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    Pioneers, Hidden Champions, Changemakers, and Underdogs

    Lessons from China's Innovators
    By Mark J. Greeven, George S. Yip and Wei Wei
    216 pages
    Hardcover
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    Chinese innovators are making their mark globally. Not only do such giants as Alibaba and Huawei continue to thrive and grow through innovation, thousands of younger Chinese entrepreneurs are poised to enter the global marketplace.

    In this book, Mark Greeven, George Yip, and Wei Wei offer an insiders’ view of China’s under-the-radar, globally competitive innovators. The authors, all experts on Chinese innovation, distinguish four types of innovators in China:

    • Pioneers, large companies that are globally known;
    • Hidden champions, midsize enterprises that are market leaders in their niches;
    • Underdogs, technology-driven ventures with significant intellectual property;
    • Changemakers, newer firms characterized by digital disruption, exponential growth, and cross-industry innovations.

    They investigate what kinds of innovations these companies develop (product, process, or business model), their competitive strategies, and key drivers of innovation. They identify six typical ways Chinese entrepreneurs innovate, including swarm innovation (collectively pursuing opportunities) and rapid centralized decision making. Finally, they look at how Chinese innovators are going global, whether building R&D networks internationally or exporting disruptive business models.

    The book includes many examples of Chinese innovators and innovations, drawn from a range of companies-from pioneers to changemakers-including Alibaba, Haier, Hikvision, Malong Technology, Weihu Solar, Mobike, and Cheetah Mobile.

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    Pioneers, Hidden Champions, Changemakers, and Underdogs
    Hardcover

    You can also buy the book on Barnes & Nobles, Book Depository, Orell Füssli and Routledge.

    Publisher
    MIT Press
    ISBN
    9780262039697
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    Reference IMD-7-2593
    Copyright ©2024
    Copyright owner IMD Copyright
    Organization CocoaCrafters (Fictionalized)
    Industry Consumer Goods, Food and Beverage
    Available Languages English
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    Copyright ©2024
    Copyright owner External Copyright
    Available Languages English
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    Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

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    NTT Corporation, Japan’s information and communication technologies (ICT) leader since 1953, was the first to commercialize internet usage on mobile phones in the 1990s, which resulted in NTT achieving much success in Japan. However, by the end of the 2000s, Japan faced challenges with an aging population and a stagnant economy. Recognizing disruption in the ICT sector, CEO Satoshi Miura understood the need for the dominant players in the ICT industry to integrate emerging business domains beyond their existing frameworks. To secure leading global positions in ICT and the new paradigm of cloud computing, Miura needed to make strategic choices to revive growth. Case A provides information on NTT, its rivals, the global market and cloud computing disruptions. The case ends with NTT’s CEO exploring strategic growth options to prepare NTT for the future.
    Reference IMD-7-2351
    Copyright ©2024
    Copyright owner IMD Copyright
    Organization Nippon Telegraph and Telephone
    Industry Services, Telecommunications;Information Technology
    Available Languages English
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    Summary
    Building on NTT (A), the case starts with NTT’s CEO having narrowed down strategic growth options with the board to prepare NTT for the future. Past international investments in AT&T Wireless and KPN to tap into foreign markets had resulted in billion $ write offs and stopped international acquisitions. However, after reviewing the disruptive changes facing the ICT industry and considering the shareholders’ views, CEO Miura committed to internationalization. The B case details NTT’s growth strategy focused on internationalization, while considering the need for new capabilities and technologies. It provides more insights into NTT, its opportunities and the Japanese experience with M&As and ends with Miura’s determination to quickly grow through international expansion to prepare NTT for the future.
    Reference IMD-7-2352
    Copyright ©2024
    Copyright owner IMD Copyright
    Organization Nippon Telegraph and Telephone
    Industry Services, Telecommunications;Information Technology
    Available Languages English
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