A special issue of European Journal of International Management
The European Union (EU) is a key economic and political partner for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Over the last two decades, European businesses have invested heavily in LAC. However, we seem to know very little about the development and implementation of certain EU management and human resources systems in LAC. The European Commission claims that the presence of European businesses in LAC is a source of growth, transfer of know-how and employment provision that may help to reduce social inequalities. Thus, research is needed to examine the variety of contextual and situational variables that affect management and human resources systems in LAC.
For this Special Issue, two objectives of the EU’s programs stand out. The first aims to provide help to small and medium-sized companies that operate internationally, by encouraging European firms to invest in Latin American enterprises seeking such co-operation. The second focuses on the promotion of co-operation in higher education between the two regions. Surprisingly, management research on human resources management or leadership is hardly mentioned in these programs. We believe that at the operational level, management and human resources systems are fundamental if EU businesses are to succeed in LAC.
The recent Vienna 2006 Summit brought together an important business community with economic interests and important investments in LAC, pointing to the need to understand how fundamental EU values are practiced in EU businesses operating in LAC. By understanding this, we could help EU businesses to redefine their role in LAC by disseminating basic EU social values within organisations in LAC.
We are seeking to strengthen our knowledge on how European firms perform and manage in Latin America. To elaborate on the institutional factors and the background presented, academics and practitioners around the world are invited to contribute with their research and expertise by submitting conceptual and empirical (both quantitative and qualitative) papers which explore the themes presented above. The aim of this special issue is to achieve a better understanding of different European business practices and of how they are understood in Latin America.
Topics covered include, but are not limited to:
- How are these EU fundamental values enacted in EU business practices in LAC?
- What are the emerging management models developed by EU businesses operating in LAC? Are they based on EU fundamental values?
- What is the role of human resources systems in EU businesses operating in LAC?
- To what extent do Latin American management models resemble those of, for example, the Iberians?
- What is the role, and effects of, the Latin America institutional environment (including cultural, political and other factors) on EU business management practices in LAC?
- Are Latin American management education programmes teaching their students intercultural skills, and if so, how are they doing this, and do those skills equip them adequately to work in European firms operating in the region?
Important Dates
Deadline for abstract submission: 1 March, 2008
Answer by the organising committee on acceptance or rejection of abstract by: 31 March, 2008
Deadline for full paper submission: 15 May, 2008
Double blind review of paper and feedback from review given to the author(s): 15 July, 2008
Deadline for final submission of corrected papers: 15 August, 2008
No Changes can be made to the papers after: 15 August, 2008
Conference in Monterrey, Mexico at ITESM-EGADE: 9-10 October, 2008
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