A comparative analysis of outsourcing strategies in medium-sized Japanese and American firms

Abstract

This study examines the similarities and differences of outsourcing strategies of medium-sized manufacturing firms in the U.S. And Japan. Analyses of the questionnaire data, obtained from 234 Japanese firms and 94 American firms showed that: (1) Japanese firms tended to use more process-oriented R&D outsourcing, while American firms fended to depend on result-oriented R&D outsourcing; (2) Japanese firms tended to utilize manufacturing outsourcing by depending on subsidiaries and affiliated companies, while American firms tended to conduct manufacturing in-house; (3) American firms employed more OEMs strategies than Japanese firms, suggesting heavier marketing outsourcing in American firms.