Emerald | Journal of Technology Management in China

Technology transfer in Asia – challenges from a cross-cultural perspective

Christian Hirt — 2012-01-05 00:00:00.0

Abstract

Purpose - This paper aims to highlight challenges to the transfer of technologies which are caused by the internationalization of companies and the need to outsource production in a globalized business environment. Aside from typical methods of transfer by means of documents or equipment, technology is mainly brought forward by human resources, which in a transboundary context implies the interaction between cultures. However, a connection between culture and technology has for a long time been underestimated by practitioners and researchers and a fortiori necessitates the development of competences to facilitate collaboration in a more and more multicultural working environment. Design/methodology/approach - Data was retrieved from a semi-structured questionnaire used in 10 in-depth interviews and exploited by discourse analysis. The survey questionnaire was the main instrument to support data collection in the interviews with at least one respective executive involved in cross-border technology transfer in the Japanese sample companies.Findings - Contradicting the assumptions in Western literature, this study reveals that not only countries correlating on collectivism and masculinity but also more feminine countries can be considered as successful technology transfer partners. It is also substantiated that cultural closeness between countries does not imperatively result in frictionless technology transfer when analyzed from a cultural point of view.Practical implications - Survey results from a small-sized exploratory study on Japanese companies and their experience in technology transfer processes within Asia provide information that will help managers to better understand the challenges in cross-cultural transfer situations and to create a more effective transfer framework. Originality/value - This paper focuses on the combination of technology transfer processes and the need for cross-cultural competence and hence fulfils an identified need to link technology transfer to culture.

A Strategic Framework for Determining E-commerce Adoption

Peixin LI, Wei Xie — 2012-01-05 00:00:00.0

Abstract

Purpose - Many firms have attempted to adopt e-commerce to upgrade their formidable competitive capabilities and thereby build their own competitive advantages. However, some firms have achieved great performance, whereas others have failed in competitive outcomes. How can the differences in firms’ e-commerce adoption be explained? This question remains largely unanswered. This article aims to help fill this literature gap by developing a framework that incorporates factors determining firms’ adoption of e-commerce. Design/methodology/approach - An overview and conceptual paper based on literature review.Findings - Through literature review, this paper summarizes ten factors which determine firms’ adoption of e-commerce. Specially, four significant factors are highlighted, including managerial attitudes, corporate strategies, external pressures and firms’ technology strengths.Originality/value - The framework developed by this article provides a conceptual basis for further quantitative analysis. It can also guide firms’ implementation of e-commerce strategy. Moreover, this paper should be of great value to the policy makers who encourage firms to build up their competitiveness through e-commerce adoption.

How Taiwan's Semiconductor Distributors Select Strategic Partners in China

Chun-An Chen, Hsien-Li Lee, Chia-Hui Wu — 2012-01-05 00:00:00.0

Abstract

Purpose - Taiwan's semiconductor industry continues moving out to China, therefore Taiwan’s Semiconductor distributors must cooperate with the local distributors in China in order to survive. This study discovers the key factors considered in when selecting partners in China for Taiwan’s semiconductor distributors.Design/methodology/approach - This study summarizes the factors from the literatures and the experts’ discussion, then develops a hierarchical structure. Using DEMATEL and MMDE to construct the causality of the dimensions, which are then taken as the basis for the development of the ANP framework. Finally, it gets the weight values of various factors through the results of ANP, which serves as a proposal to discuss the how Taiwan professional semiconductor distributors select partners in China.Findings - According to the DEMATEL’s results, market position is the most important dimension, and the complementary resources can effectively improve the strength of partnership. Then the weight of the ANP results show that trust and commitment, scale, market share and corporate culture are factors that increase the possibility of collaboration.Originality/value - China has become a favorite for foreign investments. Taiwan's semiconductor distributors must actively expand the China market in order to maintain their survival. This study focuses on Taiwan semiconductor distributors who want to invest and establish factories in China, and investigates the key factors that are involved in the selection of partners for Taiwan semiconductor distributors. The results can increase the chances of success among cooperative members

Green practices in the Chinese Building Industry: Drivers and Impediments

Jun Ying Liu, Sui Pheng Low, Xi He — 2012-01-05 00:00:00.0

Abstract

Purpose - Green building has become increasingly significant in China with hundreds of projects being certified. While this has been the case, nevertheless the driving and impeding factors behind this have remained unclear. This study aims to provide an overview of the green practices in China, and to investigate the current status, driving and impeding factors for green practices in the Chinese building industry.Design/methodology/approach - After a comprehensive review of the pertinent literature, this study first describes major environmental changes in China. Next this study conducts an industry-wide survey with 65 completed responses received that form the analysis of this research.Findings - The results of the survey showed that "to obtain countenance and incentives from the government" appears to be the dominant motivation for green practices. "High fabrication cost" in design and "cost control" in construction were considered to be the largest obstacles encountered. "Lack of application experience" seems to be the largest obstacle faced in certification. The respondents seem to disagree much on the advantages of green buildings over conventional ones. The study also found that "countenance and incentives from the government" were the most significant driving force behind the rapid expansion of the green building industry in China.Originality/value - A clearer understanding of the perceptions of industry practitioners would assist those in the green building industry to better appreciate their shortcomings and to inspire new ways of improving performance of the green building industry. Although the future of the green building sector in China is promising, this industry still faces significant obstacles in technologies relating to design, production and manufacturing as well as in "soft" skills relating to regulations, management and stimulation.

Influence of Creativity and Knowledge Sharing on Performance

Chao-Sen Wu, Cheng-Jong Lee, LI-FEN TSAI — 2012-01-05 00:00:00.0

Abstract

Purpose - The main purposes of this study were to investigate the influence of technological creativity for sports and knowledge sharing on individual performance, and to analyze the correlation among creativity for sports technologies, knowledge sharing, and individual performance, via the mediating effect of athletes’ self-efficacy.Design/methodology/approach - This study selected current athletes, including tennis players, track and field athletes, volleyball players, etc. as the subjects, with a total of 250 athletes. Statistical methods, such as Cronbach’s a, factor analysis, Pearson’s correlation, regression analysis, and path analysis, were used to perform analyses.Findings - It was found that among the technological creativity for sports, athletes’ creativity and analytic capacity had significant positive influence on task performance and team performance in athletes’ individual performance. In other words, the improvement in athletes’ self-efficacy may improve their creativity and level of technological capacity, which further improves team performance and task performance.Originality/value - For coaches it is necessary to constantly strengthen athletes’ self-efficacy and provide them with the space for the development of creativity and technological capacity in order to specifically improve their athletic performance. This study integrated relevant theories of technological creativity with those of self-efficacy to investigate issues regarding improvements in athletes’ performance. At present, there is a lack of relevant studies on technological creativity for sports. The research results can serve as a reference to future studies for continuous clarification of investigations into technological creativity for sports.

Effects of International Collaboration and Knowledge Moderation on China’s Nanotechnology Research Impacts

Li Tang, Philip Shapira — 2012-01-05 00:00:00.0

Abstract

Purpose - Recent studies have consistently reported that China is becoming a leading nation in scientific output, notably in the emerging field of nanotechnology. Given the existence of Chinese diaspora and reverse migration, the driver of such growth is presumed to be international collaboration. However, little evidence shows collaboration to be the principal determinant. The purpose of this article is to examine the impact of international collaboration on the research visibility of China nanotechnology.Design/methodology/approach - Utilizing a novel nanotechnology publication dataset, both bibliometric and analysis and statistical testing are adopted to explore this issue.Findings - We found that the bulk of Chinese nanotechnology research is internally-driven. The international collaboration, however, either directly or indirectly, has a positive impact on the quality of Chinese research even controlling for language, discipline, research capacity, and other factors.Originality/value - This paper develops a new concept and a two-dimension measurement of Chinese knowledge moderator to capture the veiled impact brought by overseas diaspora and overseas returnees.