Wu, Yanga ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3048-3216 and Bui, Kim ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8666-8188 (2026) Business network strategies and performance of specialized, advanced, differentiated, and innovative (SADI) Chinese companies. Asian Business and Management (ABM). ISSN 1472-4782 (Print), 1476-9328 (Online) (In Press)

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Abstract

Hidden champions are highly successful companies operating in niche market segments, playing a key role in global supply chains. Recently, the Chinese government has launched a national strategy for selecting and supporting their own hidden champions, also called specialized, advanced, differentiated, and innovative (SADI) companies. Nonetheless, it is still unclear if these companies are inherently different from non-Chinese hidden champions and whether their business strategies lead to different performance results. To address this research gap, in this study we investigate how SADI’s business networking strategy relates to their performance, using secondary data from Orbis M&A and the list of hidden champions published by the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Our results show that SADI companies that establish joint ventures with companies from the same industries experience a positive increase in some performance metrics, while creating connections with international companies does not have a significant impact.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	hidden champions, business network, joint ventures, social network analysis
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > HF Commerce H Social Sciences > HG Finance
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Greenwich Business School Greenwich Business School > School of Business, Operations and Strategy
Last Modified:	21 May 2026 15:22
URI:	https://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/53560

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