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The Chinese term “Guanxi” literally refers to interpersonal relationships which have aroused growing interests among researchers and business practitioners. Common research interests are mainly centered on theoretical study and model building instead of applying them to business practices while this paper is aimed to investigate how business Guanxi works from a practical view, and in particular how business Guanxi affects the performance of small and medium-sized Chinese construction companies. Three independent managers in different regions are chosen as the initiating point to explore how Guanxi works by tracing back their inter-connectivity as well as interactions among different stakeholders. The empirical findings indicate business Guanxi acts as an important source of information and the efficient way to seek financial and technical support, to increase market shares and reduce risks, has a positive effect on to the performance of small and medium-sized Chinese construction firms. Based on the empirical findings, it is further argued that a good business Guanxi is likely to create competitive advantages in supporting Tsang’s arguments. Finally a managerial implication is provided which tries to remind practitioners that business Guanxi is a necessary factor for the survival of Chinese construction enterprises but it is not sufficient. Managers should not solely rely on Guanxi even if two parties have high quality of connections, and the institutional tools are needed in order to secure the health of Guanxi.

In previous research, it is stated that founders/top managers have an impact on the born global firms, meaning firms that become international directly from start or short time after establishment. The purpose of our thesis is to understand how the characteristics of founders/top managers and entrepreneurial orientation have an impact on the born global firm’s innovation and outcome. Based on foundations in earlier studies we identified a research gap that this thesis aims to fill. This thesis will contribute to the importance of a better understanding of how entrepreneurial orientation affects a born global firm’s innovation and outcome. Therefore, we outline the following research question; “How have the characteristics of the founder/top manager and entrepreneurial orientation an impact on the born global firm’s innovation and outcome?” In order to answer this question we review previous literature and construct a conceptual framework suitable for our study.      When it comes to methodology, we apply an abductive approach, meaning that we start with a deductive approach and create a conceptual framework. Then along the way we move more towards an inductive approach since we want to develop existing theories and address theory implications for further studies. We use a qualitative research design and in-depth multiple case studies in order to get a deeper understanding of our research topic.              Our empirical findings consist of three interviews with founders/top managers from three different born global firms in Umeå and Skellefteå. From these interviews, we conclude that all the three founders/top managers have an impact on the born global firm’s innovation and outcome. Consequently, we managed to perceive a link between the age of the firm and the level of entrepreneurial orientation. The implication was that the characteristics of the founder/top manager had a bigger impact on the youngest firm. The two other firms had more of a firm level behavior in terms of entrepreneurial orientation as they have been in operations for many years and have been established by two founders, unlike the younger firm. We could also find that number of founders, relations, brand image/position, and networking should be taken into consideration when it comes to characteristics of the founder/top manager and entrepreneurial orientation. The research gap we discovered within entrepreneurial orientation is complex and cannot be fully met by this thesis. As such, we recommend further research into this area. We suggest including employees from different departments within the born global firms when investigating the level of entrepreneurial orientation and how it affects innovation and outcome. / Centre for Inter-organizational Innovation Research

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Dept. of Sociology, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1984.

This thesis examines the extent to which the Flexible Specialisation model of Industrial organisation constitutes a v Iab Ie and app IIcab Ie strategy for sma II sea Ie manufactur Ing firms In Greece. This Involves: 1. The evaluation of the Flexible Specialisation paradigm as a response and as a way out of the crisis. 2. The analysis of the development trajectory of small scale Industry In Greece. 3. The Identification of the current characteristics of sma II manufacturing firms In Greece, their strengths and their weaknesses. 4. The evaluation of the future prospects of smal I scale Industry In the light of the Flexible Specialisation strategy. The first part of the thesis (chapters 1, 2 and 3) deals wit h the Que st Ion 0f res truc turi ngin v Iew 0f the cri sis and exam Ines a Iternat Ive ways of organ Ising product Ion. It looks more closely to the Flexible Specialisation In the light of academic experimentation with new concepts, ranging from post- Fordlsm to Flexible Accumulation. It evaluates the strengths and the weaknesses of the Flexible Specialisation model, and considers Its merits against previous sma II scale Industry theorisations. The second part of the thesis (chapters 4,5 and 6) exam Ines the po IIt Ica I economy of Industry In Greece In order to unravel the economic, soclo-polltlcal and Institutional factors account Ing for the emergence, conso IIdat Ion and perSistence of small firms as a considerable part of the Greek manufacturing structure. The third part of the thesis (chapters 7, 8 and 9) Is based on evidence from fieldwork material on three manufacturing branches (metalworking-engineering, clothing and plastic products) and brings out similarities and differences of alternative responses to the economic recession. It examines the extent to which flexible specialisation principles have been Introduced by some sma II firms In the sectors under consideration. Finally, the fourth part (chapters 10 and 11) brings together the main themes developed In the course of the thesis In order to explore the scope and deslrabl Ilty of pol Icy InterventIon In the dIrectIon of Inducing a flexIble specialIsatIon restructuring pattern. The major conclusions of the thesIs are summarIsed In the fInal chapter.

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