Research Center of Chinese Corporate Strategic Management, South China University of Technology is a comprehensive research institute focusing on Chinese corporate strategic management research. Since the mid-1980s, with the gradual improvement of the market economy mechanism in Guangdong enterprises, some of them are faced with the problem of effectively formulate and implement corporate strategies in the light of market competition. Some scholars of South China University of Technology took the lead in introducing and disseminating strategic management theories and ideas in response to the needs of the real economic situation, which constitute the starting point for the development of Research Center of Chinese Corporate Strategic Management, South China University of Technology (hereinafter referred to as “the Center”). The Center is a key research base for humanities and social science of higher learning in Guangdong Province with Professor Lan Hailin as its Director.
After years of development, the Center has carried out a large number of research projects on the basis of tracking the development trend of the frontiers of the disciplines, combined with the actual needs of the development of Chinese enterprises. It has introduced the Western strategic management theory, at the same time, it focuses on the characteristics of China's transition period, and conducted in-depth research on the theories and methods of Chinese enterprise strategic management, and furthermore achieved fruitful research results in the fields of group company strategy, and enterprise technology innovation and competition strategy, etc. in addition, it has calculated a large number of talents for the continuous development of the discipline.
In December 2006, based on the original Research Center for Corporate Strategic Management, the Research Center for Chinese Corporate Strategic Management was established. The new research center has built an academic team highly synergizing research and teaching, further clarified the research direction of the discipline, set its research target to be focused on, but not limited to, Chinese enterprises, and initially formed a set of management mechanism. It is dedicated to make an effort to grasp the development of the discipline, deeply explore strategic management theories and methods, and promote discipline construction and service to Chinese enterprises through producing high-level research results.
Since its establishment, the Center has focused its research on corporate strategic management specific to China’s social and economic context and adhered to the principle of combining teaching with research, and theoretical research with social service. In the past decades, it has undertaken two key national natural science fund projects, two key projects of philosophy and social science research granted by the Ministry of Education, ten national natural science fund general projects, four national social science projects and 41 provincial projects. Innovative research achievements have been made in the field of strategic management and behavior in the process of transformation. For instance, the Center has published 20 volumes of “The Collection of Essays on Chinese Corporate Strategic Management Research”, which were awarded six prizes (including the first, second and third grades) of higher learning research achievements (humanities and social science). The Center has a deep understanding of the frontier research and major management issues, and remains committed to serving the society by applying the innovative theories based on the Chinese context. Since 1994, it has established a cooperative relationship with the relevant departments of Guangdong Provincial Government and offered policy consultancy on such management and practical issues as promoting reform of property rights of state-owned enterprise, developing large enterprise groups, cultivating multinational companies, improving industrial structure and advancing the transformation of the manufacturing industry. It also helped more than 40 enterprises to formulate their development or regrouping strategy, including Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd, Guangdong Material Group Corporate, Guangdong China Travel Service Co., Ltd, Guangdong Communication Group, Guangdong Foreign Trade Corporation, Kangmei Pharmaceutical, Guangdong Xinbao Electrical Appliances Holdings Co., Ltd and so on. The related social service programs have been highly recognized and gained significant economic benefits.
By carrying out research projects and providing social service, the Center has constantly improved its research level and academic status. What’s more, the research team is considered as one of the most important ones in corporate strategic management in China.
