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This research evaluates the frontier National Telecommunication Program (NTP) inTaiwan using the data envelopment analysis approach and analyzes the influence of team communication and structure on R&D performance by establishing a structural equation modeling relationship. The results show that team communication is highly correlated with R&D performance. The high-scored projects have internal communication patterns with a higher meeting frequency but shorter dialogue duration, a uniform distribution of regular meetings, a scheme for the lower hierarchy to meet with the project leader, a well-managed channel to access accumulative expertise, and an open forum for communication. They also have external communication patterns with a gatekeeper bridging inward and outward information, a lower frequency of time-consuming external sourcing, and a higher frequency of external cooperation, referencing, learning, and benchmarking. Though team structure has no significant influence on R&D performance, the high-scored research group focused more on the structural dimensions of research strategy, laboratory management, and motivation incentives. This research will provide effective principles of project management to team leaders and industrial policy guidelines to program sponsors. bs_bs_banner R&D Management 43, 2, 2013.

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In today's global business, location-specific factors represent the special advantages accruing to MNEs investing in a particular host country. First, this study aims to assess the importance of location-specific factors in China, and how these factors have changed over the years 2003, 2004, and 2005. Second, this case study intends to investigate the strategies utilised by the Taiwanese respondent MNE subsidiaries to exploit China's location-specific factors, and then explore the firm performance of the Taiwanese respondent subsidiaries in China. The findings of this study suggest that most Taiwanese respondent MNEs, based on a cost leadership strategy, are keen to exploit China's lower-cost labour resources. However, the reality that the average labour cost in China (especially in the coastal provinces), is rising is also reflected in this survey result. Moreover, the high level of local sales seems to show that Taiwanese companies are creating more marketing networks to expand local sales in China's domestic market (a growth strategy). Taiwanese respondent firms are satisfied with their subsidiary performance in China, and are positive about the recent developments of China's location factors.

PurposeAlthough recent models of place branding have proposed culture as a crucial element in establishing a strong place or nation brand, the way in which cultural products influence the brand equity of other products from the same nation has not yet been studied. This study aims to argue that when a nation has strong legal institutions, as perceived by investors and managers, it offers fertile soil for cultivating cultural products that, when exported, can act as “cultural ambassadors,” promoting the country image in the minds of consumers and the value of the country's brands.Design/methodology/approachExports of cultural products are provided by UNESCO. Valuable brands are those that brand finance included in its global top 500 most valuable brands list. The rule of law is provided by the World Bank. Panel regression models are used.FindingsSupporting the hypotheses, exports of cultural products show positive effects on the value of brands from that country, and the rule of law shows positive effects on exports of cultural products.Practical implicationsPolicymakers could improve the brand value of local firms by promoting exports of cultural products. To do so, policymakers should initiate judicial reforms that strengthen the rule of law to protect contracts and property rights.Originality/valueThis study examines the hitherto underexplored effects that a country's cultural product exports have on the brand value of firms from that country. Most prior research has focused on factors affecting imports of cultural products.