RIEB Seminar
| Date&Time | Friday, September 23, 2016, 1:30pm-3:30pm |
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| Place | Seminar Room at RIEB (Kanematsu Memorial Hall, 1st Floor) |
| Intended Audience | Faculties, Graduate Students and People with Equivalent Knowledge |
| Language | English |
| Note | Copies of the paper will be available at Office of Promoting Research Collaboration. |
1:30pm-3:30pm
| Speaker | Camilla NELLEMANN |
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| Affiliation | Graduate School of Business, Rikkyo University |
| Topic | Integration of Japanese Multinationals into the Global Village |
| Abstract | In this paper I explain the trend of Japanese companies to invite foreign peers into their vertical keiretsu. Through a case study of the joint venture between Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Vestas I show how MHI managed to expand its wind power business in partnership with a wind turbine manufacturer headquartered in Denmark. I analyzed MHI's motivations to join forces with Vestas based on Dunning's (1997) motives for inter-firm collaboration and found that MHI foremost acquired new products and a strong track record which allowed the company to pursue its global aspirations. My research helps to fill a gap in the literature on the state of the vertical keiretsu in Japan. From being loyal Japanese networks, they now integrate into global network to enhance their competitiveness. Secondly, while previous studies suggest that keiretsu affiliation hinders international integration the MHI-Vestas case shows that a keiretsu member may collaborate fruitfully with a foreign partner. |