Multinational Clients Research Articles

An Innovative Model of English Teaching Based on Particle Swarm Algorithm Construction

English teaching in construction plays a vital role in facilitating effective communication and collaboration within the industry. By equipping construction professionals with proficiency in English, they can navigate global markets, engage with multinational clients, and access a wealth of resources and knowledge available in the English language. English instruction tailored to the construction sector emphasizes industry-specific terminology, communication skills for project management, and comprehension of technical documents and specifications. Additionally, English language proficiency enables construction workers to comply with safety protocols, understand complex engineering plans, and participate in international conferences and training programs. This paper introduces an innovative model of English teaching tailored for construction professionals, utilizing a Particle Swarm Algorithm Construction with Weighted Particle Swarm Classification (W-PSO). Acknowledging the significance of effective communication in the construction industry, especially in multinational contexts, this research endeavors to optimize English language instruction through advanced computational techniques. The proposed model combines traditional teaching methodologies with the W-PSO algorithm, a metaheuristic optimization technique inspired by the behavior of particles in a swarm. W-PSO dynamically adjusts the weightings assigned to various instructional components, such as vocabulary acquisition, grammar instruction, and communication skills development, to optimize learning outcomes for construction professionals. Simulation results a cohort of 100 construction professionals participating in the English teaching program, the average improvement in English language proficiency is measured at 25% after completing the W-PSO-enhanced curriculum. Furthermore, specific language skills exhibit notable enhancements, with vocabulary acquisition increasing by 30%, grammar comprehension by 20%, and communication skills by 35%. The W-PSO algorithm dynamically adjusts the weightings assigned to various instructional components, optimizing the learning process. For instance, vocabulary acquisition receives a weighting of 0.4, grammar comprehension 0.3, and communication skills 0.3, resulting in a balanced and comprehensive approach to English language instruction.

The Relevance of The Value System in the Performance of Multinational Companies in Karachi, Pakistan

This paper aims to explore the multinational companies operating in Pakistan that are convincingly aware of Islamic, cultural, and ethical values. To study a sample survey designed to gather and analyze information on the significance of these values? Do non-Muslim Pakistani multinational executives have scant knowledge of cultural, religious, and moral values? Is the impact of the existence of multinational companies on the local culture of Western values? Do the expectations differ to some degree from those of the locals? Will the contribution of foreign corporations to the host countries make a meaningful contribution to the socio-economic stability and economic growth of the host country? Will the perception of the administrators of global corporations vary from that of multinational clients? The targeted survey consists of two categories, i.e. multinational managers and multinational clients, and found that multinational managers are mainly Muslim in the education sector, while 96 percent of multinational respondents have been residing in the residential sector since birth. When the Asian financial crunch severely affected the region, transnational businesses played a significant role in the rebuilding of Pakistan's economy and caused a considerable export-oriented character in economic development, the economy recovered rapidly compared to any other region with the aid of multinational companies.

Analyse, Enhance and Reiterate Risk management strategies, implemented in Information Technology Project Management, amidst COVID-19

The global perspective of human life drastically changed after the spread of COVID-19. The world reduced itself, to a digital cocoon. Education, work, commerce, shopping, industry, sales - all walks of life, transformed mostly into a digital mode. The IT (Information Technology) and ITES (IT Enabled services) saw a tremendous transformation in the operational aspects. ‘WFH (Work from Home)’ enabled the resources to work from their preferred locations. These factors increased the risk of data management and data security. The security of the network and the personal devices used to handle the sensitive and confidential data aggregated the risk factors in project management. The significant challenges faced by the IT sector project management were (1)Global Travel restrictions (2) Forecast of Global Recession in near future and resultant minimization of budget allocated to new projects (3)Negative growth Impact from multiple domains, resulting in reduction of new projects and reducing the scope for existing ones (4)Initial adaptation glitches due to the quantum leap in the digital channels (5)Manage constant fluctuating attitudes and anxieties of employees on personal aspects, job security, drastic change in work environment(6) Unprecedented and unpredictable exorbitant influence of macro environment in the routine enterprise activities. The chances of non-availability of critical resource due to health issues, the network issues faced in the remote locations, the unpredictable exposure of data - all these were contributing elements that increased the risk management complexity. In future, many IT companies have decided to operate mainly in the WFH mode as the operational expenses are drastically reduced. The implementation of efficient and effective risk management strategies become crucial considering the long-term implementation of ‘not from office’ operating model. The trust of the multinational clients, commitment of meeting the deadlines, maintaining the confidentiality and sensitivity of data, protecting the unintended intrusion from the digital malicious practices - all are the additional significant risks and challenges, as the probability for the occurrence of these events have increased exponentially due to the latest work arrangements. This paper attempts to evaluate the current risk mitigation strategies and analyse the gaps in the current system. The aim is to effectively manage the upcoming threats and risks in the long-term implementation of the current working (WFH) scenarios. The overall objective of the paper is to (1) analyse the present-day risks (2) evaluate the contemporary ideas that could be modified into solid framework for better risk mitigation strategies in long-term (3) what to anticipate in the future risk analysis and management processes related to IT Project Management.

Auditor Multinational Expertise and Audit Quality

ABSTRACT Over the past several decades, the scope of public companies' operations has become increasingly global. This has led to concern over the ability of audit firms to conduct high-quality audits across geographically dispersed foreign operations. We contribute to the growing body of research in this area by investigating the association between audit quality and local audit offices' expertise in conducting multinational audit engagements. We use two complementary measures to proxy for an audit office's multinational expertise: (1) local multinational market leadership, and (2) country-specific experience. Using a sample of multinational client firms headquartered in the United States, we consistently find that audit quality is stronger when the auditor possesses expertise conducting global group audits, possesses particular expertise in the country where a client has a significant subsidiary, or possesses both types of expertise on an engagement. Several sample partitions reinforce our main results. The results are robust to propensity score matching, as well as a placebo test using clients of the audit office that generate no foreign sales. Our evidence suggests that the challenge of conducting multinational audits is more easily met by auditors with expertise on these types of engagements. JEL Classifications: M40; M42; F23. Data Availability: All data used are publicly available.

Auditor Multinational Expertise and Audit Quality

Over the past several decades, the scope of public companies’ operations has become increasingly global. This has led to concern over the ability of audit firms to conduct high-quality audits across geographically dispersed foreign operations. We contribute to the growing body of research in this area by investigating the association between audit quality and local audit offices’ expertise in conducting multinational audit engagements. We use two complementary measures to proxy for an audit office’s multinational expertise: (i) local multinational market leadership, and (ii) country-specific experience. Using a sample of multinational client firms headquartered in the United States, we consistently find that audit quality is stronger when the auditor possesses expertise conducting global group audits, possesses particular expertise in the country where a client has a significant subsidiary, or possesses both types of expertise on an engagement. Several sample partitions reinforce our main results. The results are robust to propensity score matching as well as a placebo test using clients of the audit office that generate no foreign sales. Our evidence suggests that the challenge of conducting multinational audits is more easily met by auditors with expertise on these types of engagements.

FOREIGN BANKS IN INDIA

Narasimham Committee in 1991 and the licensing of the new private sector banks through the next two decades inaugurated an era of change. Meanwhile, the opening-up of the economy to increased participation by foreign players created greater opportunities for foreign banks to work with their multinational clients in India. In the more recent past, foreign banks have followed Indian corporate entities in their outbound expansions. The survival of the banking system in India through the financial crisis has demonstrated its strengths and most foreign banks present in India believe that India is a market with undeniable potential. 
 After the setting up of Foreign Banks in India, the banking sector has become competitive and customer friendly. In that, four foreign banks have set up shop in the recent past. At present, there are 43 foreign banks operating in India with a network of 334 branches.

Bottleneck breakthrough, action learning and transformation capability

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the main advantages of integrating bottleneck theory, action learning and transformation capabilities to phenomenon and process analysis systems. Design/methodology/approach – This paper selects three typical cases, using grounded theory standardized coding procedures, and selects exploratory case study approach. Findings – Inward small and medium manufacturing enterprises use the bottleneck breakthrough program and provide a correct knowledge input for action learning. Action learning provides a strong guarantee that for the implementation of bottleneck breakthrough program, programming and action learning are required to continually solve problems and achieve goals in the process. Research limitations/implications – The authors used inward manufacturing small- and medium-sized enterprises as research subjects The authors did not analysis the role of knowledge services; the future studies could explore how to improve the performance through the transformation value co-creation. Practical implications – Because of the lack of resources and capacity, small- and medium-sized enterprise adopt appropriate micro-innovation and continuous micro-transformation to break the bottleneck stage and achieve small victories. Originality/value – Learning and development enterprises are not only through multinational clients which restructuring enhance the learning capacity of the international M & A path. It does not conduct thorough and comprehensive change, and also not related to the structural of readjustment organization. In fact, the radical change and transformation strategy is different than other strategies.

Monitor objectivity with important clients: Evidence from auditor opinions around the world

We examine whether monitors are likely to compromise their monitoring objectivity in the face of economically important clients in international business settings. In the context of external auditing and assurance services, we measure monitor objectivity by whether auditors are more (or less) likely to issue to their important clients modified audit opinions, that is, audit opinions provided to outside investors about the firm that demotes explicit areas of concern. Using a large cross-country sample, we document that auditors are more likely to issue modified opinions to their economically important clients relative to other clients. Furthermore, we find that this association is stronger (1) for Big N auditors, (2) for multinational audit clients, and (3) in countries with stronger legal regimes. These results suggest that monitors prioritize the protection of their reputation over lucrative economic relationships, and such information certification function is more pronounced for international auditors, multinational client firms, and in strong legal regimes.

Employee Motivation from Performance Appraisal Implications: Test of a Theory in the Software Industry in West Bengal (India)

The Software industry and its operation have attracted the concentration of a considerable number of researchers in the last decade, as the industry has proven its uniqueness in nature, operation, contribution to GDP and HR practice. The software industry is distinguished from other industries, by fast changing technology, quality conscious and multinational clients, stiff international competition and shortage as well as fast obsolesce of skill, although the success of IT companies depends on its’ talented and skilled workforce. As a result, measurement and management of performance of individual, team and the organization as a whole is a requisite. The paper tried to study the attitude of the employees’ of the software companies in West Bengal (India) towards performance appraisal. The paper has identified main consequences of appraisal from the previous literatures and tried to find out the effects of those end results on employee motivation towards performance appraisal. The exploratory paper, based on primary survey of 506 employee data collected from 19 software companies of Kolkata, the tier I region for the software industry in West Bengal. Data are analyzed using factor analysis, to find out the applications of appraisal, followed by a binary regression to understand their implications on the employee motivation. The study has found the importance of the line managers in the practice of the appraisal process also reviewed different dilemmas regarding appraisal practice and employee issues depending on company's size, business focus. The practice of appraising and its implications are also diverse in different companies throughout the industry.

Multinational Clients: A Source Of Competitive Advantage For Multinational Audit Firms

This research evaluates the competitive advantages of the Big 6 audit firms in selected foreign markets, namely in Malaysia, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom. In particular, the current study investigates audit pricing for multinational clients headquartered in the above regions. The analyses consider the degree of multinationality of the client and the locations of multinational clients operations in order to gain insight into the determination of audit fees and audit firms competitive advantages. The results indicate that audit fee premiums increase as the level of multinationality of the client increases in the Malaysian market, but not in the Hong Kong or UK markets. Also, in Malaysia, the magnitude of the Big 6 audit fee premium increases for clients with subsidiaries in developed countries. However, in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, the location of client subsidiaries in developed countries does not provide additional competitive advantages for Big 6 firms.

Outsourcing Big Pharma

Outsourcing Big Pharma

The congruency between performance improvement and performance management

Performance ImprovementVolume 45, Issue 8 p. 5-7 Book Review The congruency between performance improvement and performance management George M. Piskurich, George M. Piskurich George M. Piskurich: is an organizational learning and performance consultant specializing in e-learning interventions, performance analysis, and performance management. His workshops on self-directed learning, structured mentoring, instructional design, facilitation skills, and preparing learners for elearning have been rated outstanding by participants from organizations worldwide. With more than 25 years of experience in learning technology, he has been a classroom instructor, training manager, Chief Learning Officer, instructional designer, and an e-learning and performance consultant for multinational clients and smaller organizations. He has created classroom seminars, on-the-job training mentoring systems, and e-learning interventions using various types of content from management development to technical skills. George has been a presenter and workshop leader at more than 30 conferences and symposia and is an active member of both the International Society for Performance Improvement and the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD). He has written books on instructional technology, facilitation skills, self-directed learning, instructional design, and telecommuting; authored journal articles and book chapters on various topics; and edited three books on e-learning. In 1986, he was ASTD's Instructional Technologist of the Year, and he won the Best Use of Instructional Technology in Business award in 1992. He may be reached at Gpiskurich@cs.com.Search for more papers by this author George M. Piskurich, George M. Piskurich George M. Piskurich: is an organizational learning and performance consultant specializing in e-learning interventions, performance analysis, and performance management. His workshops on self-directed learning, structured mentoring, instructional design, facilitation skills, and preparing learners for elearning have been rated outstanding by participants from organizations worldwide. With more than 25 years of experience in learning technology, he has been a classroom instructor, training manager, Chief Learning Officer, instructional designer, and an e-learning and performance consultant for multinational clients and smaller organizations. He has created classroom seminars, on-the-job training mentoring systems, and e-learning interventions using various types of content from management development to technical skills. George has been a presenter and workshop leader at more than 30 conferences and symposia and is an active member of both the International Society for Performance Improvement and the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD). He has written books on instructional technology, facilitation skills, self-directed learning, instructional design, and telecommuting; authored journal articles and book chapters on various topics; and edited three books on e-learning. In 1986, he was ASTD's Instructional Technologist of the Year, and he won the Best Use of Instructional Technology in Business award in 1992. He may be reached at Gpiskurich@cs.com.Search for more papers by this author First published: 13 October 2006 https://doi.org/10.1002/pfi.4930450802Citations: 1 AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article.Citing Literature Volume45, Issue8September 2006Pages 5-7 RelatedInformation

Globalization and Culture: An Exploratory Study

Accounting firms today provide services to multinational clients. In order to do so, accountants must not only understand the nuts and bolts of running businesses throughout the world but also the cross-cultural differences that appear when operating globally. The provision of adequate and effective service will require recognition of cross-cultural differences and the ability to incorporate this recognition into all client interactions and services rendered. Achieving an adequate understanding of cross-cultural differences, however, becomes somewhat problematic in that opinions differ as to the stability of such differences. Divergence theorists believe national cultural characteristics to be enduring with differences among countries remaining intact over time. Convergence theorists, on the other hand, believe worldwide homogenization to be occurring due to the effects of globalization on countries, cultures and people. Child's 1981 review of cross-cultural studies revealed that most studies concluding convergence focused on macro-level issues such as organizational structure and technology whereas studies that concluded divergence focused on micro-level issues - in particular, the behavior of people within organizations. We offer an exploratory study of micro-level issues. We propose that although there may be homogenizing effects of globalization at the macro level, people's values and behaviors are less likely to be affected. Our study examines current measurements of cultural characteristics from business people in Germany, Japan, and the United States (U.S.), three highly globalized countries. The results show that the three countries are different in certain cultural aspects and similar in others. The results of this study have important implications for accountants and others seeking to serve multinational clients as well as for the continually expanding field of cross-cultural research.

MARKET CONCENTRATION IN THE AIR FREIGHT FORWARDING INDUSTRY

ABSTRACTA rapid increase in the level of market concentration in the supply chain management industries has created firms that enjoy the economies of scale and scope necessary to offer multinational clients integrated services on a worldwide basis. This paper examines how changes in the structure of the freight forwarding industry have affected the nature of the services the industry offers across several Southeast Asian economies. The paper focuses on the role that large global forwarders have played in bringing advanced logistics services, especially those linked to the air freight industry, to this industrialising region. Data is used from interviews with over 100 freight forwarders in Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines to examine both the geographic variation in the provision of air cargo services and the manner in which the types of services a forwarder offers vary with firm size.

The contemporary gender agenda of the US public accounting profession: embracing feminism or maintaining empire?

Abstract In this paper we analyze the social relations operating within the contemporary gender agenda of the United States (US) public accounting profession, with the ultimate goal of revealing the role that that agenda plays in the expansion of empire. Competing narratives of globalization are used to support our characterization of the US as a contemporary empire, and to develop the role played by the US profession in that imperial project. A feminist account of the ideology of domesticity serves as a framework to critique the contemporary gender agenda of the US profession, and feminist critiques of globalization and development are used to interpret the gendered nature of the economic agenda that is currently being exported by the US profession and its multinational clients. The analysis leads to conclusions about the involvement of the US profession in facilitating empire and about complexities embedded in the roles held by women in the US public accounting profession.

Supply chain evaluation in the service industry: a framework development compared to manufacturing

The services industry, especially the professional sector in the auditing, accounting, and financial consulting, was and still is moving toward globalization. This move was characterized by the cooperation between headquartered US firms such as the Big‐five and other related firms all over the world. The result was increasing the efficiency and effectiveness. In addition, it satisfied the multinational companies by providing the service required by the branches of those multinational clients. The efficiency and effectiveness of globalization is not a simple issue. Several factors are involved to achieve this issue. One important factor is balancing the trade‐off between decreasing the costs and increasing the quality of the services rendered. The paper proposes one way to achieve this balancing is by the appropriate coordination between the headquarters and their branches.

American Management Consulting Companies in Western Europe, 1920 to 1990: Products, Reputation, and Relationships

This article surveys the expansion of American management consulting companies to Western Europe in the twentieth century. It focuses on the way these consultancies built and sustained activities outside their home country. A number of elements facilitated expansion abroad, including the creation of new and distinctive “products,” or approaches to management, and the use of domestic multinational clients as “bridges” to foreign countries. But to be successful in the long run, American consulting companies needed to create relationships with clients in the host country. In this respect, social and, sometimes, political contacts with the local elite, usually established through a few well-connected individuals, proved a crucial advantage.

Globalization and nationalism in a multinational accounting firm: The case of opening new markets in Eastern Europe

As major multinationals involved in global expansion, the Big Six are investing in new markets throughout those parts of the world where they believe they can make money. This paper presents a detailed case of how one of the Big Six invested in the former Soviet Union, as it moved towards capitalism. The case presents issues of national pride, national stereotyping, constructing managerial identities and political decision processes in a story of an emergent global strategy. Thus, the paper applies and develops theories of identity and nationalism in explaining the detailed mechanisms of imperialism. The continuing internal debate about the objectives and motives of these firms, whether their focus is on multinational clients or on developing local firms, institutions and markets, has important implications for national public policies in relation to these firms. These issues are crucial in the emerging economies of Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe, where the spread of global capitalism is still open for debate.

Internationalisation, diversification and spatial restructuring in transnational computer service firms: Case Studies from the U.K. market

This paper has two foci. Firstly, it profiles the evolving internationalisation and diversification strategies of leading computer service providers since 1990, and secondly, it considers how such dynamics are affecting the spatial networks of these transnational firms through the window of the U.K. industry. Nine of the top twelve computer service providers in the U.K. market are used as case studies. In response to the demands of multinational clients and increasingly open and competitive markets, it appears that nationally oriented subsidiaries are being superseded by more responsive, internationally oriented structures. In particular, R&D and marketing operations are increasingly being co-ordinated at the continental or global scale. Simultaneously, firms are diversifying into new computer service markets in order to offer a wider variety of services. However, the exact nature of the restructuring undertaken and its spatial outcome varies both between different types of computer service firms and different growth strategies. A key distinction is that firms actively seeking growth in the IT outsourcing market appear to be undergoing more spatially extensive growth, while the remaining firms are consolidating their operations in core regions.

The small or medium-sized enterprise, its multinational client(s) and process-oriented change: A systems approach with case study

The small or medium-sized enterprise, its multinational client(s) and process-oriented change: A systems approach with case study