Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 96-100).

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 96-100) Also available in print.

International joint ventures are frequently a response to external pressures placed on globally-oriented companies if they are to survive and compete successfully. Within the international context, a critical element to corporate competitiveness is the effective management of human resources. Despite this reality, very little research to date examines the strategic Human Resource Management (HRM) dimension in international joint ventures. In this investigation, strategic HRM refers to communication systems, staffing, reward and recognition, training, and performance appraisal systems which operate within four successful joint venture (JV) firms. All joint ventures have been formed between two international partners, each from a different national culture. Three of the companies are 50/50 ownership arrangements, while the fourth venture has a 60/40 ownership split between the partners. All four ventures are in the manufacturing sector, although indifferent market niches. In each case, managers in the joint ventures focus on total quality management and high employee involvement in order to enhance product quality and innovation, and to create a more satisfying environment in which employees can contribute to the organization. Collectively, these joint ventures provide an interesting window through which to view strategic HRM operations. In addition to the description of Human Resource policy and practice, the research pursues an understanding of the more evasive questions as to how and why HRM operates as it does. Issues which evolved from the research and are important to a fuller comprehension of HRM in international joint ventures include, among others: the management of the JV-parent relationship; how HRM policy and practice supports or limits parent and JV strategic objectives; the select influence which national culture has on HRM; how corporate culture develops in the JV related to parent influences and JV managerial contributions; and finally, how organizational learning operates at both strategic and tactical levels in each venture.

International joint ventures are frequently a response to external pressures placed on globally-oriented companies if they are to survive and compete successfully. Within the international context, a critical element to corporate competitiveness is the effective management of human resources. Despite this reality, very little research to date examines the strategic Human Resource Management (HRM) dimension in international joint ventures. In this investigation, strategic HRM refers to communication systems, staffing, reward and recognition, training, and performance appraisal systems which operate within four successful joint venture (JV) firms. All joint ventures have been formed between two international partners, each from a different national culture. Three of the companies are 50/50 ownership arrangements, while the fourth venture has a 60/40 ownership split between the partners. All four ventures are in the manufacturing sector, although indifferent market niches. In each case, managers in the joint ventures focus on total quality management and high employee involvement in order to enhance product quality and innovation, and to create a more satisfying environment in which employees can contribute to the organization. Collectively, these joint ventures provide an interesting window through which to view strategic HRM operations. In addition to the description of Human Resource policy and practice, the research pursues an understanding of the more evasive questions as to how and why HRM operates as it does. Issues which evolved from the research and are important to a fuller comprehension of HRM in international joint ventures include, among others: the management of the JV-parent relationship; how HRM policy and practice supports or limits parent and JV strategic objectives; the select influence which national culture has on HRM; how corporate culture develops in the JV related to parent influences and JV managerial contributions; and finally, how organizational learning operates at both strategic and tactical levels in each venture. / Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies / Graduate

International joint ventures (IJVs) represent a tripartite relationship in which the senior management of IJVs, local and foreign partners, may have different objectives. The divergence of interests and goals is acute given the volatile context of China. Agency theory specifies that control mechanisms could be designed to align the interests of the agents with their principals. Management control literature has suggested four major control mechanisms on human resources aspects: behavior-oriented control, outcome-oriented control, input control and self-control. / The effects of self-control on achieving financial goals are also adversely affected by the divergence of goals between partners. Lastly, trust between partners contributes positively to the achievement of both financial and non-financial goals of IJVs when the senior executives are highly experienced. Trust can also enable the partners to overcome the difficulties encountered when relying heavily on local raw material supplies. / The main theme of this research is to find out how the four control mechanisms designed for IJV senior executives could be adapted to different contextual environments facing IJVs in China in order to enhance the performance of IJVs. The role of trust is also introduced as another form of control because of the relationship-oriented nature of Chinese society. For IJVs, and the IJVs in China in particular, studies of different types of control mechanisms have not been popular. Studies linking such mechanisms with particular situations facing IJVs in China are even fewer. / Through the empirical study of 300 manufacturing IJVs and 178 Chinese parent companies located in Beijing/Tianjin, Shanghai and Guangzhou, behavior control was found to produce a positive effect on performance of those IJVs relying heavily on local raw material supplies. If the partners are culturally distant from each other, behavior control may not be appropriate. Conversely, the financial performance of IJVs is more sensitive to behavior control when their senior executives are highly experienced. / When the goals of the partners are widely divergent, outcome control may help secure better financial results. For IJVs targeting local markets, outcome control would not be appropriate in achieving financial aims. Meanwhile, input control is strongly and directly related to the achievement of both financial and non-financial objectives of IJVs. However, the effects on financial results would be dampened by the divergence of goals between partners. / Ng Wai-kit, Paul. / "May 2000." / Advisers: Mee-kau Nyaw; Chung-ming Lau. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 61-08, Section: A, page: 3255. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 206-221). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest dissertations and theses, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.