Papers by Katiuscia Vaccarini
European Scientific Journal ESJ, 2021
Objective: Italy and Germany are two large economies of the European Union. However, they differ ... more Objective: Italy and Germany are two large economies of the European Union. However, they differ with regard to culture, business environment structure, as well as social and political concerns. This paper focuses on how Chinese takeovers are perceived by stakeholders as reflected in the national press in Italy and Germany, and compares stakeholders’ perceptions in two major national news magazines. Method: Stakeholders’ perceptions were retrieved by adopting a qualitative approach which unfolds in a detailed and specific procedure. The textual elements referring to perceptions were categorized on the basis of specific questions. To ensure objectivity, the authors carried out independent reading and rating and the assessment of positive, neutral, and negative perceptions. Results: The German government highlights the growing awareness of a one-sided technology drain, while the Italian tends to perceive China as a negative investor. German and Italian shareholders have positive perce...
The purpose of this paper is to investigate to what extent culture and language affect European f... more The purpose of this paper is to investigate to what extent culture and language affect European foreign direct investments (FDI) in mainland-China. It provides an in-depth analysis on the perception of European and Chinese identity and the role played by language in fostering or hampering FDI, along with culture. Design/methodology/approach: our research questions are contextualized and timely/spacely bound through a multiple case study panel of six European companies, which entered the Chinese green tech market through FDI. We used quantitative and qualitative approaches and a three-phase data collection process, based on a specific protocol. Findings: findings suggest that European investors emphasize "intra-Europe" differences rather than a "European collective (id)entity". They have more awareness of the intra-China differences in the post-entry rather than the pre-entry period. The cultural factor goes along with the language dimension, which, in specific ca...
Cultural Distance in International Ventures, 2017
Building on social psychology and international business literature, this chapter aims at raising... more Building on social psychology and international business literature, this chapter aims at raising managers’ awareness on the opportunity to capitalize on cultural differences in cross-cultural business contexts. This work is based on survey data and interviews to European managers investing in China through FDI in the environmental industry. First, this work investigates managers’ perceptions of culture within the multidimensional concept of psychic distance, which is a 12 dimension-based construct. Second, it explores what culture stands for our managers following our findings, which show the relevance of the cultural dimension over the others. Third, we propose and illustrate the sociocognitive value of an intercultural laboratory as a potential “structured business practice” addressed to those early-stage managers who are about to approach the firms’ host country. The failing ethnocentric view is a common perspective adopted by managers in cross-cultural business settings. Therefore, the idea behind this chapter is to help international managers overcome this view and leverage on an inter-individual and collective construction of knowledge, stimulated by the intercultural laboratory activities based on group work. The focus is on “opportunities”—rather than “distances”—generated by cultural diversities. Next to this, enhancing the “dialogue” between different cultures as well as different research areas is a key approach in cross-cultural business settings, not only for managers having different cultural backgrounds but also for scholars belonging to different discipline areas of research.
Cultural Distance in International Ventures
A Guide to the Top 100 Companies in China (World Scientific, 2010). Entrepreneurial and Business ... more A Guide to the Top 100 Companies in China (World Scientific, 2010). Entrepreneurial and Business Elites of China (Emerald, 2011). Dr. Alon is a recipient of the Chinese Marketing Award, a dual award from the Tripod Marketing Association (China) and the Society for Marketing Advances (USA), and the prestigious Rollins College McKean Award for his work on education in China. He has taught courses in top Chinese MBA programs including
This chapter investigates to what extent and how perceptions of culture affect European investmen... more This chapter investigates to what extent and how perceptions of culture affect European investment decisions to China. First, it analyzes managers’ perceptions of “culture.” Secondly, it examines whether European managers’ perceptions are based on a European culture or on national cultures, and whether intra-China cultural differences are considered. We adopt a multiple case study research design composed of a panel of six European companies investing in China in the green tech industry. We use quantitative and qualitative analyses and a three-step data collection process. Results show that: (1) managers’ perceptions vary over time, between the pre- and post-market entry operation; (2) the cultural aspect is not considered by European managers before approaching China; (3) only after entering the Chinese market, European managers realize the relevance of culture; (4) they perceive China as a single entity rather than intra-China cultural differences; (5) when approaching China, Euro...
The concept of psychic distance (PD) is recently re-introduced to International Business research... more The concept of psychic distance (PD) is recently re-introduced to International Business research to identify determinants, motives and location choices of foreign direct investments (FDI) from emerging market multinationals. In the context of Chinese green tech OFDI to Germany, we investigates if managers perceive differences, if they think that these perceived differences impact their international business activities between these two countries, and if manager’s perceptions change over time, namely between the pre-market entry and the post-entry operation. We use a multiple-case study research design with a sample of six Chinese companies which entered Germany through FDI. We found that managers perceive PD between home and host country and received insights on its impact on their businesses. Managers’ perceptions of differences along the dimensions are on average higher than their perceptions of the impact on business. PD perceptions can vary over time, i.e. from the pre- an...
Drawing upon social psychology and international business literature the aim of this paper is to ... more Drawing upon social psychology and international business literature the aim of this paper is to raise international managers and entrepreneurs' awareness on the opportunity to capitalize on cultural differences and diversity in international business settings. Following our quantitative and qualitative data collection based on managers' perceptions on cultural differences, we propose and illustrate the sociocognitive value of a group cultural laboratory as a potential "structured business practice" which enables to overcome the failing ethnocentric view in cross-cultural business contexts and leverage inter-individual/collective rather than intra-psychic construction of knowledge. We focus on opportunities rather than distance.
This PhD thesis investigates the concept of "psychic distance" in international busines... more This PhD thesis investigates the concept of "psychic distance" in international business contexts and looks at managers' perceptions of psychic distance and culture between home and host country. Psychic distance is defined by international business scholars as the existing perceived distance between the characteristics of the firm's home country and the characteristics of the firm's host country. Psychic distance is operationalized as a multi-dimensional construct including "culture" and other eleven dimensions (Child et al., 2009). Building on Child et al.'s (2009) studies, this thesis focuses on psychic distance and culture in the context of green tech Sino-European FDI. It is part of a wider EU Marie Curie project on Partnering Opportunities between Europe and China in the Renewable Energy and Environmental industry (POREEN). This thesis is structured in four papers and preceded by an introduction. As about culture, main findings show that man...
International Journal of Emerging Markets
Purpose The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, to analyze the impact of Chinese managers’ p... more Purpose The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, to analyze the impact of Chinese managers’ psychic distance (PD) with Germany on their businesses; and second, to investigate whether managers’ previous experiences affect their PD. Design/methodology/approach A multiple case study research design is adopted. It is based on six Chinese companies that have recently entered Germany through FDI. Findings PD influences the decision making of Chinese FDI to Germany, it has an impact on Chinese businesses in Germany on 4 out of 12 dimensions, namely, legal, political, cultural aspects as well as language. Managers with no international experience (study, work, foreign investment practice) perceive a higher impact of PD dimensions on business with the host country, whereas the opposite is true for experienced ones. Originality/value While extensive research has been conducted on the PD construct under the point of view of the differences between the home and host country’s characteristic...
China and Europe’s Partnership for a More Sustainable World, 2016
China and Europe’s Partnership for a More Sustainable World, 2016
ESJ Social Science, 2021
Objective: Italy and Germany are two large economies of the European Union. However, they differ ... more Objective: Italy and Germany are two large economies of the European Union. However, they differ with regard to culture, business environment structure, as well as social and political concerns. This paper focuses on how Chinese takeovers are perceived by stakeholders as reflected in the national press in Italy and Germany, and compares stakeholders' perceptions in two major national news magazines. Method: Stakeholders' perceptions were retrieved by adopting a qualitative approach which unfolds in a detailed and specific procedure. The textual elements referring to perceptions were categorized on the basis of specific questions. To ensure objectivity, the authors carried out independent reading and rating and the assessment of positive, neutral, and negative perceptions. Results: The German government highlights the growing awareness of a one-sided technology drain, while the Italian tends to perceive China as a negative investor. German and Italian shareholders have positive perceptions due to economic benefits. However, employees seem to have no voice. Conclusions: Factors related to national culture and business environments may be due to the fact that employees have no voice in the national press articles. Contributions: This study contributes to interpreting the phenomenon host country stakeholders, especially employees, who are under-represented.
Eurasian Journal of Business and Management
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Papers by Katiuscia Vaccarini