What makes export manufacturers pursue functional upgrading in an emerging market? A study of Chinese technology new ventures

Jean, Ruey Jer “Bryan”

doi:10.1016/j.ibusrev.2014.03.009

Cited by 31International Business and FDIGlobal trade, sustainability, and social impactGlobal trade and economics

What makes export manufacturers pursue functional upgrading in an emerging market? A study of Chinese technology new ventures

Jean, Ruey Jer “Bryan”·2014·International Business Review

DOI 10.1016/j.ibusrev.2014.03.009

Open this paper in CoChat — free account

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.ibusrev.2014.03.009

Cites

54 of 54 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Recomputing p-values needs the paper’s full text.

Claims the paper makes

We couldn’t retrieve this paper’s full text, so its claims and self-check weren’t run. The registry and citation checks still apply.

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Weak home institutions hinder the transformation of knowledge into actual innovative products and processes.
“Weak home institutions hinder the transformation of knowledge into actual innovative products and processes (Jean, 2014).”
From Global value chains: A review of the multi-disciplinary literature (2020) · cites this paper as Jean, 2014

Firm Resources and Sustained Competitive Advantage
Barney, J. (1991) · Journal of Management · doi:10.1177/014920639101700108 · Cited by 48,334 · see citing works
Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage
Barney, J. B. (2004) · Advances in strategic management · doi:10.1016/s0742-3322(00)17018-4 · Cited by 38,159 · see citing works
Absorptive Capacity: A New Perspective on Learning and Innovation
Cohen, W. M., & Levinthal, D. A. (1990) · Administrative Science Quarterly · doi:10.2307/2393553 · Cited by 35,728 · see citing works
Markets and Hierarchies: Analysis and Antitrust Implications.
O'Brien, D. P., & Williamson, O. E. (1976) · The Economic Journal · doi:10.2307/2230812 · Cited by 13,464 · see citing works
The myopia of learning
Levinthal, D. A., & March, J. G. (1993) · Strategic Management Journal · doi:10.1002/smj.4250141009 · Cited by 7,427 · see citing works
The governance of global value chains
Gereffi, G., Humphrey, J., & Sturgeon, T. (2005) · Review of International Political Economy · doi:10.1080/09692290500049805 · Cited by 7,233 · see citing works
International trade and industrial upgrading in the apparel commodity chain
Gereffi, G. (1999) · Journal of International Economics · doi:10.1016/s0022-1996(98)00075-0 · Cited by 3,197 · see citing works
Innovation, organizational capabilities, and the born-global firm
Knight, G. A., & Cavusgil, S. T. (2004) · Journal of International Business Studies · doi:10.1057/palgrave.jibs.8400071 · Cited by 3,013 · see citing works
How does insertion in global value chains affect upgrading in industrial clusters?
Humphrey, J., & Schmitz, H. (2002) · Regional Studies · doi:10.1080/0034340022000022198 · Cited by 2,584 · see citing works
Technological capabilities and industrialization
Lall, S. (1992) · World Development · doi:10.1016/0305-750x(92)90097-f · Cited by 2,363 · see citing works
Interorganizational Governance in Marketing Channels
Heide, J. B. (1994) · Journal of Marketing · doi:10.1177/002224299405800106 · Cited by 2,205 · see citing works
Internal capabilities, external networks, and performance: a study on technology‐based ventures
Lee, C., Lee, K., & Pennings, J. M. (2001) · Strategic Management Journal · doi:10.1002/smj.181 · Cited by 2,018 · see citing works
Guanxi and organizational dynamics: organizational networking in Chinese firms
Park, S. H., & Luo, Y. (2001) · Strategic Management Journal · doi:10.1002/smj.167 · Cited by 1,957 · see citing works
Dragon multinationals: New players in 21st century globalization
Mathews, J. A. (2006) · Asia Pacific Journal of Management · doi:10.1007/s10490-006-6113-0 · Cited by 1,889 · see citing works
PRODUCT INNOVATION STRATEGY AND THE PERFORMANCE OF NEW TECHNOLOGY VENTURES IN CHINA.
Li, H., & Atuahene‐Gima, K. (2001) · Academy of Management Journal · doi:10.2307/3069392 · Cited by 1,508 · see citing works
Product Innovation Strategy and the Performance of New Technology Ventures in China
Li, H., & Atuahene‐Gima, K. (2001) · Academy of Management Journal · doi:10.5465/3069392 · Cited by 1,123 · see citing works
Upgrading in Global Value Chains: Lessons from Latin American Clusters
Giuliani, E., Pietrobelli, C., & Rabellotti, R. (2005) · World Development · doi:10.1016/j.worlddev.2005.01.002 · Cited by 1,073 · see citing works
Introduction: Globalisation, Value Chains and Development
Gereffi, G., HUMPHREY, J. D., Kaplinsky, R., & Sturgeon, T. J. (2001) · IDS Bulletin · doi:10.1111/j.1759-5436.2001.mp32003001.x · Cited by 891 · see citing works
Interorganizational Governance in Marketing Channels
Heide, J. B. (1994) · Journal of Marketing · doi:10.2307/1252252 · Cited by 889 · see citing works
Global Value Chains Meet Innovation Systems: Are There Learning Opportunities for Developing Countries?
Pietrobelli, C., & Rabellotti, R. (2011) · World Development · doi:10.1016/j.worlddev.2010.05.013 · Cited by 852 · see citing works
Sources of capabilities, integration and technology commercialization
Zahra, S. A., & Nielsen, A. P. (2002) · Strategic Management Journal · doi:10.1002/smj.229 · Cited by 712 · see citing works
Governance and Upgrading: Linking Industrial Cluster and Global Value Chain Research
Schmitz, H., & HUMPHREY, J. D. (2000) · OpenDocs (Institute of Development Studies) · Cited by 693 · see citing works
What Drives New Ventures to Internationalize from Emerging to Developed Economies?
Yasuhiro Yamakawa, B., Peng, M. W., & DEEDS, D. L. (2008) · Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice · doi:10.1111/j.1540-6520.2007.00216.x · Cited by 680 · see citing works
Governance in Global Value Chains
HUMPHREY, J. D., & Schmitz, H. (2001) · IDS Bulletin · doi:10.1111/j.1759-5436.2001.mp32003003.x · Cited by 643 · see citing works
E-hubs: the new B2B (business-to-business) marketplaces.
Kaplan, S. S., & Sawhney, M. S. (2001) · PubMed · Cited by 623 · see citing works
Innovation search of new ventures in a technology cluster: the role of ties with service intermediaries
Zhang, Y., & Li, H. (2009) · Strategic Management Journal · doi:10.1002/smj.806 · Cited by 589 · see citing works
Global Value Chains and Technological Capabilities: A Framework to Study Learning and Innovation in Developing Countries
Morrison, A., Pietrobelli, C., & Rabellotti, R. (2008) · Oxford Development Studies · doi:10.1080/13600810701848144 · Cited by 577 · see citing works
Relational mechanisms, formal contracts, and local knowledge acquisition by international subsidiaries
Li, J., Poppo, L., & Zhou, K. Z. (2009) · Strategic Management Journal · doi:10.1002/smj.813 · Cited by 514 · see citing works
International business competence and the contemporary firm
Knight, G., & Kim, D. (2008) · Journal of International Business Studies · doi:10.1057/palgrave.jibs.8400397 · Cited by 439 · see citing works
Breakthrough? China’s and India’s Transition from Production to Innovation
Altenburg, T., Schmitz, H., & Stamm, A. (2007) · World Development · doi:10.1016/j.worlddev.2007.06.011 · Cited by 413 · see citing works
Startup size and the mechanisms of external learning: increasing opportunity and decreasing ability?
Almeida, P., Dokko, G., & Rosenkopf, L. (2003) · Research Policy · doi:10.1016/s0048-7333(02)00101-4 · Cited by 402 · see citing works
Which Way is “Up” in Upgrading? Trajectories of Change in the Value Chain for South African Wine
Ponte, S., & Ewert, J. (2009) · World Development · doi:10.1016/j.worlddev.2009.03.008 · Cited by 401 · see citing works
An Investigation into the Antecedents of Organizational Participation in Business-to-Business Electronic Markets
Grewal, R., Comer, J. M., & Mehta, R. (2001) · Journal of Marketing · doi:10.1509/jmkg.65.3.17.18331 · Cited by 379 · see citing works
Catch-up strategies in the Indian auto components industry: Domestic firms’ responses to market liberalization
Kumaraswamy, A., Mudambi, R., Saranga, H., & Tripathy, A. (2012) · Journal of International Business Studies · doi:10.1057/jibs.2012.4 · Cited by 378 · see citing works
Electronic marketplaces: A literature review and a call for supply chain management research
Grieger, M. (2002) · European Journal of Operational Research · doi:10.1016/s0377-2217(02)00394-6 · Cited by 363 · see citing works
Trade promotion and SME export performance
Wilkinson, T. J., & Brouthers, L. E. (2006) · International Business Review · doi:10.1016/j.ibusrev.2006.03.001 · Cited by 343 · see citing works
Total quality management as a forerunner of business innovation capability
Perdomo‐Ortiz, J., Benito, J. G., & Galende, J. (2005) · Technovation · doi:10.1016/j.technovation.2005.09.008 · Cited by 296 · see citing works
The Internationalization of Chinese Firms: A Critical Review and Future Research*
Deng, P. (2011) · International Journal of Management Reviews · doi:10.1111/j.1468-2370.2011.00323.x · Cited by 261 · see citing works
Online internationalisation, psychic distance reduction and the virtuality trap
Yamin, M., & Sinkovics, R. R. (2006) · International Business Review · doi:10.1016/j.ibusrev.2006.03.002 · Cited by 258 · see citing works
Does knowledge spill to leaders or laggards? Exploring industry heterogeneity in learning by exporting
SALOMON, R. M., & Jin, B. (2007) · Journal of International Business Studies · doi:10.1057/palgrave.jibs.8400320 · Cited by 233 · see citing works
Learning by supplying
Alcácer, J., & Oxley, J. E. (2013) · Strategic Management Journal · doi:10.1002/smj.2134 · Cited by 228 · see citing works
Do leading or lagging firms learn more from exporting?
SALOMON, R. M., & Jin, B. (2010) · Strategic Management Journal · doi:10.1002/smj.850 · Cited by 213 · see citing works
Enhancing international customer–supplier relationships through IT resources: A study of Taiwanese electronics suppliers
Jean, R. “., Sinkovics, R. R., & Cavusgil, S. T. (2010) · Journal of International Business Studies · doi:10.1057/jibs.2010.4 · Cited by 196 · see citing works
Self-citation
Role of international trade shows in small firm internationalization: a network perspective
Evers, N., & Knight, J. (2008) · International Marketing Review · doi:10.1108/02651330810904080 · Cited by 186 · see citing works
Relationship learning at trade shows: Its antecedents and consequences
Ling‐yee, L. (2005) · Industrial Marketing Management · doi:10.1016/j.indmarman.2005.03.006 · Cited by 175 · see citing works
Power relationships along the value chain: multinational firms, global buyers and performance of local suppliers
Pietrobelli, C., & Saliola, F. (2008) · Cambridge Journal of Economics · doi:10.1093/cje/ben016 · Cited by 151 · see citing works
Product Innovations in Emerging Economies: The Role of Foreign Knowledge Access Channels and Internal Efforts in Chinese Firms
Li, J., Chen, D., & Shapiro, D. M. (2009) · Management and Organization Review · doi:10.1111/j.1740-8784.2009.00155.x · Cited by 150 · see citing works
From quality to innovation: Evidence from two French Employer Surveys
Peković, S., & Galia, F. (2009) · Technovation · doi:10.1016/j.technovation.2009.08.002 · Cited by 133 · see citing works
Information technology and organizational performance within international business to business relationships
Jean, R. “., Sinkovics, R. R., & Kim, D. (2008) · International Marketing Review · doi:10.1108/02651330810904099 · Cited by 123 · see citing works
Self-citation
Global Value Chains and Technological Capabilities: A Framework to Study Learning and Innovation in Developing Countries
Morrison, A., Pietrobelli, C., & Rabellotti, R. (2006) · Oxford University Research Archive (ORA) (University of Oxford) · Cited by 108 · see citing works
The New E-Commerce Intermediaries
Anderson, P. C., & Anderson, E. (2002) · Dialnet (Universidad de la Rioja) · Cited by 104 · see citing works
The internationalisation of SMEs from China: The case of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region
Cardoza, G., & Fornés, G. (2009) · Asia Pacific Journal of Management · doi:10.1007/s10490-009-9174-z · Cited by 83 · see citing works
Using Industrial Trade Shows to improve New Product Development
Bello, D. C., & Barczak, G. J. (1990) · Journal of Business and Industrial Marketing · doi:10.1108/eum0000000002744 · Cited by 68 · see citing works
Moving upward in global value chains: the innovations of mobile phone developers in China
Sun, S. L., Chen, H., & Pleggenkuhle‐Miles, E. G. (2010) · Chinese Management Studies · doi:10.1108/17506141011094118 · Cited by 48 · see citing works

Flagged first, then by citations

Sorted by citations

Global value chains: A review of the multi-disciplinary literature
Kano, L., Tsang, E. W. K., & Yeung, H. W.-C. (2020) · Journal of International Business Studies · doi:10.1057/s41267-020-00304-2 · Cited by 767 · see citing works
Organizational learning in exporting: A bibliometric analysis and critical review of the empirical research
İpek, İ. (2018) · International Business Review · doi:10.1016/j.ibusrev.2018.11.010 · Cited by 79 · see citing works
Rising powers from emerging markets—The changing face of international business
Sinkovics, R. R., Yamin, M., Nadvi, K., & Zhang, Y. (2014) · International Business Review · doi:10.1016/j.ibusrev.2014.04.001 · Cited by 65 · see citing works
The contingent effects of asset specificity, contract specificity, and trust on offshore relationship performance
Wang, L., Jiang, F., Li, J., Motohashi, K., & Zheng, X. (2019) · Journal of Business Research · doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.02.055 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
Upgrading without formal integration in M&A: The role of social integration
de Oliveira, R. T., Sahasranamam, S., Figueira, S., & Paul, J. (2019) · Global Strategy Journal · doi:10.1002/gsj.1358 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
Between a rock and a hard place: A critique of economic upgrading in global value chains
Dindial, M., Clegg, J. L., & Voss, H. (2020) · Global Strategy Journal · doi:10.1002/gsj.1382 · Cited by 42 · see citing works
A repositioning organizational knowledge dynamics by functional upgrading and downgrading strategy in global value chain
Scuotto, V., García-Pérez, A., Nespoli, C., & Petruzzelli, A. M. (2020) · Journal of International Management · doi:10.1016/j.intman.2020.100795 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Developing innovation capabilities for upgrading in global value chains: evidence from China
Su, J., Ma, H., & Zhang, S. (2020) · International Journal of Emerging Markets · doi:10.1108/ijoem-12-2019-1014 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
Matching governance mechanisms with transaction-specific investment types and supplier roles: An empirical study of cross-border outsourcing relationships
Wang, L., Zhang, C., & Jiang, F.-M. (2019) · International Business Review · doi:10.1016/j.ibusrev.2018.10.004 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
The bargaining power, value capture, and export performance of Vietnamese manufacturers in global value chains
Pham, H. S. T., & Petersen, B. (2021) · International Business Review · doi:10.1016/j.ibusrev.2021.101829 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Unleashing the critical role of renewable energy through global value chains and digitalization: A path towards environmental sustainability
Zhang, L., Zhao, Z., Qamri, G. M., & Makhmudov, S. (2025) · Journal of Environmental Management · doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.126688 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Emerging market multinationals’ liability of outsidership
Zhou, N. (2023) · Journal of World Business · doi:10.1016/j.jwb.2023.101505 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Coordination Mechanisms and Overseas Knowledge Acquisition for Chinese Suppliers: The Contingent Impact of Production Mode and Contractual Governance
Wang, L., Huo, D., & Motohashi, K. (2018) · Journal of International Management · doi:10.1016/j.intman.2018.10.003 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Shadow of the giant: How global value chain participation influences the knowledge structure of SMEs
Wang, Y., & Li, X. (2024) · International Business Review · doi:10.1016/j.ibusrev.2024.102270 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Internationalisation process of Chinese SMEs: the role of business and ethnic-group-based social networks
Lew, Y. K., Khan, Z., Nicholson, R. R., & He, S. (2016) · International Journal of Multinational Corporation Strategy · doi:10.1504/ijmcs.2016.081123 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
How does manufacturing output affect export behaviors in emerging market economies? Evidence from a dynamic panel ARDL for ten biggest emerging market economies
Sankaran, A., Krishna, A., & Vadivel, A. (2021) · Future Business Journal · doi:10.1186/s43093-021-00072-x · Cited by 12 · see citing works
On the Relationship between Innovation Activity and Manufacturing Upgrading of Emerging Countries: Evidence from China
Xie, Z., Zang, G., & Wu, F. (2019) · Sustainability · doi:10.3390/su11051309 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Upgrading and Power Relations in Global Value Chains: Case Study of an Offshoring Service Provider in the Software Industry
Choksy, U. S. (2015) · Progress in international business research · doi:10.1108/s1745-886220150000010018 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Unconnected to global network: Infrastructural deficit in Africa
Ifere, S. E., Nyuur, R. B.-B.-I., Amankwah‐Amoah, J., & Ochie, C. (2022) · Strategic Change · doi:10.1002/jsc.2482 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Relationship multiplexity, multiple resource acquisition, and export performance of emerging-market firms
Kotabe, M. “., Ayebale, D., & Murray, J. Y. (2023) · Journal of International Management · doi:10.1016/j.intman.2023.101030 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
The Future of Global Organizing
van Tulder, R. J. M., Verbeke, A. C., & Drogendijk, R. H. (2015) · Progress in international business research · doi:10.1108/s1745-8862201510 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Automation and value-chain embedment: evidence from Chinese manufacturing firms
Jie, X., Guo, J., & Chen, X. (2024) · Applied Economics · doi:10.1080/00036846.2024.2337811 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
A Study of Lacquerware Industry’s Upgrading and Sustainability Strategies from the Perspective of GVCs—Using China Fuzhou Lacquerware Industry as Example
Huang, J., Lin, C., Gao, Y., & Chen, C.-L. (2021) · Sustainability · doi:10.3390/su13094937 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Will Participation in Dual Value Chains Promote Manufacturing Upgrades and Green Development?
Shi, W., & Wang, S. (2025) · Sustainability · doi:10.3390/su17094234 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
A Configurational Framework for Supplier Upgrading in Global Value Chains
Ma, H., Zhang, N., & Zhang, S. (2025) · Strategic Change · doi:10.1002/jsc.2693 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Towards Bamboo Commercialization in Ethiopia
Endalamaw, T. B. (2015) · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Experience Logic: The New Challenge for Trade Fairs
Pencarelli, T., Cioppi, M., Curina, I., & Forlani, F. (2018) · International series in advanced management studies · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-77550-0_9
Bibliography
(2023) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/978-1-80262-245-420231014
Urban Opening Up,Industrial Agglomeration, and Export Survival of Chinese EnterprisesPreprint
Wang, J. (2023) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-3784051/v1
How Do Emerging Market Suppliers Achieve Functional Upgrading in the ”Twin Locking” ContextPreprint
Ma, H., Chen, J., Zhang, S., & Zhang, S. (2026) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.7230704
How Do Emerging Market Suppliers Achieve Functional Upgrading in the ”Twin Locking” ContextPreprint
Ma, H., Chen, J., Zhang, S., & Zhang, S. (2026) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.7593158

An Exploratory Study on Upgrading by FDI OEMs in China
Chin, T. (2012) · International Business Research · doi:10.5539/ibr.v6n1p199 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Functional upgrading in China's export processing sector
Assche, A. V., & Biesebroeck, J. V. (2017) · China Economic Review · doi:10.1016/j.chieco.2017.07.012 · Cited by 36 · see citing works
Capability upgrading through technological proximity: evidence from a leading Chinese e-bike firm
Ma, H., Su, J., Zhang, S., & Zhang, S. (2022) · International Journal of Emerging Markets · doi:10.1108/ijoem-04-2021-0548 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Dynamics of firm-level upgrading and the role of learning in networks in emerging markets
Yoruk, D. E. (2018) · Technological Forecasting and Social Change · doi:10.1016/j.techfore.2018.06.042 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Study on Key Factors Affecting Local Manufacturing Enterprises'Upgrading under Open Economy:Evidence from Manufacturing Enterprises in Kunshan
Dai, X. (2013) · China Economic Quarterly

Authors: Jean, R. J. “.
Affiliations: National Chengchi University (TW)
Corresponding author: Jean, Ruey Jer “Bryan”
ORCID: Jean, Ruey Jer “Bryan”
Venue: International Business Review
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Published: 2014-08
Volume: 23
Issue: 4
Pages: 741-749
ISSN: 0969-5931 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1016/j.ibusrev.2014.03.009
OpenAlex: W2047046428
Cited by: 31
References: 52
Citations by year: 2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 4 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 1
FWCI: 5.12
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license (tdm)
Locations: International Business Review (publishedVersion)
RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › International Business and FDI
Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › Global trade, sustainability, and social impact
Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › General Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Global trade and economics
Keywords: functional upgrading, export production, emerging market firms, trade fairs, quality advantage, electronic markets, technological progress, governance mechanisms, internal resources, resource-based view, learning theory

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review

What makes export manufacturers pursue functional upgrading in an emerging market? A study of Chinese technology new ventures

Integrity signals

Claims the paper makes

Claims other papers make about this one

Cites

Cited by

Related

Record

About these checks