Managing international technology transfer risk: A case analysis of U.S. high-technology firms in Asia

摘要

Using a comparative case analysis of nine U.S. high-tech manufacturers transferring technology to Asian operations through direct investments (wholly owned operations or joint ventures), we examined how they are protected against competitive loss of these technologies. We found some support for internalization theory in that companies preferred wholly owned operations as a means of protection. However, wholly owned operations were not always possible nor were they always sufficient to protect technologies. We found that companies additionally minimized transfer risks by viewing their technologies as a system, thus transferring only peripheral or dependent technologies. Further, they used prioritizing and segmenting technology levers to guard technology either in conjunction with or in lieu of entry mode.