Ownership advantages/disadvantages of Singapore transnational construction corporations

Abstract

Expanding beyond Singapore's boundaries has been a source of increased business for Singapore transnational construction corporations (STCCs). This paper analyses the significance of ownership advantage and disadvantage factors of STCCs in pursuing their international construction business, relative to other ASEAN contractors and contractors from developed countries. Moreover, this study examines if these ownership factors do vary significantly according to firm specific contextual variables in the STCCs such as size, international age, multinationality and extent of specialization/diversification. Based on responses from 22 STCCs, this study has found that the most important ownership advantage factors of STCCs were identified as coming from: (1) information, knowledge, technology and R&D capability; (2) the firm's name and reputation; and (3) management and organizational capability. Relative to established international contractors STCCs have a significant size disadvantage with reference to certain project types.