ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the study design. It first constructs the research question: What are the current development challenges for Chinese private manufacturing firms in global competition? Then it discusses its relevance to the broader study of development studies. Second, it critically reviews related literature on firm competition in the global economy and points out the contribution of the book to existing knowledge. The literature includes firm competition in global value chains, industrial districts in the global economy, large business in global competition and global battles within China. Third, it deliberates the methodology used to organise, collect and analyse information and data. The research mainly adopts the methods of qualitative inquiry, case studies, interviews and observations.
