A research study submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Business Administration, School of Management

Research Studies Project Report (M.B.A.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2000

There is considerable interest in the merits of Joint Venture operations in China in manufacturing. It is imp01iant for both the Chinese economy and a large number of foreign investors. A review of the literature from both Western and Chinese researchers showed that although the purpose and advantages of IJV manufacturing in China are known, a vital aspect of operations management has largely been ignored. Therefore, IJV manufacturers in China were conducted exploratory interviews with managers at six companies to investigate the operations management issues faced. Four main problems were identified: {u2022} the difficulty with recruiting and training suitable employees; {u2022} all aspects of supplier management; {u2022} problems with achieving high-quality output; and {u2022} achieving an effective IJV business culture. The results have implications not only for researchers, in that they indicate where more research is necessary, but also for practitioners, since they identify the areas where IJV manufacturers are most likely to encounter problems in China.