Innovation with Chinese Characteristics – A look into the shanzhai phone culture in China
Many people’s initial thought regarding products coming out of China is often either low-quality or counterfeit. The purpose of this site will be to examine the growing shanzhai phone culture that is spreading out of Shenzhen, China.
Simply put, shanzhai means copy or knock-off. Literally, it translates as mountain fortress, but for the purpose of this site when you see shanzhai, it will reference specifically the knock-off phone industry in China.
This website will focus on three main aspects:
- Shanzhai phones
- The cell phone market in China
- Including non-shanzhai producers such as Nokia, who are trying to keep the hold as the market leader in China
- Business theories to help explain the occurrence of the shanzhai phone industry
- Christensen’s work on disruptive innovation
- Kim and Mauborgne’s blue ocean strategy
