This section contains information about articles under review and waiting for publication in next issues of the journal.

International expansion strategies of Malaysian construction firms: entry mode choice and motives for investment

Ahmad S. Z., University of Malaya, Malaysia
Kitchen P. J., Hull University of Business School, UK

Abstract. This empirical investigation explores the strategic decisions of entry modes in foreign markets made by the Malaysian construction firms. The objectives of the research are to investigate the choice of entry mode(s) employed by these firms, factors that influenced their choices, and motives for their international expansion. This study is based on a dualist empirical procedure. In the quantitative analysis, data were obtained from a structured questionnaire of 35 Malaysian construction companies which have international projects. For the qualitative approach, 9 executives in construction firms were interviewed. The findings showed that most of these companies opted for international joint ventures and strategic alliances as their preferred choice of entry mode strategy as they were easier to establish, more flexible, required low resource commitments, and involved less risk. Among the motives for international expansion are - to develop new markets, access less expensive resources (labor and raw materials), take advantage of industry liberalization, access business opportunity, and countermand stiff competition in the domestic market. The results have important implications for Malaysian businesses.

Psychological ownership: an empirical study on its antecedents and impacts upon organizational behaviors
Hayrettin Ozler, Ph.D, Dumlupinar University, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Public Administration Department, Turkey
Abdullah Yilmaz, Associated Professor, Ph.D, Dumlupinar University, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Public Administration Department, Turkey
Derya Ozler, Ph.D, Dumlupinar University, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Business Department, Turkey

Abstract. Psychological ownership or the feeling of ownership is the main theme of this research. First of all the study reviews the literature to identify motives and experiences that form the antecedents of psychological ownership, then it examines whether organizational climate, job satisfaction and demographic factors have an impact on ownership and in return to what extent psychological ownership influence organizational citizenship behaviors and organizational commitment. Our respondents are constituted by the administrative and academic staff of a state university which currently employs 1061 persons. The questionnaires had been sent to all the personnel and among the returned questionnaires 709 of them have been considered complete for statistical analysis. The findings suggest that job satisfaction and a participative organizational climate may strengthen the feelings of ownership held by employees towards their organization. It also suggests that the longer employees work in an organization, the stronger ownership they feel towards it. Another finding is that psychological ownership may increase organizational citizenship behaviors and organizational commitment supposing that there is a participative and autonomy supporting work environment in which employees have a considerable chance of self-development and long term employment.