This presentation reviews several concepts use by scientists when they characterize Asian and South East Asian corporations and associated networks. From the various criteria available in the literature, a tentative framework is presented, in order to initiate the discussion. Special attention is given to the conceptual confusions between mainland Chinese investments throughout the world, and Chinese/SEA corporations displaying aspects of “chinese culture” and “chinese business practices”. The concepts are narrowed in terms of industrial organisation (i.e. corporate structure, shareholding, private/public ownership, diversification, stock listing, franchising, JV practices), and the boundaries of organisational patterns are investigated, identifying various capitalist organisations from different cultural origins, which share similar patterns. A few examples from the literature are taken in order to explore the links between the spread of the corporate strategies and the increasing needs of natural resources created by the development of emerging economies such as Brazil, India, China. From there, this talk opens the discussion on the possibilities for a common conceptual framework for investigating the corporate strategies in the context of the green economy.

1. Conceptualising
corporate strategies
versus emerging
economic processes
Jean-Marc Roda - roda@cirad.fr
CIRAD - UPM
15/03/2012, Bogor
Thursday, March 14, 2013

2. !"#$%&'&()"*+,(&)-
Timber and industrial wood
Firewood
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT
Thursday, March 14, 2013

3. ./0)12./0)1"&3&'4$(4"&5/(/3$5"*'/5&--&-
Oil
Forest products
Timber and industrial wood Agricultural commodities
Firewood
Equipment goods
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT
Thursday, March 14, 2013

4. 6789":"/$+"*,+3"$-";"$#&,+"<")/"'&*+,5&"=/'&-)-
>&?,3*+&"@$)1"A,+,B-$,C
! !"#$%&'#$()*+&,#$&-,.)%$"&)+#%,$/'0#)$&12$2#+#3.($(&3'$.*3$
405%*1#%%$1#,6.)7%8
! !"#$95#%/.1$*%$1.,$:;.)#%,<$.)$:&=)*-53,5)#<>$05,$:)#1,$?<$.)$
:)#1,$@<$6*,"*1$&$(.)A.3*.$.;$*125%,)*&3$&-/+*/#%
! B*,"#)$,"#$;.)#%,$%,.-7%$-&)0.1$&12$0*.2*+#)%*,CDD>$.)$,"#$:3&12$
5%#<$*%$-"&1=#2$&12$/'0#)$*%$5%#2$&%$&1$*1*/&3$-&(*,&3$,.$3&51-"$
,"#$(&3'$(3&1,&/.1%>$*1$&$-.1,#E,$.;$2*F-53,$()*+&,#$0&17*1=
4G"&,#+#)$,"#$%-#1&)*.>$C.5$6*18
Thursday, March 14, 2013

5. $$
D?)&(-$/("/=")1&"-0**+B"(&)@/'E
Thursday, March 14, 2013

6. 8/'*/',F/(-"*+,B$(4","G/,'#"4,3&
! !"#$%&'()"'%"*"++,-#'.$/0+1*'2"*),%0+2+'($'3%.$*4',%&'0%("/-,("'
5)#+0*,.'+5,*"6','/.$7,.'0%("/-,1$%'5-$*"++'7#'(-,%+%,1$%,.'8-2+'0+'
1/)("%0%/'0(+'/-05'$%'()"'9$-.&'"*$%$20*+
Thursday, March 14, 2013

7. Why to question corporate
strategies and policies ?
• Economic processes influence corporation strategies and
policies (corporate policies are formal or informal guiding
principles directing a company's activities)
• Emerging transnational corporations involved in the agro-
forest sector have a growing influence on South- South
governments agricultural and forest policies - sometime
more than labels, international standards, boycotts etc...
• Corporate strategies and policies govern expansion plans
and relations/influences with/on governments
Thursday, March 14, 2013

8. The “obscure”nature of
“chinese” transnationals
Thursday, March 14, 2013

9. Example 1 : Ta Ann
Thursday, March 14, 2013

10. Example 1 : Ta Ann
Thursday, March 14, 2013

11. Example 2 : OLAM
Thursday, March 14, 2013

12. Conceptual confusions
• Chinafrica
• Chindiafrica
• Chinese investments in Africa
• Asian corporations in Africa
• “indian” firms (in Africa and SEA) i.e.
OLAM
• “chinese” firms in (Africa and SEA) i.e. RH,
WTK,Vicwood etc.
Thursday, March 14, 2013

13. A list of SEA corporations
involved in oil-palm and forest
• OLAM (“Indian ?”) => Singaporean, family owned and managed
• FELDA (“Malaysian” Private ?) => Federal Land Development Authority,
managed by civil servants
• Sime Darby (“Malaysian” => Former colonial private plantations,
Private ?) now state owned
• Ta Ann (“Chinese” ?) => Malaysian, family owned and managed
• WTK (“Chinese” ?) => Malaysian, family owned and managed
• Sinar Mas (“Indonesian” ?) => Indonesian chinese, family owned and managed
• RH,Vicwood, Afriventures, ...
=> QUESTIONS: what are the pertinent criteria ? ethnics,
corporate structure, shareholding, ownership, management style... ?
Thursday, March 14, 2013

14. Linking corporate structure,
strategy, and policy
Journal of Management Research Journal of Management Research Journal of Management Research
!""#$ %&'%()&&*$ !""#$ %&'%()&&*$ !""#$ %&'%()&&*$
+,%+-$ ./01$ '-$ #/1$ 2$ +,%+-$ ./01$ '-$ #/1$ 2$ +,%+-$ ./01$ '-$ #/1$ 2$
@5A0B$%1$@CD/0/=:BE$5;F$85G/;/4:BE$/H$AIE:;BEE$0BJB0$E8758B=:BE$ @5A0B$%$C6/;8:;DBEF1$@GH/0/=:BI$5;E$85J/;/4:BI$/K$ADI:;BII$0BLB0$I8758B=:BI$ @5A0B$%$C6/;8:;DBEF1$@GH/0/=:BI$5;E$85J/;/4:BI$/K$ADI:;BII$0BLB0$I8758B=:BI$
Typologies Strategies proposed Classification variables Typologies Strategies proposed Classification variables Taxonomies Strategies Proposed Classification Variables
K57<B8$LB;B8758:/; M7/389$566/7F:;=$8/$ !;;/L58/7I M57LBI8 $
L7/FI68$NBJB0/D4B;8 BG:E8:;=$5;F$;B3$D7/FI68E-$ O57<B8B7I MDI:;BII$K/6DI-$NIIB8$ PD:0EB7 "8758B=G$H/I8D7B$5;E$
K57<B8$NBJB0/D4B;8 5E$3B00$5E$BG:E8:;=$5;F$;B3$ Miller (1988) Q/;8:;D:8G I8758B=G$E:7B68:/;$
Ansoff (1965) P/I8$QB5EB7I H57I:4/;G-$NIIB8$:;8B;I:8G$
N:JB7E:H:658:/; 457<B8E$ #:69B$O57<B8B7I Q0:4AB7 C@/850$+N$L57:5A0BIF$
OI:0F:;= !;;/L58:/; Galbraith and #:69B O/7$89B$6/;ID4B7$=//EI$
P/0F:;= K57<B8$E957B$=/50E$ Schuler and Jackson R:4B;I:/;I$/K$6/4HB8:8:LB$ Schendel (1983) Q5I9/D8 :;EDI87G$
Buzzell et al. (1975) SD50:8G$T;95;6B4B;8
P57JBE8:;= (1987) 5EL5;85=B$ R/3$Q/44:84B;8 "8758B=G$H/I8D7B$5;E$
P/I8$UBED68:/;
LB7H/745;6B$K5G:4:Q:;= RBLB0/H S5:;8B;5;6B I8758B=G$E:7B68:/;$
Utterback and L7/FI68$5;F$D7/6BEE$ T7/389 C+N$L57:5A0BIF$
"50BE$K5G:4:Q:;= Herbert and "85A:0:WB
Abernathy (1975) :;;/J58:/;$ V7/ED68>457<B8$BL/0D8:/;$ O/7$89B$:;EDI87:50$H7/ED68$
R/E8$K:;:4:Q:;= Deresky (1987) @D7;57/D;E #:69B$
L7/EDB68/7 X57LBI8 :;EDI87G$
Miles and Snow S;50CQB7 V7:6B$R:KKB7B;8:58:/; Q/I8$RB5EB7I9:H$ "8758B=:6$69/:6B$5;E$
L588B7;E$/H$5F5D858:/;$ I8758B=:6$H/I:8:/;$5887:AD8BI$
(1978) NBHB;FB7 !45=B$R:KKB7B;8:58:/; UIIB8$Q/;I6:/DI$O/00/3B7I
TB568/7 O/7$E:I6:H0:;BE$65H:850$
"DHH/78$R:KKB7B;8:58:/; M:=9$VD50:8G$TB;E574B =//EI$45<B7I$
"957B$!;67B5E:;= Mintzberg (1988) R:KKB7B;8:58:/;$5;E$I6/HB$
SD50:8G$R:KKB7B;8:58:/; Hambrick (1983)
"8758B=:6$69/:6B$5;E$
M7/389 RBI:=;$R:KKB7B;8:58:/; P7/5E$P5IBE$W:KKB7B;8:58:/;
L7/H:8 "85=B$/H$89B$D7/FI68>457<B8$ X7/IHB68/7I$ I8758B=:6$H/I:8:/;$5887:AD8BI$
Hofer and Schendel Y;E:KKB7B;8:58:/; O/7$5==7BII:LB$45<B7I$/K$
K57<B8$R/;6B;8758:/;$5;F$ BJ/0I8:/;$/H$89B$:;FIE87C-$ N==7BII:LB;BII UIIB8$Q/;I6:/DI$O/6DIB7I$
(1978) 6/4DB8:8:JB$D/E:8:/;$ 6/4H0BJ$65H:850$=//EI$
SEEB8$TBFI68:/; N;50GI:I YKK:6:B;6G$5;E$"B7L:6B
@I7;57/I;F RBKB;I:LB;BII $ #/$Q0B57$"8758B=G
U:VI:F58:/; Venkatraman (1989) ZD8D7:8G "8758B=:6$/7:B;858:/;$ "B7L:6B>9:=9(H7:6B$457<B8I$
S00$/I8$DIE9$H/7$E957B V7/568:LB;BII 5;E$P75;E$Q95;;B0$
P/0F$D/E:8:/; U:I<:;BII Robinson and !;K0DB;6B
M7/3$3:89$:;FIE87C Q/3$6/I8 +Z$6/4HB8:8:LB$4B89/EI$
Pearce (1988) X7/ED68$!;;/L58:/;$5;E$
P57JBE8 R:KKB7B;8:58:/; WBLB0/H4B;8
Patel and Younger !;FIE87C$458I7:8C$5;F$
"B0B68:JB0C$DIE9$H/7$D/E:8:/; Q/3$6/I8$R:KKB7B;8:58:/; P75;E$
(1978) 6/4DB8:8:JB$D/E:8:/;$
L95EBF$/I8$3:89F75350 O:JBE Z:74$I:WB-$I6/HB$5;E$ !EB;8:K:658:/;>Q95;;B0$
@I7;57/I;F Wright et al. (1992)
Z/6DI Q/3$P/I8 I87B;=89$ !;K0DB;6B$5;E$YKK:6:B;6G
W:;F$;:69B$5;F$D7/8B68$:8 Z/6DI$R:KKB7B;8:58:/; X7/ED68$W:KKB7B;8:58/7I
SA5;F/; Z/6DI$0/3$6/I8( S57<B8$W:KKB7B;8:58/7I
KI08:D0:658:/; Kim and Lim (1988) %[$I8758B=G$L57:5A0BI$
"8758B=:6$D/E8I7BE$A5EBF$ R:KKB7B;8:58:/; LB7500$Q/I8$RB5EB7I
K/;/D/0:Q:;= #:69B$R:KKB7B;8:58:/; "8D6<$!;$89B$S:EE0B
/;$EIDB7:/7:8C$5;F$H0BG:A:0:8C$ T4H95I:I$/;$[D50:8G$5;E$
Vesper (1979) "DB6:50:Q58:/; M7/5E$O57<B8$ P7/5E$R:;B7 $
:;$5F5D8:;=$8/$89B$ H7:6B-$5IIB8$H57I:4/;G-$
U:VI:F58:/; B;J:7/;4B;81$ Ward et al. (1996) R:KKB7B;8:58:/; Douglas and Rhee !;;/L58/7 S57<B8:;=$8568:6I-$457<B8$
SA5;F/; :;;/L58:/;$(UR-$;577/3$ !;8B=758BE$S57<B8B7 I6/HB-$ADI:;BII$IG;B7=G$C%Z$
P/I8$QB5EB7I9:H H7/ED68$($457<B8$I6/HB$
(1989)
R/E8$UB5FB7E9:D QB5;$P/4HB8:8:LB;BII R/3$VD50:8G I8758B=G$L57:5A0BIF$
N:HHB7B;8:58:/; $
"8758B=:6$E6/DB$5;F$E8758B=:6$ P/I8$QB5EB7I9:H #:69B7
Porter (1980) W/6IE E87B;=89$ Thompson and R:KKB7B;8:58:/; "8758B=:6$I6/HB$5;E$I8758B=:6$ "G;B7=:I8
"8I6<$!;$89B$K:FF0B Strickland (1999) Z/6DI I87B;=89$ Huang (2001) !;;/L58:/; Y:=98$I858B4B;8I$5A/D8$
XGD0/E:/; MBI8$P/I8$V7/L:EB7 Q/I8$0B5EB7I9:H I8758B=G$
XGD5;E:/; ":8I58:/;$/H$89B$457<B8$5;F$ "8D6<$:;$89B$S:EE0B
R/;8:;I/IE$M7/389 E:8I58:/;$/H$89B$6/4D5;C$ Kim and
Wissema et al.(1980) .50DB$!;;/L58:/;$ P/4HB8:8:LB$5EL5;85=B$ Lillo and Lajara W:KKB7B;8:58:/; #:;B8BB;$L57:5A0BI$
"0:D YD/EE:A0B$7/I8BE$8/$89B$ Mauborgne (1999)
(2002) !;;/L58:/; EBI67:A:;=$5$K:74]I$
R/;E/0:F58:/; FBE:7BF$E8758B=:6$D/E:8:/;1Z$ V7B(B4H8:LB>Z:7I8$4/LB7 R:4B;I:/;I$/K$6/4HB8:8:LB$ X7/ED68$KKB7:;= 6/4HB8:8:LB$I8758B=G$
R/;87568:/; Chang et al. (2002) Q/3$P/I8>$Z/00/3B7 5EL5;85=B-$8:4:;=$/K$B;87G$ U==7BII:LB$=7/389$3:89$
N/45:;$NBHB;6B R:KKB7B;8:58:/;>Z/00/3B7 :;8/$89B$457<B8H056B$ ;577/3$IHB6:50$H7/ED68
Miles and Cameron P/I8$0B5EB7I9:H
N/45:;$[HHB;EB [7=5;:Q58:/;50$5F5D858:/;$ Powers and Hahn TB;B750$W:KKB7B;8:58:/; +N$6/4HB8:8:LB$4B89/EI$
(1982) R:KKB7B;8:58:/;
N/45:;$R7B58:/; "8758B=:6$I6/HB$5;E$I8758B=:6$ (2004) O/6DI
Hitt et al. (2007) Z/6DI I87B;=89$ "8D6<$!;$89B$S:EE0B
$ !;8B=758BE$P/I8$QB5EB7I9:H$ Q/I8$RB5EB7I9:H
5;E$R:KKB7B;8:58:/; QDI8/4B7$"B7L:6B$W:KK1
$
%,+ 33314567/89:;<1/7=>?47$ %,' 33314567/89:;<1/7=>?47$
%,2 33314567/89:;<1/7=>?47$
Thursday, March 14, 2013

15. Linking corporate structure,
strategy, and policy
• Michael E Porter , 1980 : "Competitive Strategy:
Techniques for analyzing industries and
competitors"
• Murray Weidembaum, 1994: “The bamboo
network”
Thursday, March 14, 2013

16. Building typologies with set of
pertinent variables
Management fund
Sectoral type Family type
type
La Porta et al., 1999: Corporate ownership around the world
:)"'0++3"'0+'%$(',%#2$-"'()"'*$3%(-#6'$-';)0%"+"'$-'<%&0,%'$-'
9"+("-%6'73(','+"('$='7"),>0$3-+6'5-,*1*"+',%&'+(-,("/0"+6'(),('9"'
90..'&"+*-07"',%&'-".,("'($'+(-3*(3-"+',%&'*$-5$-,("'(#5$.$/0"+
Thursday, March 14, 2013

17. .)'05)0'&"/=")1&"$()&'(,F/(,+"(&)@/'E:
9/@,'#-",("&?*+,(,F/("/="*',5F5&-
WTK Sarawak Financial flow
Decision line
Franchise &
Personal loan
WTK Papua
Associative
Retail,
supermarkets, Managers
diversification
Workers
Logs Sawmill
Initial capital for + plymill
diversification
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT
Thursday, March 14, 2013

18. Thank you
roda@cirad.fr
Thursday, March 14, 2013