1;Foreword;6 2;Preface;8 3;Table of Contents;10 4;List of Tables;14 5;List of Figures;16 6;List of Abbreviations;18 7;I: Introduction;20 7.1;1. Description of the Research Topic;20 7.2;2. Literature Review and Research Question;24 7.3;3. Structure of the Thesis;26 8;II: Literature Review;29 8.1;1. On Technology;29 8.1.1;1.1. Technology: Definitions and Characteristics;29 8.1.1.1;1.1.1. Definitions;29 8.1.1.2;1.1.2. Characteristics of Technology;31 8.1.1.3;1.1.3. Technology Types and Industry Classifications;32 8.1.2;1.2. Indicators for Technological Sophistication;35 8.1.2.1;1.2.1. Which Functional Activities are Carried Out?;35 8.1.2.2;1.2.2. The Sophistication of an Organisation's Technological Resource Endowment;37 8.1.2.3;1.2.3. The Sophistication of an Organisation's Technological Capabilities;39 8.1.2.4;1.2.4. The Performance of an Organisation as a Proxy for its Technological Skills;41 8.1.3;1.3. International Technology Transfer (ITT);42 8.1.3.1;1.3.1. ITT in the Context of this Study;43 8.1.3.2;1.3.2. Relevant Issues in ITT Management;46 8.2;2. Technological Leadership and International Market Entry;49 8.2.1;2.1. The Role of Technological Leadership for International Market Entry;50 8.2.1.1;2.1.1. Explanations for International Market Entry;50 8.2.1.2;2.1.2. The Resource-Based View;53 8.2.1.3;2.1.3. Technological Resources and International Market Entry;55 8.2.2;2.2. The Choice for a Market Entry Form and Technology Transfer;56 8.2.2.1;2.2.1. Overview of Market Entry Forms;57 8.2.2.2;2.2.2. The Choice for a Market Entry Form;59 8.2.2.3;2.2.3. Technology Transfer and the Choice for an IJV;63 8.3;3. The International Joint Venture as a Channel for Technology Transfer;67 8.3.1;3.1. The (International) Joint Venture;67 8.3.1.1;3.1.1. Definitions;67 8.3.1.2;3.1.2. Strategic Objectives for International Joint Ventures Formation;69 8.3.1.3;3.1.3. IJV Classifications and Allocation of Partner Roles;71 8.3.2;3.2. Technology Transfer within International Joint Ventures;74 8.4;4. China as a Target Market for International Market Entry;79 8.4.1;4.1. The Political and Economic Development in China since 1978;80 8.4.2;4.2. Chinese Policies and Regulations regarding Technology Transfer;84 8.4.2.1;4.2.1. General Policy of the Chinese Government regarding Foreign Technology;84 8.4.2.2;4.2.2. Regulatory Framework and the Government's Role;86 8.4.2.3;4.2.3. Knowledge Drain and the IP Protection Regime in China;89 8.4.3;4.3. Legal Provisions for Relevant Market Entry Forms;95 8.4.3.1;4.3.1. Representative Office and Licensing;95 8.4.3.2;4.3.2. Foreign Invested Enterprises;96 8.4.4;4.3. Technology Transfer and FDI to China from the World and Germany;101 8.4.4.1;4.3.1. Technology Transfer to China;101 8.4.4.2;4.3.2. FDI from Germany to China;105 8.5;5. Recapitulation;107 9;III: Theoretical Considerations and Derivation of Hypotheses;109 9.1;1. Cooperation in IJVs and Technology Transfer from a Theoretical Perspective;109 9.1.1;1.1. A Simple Prisoner's Dilemma Paradigm and its Application to Knowledge Exchange;113 9.1.2;1.2. A Prisoner's Dilemma for Technology Transfer to IJVs;117 9.1.2.1;1.2.2. Basic Insights;123 9.1.2.2;1.2.3. Incorporating a Local Firm's Cooperation Probability - the Relevance of Trust;126 9.1.2.3;1.2.4. Taking Repeated Interaction and Reciprocity into Account;130 9.2;2. Discussion of General Influence Factors;137 9.2.1;2.1. External Influence Factors;139 9.2.1.1;2.1.1. Local Market Conditions;139 9.2.1.2;2.1.2. Industry-Specific Market Attractiveness;143 9.2.1.3;2.1.3. Differences in Cost Levels;144 9.2.1.4;2.1.4. Government Incentives;145 9.2.2;2.2. Internal Influence Factors;146 9.2.2.1;2.2.1. Characteristics of the Technology Sending Firm;147 9.2.2.2;2.2.2. Product and Technology Characteristics;150 9.2.2.3;2.2.3. The Technology Recipient and Practical Implementation Barriers;153 10;IV: Empirical Study;156 10.1;1. Research Design;156 10.1.1;1.1. Choice of the Empirical Setting and Structure of the Investigation;157 1