后发企业超越追赶的动态过程机制——基于最优区分理论视角的纵向案例研究

The Dynamic Mechanism of Latecomer Firms in the Beyond Catch-Up Stage:A Longitudinal Case Study from the Perspective of Optimal Distinctiveness Theory

最优区分理论为后发企业在超越追赶过程中如何求同存异提供了新的分析视角,但具体过程和机制我们仍知之甚少。通过慈星2010~2021年在全成型针织横机领域对领先企业赶超的纵向案例研究,本文发现后发企业超越追赶先后经历了技术重新定义与类别重新定义两个阶段,最优区分机制相应地由补偿协奏向整合协奏演变。在技术重新定义阶段,后发企业面临领先企业敌对性和市场认知合法性压力,通过设计创造与类别沿用组合的补偿协奏机制建立了主导设计;在类别重新定义阶段,后发企业面临主导设计竞争和客户需求差异化压力,通过设计增补与类别创建的整合协奏机制确立了主导类别,最终技术能力和市场地位获得持续提升。本文既从最优区分视角丰富了后发追赶理论,又从动态追赶情境拓展了最优区分机制的研究,为后发企业突破超越追赶的战略困境提供了管理启示。

The optimal distinctiveness theory provides a new analytical perspective on how latecomer firms simultaneously balance the tensions between differentiation and conformity in the beyond catch-up stage,but we still know little about the specific process and mechanism.Through a longitudinal case study of Cixing’s catching up with leading firms in the field of full-fashioned flat knitting machine from2010 to 2021,this paper finds that the beyond catch-up stage actually contains two sequential phases as technology redefinition and category redefinition,and the mechanism of optimal distinctiveness evolves from compensatory orchestration to integrative orchestration accordingly.Specifically,in the first phase,the latecomer firms facing leading firm’s hostility and the deficiency of market cognitive legitimacy establish the dominant design through the compensatory orchestration with the combination of design creating and category following.In the second phase,the latecomer firms facing the competition of dominant design and the differentiation of customers’demands establish the dominant category through the integrative orchestration mechanism with the combination of design patching and category creating.Eventually,the latecomer firms achieve continuous improvement in technological capability and market position.The research findings not only enrich the catch-up theory from the perspective of optimal distinctiveness,but also expand the research on the mechanism of optimal distinctiveness in a dynamic catch-up context,therefore provides management inspirations for latecomer firms to transcend the strategic dilemmas in the beyond catch-up stage.