Aruna Chandra - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Aruna Chandra

Abstract: The significance and popularity of the cluster and industrial district concepts claim f... more Abstract: The significance and popularity of the cluster and industrial district concepts claim for a deeper reflection. The analysis of one of the European Commission's (EC) policy documents shows inconsistencies that do not impede the formulation of normative statements. That way we answer the question of why and how cluster ideas have substituted industrial district principles and the consequences derived from that phenomenon.

Journal of Case Studies, 2018

Human Systems Management, 2011

The business incubator is an innovative organizational entity, with origins in the United States,... more The business incubator is an innovative organizational entity, with origins in the United States, designed to provide a supportive environment for new ventures. This innovation was adopted by Chinese government in the late eighties as part of a plan to address market failure in innovation and to win the global game of technological competition. The successful diffusion and subsequent reinvention of this innovation in China has resulted in one of the most successful business incubation movements in Asia that is second only to the United States in the number of business incubators. Chinese incubator models initially tended to be monolithic in form due to the heavy influence of government as innovation gatekeeper guiding their creation and operation; however local demands, such as the need to attract well educated overseas Chinese students back to the homeland, have led to indigenous incubation approaches within these broad parameters as manifested in the second generation of incubatio...

SSRN Electronic Journal, 2007

The purpose of this paper is to describe and compare key elements of the business incubation land... more The purpose of this paper is to describe and compare key elements of the business incubation landscape in the United States, China and Brazil in order to provide an understanding of the similarities and differences in incubation systems across the three countries, as well as the opportunities and challenges inherent in the macroenvironmental and institutional environments for new business creation. Incubator models are described and compared along key dimensions which include strategic objectives, incubator financing/incubator sponsorship and its impact on strategy, and the incubator's service mix with an emphasis on financial services provided by incubators to client firms. The role of government and its impact on incubator strategy as well as its role in supporting the environment for new business creation is discussed. A study of incubation and the innovation ecosystem in these leading incubation markets ought to have relevance not just in cross cultural comparative settings, but also to global incubation in both developed and developing countries, in terms of policy and practice.

Journal of technology management & innovation, 2016

This study compared university affiliated and non-university affiliated business incubators in th... more This study compared university affiliated and non-university affiliated business incubators in the United States and Brazil in order to assess the impacts of country context and affiliation on incubator funding sources, direct financial assistance to client firms and internal versus external service mix through use of quantitative and qualitative data. Affiliations with external entities can provide life giving resources; however, it may also transfer external shocks to the new venture calling for buffers. Results indicated that incubators in the United States have a higher number of funding sources, are more likely to provide direct financial support, and offer more external services relative to Brazilian incubators; whereas Brazilian incubators are more inclined to connect incubatees to external financial resources but provide services in-house. The study results suggested that incubators in both countries use "bridges" and "buffers" to ameliorate resource deficits driven by environmental exigencies.

International Journal of Advertising, 2002

In 1923, Goodyear's David Brown (Brown, 1923) advocated the use of international programme st... more In 1923, Goodyear's David Brown (Brown, 1923) advocated the use of international programme standardisation, and Bausch and Lomb's Carl Propson argued the need for 'localisation' (Propson, 1923). Since that time, international marketing managers and academics alike have actively struggled with the issue of the standardisation of advertising programmes (Onkvisit and Shaw, 1999). However, despite the burgeoning research and managerial experience related to this topic, the fundamental elements of advertising standardisation remain unclear. On the one hand, proponents of standardisation argue that in a world of increasingly homogenised markets and consumers, it is possible for a firm to standardise advertising programmes and messages across countries (Levitt, 1983; Ohmae, 1989). On the other hand, critics of standardisation have consistently argued their case for adaptation, citing cultural, economic and political barriers that mandate adaptation of marketing programmes and processes for products marketed on a global basis (Sorenson and Weichmann, 197 5; Quelch and Hoff, 1986; Wind, 1986). Between the bipolar extremes of absolute standardisation and adaptation, a third middle-ground contingency approach has gained

International Journal of Entrepreneurship, Dec 1, 2009

INTRODUCTION Business incubators are viewed by many country governments as dynamic tools for fost... more INTRODUCTION Business incubators are viewed by many country governments as dynamic tools for fostering new ventures with the macro objective of economic development and job creation. Small businesses are engines of growth in many dynamic economies. The research in areas related to business incubators is still in its nascent stages, primarily due to the fact that business incubation as a form of support did not gain currency until the late 1980's and 1990's in many parts of the world. Incubation is a vital component of an entrepreneurial infrastructure and this concept is moving mainstream with increased interest and awareness of the power of this support mechanism. As business incubators gain ubiquity in various parts of the developed and developing world, incubator models have evolved in sophistication, variety and complexity. The services that are offered and the configurations they take vary widely, since they are highly sensitive to local environmental conditions and to the unique entrepreneurial ecosystem in that country (Lalkaka, 2002). While incubators have been in existence in the United States since the 1960's, business incubators in developing countries have really only been in evidence in any significant way in the last decade (Scaramuzzi, 2002). Incubator growth in China and Brazil started in the late 1980s to early 1990s. The purpose of this paper is to describe and compare key elements of the incubation landscape in the United States, China and Brazil to provide an understanding of the similarities and differences in incubation systems across the three countries, as well as the opportunities and challenges inherent in the macro-environmental and institutional environments for new business creation with special emphasis on incubator funding approaches and financial services provided by incubators to client firms in each country context. For instance, compared to the United States and Brazil, Chinese incubators tended to be relatively more monolithic in terms of business models, due to their high level of dependence on the government for direction and support. At the macro-level incubation systems in the three countries were compared to discuss institutional / environmental / contextual influences on incubator models. Incubation approaches were then described and compared along key dimensions which include strategic objectives, incubator financing / incubator sponsorship, the incubator's service mix with an emphasis on financial services provided by incubators to client firms. The role of government and its impact on incubator strategy as well as its role in supporting the environment for new business creation is discussed. BACKGROUND Incubators in the United States, China and Brazil were selected for this study (N = 30) and interview and archival data were collected by the author from the incubators through semi-structured interviews over a two year period from 2004-2006. The United States has the oldest and largest incubation system with approximately 1000 incubators, which has evolved into an incubation ecosystem with a plethora of incubator models ranging from public to private incubators. Interestingly, a majority of U.S. incubators operate as non-profit entities and many are university- affiliated. China and Brazil were chosen for this comparative study because these are fast growing emerging markets with the third and fourth ranking business incubation markets in the world. Both China and Brazil have experienced extensive changes in their economic, institutional and financial infrastructures, especially in terms of market development by opening up to global competition, and deregulating their markets to reduce the predominant role of the State. Although China has only promoted the creation of small business through the incubation model since the late 1980's, it is the world's largest emerging market and has had an average growth rate annually of over 10 percent for the last decade (Konana, Doggett & Balasubramanian, 2005); it is second only to the U. …

Journal of Business Logistics, 2014

W e theorize, building on the knowledge-based view and the theoretical distinction between explic... more W e theorize, building on the knowledge-based view and the theoretical distinction between explicit and tacit knowledge, that knowledge management capability across the supply chain manifests itself in explicit and tacit knowledge, which in turn effectuates supply chain performance. The model is tested with survey data from 195 small-and medium-sized enterprises reporting on their primary supply chain. The results indicate that the supply chain's knowledge management capability manifests itself in both explicit and tacit knowledge, with the latter being influenced more strongly. Moreover, it was found that while both explicit and tacit knowledge influence supply chain performance, the latter exerts a significantly greater impact than the former. Exploratory post hoc analyses add robustness to these findings and investigate mechanisms inherent to the transformation of tacit into explicit knowledge. Overall, this research contributes to academic theory development in logistics and supply chain management by the dichotomization of knowledge types and the demonstration of their differential magnitude of effects, and to managerial practice by providing important guidance for logistics managers structuring their knowledge management efforts across supply chains.

International Journal of Innovation and Regional Development, 2011

In this study, incubator affiliations (defined as an incubator's propensity to network or affilia... more In this study, incubator affiliations (defined as an incubator's propensity to network or affiliate with different types of external entities) of 84 business incubators in the USA and its relationship with incubator funding sources and nature of services provided were studied. Four types of affiliation-based relationships were identified: totally unaffiliated, affiliated with other incubator(s), affiliated with university, and affiliated with other incubator(s) and university. Results indicated that the incubator's affiliation influenced its ability to access funding and provide financial assistance to incubatees, as well as the nature and level of tangible/administrative and value-added services provided to incubatee firms. Based on these findings, two distinct groups of incubators were identified, each with distinctly different strategic foci, service emphasis and funding approaches. Strategy and managerial implications for both categories of incubators are discussed.

Open Learning: The Journal of Open, Distance and e-Learning, 2015

on schedule, over the course of this project no matter how many times it needed to be reorganized... more on schedule, over the course of this project no matter how many times it needed to be reorganized. My roommate for giving me a term of peace while he did his own off campus IQP. The rest of my roommates for keeping me sane with some correctly placed diversions.

Decision Sciences Journal of Innovative Education, 2015

Four business professors at a state university in the Midwestern United States launched a collabo... more Four business professors at a state university in the Midwestern United States launched a collaborative learning project grounded in cognitive learning theory and knowledge convergence theory with the objective of assessing student learning gains in cross-functional knowledge (CFK), course-related knowledge (CRK), and overall satisfaction with this teaching approach. The project involved the start-up and operation of an entrepreneurial campus lunch delivery service from local restaurants to university faculty, students, and staff. A total of 46 students participated in the project, and comprised seven groups across four business courses: Strategy, Project Management, Marketing Promotion, and Marketing Research. A survey instrument was developed comprising 21 items. Survey results indicated significant increases in cross-functional and course-related knowledge, and in student involvement and teamwork when using this cross-functional, multicourse approach to an entrepreneurial endeavor.

British Journal of Educational Technology, 2015

ABSTRACT

Advances in International Marketing

Abstract: For well over forty years, academics have debated the effectiveness of the standardizat... more Abstract: For well over forty years, academics have debated the effectiveness of the standardization/adaptation of international advertising, with practitioners beginning four decades earlier. As the debate has progressed, a critical distinction in the literature has developed related to this issue, that of process and program standardization. In this study, we examine the association of process and program standardization, inclusive of consumer market and environmental similarity, within a sample of US multinationals operating in ...

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2014

Business incubators have been growing in Brazil supported by a rich web of linkages between gover... more Business incubators have been growing in Brazil supported by a rich web of linkages between government, business and academia leading to local innovation and re-invention of global models of incubation. This study explores the differences between university and non-university affiliated incubators in Brazil in order to examine the impact of affiliation, defined as the number of direct formal links/ties to an external partner, on the incubator's ability to access funding for its inception and growth, its mix of value added services and its subjective and objective measures of performance, using an empirical sample of 49 incubators drawn from the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Results indicate that university affiliated incubators were able to secure higher levels of funding from diverse sources during growth, utilising a service mix focused on external networking and had higher levels of subjective and objective measures of performance relative to non-university affiliated incubators.

SSRN Electronic Journal, 2009

Business incubation in Chile is still in its nascent stages, with approximately 20-25 incubators ... more Business incubation in Chile is still in its nascent stages, with approximately 20-25 incubators supported primarily by a coalition of government and universities. Chilean business incubators tend to capitalize on regional resource strengths and have a strategic focus on high growth, high innovation, high impact businesses as a result of a government mandate to focus on developing business with high potential for economic development and job creation. The government's efforts to organize risk capital for early stage ventures to fill market capital market gaps and its support for angel networks as well as incubator funding are noteworthy. This paper provides an overview of the business incubation landscape in Chile, with special emphasis on incubator sponsorship and funding, services (both tangible and intangible) provided by incubators to their client firms, and the associated roles of government, academia and industry/incubator networks in fostering the growth of new ventures by creating a fertile environment for entrepreneurship. About the Authors: Aruna Chandra, Associate Professor of Management in the College of Business, Indiana State University, received her Ph.D. in Strategy and International Business from Kent State University in 2000. Her book, Business India: Finding Opportunities in this Big Emerging Market, was published in 2002 by Paramount Market Publishing. Her current research interests include knowledge management in entrepreneurial firms and approaches to business incubation in different countries. Dr. Chandra has conducted grant-funded research on business incubation in China, and also in Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina and Brazil, interviewing business incubators to understand the various approaches to incubation in the South American context. She has lectured at universities in China, India, Thailand and Greece and has published research on emerging market business strategies. Magda Narczewska is a business consultant at the Center for Business Support and Economic Innovation at Indiana State University; she provides strategic and business support services to regional entrepreneurial companies by engaging in their business and financial planning efforts as well as linking them with University resources. Before joining CBSEI, Narczewska worked for the West Central Small Business Development Center and also taught Principles of Management for the College of Business. She received her B.A. and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Indiana State University.

Thunderbird International Business Review, 2003

... processes are globalized and are applicable in India as well. Based on that we have marketing... more ... processes are globalized and are applicable in India as well. Based on that we have marketing strate-gies that are developed, segments that we focus on which are cho-sen and prioritized, then we execute our plan to market. In the exe-cution phase, we use a mix of tactics ...

Journal of Marketing Practice: Applied Marketing Science, 1995

Explores the natural channel phenomena, i.e. the local or national channel which has evolved to s... more Explores the natural channel phenomena, i.e. the local or national channel which has evolved to serve producer and consumer alike. Further, provides a descriptive construct which identifies the forces (or elements) which influence channel design. Contends that a thorough understanding (and use) of the natural channel would enable a firm to enhance its strategic competitiveness. Proposes a series of strategic managerial considerations which refocus channel design attention on the natural channel concept.

Journal of technology management & innovation, 2012

Business incubation in Chile is still in its nascent stages, with approximately 27 incubators sup... more Business incubation in Chile is still in its nascent stages, with approximately 27 incubators supported primarily by a coalition of government and universities. Chilean business incubators tend to capitalize on regional resource strengths and have a strategic focus on high growth, high innovation, high impact businesses as a result of a government mandate to focus on developing business with high potential for economic development and job creation. The government's efforts to create the framework conditions for entrepreneurship by investing in business incubators, organizing risk capital for early stage ventures to fill capital market gaps and support for angel networks as well as incubator funding are discussed. Policy implications for the continued growth of the incubation industry are provided.