Title: Pooling capabilities abroad for global competitive advantage: investigating Ford–Mazda cooperation in Southeast Asia

Authors: Daniel Arturo Heller, Shinya Orihashi

Addresses: Graduate School of Economics, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan. Graduate School of Economics, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Abstract: This paper empirically investigates the pooling of complementary capabilities in third countries by allied MNCs through an exploratory case study of collaboration between Ford and Mazda in two Southeast Asian countries. Findings revealed nine categories that seem to influence capability transfers by allied firms. A composite category termed ||managerial participation|| is used to build a general matrix of possible types of third country collaboration and the expected level of capability pooling that will occur in each type. The paper argues that repeated capability pooling in countries around the world could be a source of global competitive advantage for allied firms.

Keywords: strategic alliance; MNC; capability transfer; capability pooling; world automotive industry; international management; globalisation; case study; theory building.

DOI: 10.1504/IJATM.2003.003375

International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management, 2003 Vol.3 No.1/2, pp.122 - 143

Published online: 05 Sep 2003 *

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