Title: U.S. firms in China: locational choice and organisational performance

Authors: Turgut Guvenli, Rajib Sanyal

Addresses: Minnesota State University-Mankato, USA. ' The College of New Jersey, USA

Abstract: The paper compares the experience of American-owned firms located in two regions of China - the Beijing capital area (the hub of political power) and the Special Economic Zones (coastal regions with business friendly policies) with respect to human resource, operations management, and politico-legal issues and the impact on organizational outcomes. Based on a survey of managers in China, the study finds that while the firms in the Special Economic Zones appear to enjoy greater freedom with respect to certain human resource practices, introducing specific modem management techniques and from particular forms of government intervention, overall, location does not appear to significantly impact firm performance.

Keywords: China; American-owned firms; location; organisational performance; human resources; operations management; political issues; legal issues; modem management; government intervention; government policy; joint ventures; Special Economic Zones.

DOI: 10.1504/GBER.2003.006210

Global Business and Economics Review, 2003 Vol.5 No.2, pp.226 - 241

Published online: 07 Feb 2005 *

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