dc.contributor.advisor |
Haworth, N |
en |
dc.contributor.advisor |
Benson-Rea, M |
en |
dc.contributor.advisor |
Stringer, C |
en |
dc.contributor.author |
Khattak, Amira |
en |
dc.date.accessioned |
2013-02-24T23:18:17Z |
en |
dc.date.issued |
2013 |
en |
dc.identifier.uri |
http://hdl.handle.net/2292/20053 |
en |
dc.description.abstract |
The objective of this thesis is to contribute and extend the field of global value chain (GVC)
analysis by empirically examining the interactions of South Asian apparel firms with the
broader institutional contexts in GVCs and upgrading as a result of those interactions. This
thesis contains three empirical chapters and revolves around three major and interlinked
constructs of the GVC framework namely governance, institutions and upgrading
(particularly environmental and social upgrading).
The first empirical chapter provides a comparative analysis of South Asian apparel firms in
global apparel chains. The main objective is to provide empirical evidence to support the
conceptualisation and theorisation of the institution dimension of GVC analysis and its
interaction with the governance dimension. The global apparel industry is conceptualised as
an organisational field where apparel firms (suppliers) are strongly linked to lead firms
(buyers) in the global apparel chains as well as the institutional structures in which the
chains are embedded. Using Bangladesh and Sri Lanka apparel firms as case studies, the
findings highlight the significant role that institutions have in shaping the relationships
between lead firms and apparel firms, and hence the geographical and organisational
architecture of global apparel chains.
The second empirical chapter is an empirical and qualitative analysis of drivers and
conditions under which South Asian apparel firms embrace environmental upgrading in
GVCs. Data suggest that GVCs represent both the drivers of the environmental upgrading
and the medium to gain the knowledge to upgrade. Similarly, capabilities in the suppliers’
base to assimilate the knowledge transfer, learn and ultimately upgrade, are also critical. An interesting finding of the study is that environmental standards are becoming critical for
producers for monitoring upgrading, developing capabilities and enhancing efficiency.
The third empirical chapter investigates the relationship between social and economic
upgrading in GVCs. Data from two countries suggest that governance patterns in GVCs
create the conditions under which economic upgrading generates conditions for social
upgrading. Furthermore, a positive relationship exists between product, process and
functional upgrading and social upgrading, while a negative relationship exists between justin-
time delivery and social upgrading. Social upgrading presents greater challenges in lowskilled
categories of employment than in highly skilled employment categories. Taken
together, all three empirical chapters contribute to the GVC literature by studying
understudied areas in GVC analysis, in particular institutions, environmental upgrading and
social upgrading, and linking them in a coherent way with the governance dimension. |
|
dc.publisher |
ResearchSpace@Auckland |
en |
dc.relation.ispartof |
PhD Thesis - University of Auckland |
en |
dc.relation.isreferencedby |
UOA99232488114002091 |
|
dc.rights |
Items in ResearchSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated. Previously published items are made available in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. |
en |
dc.rights |
Items in ResearchSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated. |
|
dc.rights.uri |
https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/docs/uoa-docs/rights.htm |
en |
dc.rights.uri |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/nz/ |
en |
dc.title |
A Comparative Analysis of South Asian Apparel Firms in Global Value Chains: Governance, Institutions and Upgrading |
en |
dc.type |
Thesis |
en |
thesis.degree.grantor |
The University of Auckland |
en |
thesis.degree.level |
Doctoral |
en |
thesis.degree.name |
PhD |
en |
dc.rights.holder |
Copyright: The Author |
en |
dc.rights.accessrights |
http://purl.org/eprint/accessRights/OpenAccess |
en |
pubs.elements-id |
373554 |
en |
pubs.record-created-at-source-date |
2013-02-25 |
en |