FEATURE
PAPER
Foreign Direct Investment in the Southern US: A Case
Study of the Alabama and the Automotive Sector
The
following paper was presented at the 2007 Allied Academies
International Conference - Jacksonville. It was written
by Patricia C. Borstorff,
Taleah H. Collum, and
Stan Newton of Jacksonville State University.
Case
Description
The
primary subject matter of this case concerns foreign direct
investment (FDI) in the
southern U.S., specifically automobile FDI in Alabama. Secondary
issues concern the aggressive
competition, using incentives and state-specific features,
of southern states in recruiting foreign
investment and the employment opportunities that FDI brings.
This case has a difficulty level of
three, is suitable for a junior level course, and can be taught
in a 90 minute class with two hours of
outside preparation by students. It is also applicable for
use in a senior-level international
management class to illustrate the reach of globalization into
local corners of the world. It may
further be used as a template for professors in other states
in illustrating the proximity and
consequences of FDI. We propose that there is international
activity in the form of FDI here or
abroad as well as exporting and importing in virtually all
states and the case provides a template
for that scenario as well. Students should relate to the importance
of international business as they
see its relevance to their lives.
Case
Synopsis
This
case is designed to illustrate the concepts of foreign direction
investment, job creation,
state incentives as a factor in FDI, and the unique features
that a foreign investor wants from a
state. The case can be used in its entirety or in part as appropriate.
For example, one could
investigate recruiting methods used by U.S. states in the pursuit
of FDI and the results of that
pursuit.
Countries
are faced with numerous challenges as they compete for the
same Foreign Direct
Investment dollars. FDI is increasing as the world evolves
into a global marketplace for industry.
The U.S. government continually adjusts its policies and
tax procedures in order to be a viable
player in the world market. Many southern states, including
Alabama, have been successful in
improving their economies and providing new employment opportunities
by offering the incentives
required to attract FDI and industries to the area.
Read
the Entire Paper...
.
TIP
OF THE WEEK
Emotional
Intelligence
The company Accord Management Systems chose to work in the
area of emotional intelligence is Plumeus Inc., in Montreal,
Quebec, Canada. It is an established high-tech company specializing
in psychological test development and related products and
services. Plumeus is a leader in online psychological testing
and has a reputation for quality, flexibility, professionalism,
and innovation. The owners are the husband-and-wife team of
Vratislav Jerabek and Ilona Jerabek. The goal of their company
is to combine deep insight into the human mind with state-of-the-art
technology. They do this through large-scale validation studies
in order to create a battery of complex self-scoring assessment
tools.
Plumeus tests are heavily researched using available multidisciplinary
scientific literatures and validated using samples of tens
of thousands of subjects. Not
only are the tests enjoyable, but also the reliability and validity meets the
standards set fourth by the American Psychological Association (APA). As any
expert will tell you, possessing reliability and validity is what makes or
breaks a psychological test.
The assessments are scored using complex algorithms that
draw on artificial intelligence and system-expert principles,
allowing exceptional precision and
ensuring scientific
accuracy. These algorithms allow us to create computer programs that find
solutions to complex problems by approximating human thought
processes and mapping the
intricacies of human behavior. The Plumeus people know how to do it better
than most.
Dr. Thomas J. Stanley, author of The Millionaire Mind, devotes
a chapter in his book to the success factors related to
becoming a millionaire. He
identified
seven common areas related to that success: 1. Social Skills
2. Orientation toward critics
3. Integrity and moral values
4. Creative intelligence
5. Investing in the stock market or one’s own business
6. Luck vs. discipline
7. Intellectual orientation
Of these
seven, four are related to emotional intelligence, or EQ.
They are
social skills, orientation toward critics,
integrity and moral values, and luck vs. discipline. It’s
important to note that intellectual orientation is ranked the
lowest-the least significant-of all the factors, while social
skills are ranked the highest.
Emotional intelligence is a learned ability to understand,
use, and express human emotions in a healthy and skilled
manner-all important to the entrepreneur.
Emotional experience and expression are unique to each person. No two people
behave, think, express feelings, and act in the exact same way.
Strengthening emotional intelligence supports success:
1. Emotional intelligence
is the most important factor in achieving excellence.
2. High levels of achievement, success, and happiness are
self-defined and self-directed.
3. The effects of negative and unchecked emotional stress,
ineffective and poor relationships, and personal stagnation
are financially costly.
4. A personal and emotional accountability system is essential
for positive human development.
5. Honest self-assessment is a requisite to positive
and intentional personal change.
6. People can develop and change themselves.
7. Learners learn best and teachers teach best in environments
that are physically and emotional safe. 8. Personal meaning is more relevant and powerful
than external meaning.
9. Education and learning require the perspective
of balance between academic achievement and becoming
emotionally intelligent.
10. Healthy and effective relationships, personal
leadership, self management, intrapersonal
growth and development, and recognition
of potential problems
are essential elements for creating a positive and healthy
learning climate. It’s critical to identify, experience, understand, and express human
emotions in healthy and productive ways. Emotional-intelligence skills are
primary factors of motivation and the gateway to lifelong learning and high
levels of achievement. Worldwide research indicates that emotional-intelligence
skills are essential to all learning. Everyone knows people with high IQs who
haven’t met with success and others with modest IQs who have succeeded
far beyond anyone’s expectations. Why? Because these people possess emotional
intelligence.
Unlike
IQ and personality EQ can be learned and developed, strengthened,
and enhanced throughout your lifetime. When
EQ is improved, it benefits your health,
relationships, and work.
Bill
Wagner. The
Entrepreneur Next Door. Entrepreneur Press.
2006. pg. 27-29.
|
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Request
for Papers & Reviewer Volunteers
The
Small Business Institue is now requesting papers and paper
review volunteers for the Small Business Institute Journal.
If you are interested in submitting a paper or becoming a
volunteer, please let us know. The first issue
is to be printed April 2008. For more information please click
here or email us at sbij@uca.edu.
SBANC is Updating
Their Entrepreneurship and Small Business Network
The Small Business Advancement
National Center is currently updating their Entrepreneurship
and Small Business Network. If you currently teach or know
a professor in your
school or state that teaches an Entrepreneurship or Small
Business course, please provide us with any available information
at sbanc@uca.edu.
We appreciate any help. Thank you.
.
|
CONFERENCES
ALLIED
|
| Who: |
Allied
Academies
|
| What: |
Fall
International Conference
|
| Where: |
Reno,
Nevada, USA |
| When: |
October 4-5, 2007 |
|
|
|
ASBE
|
| Who: |
Association
for Small Business and Entrepreneurship
|
| What: |
2007
Conference
|
| Where: |
Austin,
Texas, USA |
| When: |
October
10-12, 2007 |
|
|
|
ISBE
|
| Who: |
Institute
for Small Business and Entrepreneurship |
| What: |
30th
Annual ISBE Conference
|
| Where: |
Heriot-Watt
University, Glasgow, Scotland |
| When: |
November
7-9, 2007 |
|
|
|
The
Franchise Center
|
| Who: |
The
Franchise Center |
| What: |
Franchise
Management Certificate Program
|
| Where: |
University
of Texas - El Paso |
| When: |
October
25-27, 2007 |
|
|
|
MMA
|
| Who: |
Marketing
Management Association
|
| What: |
MMA Fall Educators Conference
|
| Where: |
St. Louis, Missouri, USA |
| When: |
September
26-28, 2007 |
|
|
|
CALLS FOR PAPERS
FHSU
|
| Who: |
Fort
Hays State University
|
| What: |
Annual
Business and Leadership Symposium 2007
|
| Where: |
Hays, Kansas |
| When: |
September 26-27, 2007 |
Submission
Deadline:
September 17, 2007
|
|
|
|
ACME
|
| Who: |
Association
of Collegiate Marketing Educators (ACME)
|
| What: |
2008 ACME Conference
|
| Where: |
Hyatt Regency Houston, TX |
| When: |
March 4-8, 2008 |
Submission
Deadline:
September 30, 2007
|
|
|
|
NARS
|
| Who: |
North American Research
and Teaching Symposium
|
| What: |
The
19th Annual
North American Research and Teaching Symposium on Purchasing
and Supply Chain Management
|
| Where: |
Embassy Suites Phoenix-Tempe, Arizona
|
| When: |
March
27-29, 2008 |
Submission
Deadline:
October 26, 2007
|
|
|
|
SBI
|
| Who: |
Small
Business Institute
|
| What: |
2008 SBI Conference
|
| Where: |
Handlery
Hotel – San Diego, CA |
| When: |
Feb.
14-16, 2008 |
Submission
Deadline:
October 1, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
The
SBANC Newsletter is provided as a service to the members of
our affiliates: Academy of Collegiate Marketing Educators (ACME),
Association for Small Business & Entrepreneurship (ASBE),
Federation of Business Disciplines (FBD), International Council
for Small Business (ICSB), Institute for Supply Management
(ISM), The International Small Business Congress (ISBC), Marketing
Management Association (MMA), Small Business Administration
(SBA), Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), Small Business
Institute (SBI), Society for Marketing Advances (SMA), United
States Association for Small Business & Entrepreneurship
(USASBE), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).. If you
are interested in membership or would like further information
on one of our affiliates, please see our web site at http://www.sbaer.uca.edu
SBANC STAFF
Main Office Phone: (501) 450-5300
Dr.
Don B. Bradley III, Executive Director of SBANC & Professor
of Marketing;
Direct Phone: (501) 450-5345
Brandon
Tabor, Development Intern
Kitty
Dockins,
Development Intern
Latedra
Williams,
Development Intern
To subscribe or unsubscribe to
the SBANC Newsletter, please E-mail SBANC at sbanc@uca.edu
|
