Local Firms in China and Abroad
Session 8
Discussion Questions
What are the competitive advantages
and disadvantages of Chinese local firms compared with foreign firms in
China?
Why are some local Chinese firms more successful than others?
Why are some foreign firms more successful than others?
Examples of Successful Chinese Firms
Lenovo
Haier
Huawei
BYD
Geely
ZTE
Tsingtao beer
Huawei
Initially……
When foreign MNCs first entered China,
they entered high end markets via product imports or the local assembly of imported parts and compete on the basis of technology and brand
Local firms occupy the low end of the market and did not really compete with
MNCs initially.
However, starting in the late 1990s, competition between foreign and local firms intensified as local firms start to move up the value chain by emulating the foreign firms’ technology, design and products.
Do Chinese Firms Have
Competitive Advantages?
YES?
NO?
Do Chinese MNCs have Competitive
Advantages?
YES?
Privileged access to capital
Privileged access to natural
resources
Insights into customer needs
Low-cost R&D
Ability to operate in harsh environment with institutional void (flexible)
Young and no pre-existing traditions to bind them
Excellence in production process management
NO?
No cutting-edge
technology
No global brand
No international experience Limited distribution outside home
Emerging Local Champions
1. They tend to be private firs run by entrepreneurs or
incorporated firms run like private firms despite state ownership o Speed and flexibility - Down-to-earth, execution-oriented
culture that enable quick decision-making, e.g.,
BYD, Chery and Geely in automobile
Longliqi, Nice and Shanghai Jahwa in consumer products
Huawei and ZTE in telecom equipment industry
2. They tend to possess a great capacity for learning o Leverage learning in global market and upgrade
skills/capabilities through acquisitions/partnerships (e.g.,
Lenovo)
o Invest in innovation
Huawei: 46% employees are in R&D
BYD: Developed a technology for making batteries at ambient
temperature as opposed to in expensive heated dry rooms.
Lower the cost of making lithium-ion batteries from $40 to $12.
Emerging Local Champions
3. Cost advantages and strong distribution
channels o o o o o o
Rural areas with abundant cheap labor
Not abound by global health and safety standards Free from the expensive overhead costs of
MNCs
Local government support
Low cost innovation (e.g., Haier’s wine refrigerator is