Oct. 29, 2012
Part I. Discussion Questions (15 points each)
1. Why are Russia and Eastern Europe of interest to international managers? Identify and describe some reasons for such interest.
Russia and Eastern Europe are still trying to make stable transitions to market economies. Although the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Poland, and Hungary have accelerated this process through their accession to the EU, others countries still have a long way to go. However, all remain a target for MNCs looking for expansion opportunities. For example, after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989,Coca-Cola quickly began to sever its relations with most of the state-run bottling companies in the former communist-bloc countries. The soft drink giant began investing heavily to import its own manufacturing, distribution, and marketing techniques. To date, Coca-Cola has pumped billions into Central and Eastern Europe—and this investment is beginning to pay off. Its business in Central and Eastern Europe has been expanding at twice the rate of its other foreign operations.
首先,爾羅斯和其它東歐國家屬於新興經濟體,
* 俄羅斯 i. 解除價格管制和私有化 ii. 國際貨幣基金組織的成員控制通貨膨脹 iii. 犯罪活動和政治的不穩定性 * 捷克共和國, 匈牙利, 波蘭 iv. 私有化 v. 通貨膨脹 vi. 政治不穩定
2. MNCs from emerging markets (India, China, Brazil) are beginning to challenge the dominance of developed country MNCs. How might MNCs from North America, Europe, and Japan respond to these challenges?
3. What are the characteristics of each of the following pairs of cultural characteristics derived from Trompennaars’s research: univeralism vs. particularism, neutral vs. emotional, specific vs. diffuse, achievement vs. ascription? Compare and contrast each pair.
4. If a locally based manufacturing firm with sales of $350 million decided to enter the EU market by setting up operations in France, which orientation would be the most effective: ethnocentric, polycentric,