• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.7
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• pp.323-331
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• 2021

This paper examines the relationship between ownership structure and level cash holdings in an emerging country, namely, Saudi Arabia, by constructing a corporate governance mechanism (foreign ownership, family ownership, institutional and managerial ownership). This paper uses data from 100 listed firms at Saudi Stock Exchange (TADAWUL) from 2011 to 2019. The firm's decision to hold cash has come to the fore in the last two or three years as a result of the recent global financial crisis, and the impact that this has had on the firms' ability to raise funds from external sources. Using the random-effect generalized least square (GLS) regression model, the findings reveal that foreign and family ownership negatively influences cash holdings, while managerial ownership has a positive association with cash holdings. Further, institutional ownership did not have a direct effect on cash holdings in Saudi Arabia. Our results suggest that ownership structure include foreign ownership, family and managerial ownership is an essential vehicle to promote the performance of cash holding of all the 100 public-listed non-financial firms in Saudi Arabia. We recommend that sound policies should be targeted toward foreign ownership, family, and managerial ownership since they are essential to improve cash holding in Saudi Arabian firms.

• Asian Journal of Business Environment
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2024

Purpose: This study explores the level of relevance of liability of foreignness (LOF) in foreign firms' decision to relocate or to expand their regional headquarters (RHQ) in Singapore. Research design, data and methodology: The research question is: what are the mitigating factors of LOF for RHQs operating in Singapore? This explorative study uses various resources from the government agencies: Singapore Economic Development Board such as annual reports between 2012 and 2022, investment programs and published interviews with RHQ's CEOs, Singapore Department of Statistics such as economic, socio-economic and investment data. Results: My study shows that years of nation-building toward a world-class infrastructure, identifying key-industries and conscientiously enhancing workforce skills and competency, developing and reviewing investment programs to attract and retain RHQs were the mitigating factors of LOF. Conclusion: This implies a low level of relevance of LOF in foreign firms' strategic choice to relocate or to expand their regional headquarters to Singapore. As such, the steady growth of multinational enterprises' (MNEs) RHQs in Singapore presents a challenge to the theoretical postulation of LOF positing that foreign firms are discriminated in host country-environment. As a result, incurring additional costs operating in an unfamiliar environment manifested by varying responses from the local actors. Singapore is a case in point.

• East Asian Journal of Business Economics (EAJBE)
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2022

Purpose - Drawing upon signaling and social identity theories, this study explores the effect of engagement in CSR activities by foreign firms on applicants' intention to apply. Furthermore, this study suggests CSR education as a moderator which strengthens the positive effects of the engagement in CSR activities on the intention to apply for potential job seekers. Research design, data, and methodology - One hundred and ninety-one undergraduate students were solicited to participate in this study. Participants were randomly assigned to two scenarios depicting different levels of a given foreign firm's engagement in CSR activities. After reading the given scenario, respondents answered a series of questions on their intention to apply to the foreign organization. Result - The results from hierarchical regression reveal that Korean applicants have a more favorable perception of a foreign firm which performs engagement in positive CSR activities. Moreover, the positive effect of the engagement in CSR activities on the intention to apply has a greater impact for Korean applicants who had CSR education. Conclusion - The result indicates that foreign firms could overcome the liabilities of foreignness and attract local talent effectively, by engaging in CSR activities. Moreover, this study suggests the important role of CSR education, and significantly contributes to the international recruiting literature.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.189-215
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• 2017

This study analyzes the determinants of the choice of foreign direct investment mode by Korean fashion firms in entering into foreign markets. We have established hypotheses regarding their choice among three classical entry modes including a wholly-owned subsidiary, a joint venture and an M&A based on factors such as the investing firm's size, international experience and international strategy type, host market potentials, cultural distance and foreign investment risk. By conducting multiple logistic regression over secondary data on 100 Korean fashion firms, we found that all variables but cultural distance were statistically significant. The results may contribute to advancing international business theory on the fashion industry and developing fashion firms' global strategy.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.165-188
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• 2017

Foreign direct investment is the means for companies to enter the overseas market and strengthen their competitiveness. The holding of intellectual properties, representing advantages of firms, may affect foreign direct investment. By expanding previous studies, we define intellectual properties as including trademarks and design as well as patents. Using a random-effect panel data model, we examine the effects of both intellectual properties of Korea and host countries on Korea's foreign direct investment in 128 countries from 1981 to 2014. The results are as follow. First, the coefficients of Korea's intellectual properties, patent, trademark, and design are significantly positive. This implies that Korean firms may invest abroad to take their advantages of technologies, brand value, and the capability of product differentiation. Second, except for patents, intellectual properties of host countries have a positive impact on foreign direct investment. In other words, foreign direct investment to acquire the ability of branding or product design from host countries may occur. Third, the coefficients of Korea's intellectual properties are significantly greater than those of host countries' properties. Foreign direct investment to take advantages of the firms' capabilities overseas is greater than one to acquire knowledge of host countries. Finally, Korea's intellectual properties have a greater positive impact on foreign direct investment in high growth countries than in low growth countries. It is interpreted that Korean firms are more motivated to exploit their intellectual properties in developing countries with a high growth than developed countries. Overall, it is confirmed that Korea's foreign direct investment not only to utilize some advantages but also to seek the brand value or product differentiation ability from host countries can occur. Our findings provide the contribution that some innovative activities in firms and R&D investments policies which encourage the possession of intellectual properties can improve foreign direct investment.

• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.27
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• pp.101-129
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• 2008

This study introduced the inclusion of Global Value Chain (GVC) as a strategy for the globalization of domestic industries. In addition, this study intended to highlight direct foreign investment as an important opportunity for enhancing the competitiveness of the domestic small and medium firms. That is, globalization could be realized not only through simple capital inflow, but also through domestic industry's participation in the overseas production network. The analysis of the trend and pattern of direct foreign investment revealed that the FDI inflows heavily dependent on the USA and Japan have been diversified steadily over time. In spite of recent decline trend of overall FDI amount, inflows from European countries in machinery and chemical industries have been rising. These rising and diversifying trends in these industries are promising since FDI inflows have the potential of playing an important role in achieving productivity growth of domestic industries, particularly in the area of comparatively fragile industries such as machinery and chemicals. In the same logic, it is crucial for future growth of Korea that the small and medium firms find their competitive edges through strengthening production networks with foreign multi-national companies. Thus, it is suggested that the policy of globalization of small and medium firms should be based on the firm understanding of GVC and FDI pattern of industries.

• Korean Business Review
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.21-43
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• 2005

Since China opened its market to foreign investors, overseas Chinese firms have been the biggest foreign investors. Because of the uncertain market environment, other foreign finns incurred larger liabilities of foreignness than overseas Chinese finns. Some parts of liabilities of foreignness stem from cultural differences and last for quite long time. Therefore better understanding of Chinese culture and guanxi network can give overseas Chinese finns competitive advantages over those from other countries by offering market information and reducing transaction costs. Also better management skills, information about export markets and abundant capital allow them to maintain competitive strengths over local firms. As foreign firms accumulate market knowledge in China, they can reduce liabilities of foreignness. However, it is very difficult for foreigners to understand Chinese cultures and to utilize guanxi network as well as Chinese. It is likely that Overseas Chines firms can have competitive strengths in some industries such as banking, retailing, and foreign trade, where relationship with local contractors and exploitation of worldwide Chines networks can play important roles to make successful business deals.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.42-53
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• 1999

Global sourcing strategy is the one that apparel firms adopt in order to improve efficiency. Souring statesgies are not limited to the decision of sourcing country or vertical integration of sewing process Sourcing strategies include all the ecision of marketing process from the acquisition of fabric to distribution of products. The present study aims to analyze the soucing strategies of Korea apparel industry in global perspectives by applying transaction cost approach and aims to provide the implications for the future. The results are as follows ; (1) sourcing strategies in the dimension of domestic versus offshore soucing are determined by the experience in foreign business and the degree of fashionability of the product. (2) Firms tend to increase affshore soucing as they accumulate the experience in foreign business because they can decrease transaction costs as the perceived risks decrease (3) Also firms tend to source their products in foreign countries when the products are more fashionable. Brand loyalty of the product is a additional factor that increases the proportion of domestic sourcing. (4) Degree of vertical integration of sourcing is determined by the fashionability brand loyalty and the experience in foreign business. That is firms decrease the transaction costs by avoiding the investment to short life fashion products. However firms increase the control over the high reputation product by in house production. As the apparel firms tend to more marketing oriented and the national boundaries of business envrionment becomes permeable more efficient global sourcing strategies should be stablished, Besides the production costs nonproduction costs should be equallly considered in order to analyze the total costs.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.205-227
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• 2004

This paper examined the leapfrogging of Korean Digital TV Industry in the midst of digital Revolution. Despite the lack of sufficient capability and core knowledge base, the Korean firms succeeded in the catching up forerunner firms in the Digital TV industry. The reasons of the success of Korean firms were as follows. Firstly, the Korean firms had some complementary asset, such as the experience of producing analog TV, and were able to develop the prototype digital TV given the accesses to the foreign knowledge via overseas R&D posts and acquisition of a foreign company. Secondly, the Korean firms were not locked in the analog technologies. As a follower, they had little sunk cost on the existing analog technologies. Thirdly, New mode of innovation, such as National R&D program for the development of HDTV and ASIC, were used as a tool for the mobilization of scarce knowledge base of digital technologies and the sharing the risks of development of path-breaking new technologies.

• The Journal of Fisheries Business Administration
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.131-153
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• 1984

Fishery resources are still abundant compared with other resources and the possibility of exploitation is probably great. The Korean fishery industry has grown remarkably since 1957, and Korea is ranked as one of the major fishery countries. Its of fishery products reached the 9th in the world and the value of exports was 5th in 1982. But recently a growth rate has slowed down, due to the enlargement of territorial seas by the declaration of the 200 mile, Exclusive Economic Zone, the tendency to develop fishery resources strate-gically in international bargaining, the change in function of the international organizations, the expansion of regulated waters, the illegal arrest of our fishing boats, the rapid rise in oil prices, and the fall in fish prices, the development of fishery resources as a symbol of nationalism, the fishing boats decreptitude, the rise of crew wages, regulations on fishing methods, fish species, fishing season, size of fish, and mesh size, fishing quotas and the demand of excessive fishing royalties. Besides the the obligation of coastal countries, employing crews of their host countries is also an example of the change in the international environment which causes the aggravation of foreign profit of fishing firms. To ameliorate the situation, our Korean fishery firms must prepare efficient plans and study systematically to internationalize themselves because such existing methods as conventional fishing entry and licence fishing entry are likely to be unable to cope with international environmental change. Thus, after the systematic analysis of the problem, some new combined alternatives might be proposed. These are some of the new schemes to support this plan showing the orientation of our national policy: 1. Most of the coastal states, to cope with rapid international environmental change and to survive in the new era of ocean order, have rationalized their higher governmental structure concerning the fishery industries. And the coastal countries which are the objectives of our expecting entry, demand excessive economic and technical aid, limit the number of fishing boats’entry and the use of our foreign fishing bases, and regulate the membership of the international fishery commissions. Especially, most of the coastal or island countries are recently independent states, which are poorer in national budget, depend largely on fishing royalties and licence entry fees as their main resources of national finance. 2. Alternatives to our entry to deep sea fishing, as internationalization strategies, are by direct foreign investment method. About 30 firms have already invested approximately US $ 8 million in 9 coastal countries. Areas of investment comprise the southern part of the Atlantic Ocean, the Moroccan sea and five other sea areas. Trawling, tuna purse seining and five other fields are covered by the investment. Joint-venture is the most prominent method of this direct investment. If we consider the number of entry firms, the host countries, the number of seas available and the size of investment, this method of cooperation is perhaps insufficient so far. Our fishery firms suffer from a weakness in international competitive ability, an insufficiency of information, of short funds, incompetency in the market, the unfriendliness of host coastal countries, the incapability of partners in joint-ventures and the political instability of the host countries. To enlarge our foreign fishing grounds, we are to actively adopt the direct investment entry method and to diversity our collaboraboration with partner countries. Consequently, besides proper fishing, we might utilize forward integration strategies, including the processing fied. a. The enterprise emigration method is likely to be successful in Argentina. It includes the development of Argentinian fishing grounds which are still not exploited in spite of abundant resources. Besides, Arentina could also be developed as a base for the exploitation of the krill resources and for further entries into collaboration with other Latin American countries. b. The co-business contract fishing method works in American territorial seas where American fishermen sell their fishery products to our factory ships at sea. This method contributes greatly to obtaining more fishing quotas and in innovation bottom fishing operation. Therefore we may apply this method to other countres to diffuse our foreign fishing entry. c. The new fishing ground development method was begun in 1957 by tuna long-line experimental fishing in the Indian Ocean. It has five fields, trawling, skipjack pole fishing and shrimp trawling, and so on. Recently, Korean fisheries were successful in the development of the Antarctic Ocean krill and tuna purse seining. 3. The acceleration of the internationalization of deep sea fishing; a. Intense information exchange activities and commission participation are likely to be continues as our contributions to the international fishery organizations. We should try to enter international fishery commissions in which we are not so far participating. And we have to reform adequately to meet the changes of the function of the international commissions. With our partner countries, we ought to conclude bilateral fishery agreements, thus enlarging our collaboration. b. Our government should offer economic and technical aids to host countries to facilitate our firms’fishery entry and activities. c. To accelerate technical innovation, our fishery firms must invest greater amount in technical innovation, at the same time be more discriminatory in importing exogeneous fishery technologies. As for fishing methods; expanded use of multi-purpose fishing boats and introduction of automation should be encuraged to prevent seasonal fluctuations in fishery outputs. d. The government should increases financial and tax aid to Korean firms in order to elevate already weak financial structure of Korean fishery firms. e. Finally, the government ought to revise foreign exchange regulations being applied to deep sea fishery firms. Furthermore, dutes levied on foreign purchaed equipments and supplies used by our deep sea fishing boats thould be reduced or exempted. when the fish caught by Korean partner of joint-venture firms is sold at the home port, pusan, import duty should be exempted.