ASU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
This collection includes most of the ASU Theses and Dissertations from 2011 to present. ASU Theses and Dissertations are available in downloadable PDF format; however, a small percentage of items are under embargo. Information about the dissertations/theses includes degree information, committee members, an abstract, supporting data or media.
In addition to the electronic theses found in the ASU Digital Repository, ASU Theses and Dissertations can be found in the ASU Library Catalog.
Dissertations and Theses granted by Arizona State University are archived and made available through a joint effort of the ASU Graduate College and the ASU Libraries. For more information or questions about this collection contact or visit the Digital Repository ETD Library Guide or contact the ASU Graduate College at gradformat@asu.edu.
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In accordance with the Principal Agent Theory, Property Right Theory, Incentive Theory, and Human Capital Theory, firms face agency problems due to “separation of ownership and management”, which call for effective corporate governance. Ownership structure is a core element of the corporate governance. The differences in ownership structures thus may result in differential incentives in governance through the selection of senior management and in the design of senior management compensation system. This thesis investigates four firms with four different types of ownership structures: a public listed firm with the controlling interest by the state, a public listed firm with a non-state-owned controlling interest, a public listed firm a family-owned controlling interest, and a Sino-foreign joint venture firm. By using a case study approach, I focus on two dimensions of ownership structure characteristics – ownership diversification and differences in property rights so as to document whether there are systematic differences in governance participation and executive compensation design. Specifically, I focused on whether such differences are reflected in management selection (which is linked to adverse selection and moral hazard problems) and in compensation design (the choices of performance measurements, performance pay, and in stock option or restricted stock). The results are consistent with my expectation – the nature of ownership structure does affect senior management compensation design. Policy implications are discussed accordingly.
ContributorsGao, Shenghua (Author) / Pei, Ker-Wei (Thesis advisor) / Li, Feng (Committee member) / Shen, Wei (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2015
Description
In this study I investigate the factors that may influence consumer preference and choice in China’s home interior decoration industry. With the fast development of information technology such as the internet in China, it becomes increasingly important to have a more precise understanding of consumer preference and choice in home interior decoration decisions so that companies in this industry can provide better services to meet customer needs. Using survey data from a sample of potential customers and a sample of existing customers of a large home interior decoration company, I find that (1) internet has become the mostly used channel by consumers to gather information about home interior decoration, (2) design style is the most influential factor in consumers’ choice of home interior decoration company, and (3) consumers are more likely to choose home interior decoration companies to provide full services when they are between 35 to 45 years old or above 55 years old, when it is the first time for them to purchase a real estate property, and when they are located in the Eastern region of China. Findings of this study can help home interior decoration companies better understand customer needs and preferences, facilitate changes in their marketing and sales strategies, and consequently strengthen their competitive advantage．
ContributorsYang, Jin (Author) / Shen, Wei (Thesis advisor) / Zhang, Anmin (Committee member) / Gu, Bin (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2015
Description
This study investigates three issues that are relevant for the development of multinational investment banks in China. The first is about the domestic market conditions that are necessary for a country to develop multinational investment banks. The second issue is about the degree to which China has met these conditions. The last issue focuses on the potential strategies Chinese investment banks can undertake to become multinational corporations.
To address the first issue, I draw an important distinction between international investment banks and multinational investment banks. For an international investment bank to be regarded as a multinational, I propose that it must have a strong presence (i.e., holding at least one percent of the market share) in at least two of the seven major capital markets in the world. Using this criterion, I identify 25 multinational investment banks. I then analyze their home countries’ domestic market conditions and propose that the following six factors are important to the development of multinational investment banks: the size of the home country’s gross domestic product (GDP), the total capitalization of its domestic security market, the number of its Global 500 firms, the volume of its foreign direct investment (FDI), the internationalization of its currency, and the openness of its capital market to foreign investors.
By comparisons, I find that China’s domestic market conditions are comparable to the home countries of multinational investment banks with respect to the size of GDP, total market capitalization, the number of Global 500 firms, and the volume of FDI. What China lags behind are the internationalization of currency and the openness of capital market to foreign investors. Given the current trends of development, it is very likely that China will be able to catch up on the latter within ten years, thus meeting all the conditions necessary for the development of multinational investment banks.
Based on the above findings, I suggest that Chinese investment banks seize this historical opportunity, speed up the internationalization of their businesses, and learn from the experiences of global industry leaders to become truly multinational corporations.
To address the first issue, I draw an important distinction between international investment banks and multinational investment banks. For an international investment bank to be regarded as a multinational, I propose that it must have a strong presence (i.e., holding at least one percent of the market share) in at least two of the seven major capital markets in the world. Using this criterion, I identify 25 multinational investment banks. I then analyze their home countries’ domestic market conditions and propose that the following six factors are important to the development of multinational investment banks: the size of the home country’s gross domestic product (GDP), the total capitalization of its domestic security market, the number of its Global 500 firms, the volume of its foreign direct investment (FDI), the internationalization of its currency, and the openness of its capital market to foreign investors.
By comparisons, I find that China’s domestic market conditions are comparable to the home countries of multinational investment banks with respect to the size of GDP, total market capitalization, the number of Global 500 firms, and the volume of FDI. What China lags behind are the internationalization of currency and the openness of capital market to foreign investors. Given the current trends of development, it is very likely that China will be able to catch up on the latter within ten years, thus meeting all the conditions necessary for the development of multinational investment banks.
Based on the above findings, I suggest that Chinese investment banks seize this historical opportunity, speed up the internationalization of their businesses, and learn from the experiences of global industry leaders to become truly multinational corporations.
ContributorsLiu, Xin (Author) / Chang, Chun (Thesis advisor) / Shen, Wei (Thesis advisor) / Chen, Hong (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2015
Description
The current study combines field study, survey study, and public financial reports, and conducts an in-depths comprehensive study of the cost of the global tire industry. By comparing the price and the total cost structure of standardized tire products, we investigate Chinese tire industry’s global competitiveness, especially in light of China’s fast increasing labor cost. By constructing a comprehensive cost index (CCI), this dissertation estimates the evolution and forecasts the trend of global tire industry’s cost structure. Based on our empirical analysis, we provide various recommendations for Chinese tire manufacturers, other manufacturing industries, and foreign trade policy makers.
ContributorsZhang, Ning (Author) / Zhu, Ning (Thesis advisor) / Shen, Wei (Thesis advisor) / Chen, Hong (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2015
Description
In this study I investigate the organizational strategies that Chinese power generation companies may use to reduce the impact of coal price increases on their profits. Organizations are open systems in that no organization possesses all the resources that it needs and all organizations must obtain resources from their external environments in order to survive. Resource dependent theory suggests that the most important goal of an organization is to find effective mechanisms to cope with its dependence on the external environments for resources that are critical to its survival. Chinese power generation companies traditionally rely heavily on coal as their raw materials, and an increase in coal price can have a significant negative impact on their profits. To address this issue, I first provide a systematic review of the resource dependence theory and research, with a focus on the strategies such as vertical integration, diversification, and hedging that organizations can undertake to reduce their dependence on the external environment as well as their respective benefits and costs. Next, I conduct a qualitative case analysis of the primary strategies the largest Chinese power generation companies have used to reduce their dependence on coal. I then explore a new approach that Chinese power generation companies may use to cope with increases in coal price, namely, by investing in an index of coal companies in the stock market. My regression analysis shows that coal price has a strong positive relation with the price of the coal company index. This finding suggests that it is possible for firms to reduce the negative impact of raw material price increase on their profits by investing in a stock market index of the companies that supply the raw materials that they depend on.
ContributorsSun, Min (Author) / Shen, Wei (Thesis advisor) / Liu, Jun (Committee member) / Pei, Ker-Wei (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2015
Description
This thesis starts with an analysis of the current situation of the pharmaceutical industry in China, and discusses the strategic mergers and acquisitions (M&A) by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the pharmaceutical industry in China. It elaborates on the rationale for the development of the mergers and acquisitions of the pharmaceutical SMEs. Then a literature review is provided on the causes of corporate mergers and acquisitions such as the economies of scale, synergistic effect, transaction costs, market power, and strategic diversification.Next,the thesis analyzes the underlying rationale for the M&A transactions in the pharmaceutical industry in China, and explores the likely path of successful value creation for pharmaceutical SMEs in China. Specifically, with five in-depth case studies of M&A transactions of pharmaceutical firms, this thesis reveals the critical success factors leading to value creation and growth in the practice of mergers and acquisitions of the pharmaceutical SMEs in China.
ContributorsZhou, Yan (Author) / Pei, Ker-Wei (Thesis advisor) / Chen, Hong (Committee member) / Shen, Wei (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2015
Description中国自80年代以来随着改革开放和经济发展潮流，一批批本土企业快速成长，已经从单一主业壮大成熟，完成资本积累并快速朝多元化、规模化发展。截止到2019年中国有129家企业进入世界500强，而该数量在2011年为69家 ，2005年为18家。这一数据反映了中国大型集团的增长速度之快、数量之多令人刮目相看。
然而，大型企业集团在经营规模上的庞大并不能掩盖其管理水平的低下与尴尬，这一点从多数企业的规模和利润比率就可窥见一斑。从战略管理角度看，集团企业在单一主业上的业务战略管理水平（竞争战略）经过30多年的发展和沉淀已经相对成熟，在某一行业领域也发展沉淀了很多成熟的职业经理人和专业人才。但是，国内至今很少有多元化集团战略管理（公司层面战略）的专题研究，且在多元化集团战略管理实践方面缺少经验和积累。多元化集团战略及管理领域的研究具有重要的现实意义和学术价值。
公司层面战略的研究起始于20世纪50年代，现有研究领域以西方学者为主，涉及公司层面战略的诸多领域，比如分部化、一般管理技能共用、协同效应、多元化、业务组合规划、基于价值的规划、重组、核心竞争力和资源共享、母合优势等全新和具有全球影响力的母公司管理概念。本文涉及的多元化集团公司战略三要素：母公司管理机制、业务组合、母子公司管控及子公司之间联接之前有西方学者作为独立课题都曾研究过，但作为整体性研究较少。中国目前研究该公司层面战略成果较少，市场上从事该领域的咨询机构也很少，少数咨询公司业务以多元化集团战略管控咨询方面为主。本文将从多元化集团母公司心智图对公司层面战略成效影响的研究作为核心内容，这项研究在中国乃至在世界范围内尚属初步尝试。
母公司心智图代表了某一时期多元化集团核心决策层的战略管理思维水平现状，是核心决策层对多元化集团公司战略三个核心要素及其相互关系的认知和掌握程度的集中体现。母公司心智图水平的测量可以从核心决策层的构成合理性及成员背景、核心决策层对行业及业务组合的认知水平、核心决策层对对母公司管理机制的认知水平、核心决策层对母子公司之间的联接及影响的认知水平以及核心决策层对多元化集团战略管理的综合能力水平这五个维度，共15个指标进行测量，总分100分。掌握了母公司的心智图就能够识别整个公司战略管理的现状及逻辑。母公司心智图决定了母公司管理机制、母子公司的联接影响方式（母公司如何影响和联接旗下业务）和业务组合（公司资金和管理的投向），而这三个核心要素的决策决定了公司层面战略的成效。母公司心智图的水平将很大程度上正面影响公司的战略成效。
本文将深入针对具有三个不同心智图水平的多元化集团进行案例分析，分别研究不同的母公司心智图水平如何通过影响业务组合决策、母公司管理机制建设、母子公司联接进而影响公司的战略成效。
关键词: 多元化集团、母公司心智图、心智图测量、公司层面战略管理三支柱、战略成效
然而，大型企业集团在经营规模上的庞大并不能掩盖其管理水平的低下与尴尬，这一点从多数企业的规模和利润比率就可窥见一斑。从战略管理角度看，集团企业在单一主业上的业务战略管理水平（竞争战略）经过30多年的发展和沉淀已经相对成熟，在某一行业领域也发展沉淀了很多成熟的职业经理人和专业人才。但是，国内至今很少有多元化集团战略管理（公司层面战略）的专题研究，且在多元化集团战略管理实践方面缺少经验和积累。多元化集团战略及管理领域的研究具有重要的现实意义和学术价值。
公司层面战略的研究起始于20世纪50年代，现有研究领域以西方学者为主，涉及公司层面战略的诸多领域，比如分部化、一般管理技能共用、协同效应、多元化、业务组合规划、基于价值的规划、重组、核心竞争力和资源共享、母合优势等全新和具有全球影响力的母公司管理概念。本文涉及的多元化集团公司战略三要素：母公司管理机制、业务组合、母子公司管控及子公司之间联接之前有西方学者作为独立课题都曾研究过，但作为整体性研究较少。中国目前研究该公司层面战略成果较少，市场上从事该领域的咨询机构也很少，少数咨询公司业务以多元化集团战略管控咨询方面为主。本文将从多元化集团母公司心智图对公司层面战略成效影响的研究作为核心内容，这项研究在中国乃至在世界范围内尚属初步尝试。
母公司心智图代表了某一时期多元化集团核心决策层的战略管理思维水平现状，是核心决策层对多元化集团公司战略三个核心要素及其相互关系的认知和掌握程度的集中体现。母公司心智图水平的测量可以从核心决策层的构成合理性及成员背景、核心决策层对行业及业务组合的认知水平、核心决策层对对母公司管理机制的认知水平、核心决策层对母子公司之间的联接及影响的认知水平以及核心决策层对多元化集团战略管理的综合能力水平这五个维度，共15个指标进行测量，总分100分。掌握了母公司的心智图就能够识别整个公司战略管理的现状及逻辑。母公司心智图决定了母公司管理机制、母子公司的联接影响方式（母公司如何影响和联接旗下业务）和业务组合（公司资金和管理的投向），而这三个核心要素的决策决定了公司层面战略的成效。母公司心智图的水平将很大程度上正面影响公司的战略成效。
本文将深入针对具有三个不同心智图水平的多元化集团进行案例分析，分别研究不同的母公司心智图水平如何通过影响业务组合决策、母公司管理机制建设、母子公司联接进而影响公司的战略成效。
关键词: 多元化集团、母公司心智图、心智图测量、公司层面战略管理三支柱、战略成效
ContributorsChen, Guoping (Author) / Shen, Wei (Thesis advisor) / Zhang, Anmin (Thesis advisor) / Wu, Shin-Yi (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2020
Description
In this study I investigate the organizational mechanisms (pathways) through which strategic investors can help a firm improve performance. Many commercial banks in China have recently invited foreign banks as strategic investors since China’s entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), hoping to gain managerial and technological knowhow from the foreign banks. Using Shanghai Pudong Development Bank as a representative example, I conduct an in-depth qualitative analysis about how the joining of Citi Bank as a strategic investor has helped the local Chinese bank improve its financial performance. On the basis of a comprehensive review of the relevant literature, I first develop a theoretical model that describes the organizational mechanisms (pathways) through which foreign strategic investors can influence the local bank’s performance. Specifically, by participation in corporate governance, the foreign strategic investor can have a positive influence over the local bank’s strategy development, operational targets, incentive systems, and organizational culture, which consequently lead to improvements in the local banks operations and financial performance. I then use a case study method to substantiate the logic and the pathways of the model with the detailed information collected from the Shanghai Pudong Development Bank and Citi Bank strategic alliance. The results are consistent with the model’s descriptive validity.
ContributorsLiu, Xinyi (Author) / Pei, Ker-Wei (Thesis advisor) / Chen, Hong (Committee member) / Shen, Wei (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2015