Internationalization and Entry Strategy of Enterprises
Internationalization and Entry Strategy of Enterprises
Internationalization and Entry Strategy of Enterprises
INTERNATIONALIZATION AND
ENTRY STRATEGY OF ENTERPRISES:
A Case study of Chinese firm: Huawei
1
Abstract
A lot of theories have been propounded that has made great contribution to the
enterprise internationalization and entry strategy. However, no acceptable conclusion
has been made on how firms internationalized and what is factors influenced firms
choose their strategy. This development necessitates further study on the firms
internationalization and entry strategy. Hence the research was explorative in nature
and adductive approach was comprehensive adopted with interview.
Further more, the firms have been using various approaches in entering their target
market. Some prefer to consolidate their position at home and concentrated their
efforts on exporting, while other took aggressive steps and invested directly in the
foreign market. Thus, the study examined the entry strategy of firms, and the factors
that influence the choice. This was aimed to gain deeper insight on how firms enter
the target market. From the findings, it was revealed that, Huawei had adopted
partnership, establishment of owned subsidiaries and make high technology
co-operation in the world, while the company resorted to strategic alliance and joint
venture after the China economic reformed till present moment. Moreover, we found
that the owner and management exerted their influence on strategic direction of the
firm, but the choice of entry strategy was mostly influenced by firm vision, business
offering, resources and capacity, while market conditions acted as exogenous factors.
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TABLE OF CONTENT
1. INTRODUCTION 6
1.1 Background 6
1.3 Purpose 7
1.4 Delimitation 7
2. LITURATUA REVIEW 9
2.1 Introduction 9
3. METHODOLOGY 23
3.1 Introduction 23
3
3.3 RESEARCH DESIGN 24
4. EMPIRICAL FINDINGS 30
4.1 Introduction 30
4.3.1 The Profile of Huawei and Its Growth in the International Market 30
5.1 Introduction 37
perspective 37
MARKETS 39
4
5.3.1 Markets commitments 39
5.5.3 Contractual Entry Modes in North America, West Europe and Other
Countries 41
Huawei 42
6. CONCLUSION 44
References 46
Appendix 53
5
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND:
The disintegration of the former Soviet Union and the socialist bloc, the abolishment
of the Berlin Wall, the integration of Europe in 1992, the liberation of Eastern Europe
and continuous rise of Asia- pacific region etc, signifies a pointer to the drive and
wave of unification that is blowing across countries, regions, continents to make the
word a Global village with borderless entity. (Zuidhof 2003)
Deal with globalzation this issue, how to manage their business and how to
establish the international strategy will be more important for firms. It is important to
recognize what strategies are feasible to be transferred abroad and then learn what
needs to be adapted. In accordance with this, Ohmae (1994) argues that global
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localization is the most advanced form of the globalization process, hence the
management both have a global and a local orientation. The different external factors
also is influencing between parent and host organization such as cultural, political;
economic and legal distances.
1.3 Purpose
The purpose of the project is to increase the knowledge in the field of international
business through investigate, describe and analyze how firms decide to go abroad. To
achieve the purpose, we studied Multinational Companies in terms of the
internationalization and entry strategies employed as a tool, in executing their
international marketing goals, this will allow us to have deeper insight on how firms
internationalize and what circumstances influence the choice of entry strategy.
1.4 Delimitation
Internationalization of a firm is a broad topic and a complex phenomenon; it is
difficult to identify internationalization process from different types of firms, so in
order to come up with good analysis and clear understanding I have to limit it to one
case study. One restricting factor is come from thesis-self, because science cannot
always explain or predict human behavior by means of common, generally accepted
principles (Isaac Asimov 2002). The scientific marketing management literature also
seems to lack complete explanation or predicting the firms in internationalization
behavior accurately. As a matter of fact, under the emerged global environment in the
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past decades, substantial growths in the field of researches in marketing have been
observed to become evident. Ironically, this has brought more controversies and
debates rather than success in synergized all thoughts and findings, to generate
acceptable conclusions. Internationalization is a complex phenomenon; different
perspectives are needed to understand it. (Bjorkman, 1990).
Another most important factor was time. The given time frame makes me to limit the
study to one company, instead of several companies to be able to compare differently
how the processes have been.
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CHPTER TWO
LITURATUA REVIEW
2.1 Introduction
This section of the project examined the existing literatures on the research problem.
This is to identify relevant information that may be relevant and useful in answering
the research question. Consequently, the chapter is divided into two. The first part
concentrated on review of Svante. Andersons (2000) The internationalization mode
from an entrepreneurial perspective; Uppsala model and Driscolls (1995) foreign
market entry modes choice framework as guiding tools in analyzing the research
findings, while the second parts deal with review of previous research.
The concept of internationalization has evolved in the past three decades. Johanson &
Vahlne (1977) defined Internationalization as a process in which the firms gradually
increase their international involvement. They claimed that internationalization is the
product of a series of incremental decisions.
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2.2.1 The Internationalization mode from an entrepreneurial
perspective
In 2000, Svante. Anderson established Internationalization modes from an
entrepreneurial perspective; he the first time to analyze and explain the relationship
between entrepreneur and internationalization process. He makes an explanation for
how entrepreneur influence internationalization process. The entrepreneurs is
distinguished by three types of entrepreneur: technical entrepreneur, marketing
entrepreneur and structure entrepreneur.
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Figures 2 The marketing entrepreneur and international push strategy
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Figures 3 The Structure entrepreneur and international restructuring of the
industry
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2.2.2 The internationalization Process Mode: The UPPSALA
MODEL
To explain the sequence of development, it was hypothesized by Johanson & Vahlne
(1977, 1990) that firms would enter new markets associated with successively greater
psychic distance. Psychic distance was defined as the factors preventing or disturbing
the flow of information between a firm and its markets, including factors such as
language, culture, etc. To explain the incremental nature of the process, Johanson &
Vahlne (1977) further formulated a dynamic model, in which the outcome of one
cycle of events is seen as providing the input for the following cycle. They established
four stages of firm internationalization process. They posited that first are preoccupied
with home market at initial stages and no regular export activities. After consolidated
their presence in the home front, they extended their activities across border through
exporting via independent representative or agents. The third stage involved firm
committing their resource in the international market by establishing oversea sale
subsidiary, while the final stage entailed establishment of foreign manufacturing/
production facilities. This preposition has been improved upon and integrated in their
work in 1990 which is presented below. The basic structure of the model is provided
by the distinction between state and change aspects of internationalization. The
former include foreign market commitment (i.e., resource commitment) and
knowledge about foreign markets and activities. The change aspects include the
decisions to commit resources and engage in foreign activities, as described below.
The basic assumption is that market knowledge and market commitment affect both
commitment decisions and the way current activities are performed which, in turn,
affect market knowledge and commitment. (Andersen 1993.)
Market Commitment
knowledge decisions
Market Current
commitment activities
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2.2.2.1 State aspects
Infer from above, the state aspect is separated into market knowledge and market
commitment.
Market commitment
Market knowledge
The market knowledge referred to the level of appreciating the market environment.
The knowledge might be general or specific. The general knowledge is about
marketing methods and concept, involves common characteristics of certain types of
customers in term of their taste, attitude, and perception. While specific knowledge
concern peculiar characteristics of the specific national market expressed as its
business climate, cultural patterns, structure of the market system, and. most
importantly, characteristics of the individual customer firms and their personnel.
( Johanson & Vahlne, 1977, in Johanson & Associates, 1994, p. 57.) Market
knowledge also lay emphasis on the different way how firm acquired through learning
from personal experience or being taught (Penrose, 1995). In the Uppsala model, the
experimental knowledge is emphasized and it is assumed that this kind of knowledge
makes it possible to perceive and formulate opportunities.
Both general knowledge and market-specific knowledge are needed when entering
and making commitments to a market. The latter kind of knowledge can mainly be
acquired through experience in the specific market, whereas general knowledge can
be taught and transferred from one market to another. The Uppsala model is
postulating a direct relation between market knowledge and market commitment.
Knowledge is considered as human resource and the better knowledge a firm has
about a market, the more valuable the resource and consequently, the firm will have a
stronger commitment to the specific market. (Johanson & Vahlne, 1977, in Johanson
& Associates, 1994.)
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2.2.2.2 Change aspects
From the figure 1 above, the change aspects that influence the state aspects are current
activities and commitment decisions.
Current Activities
The model stated that current activities are of great importance for these reasons.
Firstly, knowledge can be acquired through experience from the current business
activities. And as stated above, it is through experience the firm can perceive and
identify opportunities that may lead to market commitments. The model laid more
emphasis on current activities as the impetus for the firm to forge ahead. Therefore, it
was expected that the success recorded in the current activities in the market will
guide the firm in making further attempt to enter other market. However, the other
ways of gaining experience are not considered in the model. Hence, this is one of the
reason s why the internationalization is a slow process. Finally, if the activities are
highly production-oriented, or if there is a low need for interaction between the
activities and the market environment, the easier it will be to start new operations
which are not incremental additions to the current activities. It will also be easier to
substitute advice from outside and fromhired personnel(Johanson & Vahlne, 1977, in
Johanson & Associates, 1994).
Commitment Decisions
The second change aspect is the degree of involvement decisions, which are decisions
to commit resources to a market. It presumed that decision is determined by the level
of threat and opportunity in the market, while awareness of these threats and
opportunities are assumed to be dependent on the experience from activities on the
specific market. The decisions are also dependent on the existing market risk and the
existing market uncertainly i.e., the decision-makers inability to estimate the present
and future market and market influence factors, perceived by the firm. The existing
market risk is composed of existing market commitments to the market until its
maximum tolerable risk is reached (Johnson & Associates, 1994). Consequently, there
is indirect relationship between market risk and uncertainty, and the market
commitment.
A firm will internationalize in accordance with the model, which is to make small
incremental steps both in the market commitment dimension as well as in the cultural
and geographical dimension with three exceptions:
1). When firms have large resources, the consequences of commitments are small.
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Consequently, large firms or firms with surplus resources can make larger
international steps.
2). When market conditions are stable and homogeneous, relevant market knowledge
can be gained through other ways than experience.
3). When the firm has considerable experience from markets with similar conditions it
may be possible to generalize this experience to the specific market (Johanson &
Vahlne, 1990, in Johanson & Associates, 1994).
Low High
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need to
1) minimize the need for knowledge development, 2) minimize the need for
adjustment, and 3) exploit established network positions (Johanson & Mattsson 1988),
for example agents or consultants. For an early starter, these demands cause
significant pressure, since the firm is among the first to develop the network, and the
costs of overcoming the problems and developing the needed knowledge may be high.
For the lonely international, external pressures are lower than for early starters.
However, pressures of resource adjustment may be higher, because of the increased
gathering of possible resource adjustments. In addition, the co-ordination of
international activities plays a more important role in the case of the lonely
international.
The third component is the late starter. The problems encountered by the late starter
differ from those of the early starter and the lonely international. On the one hand,
firms already within the established network structure may resist the latecomers
efforts to enter the internationalized market. On the other, the customers and/or
suppliers in the network may be pulling the firm into the international network.
Thus, the need for resource adjustment may be high, while co-ordination of
international network activities may also be important. If a small firm is exposed to
this kind of market structure, it should be highly specialized and adjusted to specific
sections of the industry. In addition, the customers or suppliers role may play an
important role in directing the process.
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Stage 2: export via independent representation (agent);
Stage 3: sales subsidiary; and
Stage 4: production/ manufacturing
Johanson & Vahlne (Johanson & Vahlne 1977; 1990) modified this model and
suggested a dynamic international model-The Basic Mechanism of
Internationalization. The latter model assumes that the market knowledge and Market
commitment affect both commitment decision and the current activities, which in turn
influence market knowledge and market commitment. The dynamic model indicated
that the firm would first target the international market with similar market
environment. Both models emphasize that internationalization is a process and
follows a stage approach. Although these two internationalization theories have
been supported by much empirical and theoretical research, many scholars stand on
the opposite side. Turnbull (1987) claimed that the stage internationalization model
cannot explain the internationalization in many firms; Andersen (1993) criticized that
the discrepancies between the theoretical and operational level exist in these two
models based on the principle of theory evaluation; Bell (1995) argued that the
relevance of stage theories must be questioned, especially in relation to the
internationalization of high technology and service firms. Gureea (2002) provided the
evidence to question the stage theory through the cases of UK Biopharmaceutical
SMEs (small and medium sized enterprises).
Different from the above dynamic models which just mentioned the factors of market
knowledge and market commitment, Driscoll (1995) introduced a comprehensive
foreign market entry decision framework, which identifies export, contractual and
investment as the main foreign market entry modes. It defines that the contractual
entry modes include a variety of arrangements such as licensing, franchising,
management contracts, turnkey contracts, non-equity joint ventures, and technical
know-how or co-production arrangements. The investment entry mode includes
acquisitions (purchasing stock in an existing company in an amount sufficient to
acquire control), joint venture and start-up investment.
Driscoll (1995) also analyzed the characteristics of export, contractual and investment
entry modes from five aspects of control; dissemination risk; resource commitment;
flexibility and ownership (shows in the following table 1). Control refers to that the
extent of a firm in governs the production process, co-ordinate activities, logistical
and marketing and so on. Dissemination risk refers to the extent to which a firms
know-how will be expropriated by a contractual partner. Resource commitment refers
to the financial, physical and human resources that firms commit to a host market.
Flexibility assesses that whether a firm can change the entry modes quickly and with
low cost in the face of evolving circumstances. Ownership refers to the extent of a
firms equity participation in an entry mode.
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Table 2 the characteristic of the foreign entry models
Different from previous conceptualization of mode choice which just depict a series
of situational influence directly affecting mode choice, Driscoll (1995) introduced a
dynamic mode choice framework. (as show in figure 5). This model considers the gap
between desired model and actual one and takes alternative mode characteristics into
account when a firm chooses foreign market entry mode. Driscolls study emphasizes
that there is no optimal foreign market entry modes under all conditions. Therefore, a
firm cannot just consider an institutionalizing mode; it needs to consider the
characteristics of modes, the firm factors, environmental factors and other factors
when it chooses entry mode. However, the factors that influence the entry mode
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choice in Driscolls framework need to be tested by more empirical research.
Luostarinen & Hellman (1993) in their work which was based on a study of small
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family firms in Finland proposed a holistic approach of the internationalization
process. This model was built on the work by Luostarinen (1979). While the
traditional approach of internationalization embraced outward processes, their work
fortified the traditional approach with the notion of inward internationalization, i.e.,
the buying of raw materials, components, technologies, or goods to be resold and out
souring as a means of gaining internationalization.. Traditional approaches have
tended to neglect the importance of inward processes for the firms
internationalization, although at the strategic level, inward and outward-type
processes are closely linked. A further distinction was made in this model by
identifying co-operative processes as a specific form of outward process.
They further proposed four stages and different paths of internationalization. The first
stage is the domestic stage, during which the firm has no international operations
whatsoever. In the second, inward stage, foreign activities are limited to technology
transfer or importing of raw materials or components. The third, outward stage
involves outward or co-operation processes. Outward processes may include activities
such as exporting, ownership of a sales or manufacturing subsidiary abroad,
subcontracting, contract manufacturing, or licensing. Co-operation processes may
entail activities, such as importing of subcontracted components,
contract-manufactured goods or licensed products, or importing from a manufacturing
subsidiary. In the fourth, co-operation stage, the firm may have a co-operation
agreement on any of the following area of activity: manufacturing, purchasing, or
research and development.
Dunnings (1988, 1993) in his work expressed different view on how firm
internationalize. His view was based on harnessing the opportunities available in the
international market. Thus he addresses the aspect of foreign production in
multinational enterprises (MNEs). In his view, the focus of MNEs was how to exploit
ownership (O) and location (L) advantages by internationalizing (I) markets rather
than following a traditional model of internationalization. According to his findings,
MNEs will launch production where they can best utilize competitive advantages (due
to market imperfections), as defined by the OLI-parameters. The OLI model acquires
a dynamic dimension by inclusion of two additional mechanisms, i.e., the other
operators in the market (interaction between firms) and the time interval between
realization of strategic change and the materialization of its results. The dynamic and
incremental nature of the process is explained through a cumulative cycle, in which
the results of decision-making on OLI-parameters feed into subsequent
decision-making cycles.
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maintaining control over activities. Control is minimal in the case of licensing, while
wholly-owned subsidiaries afford maximum control. They further emphasis that each
of entry modes requires different resource commitments which may severely limit the
firms softness due to the sunk costs involved in the different modes. Diffusion of risk,
on the other hand, refers to the danger that firm-specific advantages in know-how may
be expropriated by a partner, e.g., a licensing or joint venture partner. Especially for
firms with technology-based advantages, dissemination risks may present a serious
danger. However, they concede that their model is built on ceteris paribus
assumptions, and thus does not directly reveal reality.
Larimo (1993) applied strategic process to his work. The work was based on the
motivating factors that influence the choice of strategy in embarking on foreign direct
investment. He argues that factors affecting the FDI behavior of firms include the
target country, the path to FDI, the type of investment (e.g., related or unrelated
investments), the form of operation (Greenfield operations, acquisitions), the size of
the investment, the motivations of the actors, and the ownership arrangements (FDI
alone or in co-operation with another firm). Needless to say, the performance of firms
will vary depending on these factors. Soerensen & Nedergaard (1993) elaborate on
issues present in the international mode of decision-making. They argue that decisions
are made, and action is taken, based on interplay of past experience, rational analysis
of the firms current situation, and a dialogue involving all the players and their
intuitive assessments. Action, in turn, generates new experience to draw on in future
decision-making.
Despite the availability of various research findings, no concrete conclusion has been
made on how firm should enter international market. Furthermore, the authors were
aware of the existence of other researches and different models propounded by
different researchers. While Luostarinen & Hellman (1993) tried to improve on
traditional view to build his model, Dunning was pre-occupied with location of
production where firm can gain competitive advantage. Hill, Hwang & Kims (1990)
on the other hand laid emphasis on the issue of control, resource commitment, and the
diffusion risks of entry. While Larimo study was differentiated by concentrated his
study on foreign direct investment. However, this research aimed to study how firm
internationalized, by identify the entry strategy adopted and what factor influence
such a choices.
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CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 INTRODUCTION
This chapter deals with process of collecting, organizing and integration of data in
order to achieve the project objective. It aims to provide insight on how the research
was done, and in what order different task were conducted. The section starts by
describing the scientific methodology and research design. Furthermore, a description
of the data collection and analysis is presented. The scientific method is defined as the
process by which scientists, collectively and overtime, endeavor to construct an
accurate( that is, reliable, consistent and non-arbitrary) representation of the world
( Yin 1994) Recognizing that personal and cultural beliefs influence both human
perceptions and interpretations of natural phenomena, we conducted the research
through standard procedures and criteria to minimize those influences, during the
course of data collection, analysis and interpretation.
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3.2.1 RESEARCH APPROACH
This study is based on qualitative method. A qualitative method consists of an
understanding and explains the meaning of a social phenomenon with as little
disruption of the natural setting as possible. It permits an evaluator to study selected
issues in depth and detail (Patton, 1990). Thus, qualitative research reveals and
explains behaviors; based on the assumption that they create reality as they interact
with social environments. In order to analysis these creations, human beings are the
key data sources in qualitative studies and, therefore, fieldwork is a very common
means of collecting data (Merriam, 1998).
Deciding which design will be applied to the research determines what kind of
research method and results will be carried out and presented. According to
Christensen & Engdahl, 2001,The major parts of all studies are divided in two
dimensions: abroad-external and a narrow-deep research. A The abroad-external is
based on a broad and external approach is focus on a few variables at many research
units. The narrow deep is focus on deeper study on a few number of research units.
24
The narrow do not need show a statistically generalized picture of a population
In my study, only studying one firm internationalization process, so this research is
narrow-deep.
This study of purpose is to explore how the firms internationalized? So A case study
approach was selected.
Case studies provide the researchers with the opportunity to challenge or confirm
models, theories as well as own experiences and knowledge (Gummesson, 1998).
According to (Robert k.1989, 23) a case study is an empirical empirical enquiry that
investigates the contemporary phenomenon within its real life context when the
boundaries between phenomenon and contest are clearly evident, and in which
multiple evidences are used. For this study, a case study approach was deemed
appropriate. Research the process of internationalization through case studies allowed
the researchers to use existing theories, models and own observations as a tool in
collecting and analyzing the data. We study existing and relevant cases related to the
purpose of the study, especially where we can not get the required information from
the respondent or where the respondent is reluctant to divulge sensitive information
that can expose them to their competitor. In Huaweis history, the internal information
has been stolen by competitor; it has made a crisis and Lawsuits and disputes for
Huawei in international arena.
The first, involved identifying a pool of industries commonly cited in the literature as
being global. Second was the identification of companies within each industry which
had extensive transnational operations. This was emphasized by using Aharonis
(1966) definition of how many foreign subsidiaries constituted a multinational
corporation (more than five). The final step involved a post hoc process to verify the
originality of the above-mentioned procedure. Respondent firms operating
environments had to have the following global industry characteristics: intense global
25
competition, high degrees of product standardization on a worldwide basis; existence
of global competitors in all key international markets; high degrees of similarity
among buyer/customer needs from market to market; concentrated manufacturing in
one or very few countries; and centrally managed marketing operations with business
culture antecedent.
After the typical case had been identified, It was determined to use depth interviews
to gather the necessary data. Depth interviews are an excellent means to gather and
understanding of the press being researched. So six depth interviews and each one is
spent half hour was planned. Interviews are also useful when trying to analyzed topics
which are the case for this study.
One of the most important sources of case study information is the interview, which
may take several forms. Most commonly, and appropriate for this research, is an
open-ended nature, in which it is possible to ask the respondents opinion about events.
In some situations, it even gives the opportunity to ask about the respondents own
insight into certain incidences. One of the reasons why interviews were chosen is
because primary data is supported by its strengths. These are (1) targeted- focused
directly in real time, and (2) contextual- covering the context of events (Yin, 1994).
One on one interviews were conducted with industry experts of the sampled firms,
especially those involved in international marketing operations, to give reliable and
representative information of their firms entry strategy. From the above, the purpose
of our interview is to achieve the two objectives (1) to assess and (2) for information.
This was aimed to generate maximum insights on the subject matter. Therefore we
conducted interview with Mr Zhang Jingdong one of the authors worked for Huawei
for many years and understands Huaweis internationalization strategies and policies.
I have associated six depth interviews on telephone, each interview spent half hour.
For the studys purpose, an interview guide was developed to provide the interviewers
with the generally the same information is gathered from the interviews. All of
questions is opened and deal with my study issues internationalization process. The
26
questions were asked in a logical sequence from generic to more specific questions to
provide context to the interviewee.
Reliability refers to the degree at which the findings and results achieved can be
reproduced by another researcher, at a different time. This, in turn presents two
aspects: firstly, the use of same methods; and secondly a time dimension. Assuming
different views upon the conduct of research in academia, a difference in the use of
method is acceptable; imposing only desirability of the consistence in the empirical
data C. Person and D.Slonovschi (2003). However, when considering the time
dimension, several conclusions may be affected due to development of countries and
the market.
1, Rigorous techniques and methods for gathering high quality data that is carefully
analyzed, with attention to issues of validity, reliability, and triangulation;
27
2, The credibility of the researcher, which is dependent on training, experience, track
record, status, and the presentation of self; and
Validity concerns the establishment of correct operational measures for the concepts
being studied. In other words, construct validity focuses on how well a study has
measured the changing factors of analysis. Using multiple sources of evidence and
establishing chains of evidence while collecting the data can tackle this. Furthermore,
researchers could improve construct validity by using multiple sources or data
triangulation (Yin, 1994).
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CHAPTER FOUR
EMPIRICAL FINDINGS
4.1 Introduction
The chapter highlighted the findings from the interview conducted with Mr. Zhang
Jingdong of Huawei respectively. The interviewees were asked questions concerning
the firm experience in the international market, how the entry strategy employed and
new market developed. However, due to nature of the interview, which was
unstructured in nature, the findings were presented in a re.-organized but raw format.
Furthermore, relevant information that were extracted from firm publications and
their Website, were also presented.
Market
Huawei Technologies P/L was founded in 1988. It is a high technology private
company that provides customized network solutions for telecom carriers around the
world, specializing in the research and technology development. It invests at least
10% of annual sale volume in new product research and development. Huawei's
contracted sales in 2005 reached USD 8.2 billion, of which 58% came from
29
international markets. Overseas sales have been doubling each year for the past five
consecutive years. At the end of 2006, Huawei has over 61,000 employees, of whom
48% are dedicated to R&D. Huawei has provided products and service for over 300
telecom carriers around the world. It has achieved outstanding growth over 17 years
since its foundation. Huawei has won the leading position in the global market in the
areas of 3G, next generation network (NGN), switching, xDSL, optical network, and
data communications. Table 3 shows the market position of Huawei in the global
market.
DSL 2 17.7%
After that, Huawei made a decision to enter international market. Russia and Southern
America market are first selected. Huawei entered Russian market in 1996. It set up a
joint venture of Beto-Huawei with Russian Beto Konzern and Russia Telecom to
develop Russian market in 1997. However, Huawei did not get any order within four
years. After getting the first order in Russia in 2000, the business of Huawei in
Russian market grows up quickly. In 2003, Huawei got the sale volumn of more than
USD 0.3 billion in Russian and the surrounding markets. In the market of broadband
products, Huawei occupied more than 50% of the market. Up till now, Huawei has
become the Chinese company with the biggest investment in Russia. However, the
performance in Southern America is not ideal, the sales in this area were less than
USD 0.1 billion up till 2003 (Wu 2004).
30
After 2000, Huawei extended its target markets to other countries, including Southern
Asia (Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia), Middle East and Africa. Since 2001, the
products of Huawei have been sold in West Europe market through the local famous
agents. These countries include German, France, Spain and UK. In 2001, Huaweis
products start to be sold in West Europe and North America
Figure 6 and figure 7 below show Huaweis annual overseas sales volume and its
overseas sales percentage from 1999 to 2005.
1996, launched Integrated Services Access and SDH optical network equipment,
signed a contract with Hutchison Whampoa in Hong Kong to provide fixed network
solutions and set up R & D center in Shanghai and in 2004 adopted the CMM5-level
certification. From 1997 onwards, IBM, Towers Perrin, The Hay Group,
PricewaterhouseCoppers (PWC) and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft (FhG) as Huawei
changes in the process, employees share option scheme, human resources
management, financial management and quality control of consultants. And corporate
with these major multinational consulting firms, so that Huawei can understand the
industry's latest developments. In 1997, launched GSM equipment and with Texas
Instruments, Motorola, IBM, Intel, Agere Systems, Sun Microsystems, Altera,
Qualcomm, Infineon and Microsoft to set up a joint research and development
laboratories. As of June 2005, Huawei total of 10 joint research and development
laboratories. In 1998, The Digital Cellular-server control switch was a patent. And set
up R & D center in Nanjing, and in June 2003 adopted the CMM4-level certification.
In 1999, Huawei being China's National Mobile Intelligent Network CAMEL Phase II
31
of the major suppliers, the network was the world's largest and most advanced
intelligent network.
In same time, Huawei established of research and development center in Bangalore,
and in 2001 adopted the CMM4-level certification in 2003 through the CMM5-level
test. In 2000, sales contracts over 2.65 billion U.S. dollars, of which overseas sales of
more than 100 million U.S. dollars. Silicon Valley and Dallas in the United States set
up R & D center. In 2001 10 Gbps SDH system began to used in Germany for the
Berlin business. According to the statistics RHK, Huawei's optical products stable
market share of the Asia-Pacific region the first one. Huawei sold division Avansys
for 750 million dollars to Emerson. Huawei become a member of the International
Telecommunication Union. Although the 2001 to 2002, the global
telecommunications infrastructure investment dropped by 50 percent, Huawei's
international sales or an increase of 68 percent, from 328 million U.S. dollars up to
552 million U.S. dollars between 2001 and 2002. Huawei adopted the UL the TL9000
quality management system certification. China Mobile for the deployment of the
world's first mobile mode WLAN.
In 2003, Cisco Systems Cisco accused Huawei for some patents conflict, but, Cisco
eventually withdrew the complaint, the two sides to resolve all the patent disputes,
and to recognize Huawei no violations. In the rest of the world has deployed 100
million C & C08 port, and created a record industry. Make Corporation with 3Com
for joint ventures and produce enterprise data networking equipment. Huawei adopted
the DNV (DET NORSKE VERITAS) of the ISO 14001 certification. In December for
the United Arab Emirates telecommunications company (Etisalat) to provide a
nationwide coverage of UMTS services, strengthened the Etisalat technology
leadership position, while helping to become the Middle East and the Arab world in
the first to introduce third-generation network operators. In 2004, established joint
ventures with Siemens and developing TD-SCDMA mobile communication
technology for the Chinese market. Huawei won China Telecom's national backbone
network optimization contract. The project goal is to optimize the China Telecom in
Guangdong Province, the 163 backbone network. Under the contract, Huawei's
high-end router NE5000 TSR procurement contract was 100% of the market share,
successfully entered the national backbone network of the two super nodes. At the
same time, Huawei's Gbit exchange router NE80 won 75 percent of the project's
market share. Huawei signed a contract with China Telecom, the construction of over
1,200 10,000 ADSL lines, to further consolidate the China Telecom Huawei as the
greatest strategic partnership status. By Frost & Sullivan was awarded the "2004
Asia-Pacific region the most credible enterprises" and "2004 Asia-Pacific broadband
equipment suppliers," the two awards. Frost & Sullivan is a global market research
agency, to provide emerging high-tech industries and market information and
intelligence. Huawei got debts from the 29 banks to provide 360 million dollars loan
for the implementation of the company's global development plan in three years.
Huawei won the Dutch operator Telfort to provide UMTS network equipment
contract. In 2005, Huawei and Vodafone signed a framework agreement for global
32
procurement, to become Vodafone's global supply chain optimization of
communications equipment providers. Huawei and Telefnica signed a strategic
cooperation agreement, Telefnica selected Huawei as its and 3G broadband in the
field of business innovation of the strategic cooperative partnership, the two sides will
jointly develop markets in Latin America. Huawei the third times awarded Frost &
Sullivan Asia Pacific Technology of the podium, was in 2005 the Asia-Pacific region,
"the annual wireless equipment suppliers", "the NGN equipment suppliers" and "the
optical network provider" Three awards. Huawei University is established, the
University serve to client-oriented, the company's management and staff to carry out
comprehensive system of technology, management, and cultural training. Huawei has
became British Telecom (BT) 21 CN networks most preferred providers, Huawei
began to supply equipments for BT21CN multi-service network to provide network
access (MSAN) components and transmission. Huawei acquired the production and
marketing of mobile phone license in China. In 2005, Huawei want to acquire 3com,
but failed, because the telecommunication equipments are used in army filed. In 2006,
may 8th, Huawei launched a new corporate logo. The new logo reflects Huawei focus:
innovation, sound, the core values of harmony. In the 2006, ITU TELECOM
WORLD exhibition in Hong Kong, Huawei introduced the All IP network-based
FMC solutions. Huawei's Mobile Softswitch break through 100 million users, As a
global mobile softswitch market leader, Huawei's Mobile Softswitch to the first
volume in the world. Vodafone Spain selected Huawei construct of its WCDMA /
HSDPA radio access network. Motorola and Huawei UMTS joint R & D center in
Shanghai have been set up. The cooperation is aimed at providing customers around
the world more powerful and comprehensive UMTS product solutions and high-speed
packet access programme (HSPA). EMobile selected Huawei to deploy Japan's first
IP-based HSDPA radio access network. Huawei and 3 COM completed H3C against
the bid. U.S. mobile operator Leap choose Huawei building 3 G network, the CDMA
3G network will cover California, Idaho, Nevada, and other important areas.
33
Siemens joint venture: TD To develop products February,
Tech Ltd based on China's 2004
home-grown 3G
wireless standard
TD-SCDM, including
development,
manufacture, marketing
and services.
After 10 years of efforts to expand, Huawei already grown into a global company. At
present, they set up overseas in 20 of the region, more than 100 branches, so that they
can be closer to customers, listen to customer needs and respond quickly.
Huawei in the United States, India, Sweden, Russia and China, and other places set up
12 research institutes, R & D center in each of the different research focus and
direction. Using the global synchronization of the international research system to
gather the world's technology, experience and conduct product research and
development to remain leading the worlds technology.
34
Huawei also set up 28 overseas regional training centre for employee learning the
local culture, and vigorously promote the localization of staff. Within the scope of the
localization of global operations, not only strengthen their understanding of the local
market, but also made contributions to the socio and economic development for the
host countries and regions.
35
CHAPTER FIVE
ANALYSIS OF THE FINDING
5.1 INTRODUCTION
This case study analyses and discusses the internationalization process of Huawei, a
leading telecommunication equipment manufacturer and household electrical appliances
manufacturer in China. Our research aims to explore the special features of the
internationalization of firms through one case study and to identify the factors that
affect firms international entry mode decision. In this paper, several foreign market
entry modes were discussed. Issues of why and how to take into account the factors of
industrial characteristics, environmental factors, firm factors, and moderators for
internationalization and how to employ different entry modes in different host
markets are discussed and illustrated based on this case study. It is found that
industrial characteristics and home countrys technological reputation affect to a great
extent the internationalization path of the firm studied. The research also shows that in
terms of enterprises internationalization.
36
is not separate but a consequence of the overall strategy. He prefers acquisition and
mergers to reduce the capacity in the industry. Marketing chosen in accordance with
the competitive acquisition and markets without attractive acquisition or merger are
not entered.
As my empirical data, we knew that Ren Zhengfei is president and founder of Huawei.
So Ren Zhengfei can be definite an entrepreneurs of Huawei. In history of Huawei
and Resume of Ren Zhengfei, We can find that Internationalization process and entry
strategy have been changed between 1988--2006. Because the roles of Ren Zhengfei
has been changed from a technical entrepreneurs to marketing entrepreneurs and
restructure entrepreneurs. We can see that Ren Zhengfei has a technical background if
we can read his resume carefully. In 1982, Ren Zhengfei worked in an oil company
and running a electronics company in Shen Zhen of China. The electronics belong to
high-tech field. The high-tech knowledge is required. The electronics company
brought the first experience and technical knowledge to him. So Ren Zhengfei is a
technical entrepreneur when he established Huawei in 1988. He invest on develop
new technical and set up R&D research center in Beijing. He paid more attention to
their production compare with brand. He made corporation with some famous
company in foreigner market which have a good brand. Huawei offer low price and
high quality production to other company and gained brand advantage from other
company to gain supply contracts. The Huaweis internationalization process is
depended on which markets inquire for their production. For example, Huawei set up
a joint venture of Beto-Huawei with Russian Beto Konzern and Russia Telecom to
develop Russian market in 1997. After 4 years, they got first supplier contract.
But after 2000, Ren Zhengfei is gained much marketing experience and knowledge
through participated some marketing activities such as some exhibitions and their new
market developed. He began to build own school and training his employees. He
began to pay attention to local culture; he changed his pull internationalization
strategy to push internationalization. He paid more attention to build their brand. He
wants to gain advantage through brand and production in international market. He still
remain invest on R&D product. Whatever, he has chosen a positive strategy to push
internationalization. By the way, Huawei gathered big financial source and gained
financial knowledge through their business extended. For example, Huawei got
support from 29 banks and got big debts. In 2007, Huawei planned acquire the
Americans firm: 3com, but failed for some security reasons. Because of
telecommunication equipments are belonged to army field, the laws are so stringent.
Whatever, Huawei already has ability to restructure the internationalization.
37
5.3 KNOWLEDGE AND OPERATION ABOUT FOREIGN
MARKETS
5.3.1 Markets commitments
The firms opportunities and risk is assumed to be affected by market commitments
(Johanson and Vahlne, 1977). They also propagated the idea that the amount of
resources committed is closed to the size of the investments in the market. Using this
concept in a broad sense includes investment in marketing, organization, personnel
and other areas. (Johanson and Vahlne, 1977) In my case, Mr Zhang Jingdong
discussed that Huaweis market commitment different from country to country
because the distance does not influence their marketing. They make big investment on
R&D product and trained employee to avoid conflict culture and reduce cost of
learning new culture. 28 trained centers have been established in world field. They
working deal with location, so most of employees come from location, it reduced
resource commitment.
38
experience when they enter to a new market. First is corporate with local company,
share profit and new technical with them, but also share their experience and their
brand. So as according to Mr. Zhang Jingdong, Huawei has invested 12 R&D center
and made corporation with a lot of companies. Second; hiring local employee and
training employee, that make Huawei launch in new market and gather experience
very fast. Third, they hired professional consulting company to supply consulting
service to them. The consulting company can guild Huawei to entry new market
faster.The Huawei can gain the market knowledge and current activities are been
made easily with low risk.
39
international market: (i) No regular export activities (ii) Export via independent
representatives (agents) (iii) Establishment of overseas sales subsidiary
(iv)Overseas production/manufacturing units. These four modes follow a sequence
from low to higher degrees of internationalization (Andersen 1993). Bradley (1995)
also believes that foreign market entry strategies usually accord with the sequential
stages of Exporting, Competitive alliances, Acquisition /foreign direct investment.
However, after analyzing the foreign market entry strategies of Huawei, we can find
these stages are not followed strictly.
40
these market. These methods include franchising, co-research, co-production (OEM)
and Co-sales (help each other to sale products in each own markets). For example, in
European market, Huawei co-operate with Marconi in product development and
marketing. Marconi helps Huawei to sell products in Europe using their channels. At
the same time, Huawei helps selling Marconis product in China and Asia markets.
Early to 2002, Huawei has cooperated with Motorola in Mobile network infrastructure
area using the OEM method. To develop the market of data communication in North
American and other international markets, Huawei set up joint venture:
Huawei-3Com with 3com, the main player in data communication market. In this
method, Huawei takes the advantage of R&D ability and the 3Coms international
market resource.
41
firms.
First, industry feature is a key factor that affects Huaweis internationalization path.
This is attributed to the special characteristics of information and communication
technology (ICT) products. ICT products follow the network effects (Katz & Shapiro
1994), which means that the products have no or little value in isolation, but generate
value when it is combined with other products. The more users use them, the more
value the products have. The network effect responding to the market competition is
that there are many balance points (the zero point and others balanced point).
Therefore, the ICT firms first need to break the zero balanced point when they enter
foreign markets. Huawei had taken a high commission policy to encourage the first
sales in new markets. Analyzing Huaweis internationalization process, we can find
that the industry feature is the most important factor that affects Huaweis entry mode
decision. The opinion of influence from industry structure & characteristics is also
supported by DuBois, Toyne & Oliff s (1993) research into international strategies in
four technology industries. Huaweis foreign market entry mode is based on the host
market environment and industry features. The best mode is the one that can help a
company to break the first market-balanced point. Therefore, Huawei uses different
entry method in different market and for different products. As shown in the previous
examples, Huawei uses the join-venture method to enter Russian market; uses export
method to enter Southern American, Africa and uses contractual method and joint
venture to enter Europe and North American. From this point of view, Huaweis entry
mode selection is not primarily based on the firm factors. By contrast, it depends more
on the industry factors/ products and the host market environmental factors.
Second, our interviews conducted for this study show that the second influential
factor in Huaweis internationalization comes from the fact that China, the home
country of Huawei, is a developing country and the developing countries
hi-technology products will face extra barriers when they enter international market.
Kim, Kim & Lee (2002) view the GNP gap of home countrys and host countrys into
account as an influential factor when they study the Korean system integration (SI)
firms internationalization. However, they did not provide any significant evidence
that proves the GNP gap would influence the technology companies
internationalization. They infer that for companies from advancing countries,
economic and technological condition in host countries would be more important than
the cultural distance alone when deciding the resource commitment for market entry.
The case of Huawei indicates that a developing countrys hi-tech enterprises face
additional problems and the enterprises need to demonstrate the total technological
level of home country time and time. Through the case study of Huaweis
internationalization, we believe that the following entry mode choice framework
(figure 4), based on Deriscolls (1995) international entry mode choice framework,
would be more suitable for hi-tech enterprises:
42
Figure 6: Foreign markets entry mode framework for hi-tech firms
Source: Driscill (1995)
Compared with Driscolls foreign market entry mode choice framework_the above
proposed framework for hi-tech enterprises emphasizes the factors of industry
structure and characteristics. Firm factors might play a less important role for hi-tech
enterprises to decide on foreign market entry mode than that in traditional
manufactures.
43
CONCLUSION
The research problem of this project is to explain how Chinese firm internationalize,
in term of entry strategy and the influencing factors. After review of existing literature
and analyzed the findings in relation to Uppsala model and Driscolls (1995) foreign
market entry modes choice framework as a guiding tool, we come to the following
conclusions.
The purpose of this study is to understand how a firm internationalized and what is
the factors influenced firms internationalization process and entry strategy selected.
Through this study, I make clear answers for my question. Internationalization
process also influenced by entrepreneur; industry structure; environment factors I
also learned through case study that firms internationalization process and entry
strategy does not flow with stages of UPPSALA mode, because it is influenced by
industry structure and environment factors.
On the basis of the findings, given the high cost of acquiring companies and research,
Huawei has adopted strategic alliance and joint venture in entering market lately after
dropping the strategy of winning concession; building owns subsidiary which was
crossly adopted before China entered WTO. Strategic Alliance and joint venture has
offered Huawei more targeted and cost effective means of acquiring or access market
and another companys capacity. This changes in strategy was bonded by their vision
to be a pace setter in the technology development in telecommunication industry.
Huaweis strategic alliance comprised wide varieties of collaborative relationship,
which included joint research, technology- sharing arrangement, shared
manufacturing, joint marketing and/or distributional arrangement with Motorola and
Siemens, just to mention a few. This entering strategy has positioned Huawei in
becoming a market leader globally. In conclusion, Huawei successful application of
these strategies was hinged on it sizes and resources at his disposal against any
competition it never met.
However, the mere fact that Huawei entering strategies are functioning well, it is not
enough to conclude that the present strategy should be generalized. The world of
business is dynamic and the role of entry strategy is to assist the firm to adopt to
changes in market and competitive conditions. Hence, for Huawei, the challenge is to
devise new strategies that can enable the firms to perform better than it would, when
the firms cannot simply sitick to its present strategy, which may now lead to new
sustainable advantage.
44
fortify existing knowledge on the subject matter:
1) A more comprehensive research is needed that will involve more sample space.
The research was by the fact that only one sample firms were studied.
2) Similar research should be carried out in other countries to identify the firms
entry strategy, trends and patterns of internationalization. This is to identify the
similarity and difference which may lead to new insights in the international
business management and strategies.
45
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Kotler and Keller (2005): Marketing management- 12th edition: Prentice Hall
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51
Internet:
Huawei 2003 'Huawei Global Sales Reached US$3.83 Billion in 2003', [www
document] http://www.huawei.com/about/News-Events/News-Center/910.shtml
(accessed 30 October 2005)
INTERVIEWEES
(1) Mr. Zhang Jingdong one of the authors worked for Huawei for many years
and understands Huaweis internationalization strategies and policies.
52
APPENDIX: INTERVIEW GUIDE
53