Localization in China: How Guanxi Moderates Sino–US Business Relationships

Main author: Yen, Dorothy Ai-wan
Other authors: Abosag, Ibrahim
Format: Journal Article           
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id eprints-21175
recordtype eprints
institution SOAS, University of London
collection SOAS Research Online
language English
language_search English
description International companies are increasingly concerned with the success of their business exchanges in China. Whilst understanding and adapting to local cultures has long been considered as an important part of successful localization, extant literature has not discussed how the adoption of local cultural-specific relationship construct, such as guanxi in China as a tool of localization, facilitates foreign firms’ b2b relationships with local counterparts in their respective markets. This study argues that international firms need to engage the cultural-specific concept of guanxi as a tool of localization when interacting with Chinese counterparts for better financial performance and long-term orientation. With data collected from 299 Chinese buyers regarding their business relationships with US suppliers, the results reveal that the relations between trust and financial performance and between uncertainty and long-term orientation are contingent to the levels of guanxi. The study aids further light to localization literature with evidence highlighting the impact of guanxi in localizing b2b relationship activities in China.
format Journal Article
author Yen, Dorothy Ai-wan
author_facet Yen, Dorothy Ai-wan
Abosag, Ibrahim
authorStr Yen, Dorothy Ai-wan
author_letter Yen, Dorothy Ai-wan
author2 Abosag, Ibrahim
author2Str Abosag, Ibrahim
title Localization in China: How Guanxi Moderates Sino–US Business Relationships
publisher Elsevier
publishDate 2016
url https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/21175/