguan. The favourable factors for foreign investors in Dongguan can be categorised under the Dunning's OLI (ownership, locational and internalisation advantages)...

Given the limited capabilities of R&D and global distribution channels, and the virtual non-existence of patented drugs, the Chinese pharmaceutical industry has little chance to enter the global market of Western prescription drugs and compete with the established global giants head-on. The...

This paper investigates the changing competitiveness of foreign-financed manufacturing firms and its implications for regional development in Guangdong province of southern China in the run-up to World Trade Organization (WTO) accession. It is argued that transnational corporations (TNCs) and...

Based on the proposed ‘PIE’ analytical framework, this paper argues that the preparation, implementation and evaluation of international standards (ISOs) affect the competitiveness of (foreign-financed) export-oriented manufacturing industry in southern and southeastern China, both in the...

This article uses a “principal-agent-subagent” analytical framework and data that were collected from field surveys in China to (1) investigate the nature and causes of the parallel trade in Coca-Cola between Shanghai and Hangzhou and (2) assess the geographic and theoretical implications...

By using a stochastic frontier model, we have identified several firm-specific attributes as determinants of technical efficiency in foreign-financed manufacturing firms in southern China. The empirical results suggest a strong association between efficiency and employee motivation, which...