China Versus Silicon Valley: Comparison and Implications

Abstract

This final chapter of Management in the Digital Age: Will China Surpass Silicon Valley? summarizes the findings in the book by addressing three questions posed at the start: Is China to the point where it can be viewed as an ``innovation country{''}? Are management models used by the Chinese case companies similar to the previously identified Silicon Valley Model? And what are the implications for managers and policy makers worldwide? The chapter concludes that China already has strong innovation capabilities and is rapidly developing them further, and that management models used by the Chinese and Silicon Valley case companies are quite similar in many but not all respects. Managers and policy makers are urged to recognize the full extent of China's rapid development, and to be aware that management models better suited to today's times are now emerging globally. Firms (or nations) which are not yet appropriately transformed for the Digital Age are advised to take action now. The chapter also calls for continuing research into the areas covered in this book. This last part of this book aims to answer some main questions posed earlier: Can China in 2017 be viewed as a country that not only imitates, but truly innovates? Are our Chinese case companies using management models based on key characteristics similar to the ones identified among the Silicon valley companies? And if so, what are the implications for managers and policy makers worldwide?