Ms Lisa Spencer
Postgraduate Student
Biography
Academic Biography
2009 – 2012 Research Masters - International Business& Finance-Trinity College Dublin
Supervisor: Prof Colm Kearney/Dr Jim Stewart (50,000 words)
Thesis: ‘The Process and Patterns of Firm-Level Internationalisation Over Time.’
A longitudinal analysis defining and measuring the Degree of Internationalisation of some of the world’s largest Multinational Companies
Taught business and finance to undergraduate students at Trinity College as part of my funding agreement
Worked as a research assistant collecting and analysing secondary data
2008 – 2009 MSc International Business - Dublin Institute of Technology (honours)
Subjects: International Finance and Economics, International Marketing, International Strategic Management, International Organizational Behaviour and HRM, International Operations Management and Information Systems, International Regulatory Environment
Thesis about global banking and international competition (25,000 words)
As part of my MSc in business I participated in a group based consulting project with an on-line start-up company called meetingsbooker.com
2004 – 2008: Bachelor of Business Studies-Dublin City University (honours)
Subjects: Economics, Marketing Management, Human Resource Management skills, Business to Business Marketing, Information Systems Management, Accounting, Financial Management, Strategic Management, Industrial Economics, Law and French.
Thesis based on New Enterprise Development (15,000 words)
Current Research
Thesis: ‘SME Internationalisation and the Lending Environment - case of Ireland and Germany’
The literature confirms that “the efficient and effective provision of finance to SMEs has long been recognised as a key factor in ensuring that those firms with genuine growth potential can expand and compete” (Binks & Ennew, 1996:18). Furthermore “financial resources can be invested into capital-intensive projects that may enable firms to secure existing markets as well as enter new markets for the first time” (Westhead et al., 2001: 342).
Finance has acted as a big constraint when SMEs are developing an international orientation, both in identifying growth opportunities abroad and exploiting opportunities that have been realised (Berra, Piatti, & Vitali, 1995; Chetty & Campbell-Hunt, 2003; Kalantaridis, 2004; Berger & Udell, 2006).
Research Gap
Berger and Udell (2006) describe key elements of the financial system that affect SME credit availability, which have been neglected. Such as different lending technology that now plays a key role to government policies and national financial structures. Their framework proposes a causal chain from government policies to a nation’s financial institution structure and lending infrastructure. It outlines how thus – financial structures attribute to the availability of funds to SMEs by determining the feasibility and profitability with which different lending technologies may be deployed. Future researchers are urged to empirically test how these fundamental factors play a role in the evolvement of the SME sector (Beck & Demirguc-Kunt, 2006; Berger & Udell, 2006; Dickson, Weaver, & Vozikis, 2013).
Research Agenda
Firstly based on a sample of European SMEs, we establish different stages of internationalisation. In doing so, we confirm the level of multinationality (the extent of countries/regions firm operates within); and also take into consideration the time taken to reach current DOI (degree of internationalisation) so as to ascertain what internationalisation process took place, be it fast or slow.
Secondly we measure the factors related to the lending infrastructures and financial systems in different EU countries. Understanding the institutions that provide funds to SMEs and the financial system that affects SME credit availability, for instance government policies, support agencies and financial structures, can increase the opportunities and feasibility for SMEs to internationalise more frequently and at deeper levels of engagement (De Maeseneire & Claeys, 2012).
In summary - the effects of a nation’s financial institution structure on SME development is particularly under-researched in the literature (Berger & Udell, 2006; De Maeseneire & Claeys, 2012). Using mixed methods, we provide a deeper insight into the mechanisms that SMEs are reliant on, in order to grow and assume an increasing multinational and global presence.
May 2012- October 2012: Financial Administration
Goodbody Stockbrokers, Ballsbridge Park, Dublin 4
Worked as part of the Client Asset Requirements team
Assessing trades and inputting new bargains
Performing daily cash reconciliations
Classifying assets
October 2011 – March 2012: Funds Administration
Price Waterhouse Coopers, Spencer Dock, Dublin 1
Auditing fund accounts
Maintaining contact with clients, transfer agents and other administrators
Ensuring regulatory standards (ISA) were adhered to
September 2009-June 2011: Research & Teaching
Trinity College Dublin
Teaching International Business and Finance subjects to undergraduate students
Research assistant – building data base using DataStream, Bloomberg, Amadeus and Worldscope
Correcting and invigilating exams
Tutoring individual business students
March - October 2007: Banking and Finance
HBOS: Halifax Bank of Scotland, HQ, Dublin 2, Ireland
Providing loan advice and meetings with clients
Undertaking International Credit Bureau checks on clients’ loan repayment history
Examining loan applications & participating in underwriting procedures
Working closely with the operations manager in the home-loans department