Ettore Spadafora
Associate Professor, Behavioral Science/IB/Strat Management
Department of Management
Saunders College of Business
585-475-6313
Office Location
Ettore Spadafora
Associate Professor, Behavioral Science/IB/Strat Management
Department of Management
Saunders College of Business
Education
Ph.D., University of South Carolina
Bio
Dr. Ettore Spadafora is an associate professor of management at the RIT Saunders College of Business. He received his Ph.D. in international business from the University of South Carolina and his Ph.D. in strategy from the University of Pisa. His research lies at the intersection of strategy, corporate governance, and institutions. His work has been published in Journal of Management, Global Strategy Journal, and others. Dr. Spadafora is from Italy, born and raised in Pisa, Tuscany.
585-475-6313
Select Scholarship
Invited Article/Publication
Addo, K., Kumodzie‐Dussey, M., Pugachev, L., & Spadafora, E. (2025). Board Independence and Bank Risk‐Taking: A Meta‐Analysis of the Role of Formal Institutions. Corporate Governance: An International Review . .
Spadafora, E., Giachetti, C., Kumodzie-Dussey, M., & Elango, B. (2023). International experience and imitation of location choices: The role of experience interpretation and assessment and its board-level microfoundations. Global Strategy Journal . .
Tashman, P., Spadafora, E., & Wagner, D. (2023). Formal institutions, type of diversification and the diversification-performance relationship: A meta-analysis. Multinational Business Review . .
Guler, K., & Spadafora, E. (2022). From hierarchies to markets: Placing platform-based governance forms into the governance space. Academy of Management Proceedings . .
Spadafora, E., Addo, K., Kostova, T., Kumodzie-Dussey, M., & Leo, E. (2022). Board independence and firm internationalization: A meta-analysis. Multinational Business Review . .
Beugelsdijk, S., Kostova, T., Kunst, V., Spadafora, E., & van Essen, M. (2018). Cultural distance and the process of firm internationalization: A meta-analytical review and theoretical implications. Journal of Management . .
Giachetti, C., & Spadafora, E. (2017). Conformity or nonconformity in multinationality? Performance implications for the Italian ceramic tile manufacturers. Management International Review . .
Marano, V., Arregle, J., Hitt, M., Spadafora, E., & van Essen, M. (2016). Home country institutions and the internationalization-performance relationship: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Management . .
Currently Teaching
INTB-225
Global Business Environment
3 Credits
Being an informed global citizen requires an understanding of the global business environment. Organizations critical to the development of the global business environment include for-profit businesses, non-profits, governmental, non-governmental, and supranational agencies. This course introduces students to the interdependent relationships between organizations and the global business environment. A holistic approach is used to examine the diverse economic, political, legal, cultural, and financial systems that influence both organizations and the global business environment.
INTB-550
Competing Globally
3 Credits
This course explores the opportunities and challenges businesses encounter creating and capturing value in the global environment. Areas of emphasis include: forecasting markets; why firms globalize; analyzing global competitors; the degree of globalization or regionalization; creating value for the firm globally which includes entry mode management, location decisions and timing, role of technology; and how to operate.
MGMT-759
Competitive Strategy
3 Credits
This course reviews the techniques and tools firms use to create a sustainable competitive advantage in the global economy. Cross-functional analysis is a core element in the course. Topics covered include the mission and vision of the firm, analysis of the external environment, analysis of internal resources and capabilities, the role of innovation in strategy development, analysis of global business strategies, developing and implementing business-level and corporate-level strategies, and managing strategy in the multi-business corporation. *Note: All MBA core courses.
MGMT-824
Contemporary Topics in Strategy Research
3 Credits
Business, Technology and Society introduces Ph.D. students to the theoretical foundations of research on the relationship between business, technology and society, including corporate social responsibility, the problems and promise of technological innovation, and the role of government policy and other institutional factors. The course will look at these issues within the context of a range of social issues. Students will be challenged to critically review seminal and emerging research, with a focus on both on theoretical arguments, research methods, and social relevance.