The Strategic Role Evolution of the Foreign Automotive Suppliers in China: Capabilities Evolutionary Perspective

摘要

In this article, a strategic role evolution of foreign automotive part suppliers in China is explored in regard to capabilities evolution of subsidiaries. By refining the original framework of strategic role designed by Ferdows (1997), this study suggests modified framework to describe the strategic role of foreign automotive parts suppliers in emerging market by creating new strategic reason for entry and two corresponding roles. We also develop comprehensive criteria to evaluate the level of functional capability in the field of operations, purchasing, marketing, and R&D activities. Based on those capabilities criteria, we conduct within-case analysis on capabilities evolution of five subsidiaries from early stage to present stage. Then we analyze the evolutionary process of strategic role and its dynamic mechanism in between-case analysis on the basis of the result of within-case analysis and modified Ferdows’ framework.