Recently, the latest research paper titled“Exploring Corporate Philanthropy, Home Country Foreign Aid, and Country of Origin-Based Stigma for Multinational Enterprises: An Experimental Study”by Professors Wang Yimin and Xu Yuehua from the Department of Strategy Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Professor Zhao Haichuan from the Department of Marketing and International Business at the School of Management, was published online in Journal of World Business (SSCI, Q1; 2023 Impact Factor: 8.9; ABS 4-star). The paper’s co-first authors included Professor Xu Yuehua, Professor Li Jitao from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Professor Wang Yimin, and Xin Li, a postdoctoral researcher at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, with Professor Zhao Haichuan as the fifth author. Shandong University was listed as the first-affiliated institution, and Professors Li Jitao, Wang Yimin, and Xin Li were co-corresponding authors.
Against the backdrop of deglobalization and the increasing frequency of major global crises, the study examined the differing effects of non-market strategies employed by multinational enterprises (MNEs) at different levels—corporate philanthropy and foreign aid—on the country of origin (COO)-based stigma, which is a form of liability for the MNEs. The study further revealed that during sudden global events, the political relations between the home country of multinational enterprises (MNEs) and the host country may complicate the aforementioned impacts. Leveraging insights into the multiple identities of the same MNE, the study constructed a theoretical model to explain the effectiveness of donations at different levels in mitigating reputational damage suffered by MNEs due to the country-of-origin effect. It made significant contributions to the literature on reputational damage and the liability of country of origin (COO) in the context of international business, helping to bridge the micro-macro divide that pervades the non-market strategy literature.
The sturdy was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Major Program of National Social Science Fund of China, the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong, and the Development Plan for Youth Innovation Teams in Colleges and Universities of Shandong Province.
Wang Yimin is a professor and doctoral supervisor at the School of Management, Shandong University, and is also the director of the Strategic Management Research Center at Shandong University. He serves as a board member of the Chinese Academy of Management and Vice Chair of the CAM Management Thoughts and Business Ethics Society. He is also the Honorary President of the Shandong Youth Social Science Workers Association. His primary research interests include strategic management, the internationalization strategies of Chinese enterprises, and the survival and growth of enterprises in global markets. He has published over 50 papers in leading domestic and international journals such as Social Sciences in China, China Industrial Economics, Nankai Business Review, and International Business Review. He has also authored academic works, including Report on the Survival of Chinese Enterprises in Internationalization (2007-2009): Sudden Changes Before and After the Financial Crisis. Moreover, he has presided over multiple research projects funded by the National Social Science Fund of China and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. He has received the First Prize in the 23rd Shandong Social Science Outstanding Achievement Awards, and his teaching cases have twice been recognized among the Top 100 Excellent Management Cases in China.
Xu Yuehua is a professor, doctoral supervisor, and the director of the Department of Strategy Innovation and Entrepreneurship of the School of Management, Shandong University. She is also a Qilu Young Scholar, a leading researcher in the Youth Innovation Team of Shandong Provincial Department of Education, and a chief expert of key projects funded by the National Social Science Fund of China. Her research focuses on China-specific governance mechanisms, corporate social responsibility, strategic leadership, and rural enterprises. She has presided over and participated in numerous national-level research projects, including a National Natural Science Foundation project that was rated as "Outstanding". Her research has been published in Management World, Organization Science, Strategic Management Journal, Journal of Management, and Journal of Business Ethics. Xu serves on the editorial boards of Asia Pacific Journal of Management and Management and Organization Review. She has also presided over and co-developed teaching cases that have won prestigious awards, including a nomination for the“2018 China Best International Business Case Award”and recognition as one of the “Top 100 Excellent Cases in China” in 2021. Additionally, she serves as a reviewer for the National Social Science Fund of China, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the Ministry of Education’s dissertation evaluation center.
Zhao Haichuan is a professor, doctoral supervisor, and the director of the Department of Marketing and International Business at the School of Management, Shandong University. He is a recipient of Shandong University’s Young Scholars Future Program. He holds a PhD in Marketing from City University of Hong Kong and a PhD in Management Science from the University of Science and Technology of China. His research interests include consumer behavior, digital platform management, e-commerce, online reviews, social media platforms, brand communities, consumer decision-making, promotions, and pricing strategies. Zhao has published multiple SSCI papers in top international journals such as Information Systems Research (UTD24), Journal of Interactive Marketing, and Journal of Business Research. He has also presented research at leading international academic conferences.
