AAU Student Projects - visit Aalborg University's student projects portal
A master's thesis from Aalborg University
Book cover


China imitation strategy. A case study

Author

Term

4. term

Publication year

2017

Submitted on

Abstract

This master’s thesis investigates when imitation can be an effective strategy for securing strategic growth in China’s rapidly evolving technology market. Motivated by China’s scale, sustained economic growth, and rising innovation capacity, the study examines the role of imitation in the business models of three leading Chinese firms—Alibaba, Tencent (WeChat), and Xiaomi. Using a case study design, it analyzes each company’s business model through an analytical framework drawn from the literature on imitation, business model innovation, and adaptation strategy, operationalized with tools such as the Business Model Canvas. The research aims to identify factors that influence firms’ decisions to imitate and to provide suggestions on when imitation supports strategic growth in the Chinese context. While detailed results and recommendations appear later in the thesis, the opening chapters establish the empirical background on China’s demography, history, economy, and innovation trajectory, and set out the research questions, cases, and methodology.

Denne kandidatafhandling undersøger, hvornår imitation kan være en effektiv strategi til at sikre strategisk vækst på Kinas hurtigt udviklende teknologimarked. Med afsæt i Kinas størrelse, vedvarende økonomiske vækst og stigende innovationskapacitet analyserer studiet imitations rolle i forretningsmodellerne hos tre førende kinesiske virksomheder—Alibaba, Tencent (WeChat) og Xiaomi. Gennem et casestudie vurderes hver virksomheds forretningsmodel ved hjælp af en analytisk ramme baseret på litteratur om imitation, forretningsmodelinnovation og tilpasningsstrategier, operationaliseret med værktøjer som Business Model Canvas. Forskningen søger at identificere faktorer, der påvirker virksomheders beslutning om at imitere, og at give forslag til, hvornår imitation understøtter strategisk vækst i den kinesiske kontekst. De detaljerede resultater og anbefalinger præsenteres senere i afhandlingen; de første kapitler etablerer den empiriske kontekst om Kinas demografi, historie, økonomi og innovation samt opstiller forskningsspørgsmål, cases og metode.

[This apstract has been generated with the help of AI directly from the project full text]