Towards a Guanxi-based theory of internationalization: Chinese, Taiwanese and evolving MNEs

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to review theories on the kinship-based collaboration for Asian multinational enterprises (MNEs). Although cooperation issues have reached the top of the Asian MNE agenda, comprehensive empirical and theoretical studies in these areas have remained patchy. Motivated expressly by the sparseness of theory development, this study seeks to establish and examine the model of kinship-based alliance for MNEs. Drawing on kinship-based theory, this paper contends that cross-border collaboration within the same region is increasingly important in driving MNEs from emerging economies to internationalisation. Design/methodology/approach: This study attempts to focus on kinship-based collaborations from emerging economies to internationalization in the context of high-tech industries by reviewing relevant studies and presents research propositions. Findings: The study proposes that the model of kinship-based alliance can be affected by these factors: economic (partner contributions in term of scale-link theories), geographic, cultural and social (which are broadly defined as kinship-based factors) factors. Therefore, the model of kinship-based alliance can be characterized as an evolutionary struggle between these factors to develop a form of cross-border cooperation. Originality/value: The model of kinship based alliance enriches the theoretical field of internationalisation strategies for MNEs from developing economies, and this model also provides knowledge of collaboration behaviour for managers of high-tech firms to create appropriate synergy for each party of an alliance.