Chinese Perceptions of Issues and Obstacles Confronting Joint Ventures

In China one of the most effective means of attracting foreign capital to undertake its four modernizations is through the creation of joint ventures. The Chinese are striving for pragmatic results and emphasize that joint ventures should provide mutual benefits for both parties. Many joint ventures should provide mutual benefits for both parties. Many joint venture participants from the U.S.A. have become disillusioned and are frustrated by obstacles including government bureaucreatic interference, cultural differences, and a lack of managerial know-how by the Chinese. Based on a survey of 182 Chinese businessmen, 100 of whom engaged in joint ventures, it is evident that the CHinese share these concerns. Their perceptions provide guidelines for coping with these obstacles and clearly indicate the importance of "quanxi" in attaining the goals of joint ventures.     

An Investigation of Control and Performance in U.S.-Chinese Joint Ventures

ABSTRACT

This study took an integrated approach to managerial control in international joint ventures (IJVs). The various control mechanisms used in U.S.-Chinese joint ventures were examined. The linkage between control and performance was empirically tested using a sample of U.S.-Chinese joint ventures established in China during the period of 1979–1989. The findings support the hypothesis that effective managerial control exercised by the U.S. partner over the joint venture operation is positively related to its performance. U.S.-dominant joint ventures significantly outperformed Chinese-dominant joint ventures, but no significant performance differences were found between U.S.-dominant joint ventures and shared management joint ventures.     

外商在中外合资合作企业中投资违约的实证研究

近几年外商在中外合资合作企业中当年未按合同出资的比例占40%和50%左右,违约行为相当严重。本文选取8833家中外合资企业和合作企业,运用OLS和二元Logistic回归对外商的投资违约行为进行实证研究。该研究对我国企业和政府具有借鉴意义,有助于我国企业更正以往的错误操作,确定合理的合资合作策略,同时有助于政府明确管理合资合作经营的政策取向。     

Managing Corporate Networks from America to China

Multinational corporations (MNCs) are making a major contribution to China's economic development. This analysis examines how eight prominent American MNCs are handling the process of linking the management of their China joint ventures into their global structures. It looks at how the MNCs are addressing the tensions that arise between maintaining control in terms of their worldwide standards while attempting simultaneously to adapt to the complex and dynamic environment of China. The reconciliation of these requirements depends on a relatively few focal actors, who are located at critical interfaces within the MNCs' internal networks between the China joint ventures and the corporate level.     

Joint ventures in the P. R. China

China is showing interest in joint ventures in the oil, coal and nonferrous metals sector, in electricity generation, steel and building materials production, in the mechanical engineering, textile and electrical industries, in the transport sector and in the hotel trade. Our article gives an outline of the problems which the future joint ventures in China will encounter.     

Key success factors for Russian-foreign joint ventures

This article identifies key success factors (KSFs) for Russian-foreign joint ventures. Based on case studies of two successful and two unsuccessful Russian-foreign joint ventures, four KSFs are identified. The presence of the four KSFs is then assessed in a sample of 30 Russian-foreign joint ventures. To assess the generalizability of the KSFs, discriminant analysis is then applied to the 30 joint ventures to differentiate between successful and unsuccessful joint ventures. The results show that the KSFs can explain 83.3 percent of the variance in the performance of joint ventures in the sample.     

Effects of the Value Chain in International Joint Ventures

Summary

This paper examines differences in the resource profile and experience of Sino-foreign joint ventures located in the two sectors: non-consumer electronics and fast moving consumer goods [FMCG]. It identifies key dimensions along which the two sectors differ and considers the implications for joint ventures. The impact of sectoral differences suggests that the industrial sector of China into which a foreign company invests is of consequence, especially for the business priorities of Chinese partners and for the ease with which a joint venture can be managed through the foreign partner's corporate network. Foreign partners are likely to find more flexibility, and a greater opportunity to influence joint venture management in the FMCG sector compared with non-consumer electronic sector. The physical and infrastructural features of the sectors appear to be particularly consequential for managing an investment in China, and they may be more significant than institutional factors.     

Equity ownership and management control in Sino-foreign joint venture hotels

This article investigates the ownership-control relationship among China international joint ventures in the hotel industry. The findings indicate that equity ownership by foreign partners strongly affects their control over staffing and strategic management activities. This relationship is robust among hotels of different size and star ratings. However, these relationships, though they are not as strong as suggested, can be mediated by country effect. Foreign partners from Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan tend to acquire higher level of ownership and control on joint venture hotels in China, whereas foreign partners from the United States, Canada, and Europe are not.     

文化差异与跨国公司在华投资的独资化倾向

近年来,在华投资的跨国公司呈现出日益显著的独资化倾向。本文在交易成本理论的基础上分析了跨国公司母国与我国的文化差异对其进入模式的影响。在对两者关系提出理论假设后,以2004年我国外商投资企业销售收入排名前500名的企业为样本,以文化距离和心理距离为解释变量,建立logit模型进行实证分析。研究结果表明,跨国公司母国与我国的文化距离越大,其在华投资越倾向于合资经营,而跨国公司母国与我国的心理距离越大,其在华投资越倾向于独资经营。     

Market reaction to international joint venture announcement: The case of developed versus less developed countries

Joint ventures across national borders are more advantageous than other forms of international diversification because they afford a better control of technology usage, require a minimal level of cash investment, and present a more effective means of avoiding intervention from the host government. All of these characteristics make international joint ventures uniquely suitable for investments in less developed countries. This paper ascertains whether investors agree with the above sentiment by examining the stock market response to 41 announcements of international joint ventures during 1985-1987, using the event study method. It was found that the stock of the multinational corporations announcing international joint ventures generally outperforms the market In addition, the market reaction to the announcement of international joint ventures in less developed countries is, on average, more favorable than its reaction to the announcement of international joint ventures in developed countries.     

Corporate venturing: alternatives,obstacles encountered,and experience effects

In this study of a relatively small number of corporate executives with line experience in corporate venturing, some clues are uncovered that could help those corporations contemplating the initiation of acquisition, joint venturing, or corporate start-up activities to avoid or overcome the obstacles that our sample of managers encountered.The preliminary indications are;

• 1.1. Joint ventures appear to be a highly useful way of starting off in venturing activity while at the same time reducing the initial risk.
• 2.2. The excutives in this sample indicated that experience at venturing resulted in improvement in venturing performance, but only after several venture attempts. From this observation, two suggestions appear reasonable: 1) Start venturing with few relatively small ventures and keep ventures relatively small until experience is gained. Start perhaps with joint ventures to learn your way in and “graduate” to grass-roots start ups once significant learning has taken place; and 2) The experience gained will reside in people who may have been part of an unsuccessful venture, perhaps several unsuccessful ventures. If this experience is to be useful, the people who have gained it need to be retained and recycled to other new ventures.
• 3.3. Although some of the obstacles perceived by the executives diminish with experience, others do not. Regardless of experience, inability to plan for new ventures is a recurrently cited obstacle, as is the inability of the corporation to provide adequate support to the venture.

The last point may be the most significant observation in this study. Prevailing corporate values call for the ability to plan and to meet the plan as one of the primary measures of managerial competence. New ventures, however, rarely conform to plan, especially the quantitative projections. As a result, corporate support either dwindles when plans are not achieved or desperate spending efforts are made to achiev unachievable planned results, which often results in large losses. Very different planning methods are needed for ventures, methods that, in the highly uncertain surroundings of venturing activity, address what realistic corporate expectations should be, how progress should be measured and venture managers evaluated, and in what ways and at what times support will be provided by the parent corporation. These are discussed in the main body of the article.     

Entering China Today

Summary

The peripherally growing and remarkably dynamic Chinese economy is now encouraging the use of more diverse and creative entry modes for international investors. This article illustrates various entry modes of foreign direct investment available at present to foreign companies entering China. These entry modes include equity joint ventures, wholly foreign owned subsidiaries, contractual joint ventures, umbrella companies, acquisitions, representative offices, branches, build-operate-transfers, licensing and franchising. The merits and limitations of each entry mode are discussed. Some practical advice on entry strategies for international executives active in the Chinese market is also highlighted.     

How to retain local senior managers in international joint ventures: The effects of alliance relationship characteristics

How can international joint ventures keep their local senior managers from quitting? Drawing on international business literature, social exchange theory, and social integration theory, this study examines how the characteristics of an alliance relationship affect local senior managers' turnover intentions. The findings from 139 ventures in China show that decision-making participation and social integration help retain local senior managers. However, the effects of participation and social integration decrease with high levels of foreign ownership control. Implications for researchers and practitioners are discussed.     

Joint Ventures in Russia

There is an extensive literature on the role of joint ventures in international business. Most of this has focused on the involvement of multinational enterprises (MNEs) in establishing joint ventures in developing countries. Recent political and economic reforms in Eastern Europe have focused attention on joint venture opportunities in ex-centrally planned economies, including opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises. This paper examines the experiences of two small, family owned Scottish companies in establishing joint ventures in the largest of the East European countries, the Russian Federation. The cases highlight the important strategic and managerial issues involved in planning, negotiating and implementing joint ventures with Russian partners. Sensitivity to the business development needs of the host organization, the establishment of good personal relationships and flexibility are crucial to the joint venture process.     

South African Managers' Perceptions of Prospective South African-US Joint Ventures

Abstract

This study explores South African managers' expectations of prospective South African-United States international joint ventures. One hundred and three middle level South African managers responded to a theory-based original survey questionnaire that included questions about various aspects of prospective US-South African joint ventures. US companies invest in South Africa to gain access to its market and South African companies get into joint ventures with US companies to tap into their financial resources. US government's imposed tariffs and South African government's administrative barriers seem to be the most crucial problems for the prospective joint ventures. Implications for international managers are offered.     

Rethinking Management Theory and Practice for the Indian Context: An International Management Perspective

The Indian economy characterized variously as a slumbering giant, powerful tiger, and the most promising market has witnessed a slowdown, occasional disturbances in the industrial relations space, and attention of the world in the last five years. In this special issue, we raise pertinent questions and present research on multiple dimensions of the dynamic and rapidly changing business environment of India. The suitability of management models and frameworks developed in the North American contexts in emerging markets like India and China is questioned. One example of how the well‐established models in the literature on success of international joint ventures were insufficient to explain the success of three international joint ventures in the insurance space in India is presented as case in point. Finally, the nine papers that materially contribute to the theme of this special issue are introduced. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Human Resource Issues in American Firms in China

ABSTRACT

A survey of human resource practices in American firms-both wholly-owned and joint ventures-in China indicate that these practices tend to change over time as the firm gains experience in the local environment. The types of benefits offered to employees vary by the size of the firm and the length of time the firm has been functioning in China. Human resource practices also differ between wholly-owned firms and joint ventures. Statistical analysis indicates that certain practices are more likely to positively impact on the enterprises' productivity, profitability, strategic goals. The implications of the study for managers in the context of a rapidly changing business environment are discussed.     

我国三类特殊涉外经济合同纠纷 专属管辖条款之重构

2012年修正的《民事诉讼法》对专属管辖范围进行了扩张,进一步完备了我国专属管辖制度。但在中国境内履行的中外合资经营企业合同、中外合作经营企业合同、中外合作勘探开发自然资源合同纠纷仍然保留为由我国法院专属管辖,排除其他国家法院对该类合同纠纷进行管辖,既不符合国际通行做法,也与新增专属管辖案件存在一定程度重迭,故应根据不同情况予以重构。     

Agency costs and the structure and performance of international joint ventures

This article develops a principal-agent contractual model for the issue of the structure and performance of international joint ventures. From this model, hypotheses are generated relating the number of partners in a joint venture and the cross-cultural divergence of the partners with joint venture performance. These hypotheses are empirically assessed using a population of over 3,500 developed-country joint ventures.     

An exploratory study of project based international joint ventures: the case of Chek Lap Kok Airport in Hong Kong

A large number of international collaborative ventures was established for the purpose of constructing the Chek Lap Kok Airport in Hong Kong—one of the mega construction projects of the last decade. This study reports on the findings of an in-depth survey of international contractors involved in this mega-construction project. Its focus is on the unique characteristics of project-based joint ventures. The study highlights significant managerial problems and potential success factors in managing project-based international joint ventures. Several propositions are offered for future research. A managerial framework for analyzing project-based international joint ventures is also presented.