Research
Ideas@Beedie
Redefining organizational change processes
May 21, 2013
Gervase Bushe formalizes organizational development methodologies. In today’s constantly evolving business landscape, change can, and will, come in many shapes and forms. Whether an organization seeks to implement a new strategic vision, restructure their hierarchy, or lay the foundations for a new sustainability initiative, facilitating effective change processes is a mandatory requirement for any company. Yet somewhat surprisingly, the majority of the change processes taught in programs across the globe focus on techniques dating back more »More...
Understanding outsourcing
May 17, 2013
Ian McCarthy explores the hidden implications of third-party contracts. While politicians and economic leaders continue to speak to the virtues or pitfalls of outsourcing by companies and countries, the resulting benefit or lack thereof accrue to organizations on a case by case basis – hinging on information, resources and skills – according to two new research papers from Beedie School of Business professor Ian McCarthy. The articles – published in a special issue on outsourcing more »More...
Jeremy Hall explores effect of sustainable development considerations in the Brazilian energy industry
Apr 16, 2013
A 2010 share listing which raised $72.8 billion confirmed oil and gas giant Petrobras as the fourth largest company in the world. However, research from the Beedie School of Business argues that Petrobras’ route to becoming the global giant it is today has not necessarily involved the organization following textbook management advice when it comes to sustainable supply chains. The research argues that companies should include sustainable development considerations in supply chains as a means more »More...
Stephanie Bertels assembles working group to tackle environmental awareness, outcomes
Apr 9, 2013
Organizations in a number of business sectors are still struggling to embed sustainability into their culture. While this is not a challenge that will be accomplished overnight, it is one that Beedie School of Business assistant professor Stephanie Bertels is attempting to unravel. Bertels has a long-standing interest in sustainability, specifically how organizations can develop and implement innovative strategies for a sustainable future. Her latest research has resulted in tangible outcomes that are already helping more »More...
Beedie research reveals China winning race for Africa’s natural resources
Dec 22, 2012
With more and more international businesses turning to Africa as a source of foreign direct investment in the natural resource industries, organizations are searching for new methods to gain an advantage over their competitors. In light of this, new research by Beedie Associate Professor Jing Li suggests that Chinese firms are benefitting from a new type of bargaining model when it comes to Africa – one which provides them with a distinct competitive advantage over more »More...
The new chief negotiator
Dec 22, 2012
How China is edging ahead in the race for natural resources in Africa. With more and more international businesses turning to Africa as a source of foreign direct investment in the natural resource industries, organizations are searching for new methods to gain an advantage over their competitors. In light of this, new research by Beedie Associate Professor Jing Li suggests that Chinese firms are benefitting from a new type of bargaining model when it comes more »More...
Global marketing confronts the digital age
Dec 19, 2012
In March of 2011, in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan, Atlanta-based insurance giant Aflac Inc. was forced to confront a marketing fiasco with global implications. The voice of their famous Aflac duck, comedian Gilbert Gottfried, had used his Twitter account to make tasteless jokes about the natural disaster that wiped out entire cities on Japan’s northeast coast. The online backlash against Gottfried’s social media outburst – and ultimately Aflac more »More...
Beedie research explores role of Chinese government in small-to-medium sized enterprises
Dec 14, 2012
Can government come to the rescue of fast-growing enterprises in surging economic markets like China? In today’s high growth economies globally – China being a relative case in point – small-to-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are confronted with a myriad of business opportunities. At the same time, they must deal with institutions and a legacy of government involvement in their domestic environments. To this end, managers there must adopt an entrepreneurial mindset and take on what more »More...
Beedie professor Dennis Chung measures market inefficiencies
Dec 13, 2012
Dennis Chung isn’t about to let a proliferation of computer hardware get in the way of a good study on global markets. The professor of accounting at SFU’s Beedie School of Business not only lets computer servers take up valuable space in his office – he has also allowed them to invade his home. Chung, it turns out, is collecting financial data from markets around the world and around the clock – data that is more »More...
Drifting Away: Measuring Market Inefficiencies
Dec 13, 2012
Dennis Chung isn’t about to let a proliferation of computer hardware get in the way of a good study on global markets. The professor of accounting at SFU’s Beedie School of Business not only lets computer servers take up valuable space in his office – he has also allowed them to invade his home. Chung, it turns out, is collecting financial data from markets around the world and around the clock – data that is more »More...