Li, S (2010) Strategies for international construction related consultancy firms to compete in China. PhD thesis, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Abstract
Foreign construction-related consultancy firms (hereinafter referred to as 'foreign firms') need to utilize appropriate business strategies to enhance their competitive advantages in China. The aims of this research are to investigate the critical strategies and important practices for foreign firms to achieve competitive performance in China. The research method is based on a structured questionnaire survey and data were collected via postal survey. The results also show that foreign firms compete in two dimensions in China: quantitative performance and qualitative performance. Among the determinants of competitiveness, differentiation, cost leadership, and risk responsiveness are found to have positive impacts on firm's qualitative performance. Cost leadership and market-oriented swiftness have positive impacts on firm's quantitative performance. Client-oriented swiftness and resource-network are found have negative impacts on competiveness. In China, foreign firms need to adopt a combination of both Western and Eastern strategies and use appropriate practices to enhance their competitive performance.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Yng, L Y |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | competitiveness; differentiation; market; international construction; leadership; client; China; questionnaire survey; competitive advantage; foreign firm |
| Index terms: | determinant, dimension, competitiveness, international construction, competitive advantage, China, foreign firm, differentiation, consultancy, questionnaire, strategy, business strategy, survey |
| Subjects: | Geography, management, market analysis, data collection methods, risk assessment, strategic management, business, organization, health monitoring assessment and metrics |
| Topics: | Risk Management, Health and Safety, Geographical Context, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Organizational Design, International Construction |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here