International Business
In today’s global environment all business is international business. The IB Area focuses its research activities on understanding how managers and firms can thrive in an increasingly complex and dynamic global business environment. IB Area faculty members are engaged in numerous research activities that revolve around two main themes. The first is the strategic management of the multinational firm with a special emphasis on international alliance performance and technology transfer. The area also has a significant focus in the Asia-Pacific region. The second theme is on the management of individuals in multinational and multicultural organizations. This includes the study on International Human Resource Management topics such as expatriation/repatriation, international career development and work-life balance in a multinational setting and also the relationship of culturally different employees with their employer. Other areas of research interest and expertise include the development of intercultural competence, cross-cultural leader-member interactions, and the management of multicultural groups and teams.
Faculty List & Specializations
| Name | Position | Specialization & Research Interests |
|---|---|---|
| Rekha Krishnan | Assistant Professor | Dark side of trust, Inter-organizational performance, Trust repair, Technology transfer, Research Methods (Meta-analysis). |
| Mila Lazarova | Associate Professor & Area Coordinator, International Business | |
| Jing Li | Associate Professor | Joint ventures, foreign direct investments in China, Innovations and outward foreign direct investments of Chinese firms, real options theory and international strategy. |
| David C. Thomas | Professor of International Management Director, Centre for Global Workforce Strategy |
Research interests centre on the behaviour of culturally different individuals in organizational settings. Current topics include: cross-cultural leader-member interactions, multi-cultural teams, and cultural differences in the relationship of employees with their employer. |
| Rosalie L. Tung | Professor, The Ming and Stella Wong Professor of International Business | Comparative and Cross-cultural Management, Strategies for International Business, International Human Resources Management, Asia-Pacific Business, International Business Negotiations |
News & Activities
David Thomas appointed to Area Editorship with Journal of International Business Studies
July 8, 2010
David C. Thomas, Professor of International Management at SFU Business, has been appointed as Area Editor for Cross-Cultural Management with the Journal of International Business Studies (JIBS).
JIBS is the world’s top-rated journal in the field of international business, and consistently ranks highly in the Financial Times’ list of top 40 business journals.
Thomas’ editorial term commenced on July 1, and will last for three and a half years. His Cross-Cultural Management area scope will include cross-cultural or comparative research that focuses on the interrelationship between culture and management roles or processes. This includes cross-cultural decision making, negotiation in a cross-cultural context, ... Read More >>
Paper co-authored by David C. Thomas and Mila Lazarova named 2010 Carolyn Dexter Award winner
July 5, 2010
The Academy of Management recently announced that a paper co-authored by SFU Business professors David C. Thomas and Mila Lazarova has been selected as the Carolyn Dexter Award Winner for 2010. The Carolyn Dexter Award is an all-Academy award given to the paper that best meets the objective of internationalizing the Academy as defined by the International Theme Committee. Their paper, “Scientific Mindfulness: A Foundation for Future Themes in International Business,” proposes scientific mindfulness as the medium through which researchers should qualify the themes generating IB research. The paper will be presented at the SFU Business-sponsored 2010 Academy of ... Read More >>
SSHRC and NSERC Grants Awarded to SFU Business Faculty
May 25, 2010
Congratulations to the following members of the SFU Business Faculty on their successful grant applications.
NSERC Discovery Grant:
Andrew Gemino (User-centred Design of Requirements Engineering Techniques)
SSHRC Standard Research Grants:
Evan Gatev (The Impact of Pension Fund Governance on Investment Performance and Risk Management)
Eric Gedajlovic (The Effects of Top-Management Social Capital on Corporate Entrepreneurship and Internationalization in Developing Economies)
Nilesh Saraf (Firm-Performance Impacts of IT Implementation and IT Capabilities)
David C. Thomas (Bi-cultural Individuals in Organizations)
Natalie Zhao (The Impact of Negative Emotions on Learning from Errors)
... Read More >>
Rekha Krishnan Receives the 2009 Verity Award for "Overall Outstanding Paper in Management"
April 12, 2010
Rekha Krishnan, Assistant Professor of International Business at SFU Business, has been selected to receive the 2009 Verity Award for excellence in research in the management field.
Her award-winning paper, co-authored with Alex Eapen, is entitled “Conform or Rebel: When Does Keeping to the Rules Enhance Firm Performance?” It was published in the June 2009 issue of Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences (CJAS).
The Verity International Award for Overall Outstanding Paper in Management is given in recognition of the most outstanding paper ... Read More >>
SFU Business garners double exposure in Academy of Management Review
February 8, 2010
New research focused on human resources and organizational behaviour from SFU Business has been recognized with publication in the Academy of Management Review, one of the most prestigious journals in the management field.
The occasion is significant in that two SFU Business professors – associate professor Mila Lazarova and assistant professor Andrew Von Nordenflycht, who are part of a vibrant cohort of new scholars – have published separate articles in the journal’s January edition.
Lazarova published the article “Elucidating the Positive Side of the Work-Family Interface on International Assignments: A Model of Expatriate Work and Family Performance” with co-authors M. Westman and ... Read More >>
Rosalie Tung Speaks On 'Boundary-less' Careers
September 14, 2009
Ming and Stella Wong Professor of International Business, Dr. Rosalie L. Tung was recently featured in a Vancouver Sun article by Joanne Lee-Young about her presentation on human capital, the knowledge economy and 'brain circulation' vs. 'brain drain/gain' at the David Lam Centre. ... Read More >>
David C. Thomas talks about Cultural Intelligence on BlogTalkRadio.com
September 4, 2009
David C. Thomas, prof of international management and director of the new SFU Centre for Global Workforce Strategy, was on BlogTalkRadio.com. He talked about how in a global economy the ability to interact across cultures is a fundamental job requirement for just about everyone.
David describes a universal set of techniques and people skills that helps you to adapt quickly to and thrive in any cultural environment. He also addresses the interplay of race and gender with cultural factors and enhances your appreciation of cultural diversity.
[Listen Here] ... Read More >>
Six SFU Business Researchers Awarded SSHRC Standard Research Grants
April 17, 2009
Congratulations to six SFU Business faculty members, four of whom are new scholars, in their successful Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Standard Research Grant applications. These are results for the Fall 2008 competition which funds three-year research projects and will be awarded in the Spring of 2009.
... Read More >>
SFU Business Professor David C. Thomas Awarded Academy of HR Development Book of the Year 2008
March 24, 2009
The 2008 award has been given to Dr. David C. Thomas, Professor of International Management, for his book Cross-Cultural Management: Essential Concepts, 2nd Edition. This continues Dr. Thomas’ work on cultural intelligence in the areas of international business and management. ... Read More >>
SSHRC Small (Fall 2008 competition) Results
February 24, 2009
The results from the SSHRC Small Fall 2008 competition have been announced. ... Read More >>
Jing Li’s Article Accepted by the Strategic Management Journal
February 16, 2009
Assistant Professor Jing Li’s article titled, “Control, Collaboration, and Productivity in International Joint Ventures: Theory and Evidence” was recently accepted by the Strategic Management Journal.
... Read More >>
2006/7 Scholarly Activities Report
December 1, 2008
Download a copy of the 2006/7 Scholarly Activities Report. ... Read More >>
David C. Thomas’ Book Reviewed in the Shanghai Daily
July 21, 2008
The book, "Cultural Intelligence – People Skills for Global Business" by SFU Business Professor David C. Thomas and Kerry Inkson was reviewed in the July 19 edition of the Shanghai Daily News. ... Read More >>
Low Cultural IQ Could Hijack Your Career
April 7, 2008
By Diane Luckow
A new web-based tool for assessing an individual’s cultural competence could help corporations and government agencies predict whether or not an employee will be effective on an overseas assignment or a good leader or participant on a multicultural work team.
... Read More >>
Research Report
April 7, 2008
Presentation by the Director of Research, Dave Thomas, on the research accomplishments of faculty over the past year. Click here to download. ... Read More >>
Faculty Kudos
July 1, 2007
SFU's new tagline "Thinking of the World" is reinforced by what the world thinks of our faculty. Here's what some of them are up to:
... Read More >>
SFU Business Researchers Score
July 1, 2007
SFU Business researchers scored well in the 2007 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) competition, receiving funding for six out of eight grant requests, plus an Initiative for the New Economy (INE) grant.
... Read More >>
SFU Business Continues to Expand the Frontiers of Management Knowledge
March 1, 2007
SFU Business researchers are breaking new ground on a wide range of topics from influence of trust in international strategic alliances to consumer demand for professional sports teams. ... Read More >>
SFU Business Faculty Reap Almost $500,000 in SSHRC/NSERC Grants
October 1, 2006
SFU Business research projects have garnered almost $500,000 in research grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC).
... Read More >>
When Does Trust Matter to Alliance Performance?
March 1, 2006
“In strategic alliances, trust can be a double-edged sword,” says SFU Business assistant professor Rekha Krishnan. “It can have both performance-enhancing potential and performance-hampering potential.”
... Read More >>
Featured Faculty
Coming Soon.
Awards & Achievements
Krishnan, Rekha- Awarded the Canadian Journal of Administrative Science (CJAS) Verity International Award for Overall Outstanding Paper in Management for the article "Conform or Rebel: When Does Keeping to the Rules Enahnce Firm Performance?" (with co-author Alex Eapen)
- SSHRC Standard Research Grant: When Do Faultlines in Joint Venture Teams Affect Trust Repair? (2009-2012)
- SSHRC Small Grant: Pilot Project Examining the Trust Repair Strategies in Joint Venture Teams. (2007-2009)
- Academy of International Business: 2007 Richard Farmer Best Dissertation Award – “When is Trust Produced and When Does it Matter? Taking a Closer Look at Trust and Alliance Performance.”
- SSHRC Standard Research Grant: Changes in the HR Function in Canada and Abroad: The Effects of Strategic Integration of HR, HR Outsourcing, and Sharing of HR Responsibilities. (2008-2011)
- SSHRC Initiative on the New Economy Grant: Training and Human Resource Development in Canada Current Trends and International Comparisons. (2004-2005)
- Australian Centre for Research in Employment and Work: 2006 Kings College London Conference Best Paper Award, Work/Life Balance Stream.
- SSHRC Standard Research Grant: Political Ties and Firm Innovation (2009-2012)
- SSHRC Small Grant: The Locational Determinants of Chinese Outward Foreign Direct Investment. (2007-2009)
- SSHRC Standard Research Grant: Bicultural Individuals in Organizations (2011-2013)
- SSHRC Small: Bicultural Individuals in Organizations (2008)
- SSHRC Standard Research Grant: Cultural intelligence: Predictive Validity. (2007-2010)
- SSHRC Standard Research Grant: Cultural intelligence: Construct Development. (2004-2007)
- SSHRC Research Development Initiative: Re-Conceptualizing the Leadership Prototype Paradigm in the Context of Cross-National and Intra National Diversity: An Exploratory Investigation (2010-2012)
- SSHRC Standard Research Grant: Global Workforce and "Boundaryless" Careers: Implications for International Competitiveness. (2006-2009)
Recent Faculty Books
Lazarova, Mila- Lazarova, M. & Lowe, M. (In press) Work and family: Research in cross national and international contexts. Book chapter accepted for publication in Smith, P.B., M. F. Peterson, & D. C. Thomas (Eds.) Handbook of Cross-Cultural Management Research. Sage Publications.
- Caligiuri, P. & Lazarova, M. (In press) Work-life balance on global assignments. Book chapter accepted for publication in S. Poelmans & P. Caligiuri (Eds.) Harmonizing Work, Family and Personal Life in Organizations: From Policy to Practice. Cambridge University Press.
- Lazarova, M. (2006). International human resource management in a global perspective. In M. J. Morley, N. Heraty & D. Collings (Eds.) International Human Resource Management and International Assignments (pp. 24-51). New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
- Thomas, D. C. & Lazarova, M. (2006). Expatriate adjustment and performance: A critical review. In Stahl, G. & I. Bjorkman (Eds.) Handbook of Research in International Human Resource Management (pp. 247-264). Edward Elgar Publishing.
- Joshi, A. & Lazarova, M. (2005). Do “global” teams need “global” leaders? Identifying leadership competencies in multinational teams. In D. Shapiro, J. Cheng, & M. Von Glinow (Eds.) Managing Multinational Teams: Perspectives from Global Scholars (pp. 281-302). Elsevier.
- Lazarova, M., Caligiuri, P. & Tarique, I. (2005). Training, learning and development in MNCs. In Scullion, H., & M. Linehan (Eds.) International Human Resource Management: A Critical Text (pp.71-90). New York: Palgrave Macmillan
- Caligiuri, P. C., & Lazarova, M. (2005). Expatriate Assignments and Work-family Conflict. In Poelmans, S. A. Y. (Ed.), International Research in work and family. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.
- Alan M. Rugman & Jing Li (Eds.). (2005). Real Options and International Investment. Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.
- Alan M. Rugman & Jing Li. (2005). Real Options and International Investment. In Rugman, Alan M. & Jing Li (Ed.), Real Options and International Investment. Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.
- Jing Li and Tony W. Tong. (2007). Real Options and International Strategic Management. In Steve Tallman (Ed.), A New Generation in International Strategic Management. Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.
- Thomas, David C. (2008). Cross-cultural Management: Essential concepts. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. (In-Press)
- Smith, Peter B., Peterson, Mark F., & Thomas, David C. (Eds.). (2008). The Handbook of Cross-cultural Management Research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. (In-Press)
- Thomas, David C., & Fitzsimmons, Stacey R. (2008). Cross Cultural Skills and Abilities: From Communication Competence to Cultural Intelligence. In Smith, Peter B., Peterson, Mark F., & Thomas, David C. (Eds.), The Handbook of Cross-Cultural Management Research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. (In-Press)
- Smith, Peter B., Peterson, Mark F., & Thomas, David C. (2008). Introduction. In Smith, Peter B., Peterson, Mark F., & Thomas, David C. (Eds.), The Handbook of Cross-Cultural Management Research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. (In-Press)
- Thomas, David C. & Inkson, Kerr. (2007). Careers Across Cultures. In H. P. Gunz & M Peiperl (Eds.), Handbook of Career Studies (pp. 451-470) London: Sage Publications.
- Thomas, David C. & Lazarova, Mila, B. (2006). Expatriate Adjustment and Performance: A Critical Review. In G. Stahl & I. Björkman (Eds.), Handbook of Research in International Human Resource Management (pp. 247-264). Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar, Ltd.
- Tung, R.L. and Varma, A. (2008). Expatriate Selection and Evaluation. In Smith, P.B., Peterson, M.F., and Thomas, D.C. (Eds.), Handbook of Cross-Cultural Management Research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. (In press).
- Tung, R.L., Walls, J., and Frese, M. (2007). Cross-cultural Entrepreneurship: The Case of China. In J.R. Baum, M. Frese, and R.A. Barton (Eds.), The Psychology of Entrepreneurship - The Organizational Frontiers Series (pp. 265-286). Mahwah, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Research Papers
For full papers, please contact the authors.
Journal Articles Published:
- Tung, R.L., Enderwick, P., & Chung, H.F.L. (2011). Immigrant effects and International Business Activity: An Overview. Journal of Asian Business Studies, 5(1), 6-22.
- Thomas, D.C., Fitzsimmons, S.R., Ravlin, E.C., Au, K.Y., Ekelund, B.Z., & Barzanty, C. (2010). Psychological Contracts across Cultures. Organization Studies, 31(11), 1437-1458.
- Tung, R.L., & Verbeke, A. (2010). Beyond Hofstede and GLOBE: Improving the quality of cross-cultural research. Journal of International Business Studies, 41(8), 1259-1274.
- Thomas, D.C., Brannen, M.Y., & Garcia, D. (2010). Bicultural Individuals and Intercultural Effectiveness. European Journal of Cross-Cultural Competence and Management, Forthcoming.
- Tung, R.L., & Chung, H.F.L. (2010). Diaspora and Trade Facilitation: The Case of Ethnic Chinese in Australia. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 27(3), 371-392. [Journal Abstract]
- Thomas, D.C. (2010). Cultural Intelligence and All That Jazz: The Cognitive Revolution in International Management Research. Advances in International Management, 23, 169-187.
- Tung, R.L., & Chand, M. (2010). Global competitiveness, consumer choice and 'country-of-origin' effect: An exploratory East-West study. Asia Pacific Business Review, 1-16.
- Li, J., Chen, V.Z., & Shapiro, D. (2010). Are OECD-prescribed 'good corporate practices' really good in an emerging economy? Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Online.
- Brannen, M.Y., & Thomas, D.C. (2010). Bicultural Individuals in Organizations. International Journal of Cross Cultural Management. 10(1), 5-16. [Journal Abstract]
- Li, J., Chen, D., & Shapiro, D.M. (2010). Product Innovations in Emerging Economies: The Role of Foreign Knowledge Access Channels and Internal Efforts in Chinese Firms. Management and Organizational Review. Doi: 10.1111/j.1740-8784.2009.00155. [Journal Abstract]
- Bello, D., Leung, K., Radebaugh, E., Tung, R.L., & Van Witteloostuijn, A. (2009). From the Editors: Student Samples in International Business Research. Journal of International Business Studies, 40(3), 361-364. [Journal Abstract]
- Tung, R.L., & Bauman, C. (2009). Comparing the Attitudes toward Money, Material Possessions and Savings of Overseas Chinese vis-a-vis Chinese in China: Convergence, Divergence or Cross-vergence, vis-a-vis 'One Size Fits All' Human Resource Management Policies and Practices. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 20(11), 2382-2401.
- Tung, R.L. (2009). Cross-cultural Research Diary: A Personal Odyssey. European Journal of Cross Cultural Competence and Management, 1(1), 9-13. [Journal Abstract]
- Li, J., Zhou, C., & Zajac, E.J. (2009). Control, Collaboration, and Productivity in International Joint Ventures: Theory and Evidence. Strategic Management Journal, 30, 865-884. [Article Abstract]
- Lazarova, M.B., & Taylor, S. (2009). Boundaryless Careers, Social Capital, and Knowledge Management: Implications for Organizational Performance. Journal of Organizational Behavior. 30, 119-139. [Journal Abstract]
- Lazarova, M.B., & Kroumova, M. (2009). Broad-Based Incentive Plans, HR Practices and Company Performance. Human Resource Management Journal, 19(4), 355-374.
- Lazarova, M.B., Joshi, A., & Liao, H. (2009). Building Trust and Commitment over Distance and Time: Examining the Role of Leadership in Virtual Teams. Organization Science, 20(1), 240-252.
- Eapen, A., & Krishnan, R. (2009). Conform or Rebel: When Does Keeping to the Rules Enhance Firm Performance? Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences, 26, 95-108. [Journal Abstract]
- Janowicz-Panjaitan, M., & Krishnan, R. (2009). Measures for Dealing with Competence and Integrity Violations of Interorganizational Trust at the Corporate and Operating Levels of Organizational Hierarchy. Journal of Management Studies, 46(2), 245-268. [Journal Abstract]
- Geyskens, I., Krishnan, R., Steenkamp, J-B.E.M., & Cunha, P.V. (2009). A Review and Evaluation of Meta-Analysis Practices in Management Research. Journal of Management. [Journal Abstract]
- Fang, T., Worm, V., & Tung, R.L. (2008). Changing Success and Failure Factors in Business Negotiations with the PRC. International Business Review. 17, 159-169. [Journal Abstract]
- Joshi, A., Lazarova, M. B., & Liao, H. (2008). Getting Everyone on Board: The Role of Inspirational Leadership in Geographically Dispersed Teams. Organization Science. 20, 240-252. [Journal Abstract]
- Li, J., Dhanaraj, C., & Shockley, R.L. (2008). Joint Venture Evolution: Extending the Real Options Approach. Managerial and Decision Economics. 29, 317-336. [Journal Abstract]
- Tong, T.W., and Li, J. (2008). Real Options and MNE Strategies in Asia Pacific. Journal of International Business Studies. 38, 481-498. [Journal Abstract]
- Tung, R.L. (2008). Brain Circulation, Diaspora, and International Competitiveness. European Management Journal. 26, 298-304. [Journal Abstract]
- Tung, R.L. (2008). The Cross-Cultural Research Imperative: The Need to Balance Cross-National and Intro-National Diversity. Journal of International Business Studies. 39, 41-46. [Journal Abstract]
- Tung, R.L. (2008). Do Race and Gender Matter in International Assignments To/From Asia Pacific? An Exploration Study of Attitudes Among Chinese and Korean Executives. Human Resource Management. 47(1), 91-110. [Journal Abstract
- Tung, R.L. (2008). Human Capital or Talent Flows: Implications for Future Directions in Research on Asia Pacific. Asia Pacific Business Review. 14(4), 469-472. [Journal Abstract]
- Tung, R.L., Worm, V., & Fang, T. (2008). Sino-Western Business Negotiations Revisited – Years After China's Open Door Policy. Organizational Dynamics. 37(1), 60-74. [Journal Abstract]
- Zhou, C., & Li, J. (2008). Product Innovation in Emerging Market-Based International Joint Ventures: An Organizational Ecology Perspective. Journal of International Business Studies. 39, 1114-1132. [Journal Abstract]
- Havlovic, S.J., & Tung, R.L. (2007). Transforming State Organizations to Survive in Competitive Markets: Lessons from Poland. European Union Revue of Organizing. [Journal Abstract]
- Lazarova, M.B., & Cerdin, J. (2007). Revisiting Repatriation Concerns: Organizational Support Versus Career and Contextual Influences. Journal of International Business Studies. 38, 404-429. [Journal Abstract]
- Li, J., & Rugman, A.M. (2007). Real Options and the Theory of Foreign Direct Investment. International Business Review. 16, 687-712. [Journal Abstract]
- Luo, Y., & Tung, R.L. (2007). International Expansion of Emerging Market Enterprises: A Springboard Perspective. Journal of International Business Studies. 38(4), 481-498. [Journal Abstract]
- Peterson, M.F., & Thomas, D.C. (2007). Organizational Behavior in Multinational Organizations. Journal of Organizational Behavior. 28, 261-279. [Journal Abstract]
- Rugman, A.M., & Li, J. (2007). Will China's Multinationals Succeed Globally or Regionally? European Management Journal. 25(5), 333-343. [Journal Abstract]
- Tung, R.L. (2007). The Human Resource Challenge to Outward Foreign Direct Investment Aspirations from Emerging Economies: The Case of China. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 18(5), 868-889. [Journal Abstract]
- Tung, R.L., & Lazarova, M.B. (2006). Brain Drain Versus Brain Gain: An Exploratory Study of Ex-Host Country Nationals in Central and East Europe. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 17(11), 1853-1872. [Journal Abstract]