Technological strategies and trajectories of Hong Kong's manufacturing firms

International Journal of Technology Management

Volumn 29, Issue 1-2, 2005, Pages 21-39

  Yu, Fu Lai Tony ^a,b  

^a UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES   (Australia)

^b FENG CHIA UNIVERSITY   (Taiwan)

Author keywords

Capabilities development paths; Hong Kong; Imitation; Organisational learning; Technological catch up

Indexed keywords

COST EFFECTIVENESS; INDUSTRIAL ECONOMICS; INTERNATIONAL TRADE; LEARNING SYSTEMS; REVERSE ENGINEERING; SOCIETIES AND INSTITUTIONS; SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT;

CAPABILITIES DEVELOPMENT PATHS; HONG KONG; IMITATION; ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING; TECHNOLOGICAL CATCH-UP;

INDUSTRIAL MANAGEMENT;

EID: 14044252820     PISSN: 02675730     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2005.006003     Document Type: Review

References (82)

1. For example, export-led industrialisation has been argued as a common characteristic of the Asian NIEs. See Chen, E.K.Y. (1988) The economic and non-economics of Asia's four little dragons an inaugural lecture, University of Hong Kong', Supplement to the Gazette, University of Hong Kong, March 21, Vol. 35(L). Chen, E.K.Y. and Wong, T. (1989) The Future Direction of Industrial Development in the Asian Newly Industrialised Economies (NIEs), Asian and Pacific Development Centre.
2. For example, export-led industrialisation has been argued as a common characteristic of the Asian NIEs. See Chen, E.K.Y. (1988) The economic and non-economics of Asia's four little dragons an inaugural lecture, University of Hong Kong', Supplement to the Gazette, University of Hong Kong, March 21, Vol. 35(L). Chen, E.K.Y. and Wong, T. (1989) The Future Direction of Industrial Development in the Asian Newly Industrialised Economies (NIEs), Asian and Pacific Development Centre.
3. See for example, Biggart, N.W. and Orru, M. (1997) 'Societal strategic advantage: automotive and electronics industries in East Asia', in A. Bugru and B. Usdiken (Eds.) State, Market and Organizational Forms, Berlin: de Gruyer, pp.201-239. Biggart, N.W. and Guillen, M.F. (1999) 'Developing difference: social organization and the rise of the auto industries of South Korea, Taiwan, Spain and Argentina', American Sociological Review, October, Vol. 64, pp.722-747. Wong, P.-K. (1999) 'National innovation systems for rapid technological catch-up: an analytical framework and a comparative analysis of Korea, Taiwan and Singapore', Paper Delivered at the DRUID Summer Conference on National Innovation Systems, Industrial Dynamics and Innovation Policy, Denmark: Rebild, June 9-12.
4. See for example, Biggart, N.W. and Orru, M. (1997) 'Societal strategic advantage: automotive and electronics industries in East Asia', in A. Bugru and B. Usdiken (Eds.) State, Market and Organizational Forms, Berlin: de Gruyer, pp.201-239. Biggart, N.W. and Guillen, M.F. (1999) 'Developing difference: social organization and the rise of the auto industries of South Korea, Taiwan, Spain and Argentina', American Sociological Review, October, Vol. 64, pp.722-747. Wong, P.-K. (1999) 'National innovation systems for rapid technological catch-up: an analytical framework and a comparative analysis of Korea, Taiwan and Singapore', Paper Delivered at the DRUID Summer Conference on National Innovation Systems, Industrial Dynamics and Innovation Policy, Denmark: Rebild, June 9-12.
5. See for example, Biggart, N.W. and Orru, M. (1997) 'Societal strategic advantage: automotive and electronics industries in East Asia', in A. Bugru and B. Usdiken (Eds.) State, Market and Organizational Forms, Berlin: de Gruyer, pp.201-239. Biggart, N.W. and Guillen, M.F. (1999) 'Developing difference: social organization and the rise of the auto industries of South Korea, Taiwan, Spain and Argentina', American Sociological Review, October, Vol. 64, pp.722-747. Wong, P.-K. (1999) 'National innovation systems for rapid technological catch-up: an analytical framework and a comparative analysis of Korea, Taiwan and Singapore', Paper Delivered at the DRUID Summer Conference on National Innovation Systems, Industrial Dynamics and Innovation Policy, Denmark: Rebild, June 9-12.
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14. According to Nelson and Winter, there are two cases of copying, namely cooperative and noncooperative. Cooperative copying can be either a joint venture, subcontracting or licensing. Noncooperative copying means that the imitator cannot directly observe the original production process. When a problem arises in copying, it is not possible to resolve it by closer scrutiny of the original. See Nelson, R.R. and Winter, S.G. (1982) An Evolutionary Theory of Economic Change, Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press, p.123.
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40. Accessed at September 1, 2003, http://www.info.gov.hk/topic_f.htm
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64. All cases in this section are taken from Yu (1995;2000) see note 44.
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70. For recent studies of the relationship between institutions and transnational entrepreneurs, see Yeung, H.W.-C. (2002a) 'Entrepreneurship in international business: an institutional perspective, Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Vol. 19, pp.29-61. Yeung, H.W.-C. (2002b) Entrepreneurship and the Internationalisation of Asian Firms: An Institutional Perspective, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar
71. For recent studies of the relationship between institutions and transnational entrepreneurs, see Yeung, H.W.-C. (2002a) 'Entrepreneurship in international business: an institutional perspective, Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Vol. 19, pp.29-61. Yeung, H.W.-C. (2002b) Entrepreneurship and the Internationalisation of Asian Firms: An Institutional Perspective, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar
72. This explains why small firms have continued to dominate Hong Kong's manufacturing industry even at Hong Kong's later stage of industrialisation.
73. Chiu, S. and Lui, T.L. (2001) 'Hong Kong: garment and electronics industry case studies', in P.K. Wong and C.Y. Ng (Eds.) Industrial Policy, Innovation & Economic Growth, Singapore: Singapore University Press, pp.460-502.
74. For an account of such international coordination by a Hong Kong company, see Berger, S. and Lester, R.K. (Eds.) (1997) Made by Hong Kong, Hong Kong: Oxford University Press, pp.39-41.
75. Yeung, H.W.-C. (1998) Transnational Corporations and Business Networks: Hong Kong Firms in the ASEAN Region, London: Routledge.
76. Lui and Chiu concludes that the East Asia NIEs show "the diversity of development trajectories-diversity in the sense that each respond differently to global restructuring as each are shaped differently by domestic institutional and organizational arrangements". See Lui, T.L. and Chiu, S. (1994) 'A tale of two industries: the restructuring of Hong Kong's garment-making and electronics industries', Environment and Planning A, Vol. 26, pp.53-70.
77. Bolton, M.K. (1993) 'Imitation versus innovation: lessons to be learned from the Japanese', Organisational Dynamics, Winter, pp.30-45.
78. For example, see Chen, E.K.Y. and Wong, T. (1989) The Future Direction of Industrial Development in the Asian Newly Industrialised Economies (NIEs), Asian and Pacific Development Centre, pp.208-223.
79. Wade, R. (1990) Governing the Market: Economic Theory and the Role of Government in East Asian Industrialization, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, p.27. Weiss, L. and Hobson, J.M. (1995) States and Economic Development: A Comparative Historical Analysis, Cambridge: Polity Press, pp.170-183.
80. Wade, R. (1990) Governing the Market: Economic Theory and the Role of Government in East Asian Industrialization, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, p.27. Weiss, L. and Hobson, J.M. (1995) States and Economic Development: A Comparative Historical Analysis, Cambridge: Polity Press, pp.170-183.
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82. For a discussion of the nature of government-business relationship, see Weiss and Hobson (1995) note 27, pp.170-183.