This book examines the role of corporate structure, including the role of corporate headquarters, in the success of large firms. It considers these issues in relation to large global corporations, thereby providing a 'benchmark', which is then used as a contrast in a discussion of corporate structure and the role of corporate headquarters within large Chinese firms, many of which have evolved from former government ministries. It includes a detailed case-study of firms in the crucially important oil and petro-chemical sector. Overall, the book shows what a hugely competitive battle China's emerging 'national champions' face with their global competitors, and puts forward policy implications both for large Chinese firms and for the Chinese government concerning how business systems should be reformed further still in order to construct globally competitive large industrial corporations.
Author(s): Jin Zhang
Edition: 1
Year: 2004
Language: English
Pages: 256
Book Cover......Page 1
Title......Page 4
Contents......Page 5
List of figures......Page 10
List of tables......Page 12
Foreword......Page 14
Acknowledgements......Page 18
List of abbreviations......Page 20
Introduction......Page 22
The function of corporate headquarters......Page 29
Corporate structure and headquarters' function: BP and Shell......Page 46
Government centralisation and corporatisation: CNPC and Sinopec from the 1950s to 1997......Page 92
Restructuring for vertical integration and flotation: CNPC and Sinopec in 1998 and 1999......Page 122
Corporate structure and headquarters' function: PetroChina and Sinopec......Page 136
From production unit to autonomous enterprise and back to production unit: Daqing and Zhenhai......Page 159
Challenges for large Chinese firms......Page 184
Conclusion......Page 221
Epilogue......Page 229
Notes......Page 232
Bibliography......Page 235
Index......Page 241
