Lead firm’s reconfiguration decision and performance of the value chain

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Gelei ◽  
Magdolna Sass
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Organizational Design ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Global Value Chains ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Performance Consequences ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Lead Firm

Purpose This paper aims to trace the performance consequences of within-lead firm reconfigurations of global value chains with respect to business performance and upgrading. Design/methodology/approach The study is based on two detailed company case studies which are analysed in an organizational design approach. Findings Lead firms systematically separate and internalize high value-added activities in otherwise low value-added processes leading to constant reconfigurations and reorganizations of the production processes in global value chains. The study finds that similar reconfigurations may trigger different changes and changes and performance consequences may differ considerably according to the level of analysis. The two cases help to understand the specific roles of the outsourcing and offshoring decisions in shaping actual global value chain structures. Originality/value The consequences of within-lead firm reconfigurations are rarely analysed in the literature.

Russia–ASEAN: Trade and Global Value Chains

2015 ◽  
pp. 25-39
Author(s):  
K. Muradov
Keyword(s):  
South Korea ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Bilateral Trade ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Global Value Chains ◽  
Trade Flows ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Trade Data ◽  
Traded Goods ◽  
Trade In Value Added

Traditional trade statistics that originate in customs records is inadequate to measure the complex interdependencies in today’s globalized economy, or what is known as the global value chains. The article focuses on Russia–ASEAN trade. The author applies innovative methods of measuring trade in value added terms in order to capture the unobserved bilateral linkages behind the officially recorded trade flows. First, customs and balance of payments sources of bilateral trade data are briefly reviewed. For user, there are at least two inherent problems in those data: the inconsistencies in “mirror” trade flows and the attribution of the origin of a traded product wholly to the exporting country. This results in large discrepancies between Russian and ASEAN “mirror” trade data and, arguably, their low importance as each other’s trade partners. Next, the author explores new data from inter-country input-output tables that necessarily reconcile bilateral differences and offer greater detail about the national and sectoral origin or destination of traded goods and services. Relevant data are derived from the OECD-WTO TiVA database and are rearranged to obtain various estimates of Russia–ASEAN trade in value added in 2009. The main finding is that sizable amount of the value added of Russian origin is embodied in third countries’ exports to ASEAN members and ASEAN members’ exports to third countries. As a result, the cumulative flow of Russia’s value added to ASEAN members is estimated to be 62% larger than the direct gross exports, whereas for China and South Korea it is, respectively, 21% and 23% smaller. The indirect, unobserved value added flows can be largely explained by the use of Russian energy resources, chemicals and metals as imported inputs in third countries (China, South Korea) and ASEAN members’ own production. The contribution of these inputs is then accumulated along the value chain. Finally, the most important sectoral value chains are visualized for readers’ convenience. So far, it’s apparent that Russia is linked to ASEAN countries through intricate production networks and indirectly contributes to their trade with third countries.

Manufacturing and value-added dynamics in global value chains: the case of Italy

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 457-470
Author(s):  
Chiara Burlina ◽  
Eleonora Di Maria
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Global Value Chains ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Content Type ◽  
New Methods ◽  
Trade In Value Added ◽  
Revealed Comparative Advantage Index ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Made In

Purpose This paper aims to provide a snapshot of various countries’ contributions to value produced along global value chains (GVCs). It focusses on manufacturing activities and their evolution over time, in the context of GVC regionalisation. Design/methodology/approach The Trade in Value Added (TiVA) and World Integrated Trade Solution databases for the period of 2005-2015 were used to explore the case of Italy and its industries’ specialisations (Made in Italy): fashion, furniture, automotive and machinery traditionally organised into clusters. Various analyses were used to show the dynamics of gross import–export and imported–exported value-added. Moreover, the revealed comparative advantage index was computed to test whether the Made in Italy sector remains a source of competitive advantage for Italy within GVCs. Findings The results highlight how the geography of value-added is changing over time, with growing importance placed on the countries close to Italy and with a different pace according to each considered GVC. Originality/value The paper applied new methods to compare trade and analyse value-added dynamics through a recent database released by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development within the TiVA initiative that is useful for scholars and policymakers.

Global value chain linkages and domestic value-added content: Empirical evidence

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhushan Praveen Jangam ◽  
Badri Narayan Rath
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Least Squares Method ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Global Value Chain ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Services Sector ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to examine the relationship between global value chains (GVCs) and domestic value-added content (DVA) in a panel of 58 countries for the period 2005–2015. Design/methodology/approach First, the authors quantify the refined measures of GVC linkages by using the Borin and Mancini (2019) decomposition technique. Second, the authors apply the feasible generalised least squares method to test the relationship between GVCs and DVA empirically. Findings First, the authors find that GVC links are crucial to the enhancement of DVA. Second, a study at the sectoral level reveals that GVC links in the primary sector raise DVA whilst reducing DVA in the services sector. Third, the authors find that only upstream activities enhance value-added content. Fourth, the authors note the augmenting role played by national policies in mediating the gains associated with GVCs. Finally, the authors note that the outcomes associated with GVCs are consistent when the sample of countries is divided into groups based on income. Practical implications The results lead us to urge policymakers to promote greater integration of business activities into GVCs to reap their benefits. Originality/value This paper contributes to the research on the impact of GVCs on DVA by emphasising the significance of the types of GVC activities and policies that improve DVA.

Global value chains in the MedTech industry

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-92
Author(s):  
Jana Vlckova ◽  
Bublu Sarbani Thakur-Weigold
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Core Competencies ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Global Value Chains ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Economic Outcomes ◽  
Weak Links ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Content Type

Purpose Medical technology (MedTech) is a growth industry, which like other manufacturing sectors has undergone fragmentation of production and emergence of Global Value Chains (GVCs). The purpose of this paper is to compare how two open European economies position themselves competitively within MedTech GVCs: highly developed Switzerland and the emerging Czech Republic. Design/methodology/approach The research applies a mixed methodology to analyze the performance of each location in the MedTech GVCs. It draws on macroeconomic, industry, trade and a proprietary sample of firm data, combined with onsite interviews. Findings The economic outcomes and GVC positions differ in both cases, whereas Switzerland focuses on high value-added activities such as R&D and after-sales service. Specialized manufacturing is also located here in spite of high costs. By contrast, the Czech Republic focuses mostly on low value-added activities, like manufacturing disposables, although some domestic innovative companies are notable. The authors generalize four types of firms in the industry, comparing their presence in both locations. Practical implications The competitive positions and challenges faced by each location when engaging in MedTech GVCs are summarized and related to economic outcomes. In the Czech Republic, the barriers to upgrading include its business environment, and weak links between education institutions and industry. Switzerland’s high cost structure is offset by adding high value in core competencies. Both countries should protect the inherent advantage their locations offer within responsive European supply chains. Originality/value GVC research in the MedTech sector has been limited. There is no comparison of two European countries, and their position in MedTech GVCs, nor of how firms, participate successfully in them.

Methodological approaches to global value chains analysis

2019 ◽  
pp. 14-18
Author(s):  
Anna Maksymenko
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Governance Structure ◽  
Global Value Chains ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Research Topic ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Productive Capacity ◽  
Methodological Approaches

The article is devoted to overview of methodological approaches to the analysis of the global value chains. Value chain is a full range of activities which is done by firm or employees in order to bring a product from its conception to its end use. This also includes activities such as design, production, marketing, distribution and support to the final consumer. Global value chains (GVC) involve different type of firm from different countries in such activities. The paper emphasizes that this research topic is interdisciplinary. Topics in GVC literature include variety of aspects: impact of globalization on employment, horizontal and vertical links between enterprises in the chain, governance structure of organizing international production networks, supply and income distribution, spread of innovation and technology, firms’ upgrading etc. Generally, A. Morrison, C. Pietrobelli and R. Rabellotti have identified two different “schools” or approaches within the broad GVC literature: the internationalist approach and the industrialist approach. Typology of global value chains is quite developed topic. Such types as market type, modular type, relational type, captive type, hierarchy type of governance have been distinguished and described by foreign researches. Elements of modernization processes of the value chain have been highlighted. Approaches to upgrading of value added production can be considered as upgrading of products (and packaging), upgrading of processes, functional upgrading, inter-sectoral upgrading. Also concept of upgrading can relate to upgrading of value chain-network structure and upgrading of governance structures. The topic of barriers for integration in global value chains for developing countries is crucial. There are several factors affecting developing country competitiveness in GVCs: productive capacity, infrastructure and service, business environment, trade and investment policy, industry institutionalization. The main conclusions emerging from analytical overview presented in this article are that various approaches to GVCs analysis exist and that the choice of particular approach should be based on specific research topic which is investigated as well as data sources (e.g. firms’ business record, input-output tables, interviews with enterprises, business association, government officers etc).

scholarly journals Industry 4.0, global value chains and international business

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 174-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger Strange ◽  
Antonella Zucchella
Keyword(s):  
International Business ◽  
Industry 4.0 ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Global Value Chains ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporate Strategies ◽  
The Internet Of Things

Purpose This paper aims to provide an assessment of how the widespread adoption of new digital technologies (i.e. the Internet of things, big data and analytics, robotic systems and additive manufacturing) might affect the location and organisation of activities within global value chains (GVCs). Design/methodology/approach The approach in this paper is to review various sources about the potential adoption and impact of the new digital technologies (commonly known collectively as Industry 4.0), to contrast these technologies with existing technologies, and to consider how the new technologies might lead to new configurations involving suppliers, firms and customers. Findings The authors report that the new digital technologies have considerable potential to disrupt how and where activities are located and organised within GVCs), and who captures the value-added within those chains. They also report that Industry 4.0 is still in its infancy, but that its effects are already having an impact upon the nature of competition and corporate strategies in many industries. Social/implications In particular, the authors draw attention to the potential cyber-risks and implications for the privacy of individuals, and hence, the need for regulation. Originality/value This is the first published paper to consider the likely separate and joint impacts of the new digital technologies on the practice and theory of international business.

scholarly journals Are multinationals and governments from emerging economies configuring global value chains in new ways?

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claes Alvstam ◽  
Inge Ivarsson ◽  
Bent Petersen
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Economies ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Multinational Firms ◽  
Global Value Chains ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Political Actors ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Cost Efficiencies

Purpose The hallmark of today’s global value chains (GVCs), still dominated by multinationals from advanced economies, is a sophisticated international division of labor based on scale economies and prevailing factor endowment differences between countries. However, GVCs led by multinationals from large emerging economies may be configured on the basis of considerations that supplement factor cost efficiencies, namely, those of societal objectives as formulated by political actors in the home country. In this context, the purpose of this paper is to examine the implications of political and socio-economic factors on GVC configuration of multinational firms. Design/methodology/approach This paper provides an in-depth case study of a leading Chinese car manufacturer, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (ZGH) and its value-chain configuration, with a special focus on the acquisition of Volvo Car Corporation. Findings The authors show how ZGH’s configuration of its GVC, including that of acquired Volvo Car Corporation, takes place in symbiosis with political actors. The advantages and disadvantages of this symbiosis are highlighted. Research limitations/implications The study focuses on GVC configuration of one company, ZGH, in one industry, the automotive industry, in one emerging economy. The external validity of the study may therefore be limited. Furthermore, the focus is on the geographical/locational configuration of GVCs and ignores the ownership aspects. Originality/value The paper provides novel empirical evidence to better understand GVC configuration of multinational firms from emerging economies.

scholarly journals Poverty chains and global capitalism

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Selwyn
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Firm Value ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Global Value Chains ◽  
Global South ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Global Value Chain ◽  
Original Material ◽  
Value Chain Analysis ◽  
Secondary Sources

The proliferation of global value chains is portrayed in academic and policy circles as representing new development opportunities for firms and regions in the global south. This article tests these claims by examining original material from non-governmental organizations’ reports and secondary sources on the garment and electronics chains in Cambodia and China, respectively. This empirical evidence suggests that these global value chains generate new forms of worker poverty. Based on these findings, the article proposes the novel Global Poverty Chain approach. The article critiques and reformulates principal concepts associated with the Global Value Chain approach – of value-added, rent and chain governance – and challenges a core assumption prevalent within Global Value Chain analysis: that workers’ low wages are a function of their employment in low productivity industries. Instead, it shows that (1) many supplier firms in the global south are as, or more, productive than their equivalents in the global north; (2) often predominantly female workers in these industries are super exploited (paid wages below their subsistence requirements) and (3) chain governance represents a lead firm value-capturing strategy, which intensifies worker exploitation.

scholarly journals The tortuous ascent of global value chains – the case of pharmaceutical R&D in China

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 244-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham Hollinshead
Keyword(s):  
International Business ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Social Factor ◽  
Global Value Chains ◽  
Emerging Economy ◽  
Organizational Level ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Industrial Enterprises

Purpose This paper aims to explore the micro-political complexities of operating over institutional distance in a modern international enterprise. The focal sector of the study is the pharmaceutical industry, which, in its latest phase of global development, has engaged in “internal sourcing” of research and development (R&D) talent from China. This paper contributes to emergent “socio-political” theorization in international business through revealing complex forms of workplace segmentation and conflictual forms of practice at micro-organizational level. Design/methodology/approach The author of this paper and a UK-based research associate visited the Shanghai-based R&D facility of a major Western owned pharmaceutical concern to carry out interviews with key managers, expatriates and scientists to “hear their stories”. Access was gained to the research site through insider contacts. Findings It was discovered that, in the context of an enterprise intent on innovation, motivational logics themselves emanate from the embedded positions of diverse organizational actors, in turn bringing to the fore issues of power, resistance, ethnicity and language. Research limitations/implications Generalizations from a single case study may have limited significance. However, the unique case setting provides the scope for a novel contribution to the field of international business by examining contradictory and asymmetrical factors in the social construction of a Global Value Chain extending from West to East to source emergent local talent. Practical implications The case offers the possibility for managerial learning in the areas of working across cultures, managing expatriation, dealing with linguistic and etymological differences and formulating international business strategy (integration or differentiation in the MNC). The study highlights the significance of critical realist perspectives in fostering reflexive behaviours of actors in multilayered and complex micro-environments. Social implications The work has significance concerning the devolution of both managerial and medical responsibilities to local agents in China. This is a vital social factor in the emerging economy context. The work also casts light on social and personal issues confronting international managerial and scientific migrants. Originality/value To date, the phenomena of Global Value Chains have been approached in a relatively transactional and economistic fashion. The paper shed light on GVCs as humanistic and political phenomena. A relatively new departure of the study is to demonstrate that workplace actors in modern and modularized industrial enterprises located in the emerging economy setting respond to environmental volatility through engaging in variant and conflictual forms of institutional entrepreneurship.

scholarly journals Labor Costs and Localization in Global Value Chains: Comparative Analysis and Conclusions for Poland

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 229-238
Author(s):  
Magdalena Kapela
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Great Part ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Work Force ◽  
Global Value Chains ◽  
Qualitative Assessment ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Global Value Chain ◽  
Labor Costs ◽  
Technology Industries

AbstractLabor costs in Poland are relatively low in comparison to other European Union (EU) countries. After long period of functioning Poland in closed economy, conditions significantly weakened the level of its competitiveness in the international market. When the boards were opened in 1989, it became clear that cheap work force was one of the most important factors to attract foreign investments. At the same time, globalization and internationalization of production created opportunity for entrepreneurs to establish global value chains. Participation in global value chain (GVC) of Poland can extend international trade and increase gross domestic product (GDP). On the other hand, low wages attract investments in low-technology industries and, moreover, place Poland in the middle of value chains, where semi-products are assembled and new value added is exiguous. The aim of the article is: 1) to present polish participation in global value chain, 2) to analyze how much low labor costs contribute to degree of share in global value chain, and 3) to show how level of labor costs contribute to position in value chain and how does it influence on benefits from participating in GVC. In the article, the quantitative and qualitative assessment of Eurostat (European statistic) and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) statistics data and research on labor costs carried out in Poland were analyzed. The research tools include a critical analysis of literature and descriptive analytical method. More than 50% of polish exports takes place within the global value chains. Low labor costs attract investors to allocate part of their production in Poland. Nevertheless, great part of export constitutes semi-products that do not create new value added so benefits from participation in GVC are not so considerable as expected. It is desirable to shift Poland toward beginning or the end of value chains, where profits are higher.

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