News Release

Students will benefit from faculty member’s editorship

April 6, 2009

Penn State Harrisburg business students will benefit from a faculty member’s selection as editor-in-chief of a new international journal.

Professor of Management and International Business Refik Culpan will utilize the various perspectives shared in The International Journal of Strategic Alliances to strengthen his classroom instruction.

The International Journal of Strategic Business Alliances “considers inter-firm partnerships as an alternative and effective strategic option for gaining and sustaining competitive advantage in the global marketplace,” says Culpan.

The perspectives shared by researchers, managers, consultants, and policy makers will provide insight for undergraduate and graduate students in his organizational behavior and development, strategic management, and international management classes as the college continues its emphasis on internationalizing its curriculum to meet the needs of the worldwide nature of business.

And Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies Marian Walters adds, “Recognition of our faculty from outside the university by their selection for international efforts such as this journal is an important demonstration that they are respected by the larger community for their high quality of teaching and their academic achievements.”

The journal’s aim is to foster the creation and sharing of knowledge on strategic business alliances from various perspectives, including economic, organizational, and strategic management, Culpan points out. “It strives to establish an effective channel of communication between researchers, managers, consultants, policy makers, and other concerned individuals and institutions on the complex role of strategic alliances in business competition,” he adds.

An international component will be emphasized in the journal to address worldwide practices and cross-cultural differences among nations and to learn from collaborative global ventures.

A former winner of the college Award for Excellence in Teaching, Culpan has authored three books and numerous journal articles. He teaches organizational behavior and development, strategic management, and international management at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. He previously taught in Europe and Turkey and has held executive positions in business.

Journals may be ordered online from www.inderscience.com/ijsba.