Innovation by nature is a process of interactive learning. At the factor-driven development stage of Guangdong, the business strategy of local firms was the active technological learning, through specific external linkages and interactions with other economic actors. Referring to the theoretical frameworks of technological learning (especially those of Hobday and Kim and ourselves), this chapter presents some detailed cases on how Chinese local companies learnt their original technologies from foreign markets and clients. Their learning strategy was exactly what has been employed by the firms in other Asian economies, especially those of Taiwan and South Korea. Many firms in Guangdong leaped quickly from the stage of subcontracting (parts production in short term and simultaneous cooperation) to OEM model (whole product manufacturing and long-term cooperation). There was an upgrade to the higher level of interaction in technological learning. Learning, not solely relying on so-called comparative advantage, was the key of Guangdong’s successful early take-off and rapid gaining part in global value chain.

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Technological Learning: The Competitiveness from Shop-Floor

  • Wei Zhao

摘要

Innovation by nature is a process of interactive learning. At the factor-driven development stage of Guangdong, the business strategy of local firms was the active technological learning, through specific external linkages and interactions with other economic actors. Referring to the theoretical frameworks of technological learning (especially those of Hobday and Kim and ourselves), this chapter presents some detailed cases on how Chinese local companies learnt their original technologies from foreign markets and clients. Their learning strategy was exactly what has been employed by the firms in other Asian economies, especially those of Taiwan and South Korea. Many firms in Guangdong leaped quickly from the stage of subcontracting (parts production in short term and simultaneous cooperation) to OEM model (whole product manufacturing and long-term cooperation). There was an upgrade to the higher level of interaction in technological learning. Learning, not solely relying on so-called comparative advantage, was the key of Guangdong’s successful early take-off and rapid gaining part in global value chain.