Examining the Impact of Offshore Outsourcing

A research team which includes members from the Fogelman College is exploring various issues pertaining to the phenomenon of offshore outsourcing (offshoring). The impact of offshoring transcends firm-level concerns and has deep implications at the societal and national levels.

Given its ever increasing impact in the global business world, important drivers of offshoring are being investigated. Moreover, firm-specific resources, capabilities and various environmental factors that contribute to the success of offshoring practices are being analyzed. In addition, the role of offshore vendors has been explored in depth by interviewing over 50 top executives from different BPO (business process outsourcing) companies in India. Currently, firm level and policy level data are also being collected from Ireland.

The theoretical and empirical results gained from these ongoing projects have been published in the Journal of International Management and have also been presented at the Academy of Management and the Academy of International Business annual meetings. Another article is under review at the Journal of World Business for publication.

The team consists of Ben Kedia (Professor of Management and Director of Memphis CIBER), Debmalya Mukherjee (doctoral candidate) and Somnath Lahiri (Assistant Professor, Illinois State University)

Research Team Examining Emerging Economies

Emerging economies, such as Brazil, Russia, India, China (BRIC) etc. have become an important focus of scholarly research due to their phenomenal growth in recent years. A report from a leading consulting company argues that these economies are set to become dominant world forces by surpassing the more advanced economies in the foreseeable future. The Wang CIBER research team, led by Ben Kedia, is investigating various aspects of these economies and their firms.

In a comprehensive chapter published in a book titled Emerging Economies and Transformation of International Business, these researchers explain the growth, transformation and challenges that distinguish these economies. In a related vein, the value creation potential of Indian firms, before and after the liberalization of its economy has been examined, which has been published in the Asia Pacific Journal of Management. Currently, this research team is also exploring the competitiveness and performances of Indian and Irish firms in the light of their new economic landscape.

The team consists of Ben Kedia (Professor of Management and Director of Memphis CIBER), Debmalya Mukherjee (doctoral candidate) and Somnath Lahiri (Assistant Professor, Illinois State University), Paula Harveston and Clay Dibrell are the members of this research team.