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Bediawan, D (2003) Determinants of process innovation on construction projects from contractors' perspective, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Queensland University of Technology.
Cheung, F K T (2005) Development and testing of a method for forecasting prices of multi-storey buildings during the early design stage: The storey enclosure method revisited, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Queensland University of Technology.
Creedy, G D (2006) Risk factors leading to cost overrun in the delivery of highway construction projects, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Queensland University of Technology.
Fox, P W (2003) Construction industry development: Analysis and synthesis of contributing factors, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Queensland University of Technology.
Fraser, C (1998) Personal factors influencing managerial effectiveness: A study of Australian construction site managers, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Queensland University of Technology.
Kwok, T L (1998) Strategic alliances in construction: A study of contracting relationships and competitive advantage in public sector building works, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Queensland University of Technology.
Liston, J (1994) Contractor prequalification, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Queensland University of Technology.
Magub, A T (2006) Experiences of the phenomenon of internet use for information sharing on construction projects and skills set identification for effective project participation, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Queensland University of Technology.
Pongpeng, J (2002) Multicriteria and multidecision-makers in tender evaluation, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Queensland University of Technology.
Rahman, A (2014) The determinants of multinational contractors' willingness to bid for Australian public sector major infrastructure projects: deploying the eclectic paradigm of internationalisation, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Civil Engineering and Built Environment School, Queensland University of Technology.
- Type: Thesis
- Keywords: international contracting; multinational contracting; in-bound foreign direct investment; eclectic paradigm of internationalisation
- ISBN/ISSN:
- URL: http://eprints.qut.edu.au/74859/
- Abstract:
In terms of the pattern of multinational contracting, there is currently a clear absence of regional multinational contractors in Australia’s public sector major road, bridge and tunnel projects. This is not the case in terms of multinational firms in the country’s manufacturing and other service sectors. Indeed, the situation is even more puzzling given that extensive research shows that multinational firms tend to grow in their home region before expanding beyond it. All levels of government in Australia have expressed concerns about this lack of multinational presence in the road, bridge and tunnel sector (the focal sector of this research), and perceive that there are insufficient levels of competition in major public sector infrastructure. More recently, these concerns have deepened in conjunction with the increasing desire of governments to leverage private finance amidst, and in the wake of, the global financial crises. Therefore, a research opportunity arises to explain patterns of multinational contracting, in this case, through the lens of the focal road, bridge and tunnel sector. As a first step towards attracting greater overseas interest in this market, an improved understanding of the determinants of multinational contractors’ willingness to bid in the market is needed. Dunning’s eclectic paradigm of internationalisation – or “Ownership-Location-Internalisation” (OLI) theorectical framework – has been a dominant approach to international business for over 30 years; however, it has been little used in the context of multinational contracting. Hence, this research aim is to contextualise, test, and develop Dunning’s OLI framework to explain multinational contractors’ overseas bidding decisions, or in-bound Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the focal Australian public sector. A multiple case study design, based on international case studies of four home countries – namely, China, Japan, Spain and the US – and their apporach to Australia as the host country, is adopted to test the developed OLI framework. Primary data and private secondary data from Tier-1 multinational contractors in each of the four home countries, and in three tiers of local host contrctors, are collected and analsyed. This data is considered in conjunction with a wide range of public domain secondary data across all dimensions, in each of the OLI factors. The Determinants of Multinational Contractors’ Willingness to Bid for Australian Public Sector Major Infrastructure Projects: Deploying the Eclectic Paradigm of Internationalisation iv In summary, this research represents the first analysis of the OLI framework in the context of in-bound FDI by multinational contractors. The research also deploys a range of economic theories advocated by Dunning to surface the relative importance of each of the OLI factors, and to contribute fundamentally to OLI theory. The research approach includes a novel approach to measuring FDI (the dependent variable), based on the home multinational contractors’ perceptions of the attractiveness of the focal sector in Australia, in tandem with the orthodox approach of observing actual FDI. On each of the OLI factors (independent variables), this research also represents the first operationalisation of: Resource-Based Theory (RBT) on the O factor; Coase’s transaction cost theory in conjunction with Porter’s five-forces model with regard to the L factor; and Dunning’s more contemporary approach to measuring the I factor – all in the context of multinational contracting. Very stong empirical evidence is presented to support the conclusion that it is not differential capability (O factor), nor supply chain management (I factor) per se, that is the key determinant of multinational contractors’ (that is, from the home countries studied) attraction to, and actual FDI into, the focal Australian sector. Rather, the key determinants are the perceived return and risk profile of these road, bridge and tunnel projects (L factor). Thus, the relative importance of the OLI factors are surfaced for the first time. Beyond its theoretical contributions – the further development of the OLI framework and the deployment of a range of economic theories to measure each of the OLI factors – the research also yields important practical contributions. For any multinational contractors contemplating outbound-FDI (including Australian multinational contractors), the model developed and tested in this research can be used to guide the search and selection of new overseas location/s in which to consider committing FDI. It also provides a framework for a bidding decision for a project/s in the chosen location/s. From an Australian government perspective, this research suggests structural/longer-term changes in procurement policy and practice to reduce barriers to entry arising from administrative distance that is strongly associated with cultural distance. In this way, Australia can attract more interest from multinational contractors from countries that exhibit appreciable cultural distance from Australia, including Chinese and Japanese contractors from its own region.
Runeson, G r (1996) Models of construction price determination: A comparative appraisal, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Queensland University of Technology.
Teo, P (2014) The effect of procurement on competition and flexibility : determining the suitability of public-private partnerships in major infrastructure projects, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Civil Engineering and Built Environment School, Queensland University of Technology.
Yang, J (1991) An expert system for project analysis and control, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Queensland University of Technology.
Zarkada, A (1998) Tendering ethics: A study of collusive tendering from a marketing perspective, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Queensland University of Technology.