Global value chain analysis of the formation of governance structures in the offshore outsourced service industry.

• Main Author: Chua, Beavan Wei Jun.
• Other Authors: School of Humanities and Social Sciences
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences::Sociology::Social structure
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/48361
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This research paper employs ethnography and the Global Value Chain (GVC) framework to study the relationship between two firms to examine the choice of governance structures within the offshore outsourced service industry. Prior models lack either a micro-sociological view or are unable to provide sufficient coverage to analyze all organizational governance structures. As a contrast to macro-social models, I utilize a combination of a meso-level structural framework, the GVC framework, and ethnographic observations of interactions to analyze reasonings behind the choices between governance structures. My research findings prove that any study of governance structures neglecting understandings of micro-sociological interactions is severely deficient. As an improvement, I propose the addition of a new determinant to make the GVC framework more accurate for the unique factors of the offshore outsourced service industry.