INTERNATIONALIZATION OF CHINESE EXECUTIVES

Over the last two decades, Chinese nationals have increasingly been employed by multinational companies (MNCs) operating in China taking positions previously occupied by foreign expatriates from investor countries. The development of local managers has therefore become crucial in the field of human resource management because the success of these companies depends greatly upon the ability and competence of their executive management class. The present paper addresses the issue of how to develop Chinese executives working in MNCs into a source of sustained competitive advantage. Empirical research was carried out among ten MNCs in China using a resource-based view (RBV) approach. Based on the findings, we propose concrete measures for improving the current skills of Chinese executives and develop new skills.