The investment motivation, strategy, and structure of Japanese manufacturing subsidiaries in the United States: An exploratory interview-based study
Serapio, Manuel Gelacio, Jr
This item is only available for download by members of the University of Illinois community. Students, faculty, and staff at the U of I may log in with your NetID and password to view the item. If you are trying to access an Illinois-restricted dissertation or thesis, you can request a copy through your library's Inter-Library Loan office or purchase a copy directly from ProQuest.
Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/19996
Description
Title
The investment motivation, strategy, and structure of Japanese manufacturing subsidiaries in the United States: An exploratory interview-based study
Author(s)
Serapio, Manuel Gelacio, Jr
Issue Date
1990
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Negandhi, Anant R.
Department of Study
Business Administration
Discipline
Business Administration
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Business Administration, General
Business Administration, Management
Language
eng
Abstract
This dissertation is exploratory in nature and has three objectives: (1) to describe the investment motivation, strategy, and structure of Japanese manufacturing subsidiaries in the United States, (2) to compare the investment behavior, strategy, and structure of Japanese manufacturing subsidiaries in terms of their industry affiliation, size, and timing of entry into the United States, and (3) to explore possible relationships between the strategy and structure of Japanese manufacturing subsidiaries in the United States.
Data were collected from the author's personal interviews of thirty-six executives from twenty-seven Japanese manufacturing subsidiaries in the United States between December 1988 and February 1989. The sample companies had thirty-three plants in three industries: (1) transportation equipment, (2) electronics/electrical equipment, and (3) industrial/commercial machinery and computer equipment.
Some of the important findings of this study are as follows: (1) some of the most significant factors influencing the Japanese companies' decision to invest in the United States were the large U.S. market, currency fluctuation, the presence or threat of trade restrictions, and pressures from competitors or customers; (2) most of the sample companies emphasized production or sales growth, localization, and expansion or protection of market share in their goal setting; (3) most sample companies maintained multiple linkages with general management or functional departments, or both, in the parent company; and (4) the parent company relied upon personal control in overseeing the operations of their U.S. subsidiary.
"The study found several important differences in the investment motivation, strategy, and structure of Japanese companies from different industries, and among companies of different sizes and ages. Both Chandler's thesis that ""structure follows strategy,"" and Fayerweather's paradigm of ""unification vs. fragmentation"" offer useful paradigms to explain the relationships between some aspects of the sample companies' strategy and structure."
Use this login method if you
don't
have an
@illinois.edu
email address.
(Oops, I do have one)
IDEALS migrated to a new platform on June 23, 2022. If you created
your account prior to this date, you will have to reset your password
using the forgot-password link below.
