articles 1 to 10 of 12
By Refocusing the Family Business, a Daughter Is Awarded Control
After helping her parents restructure the business they built from scratch in the United Arab Emirates, Rasha Shehada was picked to take over the company, Diamond Line, a hotel supplies distributor. Despite being in her 20s, Shehada tells Arabic Knowledge@Wharton that the new measures and practices she put into place made the decision to give her a leadership position an easy choice.
Published: March 19, 2013
Once a Family Tradition, Corner Stores in the Emirates Face Tough Times
Before the advent of air-conditioned megamalls and international grocery chains in the United Arab Emirates, most locals shopped at family-run small convenience stores in their neighborhoods. Increased competition for customers and recent government measures aimed at modernizing these rustic corner shops, though, have made times tough. They still are a staple of the small- and medium-sized enterprise segment of the country, but most corner store owners wonder about the future and don't expect their children to carry on their stores when they retire.
Published: September 18, 2012
Malcolm Grant on Higher Education's Challenges: Getting Smarter About Costs, and Increasing Intellectual Collaboration
Despite publicly funded higher education institutions facing financial cuts across the globe, the University College London president and provost Malcolm Grant says there are ways for schools to manage costs and still conduct worthwhile research and provide intellectual innovation. One critical step, he says, is greater collaboration between universities in researching key contemporary issues. In a discussion with Arabic Knowledge@Wharton, the UCL president explains how his school has weathered financial strains, the reasons why universities need to collaborate more, and how UCL has built institutional ties with the Middle East and North Africa.
Published: March 19, 2012
When Navigating Europe's Markets, Gulf Companies Should Consider the Acquisition Route
With multiple languages, differing business customs, high taxes and strict regulations, the European market may seem daunting to any Gulf company considering operations there for the first time. But with proper preparation, the European market provides stable business and little hassle, according to one Kuwaiti firm with over a decade of experience. A strategy to consider when initiating business in Europe, the firm's managing director tells Arabic Knowledge@Wharton, is acquiring a local company to overcome setup and transition issues.
Published: October 11, 2011
Far from Bentonville: Wal-Mart Expands to Africa, but Faces Opposition
This summer, Wal-Mart gained entry into Africa, the last market yet to be explored by the largest retailer in the world. South African courts approved Wal-Mart's plan to purchase a 51% stake in Massmart, a retailer with stores across sub-Saharan Africa. But threatening to impede Wal-Mart's expansion are many of the same labor and market concerns that dog its businesses in the U.S. The retailer has encountered fierce local opposition to its plans, with tribunals, court hearings, and union protestors arguing for protections from the discount giant.
Published: September 27, 2011
Bittersweet Lesson: Global Cocoa Beans Shortage Poses Challenges to Commodities Buyers
A sudden halt of cocoa beans from the world's largest supplier in March illustrates the dangers of overreliance on a single source for commodities, says Wharton lecturer Edwin Keh, a supply-chain specialist. The crisis should encourage buyers to consider finding alternative suppliers, he notes, and to study how they can build a supply chain that is more resistant to interruptions by factors such as political unrest in countries of origin.
Published: May 31, 2011
China's Manufacturers Face the Fallout of Japan's Triple Disasters
The tragic natural and man-made disasters that struck northeastern Japan on March 11 highlight both the flexibility and vulnerabilities of supply chains around the world, including those in China. While the Chinese economy may actually benefit from the unprecedented disaster as it picks up the slack left by stricken Japanese industries, Wharton experts and others warn of the challenges that may lie ahead for Japan's major trading partner and assess the sectors that are being hit hardest.
Published: May 04, 2011
Will India Match China's Manufacturing Might?
For the past two decades, China has been considered the factory to the world while India has been looked upon as the back office. One excelled in manufacturing and the other in software and services. Today, India's exports are going places -- the country is among the world's top 10 manufacturers and is growing at a brisk rate of around 10% annually. Moreover, India's rise in the manufacturing arena has come at a time when China is facing threats to its status as a low-cost manufacturing hub, experts say.
Published: April 19, 2011
Cleveland Clinic's Delos M. Cosgrove: 'We are in Abu Dhabi to Help a Country Shape its Healthcare Delivery System'
Cleveland Clinic, the world-renowned US$4.6 billion healthcare provider, has made its first overseas foray into the United Arab Emirates, where it operates Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, a network of healthcare facilities in Abu Dhabi. The clinic plans to develop and manage a 360-bed hospital in the capital. In an interview with Arabic Knowledge@Wharton at the Global Competitiveness Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Cleveland Clinic president and CEO Delos M. 'Toby' Cosgrove talks about the hopes and challenges of the endeavor.
Published: March 22, 2011
Google, BlackBerry and Why Going Global Means Expecting the Unexpected
Despite the fact that BlackBerry was almost slapped with a service ban in key Middle East countries and India, and Google was forced to accept government oversight in China, Wharton management professor Mauro F. Guillén says companies in international markets should not look at recent events as the start of a new wave of government measures aimed at restricting their growth. Rather, these challenges highlight the need for corporate strategies that can help firms succeed in an increasingly unpredictable global economy, Guillén noted during an interview with Arabic Knowledge@Wharton.
Published: October 19, 2010
