The author of this volume provides an insider view of the story due to her involvement with the [Russian oil] industry over a long period and her access to information from key players of the industry. . . the book is a welcome addition, especially for its sound story line. Anyone interested in the transformation of the Russian oil industry will find it a valuable work. It will also inspire researchers to analyse organisational transformation of other types of industries, especially electricity and gas in many countries around the world that have undergone radical changes in the past. Subhes C. Bhattacharyya, International Journal of Energy Sector Management Sarah Dixon has produced a fascinating look at the internal workings of four major Russian oil companies during the decade following their privatisation in the mid-1990s. Dixon has utilised her in-depth knowledge of Russia and her business experience in its thriving oil industry to gain access to Russia s powerful business titans. Her insights and careful observations have resulted in a masterful analysis of organisational transformation during Russia s radical institutional upheaval. The book is a valuable contribution to resource-based theory by explaining linkages between organisational learning, dynamic capabilities, and implementation of organisational transformation. Practitioners will also benefit from the rich case studies offering insight into constraints and enablers of organisational transformation. Sheila M. Puffer, Northeastern University, Boston, US Here the example of the Russian oil industry in the context of transition from a planned to a market economy is used to develop a three-stage framework for organisational transformation. Four longitudinal case studies of Russian oil companies are drawn upon to explain the process of organisational transformation. The book highlights how and why this process differs between companies within the same industry, explores the complexity of the change process and discusses the importance of the top management team. The links between organisational learning, dynamic capabilities and the implementation of change are analysed. An interesting insight into the constraints and enablers of organisational change is also provided. The framework developed from this study can be successfully applied to other organisations wishing to bring about organisational change. Integrating several perspectives, including a resource-based view, organisational learning, dynamic capabilities and top management team theory, this book will be of great interest to scholars and researchers of business and management, international business and organisational behaviour.

This book examines Russia’s capacity to respond to a changing world through the lens of the country’s oil industry. Against a backdrop of social, political and climatic change, Indra Overland and Nina Poussenkova present a systematic analysis of how modern energy developments in the form of shale oil, offshore oil and the global energy transition are handled.

There is an ever-burgeoning number of books analyzing the Russian experience, or aspects of it. This Handbook is the first single volume which gives both a broad survey of the literature as well as highlighting the cutting edge research in the area. Through both empirical data and theoretical investigation each chapter in the Routledge Handbook Russian of Politics and Society examines both the Russian experience and the existing literature, points to research trends, and identifies issues that remain to be resolved. Offering focused studies of the key elements of Russian social and political life, the book is organized into the following broad themes: General introduction Political institutions Political Economy Society Foreign Policy Politically, economically, and socially, Russia has one of the most interesting development trajectories of any major country. This Handbook seeks to answer questions about democratic transition, the relationship between the market and democracy, stability and authoritarian politics, the development of civil society, the role of crime and corruption, and the creation of a market economy. Providing a comprehensive resource for scholars and policy makers alike, this book is an important contribution to the study of Russian Studies, Eastern European studies, and International Relations.

Multinational Banking in China examines key issues in the market entry and development of foreign banks in the People s Republic of China using data collected from 37 in-depth interviews and questionnaire surveys. A wide range of factors is discussed including motives, entry mode, location choice, entry strategies and competitive advantages. Empirical evidence reveals the key trends and characteristics of foreign banking activities in China as well as the interactions between internal attributes of banks and dynamics of local market context. The author also explores adaptation of foreign banks post entry and emerging issues in the management of joint ventures. This book will be invaluable to students and researchers with an interest in banking internationalization in emerging markets. Managers, practitioners and policy makers who require insight into the core dimensions of multinational banking will also find this book to be of great interest.

Managing the Contemporary Multinational explores the role of headquarters in different structures of multinational firms and shows how this role is affected by the complexity of contemporary research. This topical book illustrates that contemporary research has added complexity to the attributes of the multinational, with implications for the role of headquarters. It examines claims that subsidiaries contribute to the overall competitiveness of the corporation, that they are organized in corporate networks spanning country borders, and that they depend upon specific relationships in the external network. It is stressed that headquarters knowledge of the multinational and its business environment is crucial, but also problematic. The eminent contributors question whether headquarters have become more or less important given the complexity of contemporary research, and argue that the answer to this question depends on the theoretical foundation adopted in the multinational. Based on empirical studies, this invaluable book will be a captivating read for students and researchers interested in international business and international management.

This book examines the development of bilateral energy relations between China and the two oil-rich countries, Kazakhstan and Russia. Challenging conventional assumptions about energy politics and China’s global quest for oil, this book examines the interplay of politics and sociocultural contexts. It shows how energy resources become ideas and how these ideas are mobilized in the realm of international relations. China’s relations with Kazakhstan and Russia are simultaneously enabled and constrained by the discursive politics of oil. It is argued that to build collaborative and constructive energy relations with China, its partners in Kazakhstan, Russia, and elsewhere must consider not only the material realities of China’s energy industry and the institutional settings of China’s energy policy but also the multiple symbolic meanings that energy resources and, particularly, oil acquire in China. China’s Energy Security and Relations with Petrostates offers a nuanced understanding of China’s bilateral energy relations with Kazakhstan and Russia, raising essential questions about the social logic of international energy politics. It will appeal to students and scholars of international relations, energy security, Chinese and post-Soviet studies, along with researchers working in the fields of energy policy and environmental sustainability.

'Daniel Cahoy and Lynda Oswald have brought together some of the country's most prominent patent scholars outside the legal discipline. From the LeahySmith America Invents Act to recent court cases from the Supreme Court and the Federal Circuit, this timely, informative and well-edited volume examines the latest changes in US patent law and their impact on business strategy. The book is a must-read for anybody who wants to learn more deeply about the ever-increasing role of patents in the business environment.' Peter K. Yu, Drake University Law School, US Within the complex global economy, patents function as indispensable tools for fostering and protecting innovation. This fascinating volume offers a comprehensive perspective on the US patent system, detailing its many uses and outlining several critical legislative, administrative and judicial reforms that impact business strategy. The expert contributors to this book provide an overview of how the US patent system functions today and describe how recent changes affect firms and individual inventors. Topics discussed include the drivers of intellectual property policy; recent revisions to the patent application process in terms of the new first-to-file regime, inequitable conduct, and allowable subject matter; and changes to patent enforcement and infringement related to the Federal Circuit's special role and post-grant review. Contributors address recent legislation such as the 2011 America Invents Act, which enacted some of the most significant patent reforms in decades. This examination of the US patent system highlights some of the most important issues for business. It will serve as an important tool for both policymakers and business leaders, and will also interest students and professors of business and management studies, innovation studies and business law.

In an age in which it is increasingly necessary for nations to consider their competitiveness and at a time when the world economy is facing recession, this book explores the possible trajectory of ASEAN arguably one of the most dynamic areas in the world as a regional economic and political bloc. This important and timely study focuses on the role of foreign direct investment in advancing the performance of ASEAN and the competitiveness of its firms, whereas other studies typically focus solely on the role of trade. The expert contributors an interdisciplinary assembly of economists, lawyers and political scientists present a comprehensive view of ASEAN s experiences over the past decade, addressing the industrial competitiveness of ASEAN and analysing the role of MNEs against the background of the challenges of integration. They illustrate that regional integration will only be a success if ASEAN s linkages are broadened with global partners through negotiations of Free Trade Agreements. The book concludes that although much still remains to be done, and many promises are still to be unveiled, ASEAN s coming of age is an historic milestone. Competitiveness of the ASEAN Countries will appeal to a broad readership including students, academics and researchers with an interest in Asian studies, international business, international economics and international law.

It is apparent that environmental issues affect the livelihoods and well being of individuals, communities and businesses the world over. In that vein, this book examines the impact that climate change and other environmental factors have on business. The effect of climate change, while a significant factor, will influence business slowly, but inexorably. Executives should manage environmental risk at three levels: regulatory compliance, potential liability from industrial accidents, and pollutant release mitigation.Companies that are proactive in mitigating their exposure to climate-change risks will not only generate new profitable opportunities, but also gain competitive advantage over their rivals in a carbon-constrained future. Enhancing Global Competitiveness through Sustainable Environmental Stewardship provides frameworks for identifying how climate change might affect a business, and suggests strategy guidelines to manage the risks and seek opportunities.This seminal collection of research will be of particular interest to students and scholars of sustainability studies, business and management, and business professionals concerned with the role they will play in the changing and challenging times that lie ahead for business growth and environmental consciousness.

The rapid international expansion of Chinese enterprises since the 1990s has attracted considerable attention in scholarly and policy circles. This book sheds fresh light on the phenomenon by explaining its determinants using the analytical lens of international business theory. The author focuses in particular on how Chinese firms interact with the institutional environment both at home and abroad. Drawing upon evidence and analysis from official statistics, Hinrich Voss concludes that the institutional change and market imperfections in China, combined with host country effects and the mediating role of trans-border social and business networks, are key facilitators of the rise of Chinese multinationals. This book provides the most up-to-date analysis of the determinants of Chinese outward foreign direct investments, and will appeal to academics with an interest in international business and management, as well as those researching China specifically and Asian business more broadly. Postgraduate students in international business, Asian business studies and international relations will find this book invaluable, as will practitioners dealing with Chinese multinational enterprises.