Li, P (2017) The international competitiveness of Chinese construction firms. PhD thesis, Coventry University, UK.
Abstract
Many Chinese construction firms have strategically started to develop their overseas construction markets in line with the development of the integration of global economies, following China's accession to the World Trade Organisation in 2001, and the Chinese government's 2013 proposal for the One Belt One Road, which was an opportunity for Chinese construction firms to expand their global business. However, in the current dynamic global construction market there are factors, which may affect Chinese construction firms' global expansion. However, the competitiveness theories, such as, Porter's Competition theory, the Resources-Based Approach, and the Strategic Management Approach, had application limitations with respect to Chinese construction firms, because of the unique characteristics of China's construction industry, which is a socialist market economy and is moving towards integration into the global market. It has been important for Chinese construction firms to focus on investigating those indicators, which have contributed to their international operations. Therefore, it was necessary to establish a framework to assess and improve Chinese construction firms' international competitiveness. A competitiveness framework was established through the application of mixed methods relating to a sequential explanatory strategy, with strong quantitative and qualitative considerations. For this sequential study, firstly, the key players in the competitive global construction market were identified through analysis of secondary quantitative data. Secondly, a total of 21 key competitiveness indicators were identified through analysis of secondary qualitative data, after which a draft conceptual competitiveness framework was proposed. Thirdly, Modified Delphi interviews were conducted, in order to refine and tighten the draft conceptual competitiveness framework, in all a total of 49 key competitiveness indicators were identified and a competitiveness framework was established. Finally, a case study was conducted through an analysis of both secondary data and structured interview results, which validated that the competitiveness framework was a strategy and a practical tool for assessing and improving Chinese construction firms' international competitiveness. In addition, a mathematical method named Weighted Summation was employed in this research for calculating competitiveness. Chinese construction firms' international competitiveness could then be calculated. This research found that the meaning of competitiveness could not be precisely defined, but the indicators, which contributed to Chinese construction firms' international competitiveness could be identified. This research provided a useful learning tool to assess and improve construction firms' international competitiveness.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | case study; China; competition; competitiveness; construction firms; government; integration; interview; learning; markets; strategic management |
| Index terms: | global construction, competitiveness, construction industry, markets, construction market, World Trade Organization, case study, mixed method, secondary data, integration, strategic management, competition, China, proposal, interview, meaning, strategy, construction firm |
| Subjects: | project planning, economic analysis, strategic management, organization, market analysis, Geography, institutional frameworks, data collection methods, organizational analysis, sociology, industry analysis, management |
| Topics: | Governance, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Organizational Design, International Construction, Geographical Context, Project Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
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