Data collection

5.4.1 Key techniques and interviewing methods 

The data collection process went through several pilot study phases prior to the final cross-sectional survey. Several interview methods were applied:

• Pilot studies: During the pilot studies, in-depth interviews were used to obtain information.

Interviews were conducted in conjunction with such data gathering techniques as informal interviewing and documentary recording. Key informants (with insights about their company’s strategies) from six companies were chosen for in-depth interviews.

• Conduct of interviews: A protocol of questions was used during interviews to keep the informants on track. The interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. In addition to the interviews, public documents (such as annual reports, newspaper articles, press releases, and company magazines) and the most important firms’ financial statements were scanned, which assisted with data triangulation. The reliability of the data was continually checked by comparing information from the interviews with secondary data sources.

Given the outcome of the pilot studies, a preliminary questionnaire was formulated. The questionnaire included both numerical and Likert-type perceptual questions. These were modified after they were evaluated by colleagues. The modification focused on verbal clearance and sentence format in order to ensure maximum feedback from respondents. Problems regarding terminology, instruction, relevance of questions, scales and volume were then addressed. Subsequently, a pre-test survey was carried out among members of an Executive MBA program to check the identification and validity of the questions. The final, revised questionnaire was targeted at the general managers of the sample companies, who could either answer directly or point it to a colleague involved in the company’s overall strategy formulation. The questionnaire was filled out through face-to-face interviews conducted by the author or her research assistants. Prior to an interview, the interviewer contacted the respondent to make sure that the latest two years’ financial statements would be available during the interviewing process. These documents were kept by the interviewer for the purpose of data triangulation and data checks.

5.4.2 Timeframe 

Two groups of research assistants were established in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh for data collection. Each group consisted of four people with interviewing skills and knowledge of this particular subject. Each group took part in two training courses held by the author to make sure that they fully understood the questions and would devote sufficient time to the interviews.

Throughout the data collection process, the researcher was involved as coordinator and data

collector. The data collection process was divided into three stages to ensure an appropriate time schedule, to monitor research assistants’ work tasks, and to ensure appropriate interaction between the researchers and the respondents (refer to Table 5.1).

Table 5.1: Timeframe and tasks in the survey process

Timeframe Activities Explanation

1 December 2006 - 28 February 2007

Collect data from one main source (Customs Office) and synthesize with two others (VCCI and local trade department)

Time lag due to traditional holiday and unavailability of the required source

Timeframe Activities Explanation

1 March - 31

March 2007 Select and train research assistants Write up contracts

Select qualified researchers with sufficient knowledge and skills;

Provide training course

1 April – 30 June 2007

Data collection process: Interaction between researcher, research assistants and respondents

Call respondents if answers are not understandable or comparable to others

Provide assistance for research assistants when necessary Divided into three stages (below) to ensure the time requirement, research involvement and question correction;

Modification if necessary

Stage 1 Submit 10 fully answered questionnaires right

after they have been finished in each region Revise questionnaires if necessary and check the time schedule

Stage 2 Submit 30 fully answered questionnaires right

after they have been finished in each region Ensure time schedule and tasks of research assistants

Stage 3 Submit remaining fully answered questionnaires

1 July-

31 July 2007 Data coding using appropriate software package

1 August – 1 December 2007

Data analyses

5.4.3 Sampling strategy 

No comprehensive list of independent, unlisted companies in Vietnam is available from either the Ministry of Planning and Investment or the Ministry of Commerce, which are the main governmental administrative agencies. The sampling frame was therefore extracted from data available from the Customs Office, which manages export and import activities. By imposing a code for import and export activities, all companies with operations abroad can be identified. In Vietnam, more than 90% of these companies are headquartered in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh.

Therefore, the geographical sample was derived from these two regions. There are 6,626 enterprises with foreign activities in Hanoi and 12,131 enterprises in Ho Chi Minh. However, this list may include firms that only import, which is not relevant for the purposes of this study.

Therefore, the list was refined by obtaining lists of exporting firms from the Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh trade departments, and from the Vietnam Chambers of Commerce and Industry in the two regions. This data was complemented by website visits, phone calls, and emails to ensure that the firms remaining on the data list did, in fact, export. After refining the data set, the sample was reduced significantly to 3,413 and 6,647 firms in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, respectively.

These lists covered over 12 industries and were therefore split into two groups: low technology and high technology. Of the main exporting groups in the low-tech industries (including textiles and garments, handicrafts, shoes, toys and stationeries, raw foods and processing foods), the textiles and garments industry was selected as it constituted the largest share of firms (70%) and export value (approximately 65%). Table 5.2 presents the response rates of each industry in the two geographical locations.

Table 5.2: Random sample selection and response rate

Industry Population Hanoi Ho Chi Minh Random select sample Number of

responses Response rate

ELECTRONICS 237 115 122 104.6 67 0.64

MECHANICAL 209 110 99 73.15 50 0.68

GARMENT &

TEXTILE 439 72 367 122 114 0.86

Total 885 297 588 309.75 231 0.74

The main high-tech exporting group was concentrated in the electronic and mechanical industries, so these two industries were sub-selected. In total, the data set of these three selected industries includes 885 enterprises, of which textiles and garments account for 439 enterprises.

By random selection, the final sample was pared down to 309 enterprises, which were approached for the survey.

In total, 231 respondents provided the data for the selected dependent, independent and control variables. This sample is considered to be comparable to those generally utilised in similar studies (Coviello and McAuley 1999, Shoham et al. 2002). The response rate of 75%, which is valid, compares favourably with similar studies (Coviello and McAuly 1999). Of the 231 returned questionnaires, two were rejected due to missing answers for more than 20% of the questions, three were rejected due to missing values for the most critical variables and constructs, which left 226 usable questionnaires.

For objective and numerical questions, the answers from respondents were compared with the actual figures available in financial statements. If the two figures were inconsistent, data was taken from the financial statements. For perceptual questions, respondent answers were based on Likert-scale indications. A common method bias test was used to check for bias in the respondent’s answers.