Introduction to the Fourth Volume of the Alliance Journal of Business Research
R. Mohan Pisharodi, Chief-Editor, AJBR
“Change” is a daily phenomenon in the world of business. The overwhelming power of current
global forces in transforming businesses would have been inconceivable just a few decades ago. As
businesses around the globe navigate through the challenges and opportunities presented by
globalization, advances in technology, global supply chain management, increasing consumer
expectations, cost pressures and many other such forces, a new threat has suddenly made its presence
felt. The crisis in the financial markets and the current global economic slowdown demand new types or
solutions and new styles of responses. Corporations have to become more creative and innovative in
what they do. At the same time, in spite of day-to-day pressures, they should strive to retain a broad
and long-term perspective.
The critical role of cross-functional relationships in business has been made obvious by the
impact of the current credit crunch on the automobile and real-estate sectors of the US economy and
many other economies. If banks are reluctant to give loans, sales of cars, houses, and many other
products that are usually purchased on credit will naturally be impacted very severely. From a
customer’s perspective, product quality, financing, marketing, and other features of the sale are
mutually linked. The Alliance Journal of Business Research (AJBR) has always recognized the importance
of such links. The AJBR positions itself as a business research journal that transcends functional silos as
well as geographical silos. The threat brought forth by the current economic crisis demands a unified
response that transcends artificial silos both at the macro level as well as at the micro level.
The Alliance Journal of Business Research enters its fourth year with the publication of the Fall
2007–Spring 2008 Joint Issue. Like its past issues, this issue of the AJBR presents a selection of business
articles from a variety of functional areas. As stated earlier, globalization is one of the forces driving
today’s economy. In their lead article, Ravi Parameswaran and Deepak Sethi contend that the global
perspective, which multinational enterprises currently adopt, necessitates a rethinking of the traditional
concept of Liability of Foreignness. With the aid of grounded theory, they propose the concept of
Liability of Globalization, which is quite distinct from Liability of Foreignness.
The second article in this issue focuses on factors that may determine the effectiveness of
management training programs. In their article, Clement Opare, Brian D’Netto, and Juan España
examine the factors that are associated with the transfer of knowledge and skills, acquired during a
management training program, back to the work place. They test a series of hypotheses using data
collected in Australia.
The third article puts one of the most well-known management theories to a rigorous test.
Through a two-year longitudinal study that was conducted in a large manufacturing firm, Robin Widgery
and Madhukar Angur test changes in motivation before and after a period of merit pay deprivation.
They use a dynamic model to test aspects of Maslow’s Theory.
Assessment of performance is an integral part of management practice. Capacity assessment is
an important area of organizational performance evaluation. In their article, R. Krishnaveni and B.
Sripirabaa describe the evolution of several capacity assessment tools. Such tools are used by
organizations of various types, and particularly by those in the non-profit sector.
In its last article, this issue of the AJBR returns to the topic of globalization. Rajaram Veliyath,
Kamal Fetehi, and James Herbert, contend that globalization has produced gains as well as pains. They
identify some of the downsides of globalization and suggest approaches through which societies and
organizations can strive to overcome them.
As the Chief Editor of the AJBR, I thank all those who have contributed to this issue in various
capacities and I thank the readers of the Alliance Journal of Business Research for their support.
Professor R. Mohan Pisharodi, Ph.D.
Chief Editor, Alliance Journal of Business Research (AJBR)
School of Business Administration
Oakland University,
Rochester. Michigan 48309-4493 USA
Telephone: (248) 370-3540
Fax: (248) 370-4275
E-mail: editor@ajbr.org