IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/manint/v55y2015i3d10.1007_s11575-014-0227-2.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Market Seeking Orientation and Performance in China: The Impact of Institutional Environment, Subsidiary Ownership Structure and Experience

Author

Listed:
  • Xinming He

    (Durham University Business School, Durham University)

  • Jianhong Zhang

    (Nyenrode Business University)

  • Jinmeng Wang

    (Nanjing Audit University)

Abstract

Many foreign firms tend to follow the market-seeking mandate in China. However this orientation alone does not guarantee superior performance. From the perspectives of strategic fit and institutional theory, this research seeks to reveal several conditions under which market-seeking MNEs can achieve superior performance in China. We identify three performance contributors to marketing seeking FDI: the host country’s favorable formal institutions towards FDI, the subsidiaries’ operational experience and absorptive capacity in the host country, and the ownership structure of the subsidiary. Using data of 5,080 foreign invested subsidiaries in 2003–2010, our findings support the hypotheses that market-seeking orientation becomes more profitable for foreign subsidiaries in China when (1) the host country provides a more favorable institutional framework towards FDI; (2) the subsidiary has a longer history of FDI operation in the host country that leads to stronger absorptive capacity; and (3) the subsidiary is organized in a wholly owned manner.

Suggested Citation

  • Xinming He & Jianhong Zhang & Jinmeng Wang, 2015. "Market Seeking Orientation and Performance in China: The Impact of Institutional Environment, Subsidiary Ownership Structure and Experience," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 55(3), pages 389-419, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:manint:v:55:y:2015:i:3:d:10.1007_s11575-014-0227-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s11575-014-0227-2
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11575-014-0227-2
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11575-014-0227-2?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Andrew Delios & Witold J. Henisz, 2003. "Political hazards, experience, and sequential entry strategies: the international expansion of Japanese firms, 1980–1998," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(11), pages 1153-1164, November.
    2. Pedroni, Peter & Yao, James Yudong, 2006. "Regional income divergence in China," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 17(2), pages 294-315, April.
    3. Bala Ramasamy & Darry Ong & Matthew C. H. Yeung, 2005. "Firm Size, Ownership and Performance in the Malaysian Palm Oil Industry," Asian Academy of Management Journal of Accounting and Finance (AAMJAF), Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia, vol. 1(1), pages 81-104.
    4. Jan Johanson & Jan-Erik Vahlne, 1977. "The Internationalization Process of the Firm—A Model of Knowledge Development and Increasing Foreign Market Commitments," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 8(1), pages 23-32, March.
    5. Lilach Nachum & Srilata Zaheer, 2005. "The persistence of distance? The impact of technology on MNE motivations for foreign investment," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(8), pages 747-767, August.
    6. Daphne Yiu & Shige Makino, 2002. "The Choice Between Joint Venture and Wholly Owned Subsidiary: An Institutional Perspective," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 13(6), pages 667-683, December.
    7. John H Dunning, 2009. "Location and the multinational enterprise: A neglected factor?," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 40(1), pages 5-19, January.
    8. Mike W Peng & Denis Y L Wang & Yi Jiang, 2008. "An institution-based view of international business strategy: a focus on emerging economies," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 39(5), pages 920-936, July.
    9. John Cantwell & John H Dunning & Sarianna M Lundan, 2010. "An evolutionary approach to understanding international business activity: The co-evolution of MNEs and the institutional environment," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 41(4), pages 567-586, May.
    10. Lance Eliot Brouthers & Yan Gao & Jason Patrick McNicol, 2008. "Corruption and market attractiveness influences on different types of FDI," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(6), pages 673-680, June.
    11. Shige Makino & Takehiko Isobe & Christine M. Chan, 2004. "Does country matter?," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(10), pages 1027-1043, October.
    12. Hansen, Michael W. & Pedersen, Torben & Petersen, Bent, 2009. "MNC strategies and linkage effects in developing countries," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 44(2), pages 121-130, April.
    13. Anwar, Sajid & Sun, Sizhong, 2012. "FDI and market entry/exit: Evidence from China," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 23(5), pages 487-498.
    14. Honglin Zhang, Kevin, 2005. "Why does so much FDI from Hong Kong and Taiwan go to Mainland China?," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 16(3), pages 293-307.
    15. J. Myles Shaver, 1998. "Accounting for Endogeneity When Assessing Strategy Performance: Does Entry Mode Choice Affect FDI Survival?," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 44(4), pages 571-585, April.
    16. Alvaro Cuervo-Cazurra & Mary M Maloney & Shalini Manrakhan, 2007. "Causes of the difficulties in internationalization," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 38(5), pages 709-725, September.
    17. Danchi Tan & Klaus E Meyer, 2011. "Country-of-origin and industry FDI agglomeration of foreign investors in an emerging economy," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 42(4), pages 504-520, May.
    18. Blomstrom, Magnus & Persson, Hakan, 1983. "Foreign investment and spillover efficiency in an underdeveloped economy: Evidence from the Mexican manufacturing industry," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 11(6), pages 493-501, June.
    19. John Child & David K Tse, 2001. "China's Transition and its Implications for International Business," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 32(1), pages 5-21, March.
    20. Gerald Yong Gao & Yigang Pan, 2010. "The pace of MNEs’ sequential entries: Cumulative entry experience and the dynamic process," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 41(9), pages 1572-1580, December.
    21. Kazuhiro Asakawa & Ashok Som, 2008. "Internationalization of R&D in China and India: Conventional wisdom versus reality," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 25(3), pages 375-394, September.
    22. G Tomas M Hult & David J Ketchen & David A Griffith & Brian R Chabowski & Mary K Hamman & Bernadine Johnson Dykes & Wesley A Pollitte & S Tamer Cavusgil, 2008. "An assessment of the measurement of performance in international business research," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 39(6), pages 1064-1080, September.
    23. Saul Estrin & Delia Baghdasaryan & Klaus E. Meyer, 2009. "The Impact of Institutional and Human Resource Distance on International Entry Strategies," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(7), pages 1171-1196, November.
    24. Yadong Luo, 1997. "Partner Selection and Venturing Success: The Case of Joint Ventures with Firms in the People's Republic of China," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 8(6), pages 648-662, December.
    25. Edward J. Zajac & Matthew S. Kraatz & Rudi K. F. Bresser, 2000. "Modeling the dynamics of strategic fit: a normative approach to strategic change," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(4), pages 429-453, April.
    26. Grubert, Harry & Mutti, John, 1991. "Taxes, Tariffs and Transfer Pricing in Multinational Corporate Decision Making," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 73(2), pages 285-293, May.
    27. John H Dunning, 1998. "Location and the Multinational Enterprise: A Neglected Factor?," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 29(1), pages 45-66, March.
    28. Du, Julan & Lu, Yi & Tao, Zhigang, 2008. "Economic institutions and FDI location choice: Evidence from US multinationals in China," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 36(3), pages 412-429, September.
    29. Lu, Yadong, 1998. "Joint venture success in China: How should we select a good partner?," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 33(2), pages 145-166, July.
    30. Dhawan, Rajeev, 2001. "Firm size and productivity differential: theory and evidence from a panel of US firms," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 44(3), pages 269-293, March.
    31. Yadong Luo, 2002. "Capability Exploitation and Building in a Foreign Market: Implications for Multinational Enterprises," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 13(1), pages 48-63, February.
    32. Christine M. Chan & Takehiko Isobe & Shige Makino, 2008. "Which country matters? Institutional development and foreign affiliate performance," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(11), pages 1179-1205, November.
    33. Ted London & Stuart L Hart, 2004. "Reinventing strategies for emerging markets: beyond the transnational model," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 35(5), pages 350-370, September.
    34. Klaus E. Meyer, 1998. "Direct Investment in Economies in Transition," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 1413.
    35. Xiaoli Yin & Edward J. Zajac, 2004. "The strategy/governance structure fit relationship: theory and evidence in franchising arrangements," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(4), pages 365-383, April.
    36. Xu, Dean & Pan, Yigang & Wu, Changqi & Yim, Bennett, 2006. "Performance of domestic and foreign-invested enterprises in China," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 41(3), pages 261-274, September.
    37. Brambor, Thomas & Clark, William Roberts & Golder, Matt, 2006. "Understanding Interaction Models: Improving Empirical Analyses," Political Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 14(1), pages 63-82, January.
    38. Ravi Ramamurti, 2001. "The Obsolescing ‘Bargaining Model’? MNC-Host Developing Country Relations Revisited," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 32(1), pages 23-39, March.
    39. Zhang, Jianhong & Zhou, Chaohong & Ebbers, Haico, 2011. "Completion of Chinese overseas acquisitions: Institutional perspectives and evidence," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 20(2), pages 226-238, April.
    40. N. Venkatraman & John E. Prescott, 1990. "Environment‐strategy coalignment: An empirical test of its performance implications," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 11(1), pages 1-23, January.
    41. Gil, Adrian & Nakos, George & Brouthers, Lance Eliot & Brouthers, Keith D., 2006. "Country-specific strategy and new venture formation in Central and East Europe," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, February.
    42. Dunning, John H., 2000. "The eclectic paradigm as an envelope for economic and business theories of MNE activity," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 9(2), pages 163-190, April.
    43. B Elango & Chinmay Pattnaik, 2007. "Building capabilities for international operations through networks: a study of Indian firms," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 38(4), pages 541-555, July.
    44. Bent Petersen & Torben Pedersen & Marjorie A Lyles, 2008. "Closing knowledge gaps in foreign markets," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 39(7), pages 1097-1113, October.
    45. H. Kevin Steensma & Marjorie A. Lyles, 2000. "Explaining IJV survival in a transitional economy through social exchange and knowledge‐based perspectives," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(8), pages 831-851, August.
    46. Y Luo, 2003. "Market-seeking MNEs in an emerging market: How parent–subsidiary links shape overseas success," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 34(3), pages 290-309, May.
    47. Chengqi Wang & Jeremy Clegg & Mario Kafouros, 2009. "Country-of-Origin Effects of Foreign Direct Investment," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 49(2), pages 179-198, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ziyi Wei & Quyen T. K. Nguyen, 2020. "Local responsiveness strategy of foreign subsidiaries of Chinese multinationals: The impacts of relational-assets, market-seeking FDI, and host country institutional environments," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 37(3), pages 661-692, September.
    2. Lili Mi & Xiao-Guang Yue & Xue-Feng Shao & Yuanfei Kang & Yulong Liu, 2020. "Strategic Asset Seeking and Innovation Performance: The Role of Innovation Capabilities and Host Country Institutions," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-22, March.
    3. Song, Sangcheol, 2022. "Cultural diversification, human resource-based coordination, and downside risks of multinationality," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 562-571.
    4. Li, Larry & McMurray, Adela & Sy, Malick & Xue, Jinjun, 2018. "Corporate ownership, efficiency and performance under state capitalism: Evidence from China," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 40(4), pages 747-766.
    5. Fuentelsaz, Lucio & Garrido, Elisabet & Maicas, Juan P., 2020. "The effect of informal and formal institutions on foreign market entry selection and performance," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 26(2).
    6. Almodóvar, Paloma & Nguyen, Quyen T.K., 2022. "Product innovation of domestic firms versus foreign MNE subsidiaries: The role of external knowledge sources," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    7. Trąpczyński, Piotr & Banalieva, Elitsa R., 2016. "Institutional difference, organizational experience, and foreign affiliate performance: Evidence from Polish firms," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 51(5), pages 826-842.
    8. Venancio Tauringana & Ishmael Tingbani & Godwin Okafor & Widin B. Sha'ven, 2021. "Terrorism and global business performance," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(4), pages 5636-5658, October.
    9. Tao Bai & Jialin Du & Angelo M. Solarino, 2018. "Performance of foreign subsidiaries “in” and “from” Asia: A review, synthesis and research agenda," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 35(3), pages 607-638, September.
    10. José Luis Ferreras-Méndez & Anabel Fernández-Mesa & Joaquín Alegre, 2019. "Export Performance in SMEs: The Importance of External Knowledge Search Strategies and Absorptive Capacity," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 59(3), pages 413-437, June.
    11. Apriliyanti, Indri Dwi & Alon, Ilan, 2017. "Bibliometric analysis of absorptive capacity," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(5), pages 896-907.
    12. Das, Khanindra Ch. & Mahalik, Mantu Kumar, 2020. "International subsidiary performance of Indian multinationals in the extractive sector: The role of institutional quality, corruption and investment regime," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    13. Tai-Yuen HON, 2015. "Foreign-Invested Enterprises in China," Turkish Economic Review, KSP Journals, vol. 2(4), pages 305-320, December.
    14. Chen, Jieke & Sousa, Carlos M.P. & He, Xinming, 2019. "Export market re-entry: Time-out period and price/quality dynamisms," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 54(2), pages 154-168.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yadong Luo & Huan Zhang & Juan Bu, 2019. "Developed country MNEs investing in developing economies: Progress and prospect," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(4), pages 633-667, June.
    2. Conti, Claudio Ramos & Parente, Ronaldo & de Vasconcelos, Flávio C., 2016. "When distance does not matter: Implications for Latin American multinationals," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(6), pages 1980-1992.
    3. Fuentelsaz, Lucio & Garrido, Elisabet & Maicas, Juan P., 2020. "The effect of informal and formal institutions on foreign market entry selection and performance," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 26(2).
    4. Mbalyohere, Charles & Lawton, Thomas & Boojihawon, Roshan & Viney, Howard, 2017. "Corporate political activity and location-based advantage: MNE responses to institutional transformation in Uganda’s electricity industry," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 52(6), pages 743-759.
    5. Liedong, Tahiru Azaaviele & Peprah, Augustine Awuah & Amartey, Abednego Okoe & Rajwani, Tazeeb, 2020. "Institutional voids and firms' resource commitment in emerging markets: A review and future research agenda," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 26(3).
    6. Danchi Tan & Weichieh Su & Joseph T. Mahoney & Yasemin Kor, 2020. "A review of research on the growth of multinational enterprises: A Penrosean lens," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(4), pages 498-537, June.
    7. James, Barclay E. & Sawant, Rajeev J. & Bendickson, Joshua S., 2020. "Emerging market multinationals’ firm-specific advantages, institutional distance, and foreign acquisition location choice," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(5).
    8. Hutzschenreuter, Thomas & Harhoff, Philippa-Luisa, 2021. "The accelerating effect of institutional environment unfamiliarity on subsidiary portfolio expansion in a new host country," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(3).
    9. Piotr Trapczynski, 2013. "Determinants Of Foreign Direct Investment Performance – A Critical Literature Review," Oeconomia Copernicana, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 4(2), pages 117-132, June.
    10. Jisun Yu & Seung-Hyun Lee & Kunsoo Han, 2015. "FDI motives, market governance, and ownership choice of MNEs: A study of Malaysia and Thailand from an incomplete contracting perspective," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 32(2), pages 335-362, June.
    11. Hernández, Virginia & Nieto, María Jesús, 2015. "The effect of the magnitude and direction of institutional distance on the choice of international entry modes," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 50(1), pages 122-132.
    12. Jane Wenzhen Lu & Wen Li & Aiqi Wu & Xueli Huang, 2018. "Political hazards and entry modes of Chinese investments in Africa," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 35(1), pages 39-61, March.
    13. Surdu, Irina & Mellahi, Kamel, 2016. "Theoretical foundations of equity based foreign market entry decisions: A review of the literature and recommendations for future research," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 25(5), pages 1169-1184.
    14. Irina Surdu & Kamel Mellahi & Keith W Glaister, 2019. "Once bitten, not necessarily shy? Determinants of foreign market re-entry commitment strategies," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(3), pages 393-422, April.
    15. Zhi Shen & Francisco Puig, 2018. "Spatial Dependence of the FDI Entry Mode Decision: Empirical Evidence From Emerging Market Enterprises," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 58(1), pages 171-193, February.
    16. Clegg, Jeremy & Lin, Hsin Mei & Voss, Hinrich & Yen, I-Fan & Shih, Yi Tien, 2016. "The OFDI patterns and firm performance of Chinese firms: The moderating effects of multinationality strategy and external factors," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 25(4), pages 971-985.
    17. Alessia Amighini & Claudio Cozza & Elisa Giuliani & Roberta Rabellotti & Vittoria Scalera, 2015. "Multinational enterprises from emerging economies: what theories suggest, what evidence shows. A literature review," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 42(3), pages 343-370, September.
    18. Vikrant Shirodkar & Palitha Konara, 2017. "Institutional Distance and Foreign Subsidiary Performance in Emerging Markets: Moderating Effects of Ownership Strategy and Host-Country Experience," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 57(2), pages 179-207, April.
    19. Chan, Christine M. & Du, Jialin, 2022. "Formal institution deficiencies and informal institution substitution: MNC foreign ownership choice in emerging economy," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 744-761.
    20. Megan Min Zhang & Paul W. Beamish, 2019. "An institutional response model to economic liberalization: Japanese MNEs’ ownership choices in China," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 36(1), pages 33-59, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:manint:v:55:y:2015:i:3:d:10.1007_s11575-014-0227-2. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.