Mobile Device Industry in China : A study on Chinese mobile device industry from an ecosystem point of view

Sammanfattning: Under the global trend of digital transformation development, Chinese mobile device industry has rapid expansion and yield significant economic benefits and social impacts both domestically and internationally. This growth is driven by the advancement of 5G technology, which has revolutionized various aspects of the industry, including manufacturing, products, and consumer demand. However, there remains a literature gap in terms of using academic theories or models to explore potential revolution of the Chinese mobile device industry under the 5G environment. To address this gap, this thesis seeks to investigate the intersection of the China’s development in telecommunication and the mobile device industry transformation to 5G, in the context of China’s unique technical and social environment. A qualitative approach is employed, with the combination of business ecosystem theory and salient and reverse salient concept. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with 9 professionals who possess relevant expertise in the Chinese mobile device industry. Secondary data was also gathered concurrently to provide supplementary information, sourced from governmental and public reports, news, and organization documents, aiming to enhance the depth of understanding around the research topic. Through thematic analysis, some themes were concluded where salient and reverse salient factors that play vital roles in shaping the industry were discovered and identified. Then, the critical uncertainties with high level of potential impact and the uncertainty of future changes were identified and grouped into two axes: technology and green upgrading and aging population. Based on the findings, a scenario matrix with four scenarios was established, which represented four potential future development situations for the Chinese mobile device industry: 1. Intelligent and sustainable industry chain and elderly-oriented environment. 2. Industrial shrinkage and dependency on import.3. Low-value and labor-intensive link and cutthroat competition. 4. Rapid expansion, regionalization, and industry subdivision.The study explores some different possible outcomes that this industry could have in each scenario from the perspective of business ecosystem. The study found that the interdependence structure can impact ecosystem’s development and value creation, and multidimensional salient and reverse salient, including technology, society, and policy, collectively contribute to the facilitation of the Chinese mobile device industry. Meanwhile, obstacles may arise from reverse salient factors and thus stimulates coevolution relationships between members to collaborate to overcome challenges and capitalize on opportunities. It is worth noting that these factors can evolve over time, and new factors may emerge due to changes in technological and social environments.