Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats: Case Study of Consulting Firms in Shenzhen, China

After China became a member of the World Trade Organization, Chinese architectural, engineering, and project management consulting firms faced competition from not only their domestic competitors but also from foreign firms. As most Chinese consulting firms are used to operating under a protected setting, they may face difficulties competing in the globalized environment. This research involves a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis of Chinese consulting firms based in Shenzhen; investigates how they respond to opportunities and threats; and recommends how foreign firms can respond to Chinese consulting firms’ SWOT. The case study research design is adopted. Using semistructured interview questions, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 23 Chinese consulting firms based in Shenzhen. Foreign firms’ responses are investigated through a case study of a U.S.-based consulting firm operating in China. The SWOT analysis reveals that Chinese consulting firms are lagging behind foreign firms in design and technical capability; experience in international projects; general and project management ability; and financial capacity. Industry practitioners from outside China who are contemplating entering the Chinese market can leverage on Chinese firms’ strengths by forming joint ventures with them. Foreign industry practitioners can take advantage of Chinese firms’ weaknesses by offering superior products and services which would improve their competitive advantage.