title: Internationalization of the Yarra Valley Wine Industry Cluster

authors: Sedoglavich, Milan

subjects: internationalization process

abstract: This research investigates the ways in which firms in the cluster approach the process
of internationalization through exploring the influence of business clustering and how
it benefits firms in entering foreign markets. The purpose was to understand this
process to enable firms to develop successful international strategies to expand in
foreign markets. The focus of the study is on the Yarra Valley Wine Industry Cluster,
the oldest wine growing region in Victoria, Australia. This research examined of
Australian wineries to join together in order to achieve greater competitiveness in
collaboration when entering foreign markets due to ever increasing global
competition.
This paper was an exploratory study that used qualitative information gathered from
the case study firms to provide practical framework for the execution of the research
using a multiple-case study design.
The findings show the following: first, some of the wineries gain their perceptions of
the foreign markets from their relationships with, as well as, by the input and
suggestions of the distributors, agents, and partners in a particular market, while
others seem to distance themselves from their international environments and only
focus on serving domestic/local markets exclusively. Second, personal networks play
an important role when it comes to the internationalization process of the wineries
because they provide access to market knowledge. Third, cooperation among cluster
firms plays a very limited role in assisting wineries in foreign market expansion; it
has only been of benefit when it came to dealing with local issues. The cluster has
played only a minor role, if any, when it comes to the internationalization of the
cluster firms. Clustering has been identified as a place where wineries exchange
knowledge, and techniques, in regards to wine production, or come together in a joint
effort to sort out local issues. However, the cluster does not provide assistance to
individual wineries entering international marketplaces.
In conclusion there was a distinctive lack of active support and organization from the
cluster with regard to the international expansion due to the lack of leadership and
joint direction among cluster members. This is where local government could take
more proactive role to facilitate better usage of geographical clusters.
The findings could improve the company decision-making process. Understanding
the advantages and disadvantages of clustering as a means for the future international
expansion can be useful in helping to develop international strategies for firms. This
would be of great significance to business practitioners because this may have a
crucial impact on the competitive advantage of firms in foreign markets. In addition
to having significant implications for practice, the investigation has implications for
international business research because it provides a better understanding of the role
of a cluster in the internationalization.

text: Internationalization of the Yarra Valley Wine Industry Cluster This research investigates the ways in which firms in the cluster approach the process
of internationalization through exploring the influence of business clustering and how
it benefits firms in entering foreign markets. The purpose was to understand this
process to enable firms to develop successful international strategies to expand in
foreign markets. The focus of the study is on the Yarra Valley Wine Industry Cluster,
the oldest wine growing region in Victoria, Australia. This research examined of
Australian wineries to join together in order to achieve greater competitiveness in
collaboration when entering foreign markets due to ever increasing global
competition.
This paper was an exploratory study that used qualitative information gathered from
the case study firms to provide practical framework for the execution of the research
using a multiple-case study design.
The findings show the following: first, some of the wineries gain their perceptions of
the foreign markets from their relationships with, as well as, by the input and
suggestions of the distributors, agents, and partners in a particular market, while
others seem to distance themselves from their international environments and only
focus on serving domestic/local markets exclusively. Second, personal networks play
an important role when it comes to the internationalization process of the wineries
because they provide access to market knowledge. Third, cooperation among cluster
firms plays a very limited role in assisting wineries in foreign market expansion; it
has only been of benefit when it came to dealing with local issues. The cluster has
played only a minor role, if any, when it comes to the internationalization of the
cluster firms. Clustering has been identified as a place where wineries exchange
knowledge, and techniques, in regards to wine production, or come together in a joint
effort to sort out local issues. However, the cluster does not provide assistance to
individual wineries entering international marketplaces.
In conclusion there was a distinctive lack of active support and organization from the
cluster with regard to the international expansion due to the lack of leadership and
joint direction among cluster members. This is where local government could take
more proactive role to facilitate better usage of geographical clusters.
The findings could improve the company decision-making process. Understanding
the advantages and disadvantages of clustering as a means for the future international
expansion can be useful in helping to develop international strategies for firms. This
would be of great significance to business practitioners because this may have a
crucial impact on the competitive advantage of firms in foreign markets. In addition
to having significant implications for practice, the investigation has implications for
international business research because it provides a better understanding of the role
of a cluster in the internationalization.

year: 2009

title: Accountability in the retail and distribution sectors of the New Zealand electricity industry

authors: Hooks, Jill

abstract: Since the mid-1980s organisation of the electricity industry in New Zealand has been radically reformed. The public sector reforms implemented by successive governments between 1984 and 1999 aimed to reduce or eliminate government involvement in business activities and to create competition within industries, some of which might otherwise be natural monopolies. A “light-handed” regulatory regime was introduced to monitor and control the electricity industry. To date, this regime has rejected the use of price controls and associated methods in favour of market-based methods involving competition and transparent accountability. Corporate annual reports are therefore one of the prime ways in which organisations meet their accountability obligations. 

This research describes and explains the development of a disclosure index and the results of its application to the 1999 annual reports of the 33 electricity retail and distribution companies. The index was developed with the support of a panel representing 15 stakeholder groups. The disclosure index is a complex measure. It emphasises accountability through the provision of both financial and non-financial information to meet the needs of a wide range of stakeholders. It is designed to assess the comprehensiveness (both in extent and quality) of annual report disclosures. It also incorporates a best-practice model of annual reporting for electricity retail and distribution companies. 

The use of the disclosure index highlights an information gap between stakeholder expectations of information disclosure and the current level of disclosure in electricity company annual reports. Out of a maximum possible Index score of 100, the average score is 56 with a range from 15 to 72. Key areas of inadequate disclosure from an accountability perspective relate to performance measures (financial and non-financial), segmental information, asset valuation details, and cost of electricity purchased/generated. The research also identified a need for trust-owned companies to be as accountable as public companies. In this respect, copies of the annual report in its entirety should be available to interested parties on request. The concern is to make electricity companies and their activities more transparent by providing sufficient, understandable and easily accessible financial and non-financial information to allow stakeholders to fairly assess performance. The annual report is an appropriate vehicle for providing this information as it is a comprehensive document available to the public on a routine basis. Improved disclosure to meet best-practice levels would contribute significantly to the effective information sharing between companies and stakeholder groups - thus improving the accountability of each entity. Feedback from the research provides each company with indications of the parts of their reports which need attention if they wish to improve the quality of their reporting.

text: Accountability in the retail and distribution sectors of the New Zealand electricity industry Since the mid-1980s organisation of the electricity industry in New Zealand has been radically reformed. The public sector reforms implemented by successive governments between 1984 and 1999 aimed to reduce or eliminate government involvement in business activities and to create competition within industries, some of which might otherwise be natural monopolies. A “light-handed” regulatory regime was introduced to monitor and control the electricity industry. To date, this regime has rejected the use of price controls and associated methods in favour of market-based methods involving competition and transparent accountability. Corporate annual reports are therefore one of the prime ways in which organisations meet their accountability obligations. 

This research describes and explains the development of a disclosure index and the results of its application to the 1999 annual reports of the 33 electricity retail and distribution companies. The index was developed with the support of a panel representing 15 stakeholder groups. The disclosure index is a complex measure. It emphasises accountability through the provision of both financial and non-financial information to meet the needs of a wide range of stakeholders. It is designed to assess the comprehensiveness (both in extent and quality) of annual report disclosures. It also incorporates a best-practice model of annual reporting for electricity retail and distribution companies. 

The use of the disclosure index highlights an information gap between stakeholder expectations of information disclosure and the current level of disclosure in electricity company annual reports. Out of a maximum possible Index score of 100, the average score is 56 with a range from 15 to 72. Key areas of inadequate disclosure from an accountability perspective relate to performance measures (financial and non-financial), segmental information, asset valuation details, and cost of electricity purchased/generated. The research also identified a need for trust-owned companies to be as accountable as public companies. In this respect, copies of the annual report in its entirety should be available to interested parties on request. The concern is to make electricity companies and their activities more transparent by providing sufficient, understandable and easily accessible financial and non-financial information to allow stakeholders to fairly assess performance. The annual report is an appropriate vehicle for providing this information as it is a comprehensive document available to the public on a routine basis. Improved disclosure to meet best-practice levels would contribute significantly to the effective information sharing between companies and stakeholder groups - thus improving the accountability of each entity. Feedback from the research provides each company with indications of the parts of their reports which need attention if they wish to improve the quality of their reporting.

year: 2000

title: AI: a new (r)evolution or the new colonizer for Indigenous peoples?

authors: Whaanga, Hēmi

abstract: We are often told that there is one constant in life and that is change; it is inevitable, inescapable. When the forces of power begin to blow and conditions are right, change will happen. As the planet undergoes a period of transformation brought about by the advances of data science and the convergence of technologies, the Internet of All Things and AI, the potential of AI to be change agent for Indigenous peoples is a thought-provoking, and to a certain degree, daunting proposition. The rapid progress of technology and innovation, in terms of its volume, complexity, and exponential growth in computing power, have drastically changed how we socialize, communicate, access, share, distribute and view knowledge and information. Is AI inevitable, inescapable, a fait accompli for Indigenous peoples?

text: AI: a new (r)evolution or the new colonizer for Indigenous peoples? We are often told that there is one constant in life and that is change; it is inevitable, inescapable. When the forces of power begin to blow and conditions are right, change will happen. As the planet undergoes a period of transformation brought about by the advances of data science and the convergence of technologies, the Internet of All Things and AI, the potential of AI to be change agent for Indigenous peoples is a thought-provoking, and to a certain degree, daunting proposition. The rapid progress of technology and innovation, in terms of its volume, complexity, and exponential growth in computing power, have drastically changed how we socialize, communicate, access, share, distribute and view knowledge and information. Is AI inevitable, inescapable, a fait accompli for Indigenous peoples?

year: 2020