This study sets out to explore the critical factors of knowledge management (KM) that impact on the organizational performance of Chinese enterprises. It attempts to investigate the relationships among KM factors including KM strategy, KM enablers (Organizational culture, Organization structure, People, and Technology), KM processes, and organizational performance. The conceptual framework of knowledge management guiding this research is developed from prior research (Alavi, 1997; Davenport, 1999; Lam, 2000; Leonard-Barton, 1995; Nonaka and Takeuchi, 1995; Ramireza nd Dickenson, 2006; Zack, 1999). Previous KM research in the Chinese context has focused on the use of object-perspective measures such as number of created ideas or patents. There appears to be a relative neglect of the relationships between those KM factors. This research focused on exploring the relationships between those KM factors and investigating how they impact on organizational performance in the context of an emerging economy - China. This research adopted the mixed-methods (Creswell, 2003) methodological approach, which involved the use of qualitative and quantitative methods in addressing the research questions raised in this study. The results of this research suggest that organizational culture variables are found to be essential for knowledge creation. In particular, trust is a significant predictor of all knowledge creation processes. The findings of this study confirm that enterprises will be able to obtain strategic benefits of KM through effective knowledge creation processes. The research findings also imply that companies should align their knowledge strategies along with knowledge creation processes. The key to understanding KM in the Chinese context is recognizing the networking nature of the Chinese society which operates on the basis of "Guanxi". In Chinese enterprises, the socialization and externalization elements are remarkably similar to the Japanese situation that Nonaka and Takeuchi (1995) described, as the Chinese are highly networked, hold tacit knowledge within these networks and are prepared to make this knowledge explicit only within the context of these pre-existing relationships. The departmental focus of Chinese enterprises mean that the combination of tacit knowledge is not straightforward, while learning-by-doing is important to sustain their development. The research also indicates that internalization is also problematic in Chinese enterprises because of individuals' fear of admitting mistakes. The implication of the findings for knowledge management and research is discussed.

The aim of this thesis is to explore the incentives of Chinese enterprises. First, we review research on incentives of enterprises both from Western countries and China. We classify incentives into two specific types - material incentives and non-material incentives. Each category is divided into several sub-categories. Second, we use a qualitative approach, specifically the case analysis method, to describe the incentives used by a sample of eight Chinese enterprises. These eight cases include TISCO, CNNC, Haier, Huawei, Xiaomi, CRCC, Fosun Pharma and BLUESTAR. Third, we analyze and account for the unique aspects on incentives of Chinese enterprises and suggest some topics for future research on the topic.

Muitas mudanças observadas na economia chinesa, principalmente desde os anos 2000, têm revelado uma crescente importância das grandes empresas nacionais desse país. Apesar de tantas transformações, poucos trabalhos foram direcionados para o tema. Destarte, essa dissertação propõe-se a fazer sua contribuição, examinando a real importância das grandes empresas chinesas no desenvolvimento econômico de seu país. Tal objetivo, entretanto, possui duas perspectivas. Primeiro, procura-se analisar o impacto desse grupo de empresas nos indicadores econômicos agregados de seu país. Em segundo lugar, analisa-se a sua interação com o governo chinês desde 1978. Para alcançar o objetivo do trabalho, houve uma análise teórica e uma histórica, além da apresentação dos processos de formação e internacionalização de grandes grupos nacionais. Conclui-se que: (i) a grande empresa chinesa, como um grupo, tem um papel relevante no desenvolvimento econômico de seu país, pela importância de suas economias de escala, de sua capacidade de aprendizado tecnológico e organizacional e pela sua aptidão para a inserção internacional; (ii) o Estado, por meio do suporte concedido a esse grupo, reconhece sua importância como um vetor fundamental a transformar a China em uma potência econômica. / There have been many significant changes observed in the Chinese economy over recent years and especially after the first half of 2000´s. Large enterprises have proven to be of increasing importance in this context. However, few papers have critically assessed this subject. Thus, this thesis aims to verify the actual importance of Chinese big enterprises in these economic shifts. It will be discussed in two perspectives. On the one hand, the impact most important national big enterprises have on the economy is examined. On the other hand, the relationship between the government and these corporations since 1978 is analyzed. In order to achieve the proposed aim, not only a theoretical and an historical analysis will be used but also it will be presented the discussion about the formation and internationalization processes of Chinese big businesses. It is concluded that: (i) large Chinese enterprises have had great importance to the development of China‟s economy according to their advantages in economies of scale, technological innovation and availability, organizational learning capabilities, and internationalization aptitude; (ii) clearly the government has played a key role in supporting this group of enterprises - what can be considered as a political recognition of the Chinese big business importance to push China into a world economic power position.

Muitas mudanças observadas na economia chinesa, principalmente desde os anos 2000, têm revelado uma crescente importância das grandes empresas nacionais desse país. Apesar de tantas transformações, poucos trabalhos foram direcionados para o tema. Destarte, essa dissertação propõe-se a fazer sua contribuição, examinando a real importância das grandes empresas chinesas no desenvolvimento econômico de seu país. Tal objetivo, entretanto, possui duas perspectivas. Primeiro, procura-se analisar o impacto desse grupo de empresas nos indicadores econômicos agregados de seu país. Em segundo lugar, analisa-se a sua interação com o governo chinês desde 1978. Para alcançar o objetivo do trabalho, houve uma análise teórica e uma histórica, além da apresentação dos processos de formação e internacionalização de grandes grupos nacionais. Conclui-se que: (i) a grande empresa chinesa, como um grupo, tem um papel relevante no desenvolvimento econômico de seu país, pela importância de suas economias de escala, de sua capacidade de aprendizado tecnológico e organizacional e pela sua aptidão para a inserção internacional; (ii) o Estado, por meio do suporte concedido a esse grupo, reconhece sua importância como um vetor fundamental a transformar a China em uma potência econômica. / There have been many significant changes observed in the Chinese economy over recent years and especially after the first half of 2000´s. Large enterprises have proven to be of increasing importance in this context. However, few papers have critically assessed this subject. Thus, this thesis aims to verify the actual importance of Chinese big enterprises in these economic shifts. It will be discussed in two perspectives. On the one hand, the impact most important national big enterprises have on the economy is examined. On the other hand, the relationship between the government and these corporations since 1978 is analyzed. In order to achieve the proposed aim, not only a theoretical and an historical analysis will be used but also it will be presented the discussion about the formation and internationalization processes of Chinese big businesses. It is concluded that: (i) large Chinese enterprises have had great importance to the development of China‟s economy according to their advantages in economies of scale, technological innovation and availability, organizational learning capabilities, and internationalization aptitude; (ii) clearly the government has played a key role in supporting this group of enterprises - what can be considered as a political recognition of the Chinese big business importance to push China into a world economic power position.

Muitas mudanças observadas na economia chinesa, principalmente desde os anos 2000, têm revelado uma crescente importância das grandes empresas nacionais desse país. Apesar de tantas transformações, poucos trabalhos foram direcionados para o tema. Destarte, essa dissertação propõe-se a fazer sua contribuição, examinando a real importância das grandes empresas chinesas no desenvolvimento econômico de seu país. Tal objetivo, entretanto, possui duas perspectivas. Primeiro, procura-se analisar o impacto desse grupo de empresas nos indicadores econômicos agregados de seu país. Em segundo lugar, analisa-se a sua interação com o governo chinês desde 1978. Para alcançar o objetivo do trabalho, houve uma análise teórica e uma histórica, além da apresentação dos processos de formação e internacionalização de grandes grupos nacionais. Conclui-se que: (i) a grande empresa chinesa, como um grupo, tem um papel relevante no desenvolvimento econômico de seu país, pela importância de suas economias de escala, de sua capacidade de aprendizado tecnológico e organizacional e pela sua aptidão para a inserção internacional; (ii) o Estado, por meio do suporte concedido a esse grupo, reconhece sua importância como um vetor fundamental a transformar a China em uma potência econômica. / There have been many significant changes observed in the Chinese economy over recent years and especially after the first half of 2000´s. Large enterprises have proven to be of increasing importance in this context. However, few papers have critically assessed this subject. Thus, this thesis aims to verify the actual importance of Chinese big enterprises in these economic shifts. It will be discussed in two perspectives. On the one hand, the impact most important national big enterprises have on the economy is examined. On the other hand, the relationship between the government and these corporations since 1978 is analyzed. In order to achieve the proposed aim, not only a theoretical and an historical analysis will be used but also it will be presented the discussion about the formation and internationalization processes of Chinese big businesses. It is concluded that: (i) large Chinese enterprises have had great importance to the development of China‟s economy according to their advantages in economies of scale, technological innovation and availability, organizational learning capabilities, and internationalization aptitude; (ii) clearly the government has played a key role in supporting this group of enterprises - what can be considered as a political recognition of the Chinese big business importance to push China into a world economic power position.