Outsourcing and performance in Japanese manufacturing firms Online publication date: Fri, 17-Mar-2017
by Hirotoshi Kambara
Asian J. of Management Science and Applications (AJMSA), Vol. 2, No. 4, 2016
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to offer theoretical explanations for the conflicting relationships found between outsourcing and firm performance. Two hypotheses have been developed to show why the relationship between the degree of outsourcing and firm performance could be represented as either an inverted U-shape or a U-shape (when the degree of outsourcing is plotted on the x-axis and firm performance on the y-axis) by linking transaction cost economics (TCE) and the capability theory with product architecture. Data from 2009 to 2013 pertaining to 254 Japanese manufacturing firms in the electronic device industry are used to test these hypotheses. The results suggest that the analysed relationship is represented by an inverted U-shape because a firm can maximise its performance by combining its own core capabilities with those of other companies when a firm's overall activities are studied. However, it is U-shaped at an industry level because a firm can improve its performance by increasing either production outsourcing or own production when production, one of its main activities, is studied.
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the Asian J. of Management Science and Applications (AJMSA):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:
Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.
If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com
Our Blog 
Follow us on Twitter 
Visit us on Facebook