The objective of this study is to identify the key determinants of Australia's competitive
advantage in the Non-residential construction industry. Porter's Five Competitive
Forces Model has been used to analyse the existing industry structure both in Australia
and Thailand. In addition. Porter's Diamond Model has been used for identifying the key
determinants of Australia's competitive advantage in the industry.
The study has drawn upon industry data obtained from interviews with operation
managers and executives of major Australian firms in the non-residential construction
industry who have been successfully operating in Thailand over the last ten years.
Research, undertaken in Australia and Thailand, includes interviews and case study
information gained from industry, government and academia.
A key finding applicable to each case study was that Australian non-residential
construction firms operating in Thailand competed successfully on higher order
technological expertise in construction management and operation. Expertise and
innovation was created and sustained at home through vertically integrated clusters of
industry suppliers to the main contractor and replicated or adapted abroad to local
circumstances.
Australia's national competitive advantage in the industry has relied on the interaction of
key determinants. Favourable factor conditions have provided Australia with a key
advantage base, for example, skilled personnel, experience in a variety of construction
areas due to the demands of Australia's geography and development needs, and adequate
infrastructure provision both physical and capital. Favourable factor conditions
combined with intense service rivalry at home, supportive related industries, demanding
buyers, and effective competition policy are the key to Australia's success.
The study goes on to explain the role that industry and government can play to ensure
Australia remains internationally competitive in the industry. In addition summary
recommendations are provided of the steps that Thailand needs to take to improve its
competitiveness in general and the development of the construction industry in particular.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/219464 |
| Date | January 1998 |
| Creators | Wilmott, Leigh William, n/a |
| Publisher | University of Canberra. Economics & marketing |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | ), Copyright Leigh William Wilmott |
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