Ting Chi

Building a sustainable supply chain: an analysis of corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices in the Chinese textile and apparel industry

This study aims to analyze the development, achievements, and challenges of corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices in the Chinese textile and apparel industry. The determinants of CSR movement in the industry are discussed. The World Bank CSR Diamond Model based on stakeholder theory provides an analytical framework to address this complex issue in a systematic way. The relevant information and data were gathered from an extensive literature review of governmental, industrial and academic publications, and interviews. Overall, the tightening legal environment for CSR development has raised the cost of doing business in China in a short time. While forward‐looking companies are already taking CSR into account in their daily operations and strategic plans, some resistance to the execution and enforcement of CSR‐related laws and regulations have been witnessed. However, from a long‐term perspective, the CSR movement will benefit towards upgrading the industry and the healthy growth of Chinas economy, and contribute to the sustainable global textile and apparel supply chain.

Analysis of comparative advantage in the textile complex

Purpose – This paper aims to present an exploratory investigation into ten‐year (1995‐2004) patterns of trade specialization among Eastern European and former Soviet Union Nations, assessing patterns of comparative advantage across the textile machinery, man‐made fiber, textile, and apparel sectors of the textile complex to determine whether these conform with both trade specialization and industry evolution theories.Design/methodology/approach – A revealed symmetric comparative advantage index is employed to evaluate international competitiveness for 27 Eastern European and former Soviet Union Nations over a ten‐year period. Repeated measures ANOVA is used to determine the significance of the observed patterns across four income‐defined groups of nations.Findings – Overall, the pattern of export development and RSCA generally reflects expectations regarding factor proportions theory and industry evolution models. The RMANOVA partially confirms the observations. The analysis indicates that income group do...

An assessment of trends in China's comparative advantages in textile machinery, man-made fibers, textiles and apparel

Abstract This paper analyzes Chinas level of comparative advantage across the four broad product sectors of the textile complex (comprising textile machinery, man-made fibers, textiles, and apparel), between 1985 and 2003 against 22 major exporting nations drawn from four income groups. The analysis utilizes a variant of Balassas Revealed Comparative Advantage method and employs repeated measures analysis of variance to test for statistical significance. Overall, the findings show that Chinas competitive position is not simple and uniform across the individual product sectors or the country groups. However, it generally reflects expectations concerning the relative factor endowments that underpin the theory of comparative advantage. China continues to build a strong position in labor-intensive products but is experiencing a growing challenge from lower income countries in these categories. In technically intensive products, Chinas position remained weak compared to higher income countries but improved across all income groups except, paradoxically, low income countries where the trend was mixed.

Corporate competitive strategies in a transitional manufacturing industry: an empirical study

Purpose – This study aims to take a strategic approach to analyze how the US technical textile companies manage their business operations and to determine whether there are differences on competitive priorities between high‐ and low‐performing companies.Design/methodology/approach – A competitive priority model consisting of four latent constructs – low cost, quality, delivery performance, and flexibility – was utilized to construct the analysis. Primary data were collected through a survey of senior executives in the US technical textile companies. Using 202 eligible survey returns, exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis within structural equation modeling were carried out to assess adequacy of the measurements and validity of the model.Findings – The competitive priority model is proven valid and the four constructs account for the most variance in corporate competitive strategies. High‐performing companies placed greater emphasis on quality and delivery performance strategies than...

An Assessment of US Comparative Advantage in Technical Textiles from a Trade Perspective

With the sharp decline of the US textile industry since 1997, attention has been focused on the technical and industrial textile sector. This is widely believed to have a bright future as a result of US strengths in technology and the importance of product innovation in spurring market growth. However, there have been no formal academic studies of US competitiveness in this sector. This article measures the international competitiveness of the US technical and industrial textile sector and assesses how this has changed over time. Balassa’s Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) method has been used to conduct the analysis. Technical and industrial textile products identified from four-digit SITC classifications were divided into ‘higher-tech’ and ‘lower-tech’ categories according to their estimated technological intensity. The US RCA in each category, and in aggregate textiles, was compared against those of nine leading textile trading partners between 1992 and 2002. These were drawn equally from high, middle, and low-income country groups, based on World Bank classifications. A repeated measures analysis of variance was used to test for statistical significance. Overall, high-income countries enjoy a stronger international trade position in higher-tech products, while medium- and low-income countries have a stronger position in lower-tech products and aggregate textiles. While the US has maintained a revealed comparative advantage in higher-tech products with partners from all groups, it has a revealed comparative disadvantage in lower-tech products and in aggregate textiles. No statistically significant differences in US competitiveness between country groups and no changes in US competitiveness over time were found. The findings support the view that the US is a leader in sophisticated technical and industrial textile products. However, the maintenance of this position will be influenced by intensified international competition and the strategies of US companies, which may choose to relocate some operations offshore.

The effects of contingency factors on perceived values of casual sportswear

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose and empirically examine a consumer perceived value (CPV) formation model in the context of the US casual sportswear market. The effects of investigated contingency factors on perceived values are empirically determined.Design/methodology/approach – CPV was measured by four dimensions: price, quality, social and emotional values. The investigated contingency factors included gender, age, race, income level, and retailer type. The primary data were gathered by a nation‐wide survey of US consumers and the applied statistical techniques were exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and multiple regression analysis.Findings – The statistical analysis of 4,949 eligible survey responses shows that four value dimensions accounted for 77 percent of CPV variance. For the effects of contingency factors, race did not significantly affect the formation of any perceived values. In contrast, gender, income level, and retailer type significantly affected...

An empirical investigation of the determinants and shifting patterns of US apparel imports using a gravity model framework

Purpose – This study aims to quantitatively identify the impact of major economic and political factors on the US apparel imports from its 15 major trading partners between 1995 and 2006.Design/methodology/approach – Ordinary‐least‐square (OLS) regression under a gravity model framework was utilized to construct the analysis. The determinants of US apparel imports were determined and their significance and direction of change over the period were quantified.Findings – First, the growths of GDP and population both in the USA and within its trading partners have been drivers of US apparel import growth, while greater geographic distance between a trading partner and the USA significantly impedes its exports to the USA. Second, the positive impact on the US apparel imports from the supplying countrys infrastructure development, literacy rate and its language commonality with the USA shows that these factors are pivotal to being a competitive US apparel supplier. Finally, preferential market access is proven...

Longitudinal patterns of comparative advantage in the textile complex – part 2: Sectoral perspectives

Purpose – This paper aims to present an exploratory investigation into long‐term patterns of trade specialization among leading textile and apparel exporting nations, assessing patterns of comparative advantage across the textile machinery, man‐made fiber, textiles and apparel sectors of the textile complex to determine whether these conform with both trade specialization and industry evolution theories. A model of evolutionary change in intra complex specialization is defined and evaluated.Design/methodology/approach – A revealed comparative advantage index is employed to evaluate international competitiveness for 30‐nations over a 42‐year period. Repeated measures of ANOVA are used to determine the significance of the observed patterns across five income‐defined groups of nations.Findings – Long‐term patterns of specialization broadly reflect expectations of factor proportions theory and industry evolution models. Product and income group characteristics combine to influence comparative advantage. Highe...

Measurement of business environment characteristics in the US technical textile industry: an empirical study

Business environment has long been identified as an important contingency in the operations management literature. However, relatively little effort has been devoted to the empirical measurement of its characteristics. This study aims to develop a reliable and valid instrument for measuring business environment characteristics (BEC) in the context of operations management. The study proposes a conceptual model based on one of most widely accepted BEC frameworks – the four-dimension classification: diversity, complexity, dynamism, and hostility. A survey instrument was developed to collect primary data on US technical textile firms. Factor analysis was utilized to test the proposed BEC model using the data from 202 survey returns. The results indicate that the developed survey instrument can generate reliable data. The BEC model is proven valid, and the four dimensions account for the most variance in the business environment. This research provides the springboard for further systematic studies of BEC in operations management.

Key factors influencing the adoption of apparel mobile commerce: an empirical study of Chinese consumers

Abstract In recent years, mobile commerce (m-commerce) has experienced an extraordinary growth in China. Apparel brands and retailers envision they will replicate the success they have achieved in traditional electronic commerce via emerging m-commerce. Therefore, understanding of Chinese consumer’s m-commerce adoption behavior has attracted increasing attentions from both marketers and academia. This study aimed to identify the key factors influencing the Chinese consumers’ intentions to use apparel m-commerce. An enhanced consumer’s apparel m-commerce adoption model was developed through integrating the existing e-commerce/m-commerce theories/models (i.e. Theory of Reasoned Action, Technology Acceptance Model, and Diffusion of Innovation Theory). A total of 287 eligible responses were collected via an online questionnaire survey in China. Factor analysis and multiple regression analysis were utilized for data analysis and hypothesis testing. Results show that perceived usefulness, perceived ease-of-use, subjective norm, compatibility, and past non-store shopping experience positively affect the Chinese consumers’ intention to use apparel m-commerce.