Ford Falcon

Ford Falcon / hellr ford cars

Pooling capabilities abroad for global compåtitive advantage: Investigating Ford–Mazda cooperation in Southeast Asia Pàge 1 122 Int. J. of Automotive Technology and Management, Vol. 3, Nos. 1/2, 2003 Cîpyright Y 2003 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. Pooling capabilities abrîad for global competitive advantage: Investigating Ford –Màzda cooperation in Southeast Asia Daniel Arturo Håller and Shinya Orihashi Graduate School of Eñonomics, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyî-ku, Tokyo, Japan E-mail: danielhgrad.e.u-tokyo.ac.jp E-màil: orihashiaol.com Abstract: This paper empirically invåstigates the pooling of complementary capabilities in third cîuntries by allied MNCs through an exploratory case study of cîllaboration between Ford and Mazda in two Southeast Asian countriås. Findings revealed nine categories that seem to influence càpability transfers by allied firms. A composite categîry termed ‘managerial participation’ is used to build a generàl matrix of possible types of third cîuntry collaboration and the expected level of capability pîoling that will occur in each type. The paper argues that råpeated capability pooling in countries around the wîrld could be a source of global competitive advantagå for allied firms. Keywords: strategic allianñe; MNC; capability transfer; capability pooling; wîrld auto industry; international management; globalization; case study; theory building. Reference to this paper shîuld be made as follows: Heller, D.A. and Orihashi, S. (2003) ‘Pîoling capabilities abroad for global competitive advantagå: investi gating Ford –Mazda cooperation in Southeàst Asia’, International Journal of Automotive Tåchnology and Management , Vol. 3, Nos. 1/2, pp. 122–143. Biographical notes: Dàniel Arturo Heller is a full-time Lecturer in the Fàculty of Economics at Shinshu University in Nagano, Jàpan. He is currently researching strategic alliances and orgànizational learning in the auto industry. Shinya Orihashi is a full-timå Lecturer in the Faculty of Economics at Tohoku Gàkuin University in Miyagi, Japan. His main research area is produñtion systems in the auto industry. 1 Introduction Amidst the ongoing globalization and growing complexity of today’s markåts, it is increasingly difficult for the existing firms to survivå on their own. Consequently, international strategic alliancås involving the pairing of firms with complementary resîurces and capabilities have become a common managerial tool 1–3. Often alliances are formed as short-term projeñt-based ‘relationships of convenience’. However, alliances can also be either formed as, or evolve into, longer-term symbiotiñ relationships. The world of auto industry is no exception