title: Analysis of market entry strategies by New Zealand companies doing business with Taiwan

authors: Chung, Henry (Fuan-Lin)

abstract: Many issues need to be considered when firms decide to internationalise their operations. One key issue is to decide the best way to service a particular foreign market. Because of its central role in international operations, entry mode is described as a “frontier issue”. The choice of market entry mode is considered as one of the most critical decisions facing international firms because it has a decisive impact on the success of a firm’s international operations.

Findings on New Zealand firms’ choice of market entry modes are either incomplete or far from comprehensive. This study is designed to examine the choice of market entry mode of New Zealand companies conducting business with Taiwan. Unlike previous research, this study is the first of its type to include international distribution system and business system theories as part of the market entry mode choice framework.

This study, by examining selected factors influencing the choice of market entry mode of 124 New Zealand firms conducting business with Taiwan, had generated a number of interesting findings. Empirical results suggested that the choice of market entry modes was significantly influenced by the host market’s business system, product type, ownership of the company, market size of the industry, market portfolio, international business experience, and host market retailing system. Immigrant links also proved to be a factor influencing a firm’s choice of market entry mode. Firms established by immigrants originating from the host country did not follow the traditional incremental internationalisation theory. Factors such as firm size, before-after sales service, product differentiation, competitors’ choice, home market position, and market potential of the industry were not found to be related to firms’ choice of market entry mode behaviour.

The key statistical analysis tool employed in the study was binary logistic regression analysis. As a result of the logistic regression analysis testing, a research framework on which future inquiries might be based was established.

text: Analysis of market entry strategies by New Zealand companies doing business with Taiwan Many issues need to be considered when firms decide to internationalise their operations. One key issue is to decide the best way to service a particular foreign market. Because of its central role in international operations, entry mode is described as a “frontier issue”. The choice of market entry mode is considered as one of the most critical decisions facing international firms because it has a decisive impact on the success of a firm’s international operations.

Findings on New Zealand firms’ choice of market entry modes are either incomplete or far from comprehensive. This study is designed to examine the choice of market entry mode of New Zealand companies conducting business with Taiwan. Unlike previous research, this study is the first of its type to include international distribution system and business system theories as part of the market entry mode choice framework.

This study, by examining selected factors influencing the choice of market entry mode of 124 New Zealand firms conducting business with Taiwan, had generated a number of interesting findings. Empirical results suggested that the choice of market entry modes was significantly influenced by the host market’s business system, product type, ownership of the company, market size of the industry, market portfolio, international business experience, and host market retailing system. Immigrant links also proved to be a factor influencing a firm’s choice of market entry mode. Firms established by immigrants originating from the host country did not follow the traditional incremental internationalisation theory. Factors such as firm size, before-after sales service, product differentiation, competitors’ choice, home market position, and market potential of the industry were not found to be related to firms’ choice of market entry mode behaviour.

The key statistical analysis tool employed in the study was binary logistic regression analysis. As a result of the logistic regression analysis testing, a research framework on which future inquiries might be based was established.

year: 1999

title: Utilizing soil indicators to explain historical vegetation changes of a peatland subjected to flood inundation

authors: Blyth, James Mitchell

subjects: Atmospheric ammonia

abstract: Flooding and land use changes can be a significant source of nutrients to wetlands and contribute to ecosystem changes at a community level. We studied changes in vegetation composition and peat properties in a New Zealand wetland incorporated into a flood control scheme. Lack of hydrological records pre-development of the flood control scheme allowed the opportunity to use nutrient and physical indicators developed for restiad vegetation groups, to identify if increased flooding was the primary cause for ecological succession. Vegetation changes along a 2.3-km transect were related to hydrological processes, peat characteristics and atmospheric ammonia inputs. Measurements for peat and vegetation composition were taken from 27 sites, whereas hydrological analysis incorporated seven automated water level sites and a historical investigation of 46years of river flood records. Ammonia deposition was higher on the farmland/wetland fringe (4.0kgNha-1year-1) but decreased to background levels (2-2.5kgNha-1year-1) 500m into the wetland. Classification and ordination of vegetation data with environmental variables identified six main groups along a gradient from low nutrients and stable water tables (farthest from the river) to high nutrients and a dynamic water table near the river. Invasion over 50years of the native scrub tree Leptospermum scoparium into restiad bog was linked to enhanced nutrient inputs and physical degradation from flooding, portrayed through levels higher than restiad indicator target ranges. This study shows that target ranges for vegetation indicators can be used as a tool to identify ecological succession and invasion.

text: Utilizing soil indicators to explain historical vegetation changes of a peatland subjected to flood inundation Flooding and land use changes can be a significant source of nutrients to wetlands and contribute to ecosystem changes at a community level. We studied changes in vegetation composition and peat properties in a New Zealand wetland incorporated into a flood control scheme. Lack of hydrological records pre-development of the flood control scheme allowed the opportunity to use nutrient and physical indicators developed for restiad vegetation groups, to identify if increased flooding was the primary cause for ecological succession. Vegetation changes along a 2.3-km transect were related to hydrological processes, peat characteristics and atmospheric ammonia inputs. Measurements for peat and vegetation composition were taken from 27 sites, whereas hydrological analysis incorporated seven automated water level sites and a historical investigation of 46years of river flood records. Ammonia deposition was higher on the farmland/wetland fringe (4.0kgNha-1year-1) but decreased to background levels (2-2.5kgNha-1year-1) 500m into the wetland. Classification and ordination of vegetation data with environmental variables identified six main groups along a gradient from low nutrients and stable water tables (farthest from the river) to high nutrients and a dynamic water table near the river. Invasion over 50years of the native scrub tree Leptospermum scoparium into restiad bog was linked to enhanced nutrient inputs and physical degradation from flooding, portrayed through levels higher than restiad indicator target ranges. This study shows that target ranges for vegetation indicators can be used as a tool to identify ecological succession and invasion.

year: 2013

title: A cohort history of mortality in New Zealand

authors: Pool, Ian

abstract: This paper uses the generational life tables to track historical mortality experience for New Zealand Pakeha and Māori. The key research questions we seek to explore concern with why was Pakeha life expectation so high so early, and why did this survival advantage disappeared by the mid 20th century and what has happened since? For the Māori population what was the impact of contact on Māori mortality, what were the changes that have occurred and why, and what has happened to Māori mortality recently? A key finding from the cohort mortality analysis is that gains in survivorship have momentum effects that propel this advantage forward as survivors move up through the age-groups. That said, however, periods of gain may be followed later by cohort deterioration occurring among the same generations later in their life cycle, and even by further cycles of reprise and deterioration. These cycles of gain, deterioration, reprise etc are more evident for males, and particularly for Māori. Policy implications of these findings are discussed.

text: A cohort history of mortality in New Zealand This paper uses the generational life tables to track historical mortality experience for New Zealand Pakeha and Māori. The key research questions we seek to explore concern with why was Pakeha life expectation so high so early, and why did this survival advantage disappeared by the mid 20th century and what has happened since? For the Māori population what was the impact of contact on Māori mortality, what were the changes that have occurred and why, and what has happened to Māori mortality recently? A key finding from the cohort mortality analysis is that gains in survivorship have momentum effects that propel this advantage forward as survivors move up through the age-groups. That said, however, periods of gain may be followed later by cohort deterioration occurring among the same generations later in their life cycle, and even by further cycles of reprise and deterioration. These cycles of gain, deterioration, reprise etc are more evident for males, and particularly for Māori. Policy implications of these findings are discussed.

year: 2003