Research on the path of effective management of participation in joint-venture railway companies by China railway group

Abstract

PurposeFollowing the regional restructuring, the number of joint-venture railway companies in which the Group participates has significantly increased. This paper aims to explore the challenges faced by China Railway Group in managing participation in joint-venture railway companies. The study seeks to propose specific approaches to ensure the effective management of these companies, thereby maximizing the benefits of the regional restructuring and supporting the development of a strong transportation country and a modern infrastructure system.Design/methodology/approachBased on the change in the shareholding relationship between China Railway Group and the joint-venture railway companies, and considering the current situation of the regional restructuring of these companies, as well as the insights from existing literature and typical case studies, this paper proposes some specific paths for effective management of joint-stock railway companies which China Railway Group participated in.FindingsThe problems in participation management are the unclear dual leadership role of the party committee, the lack of discourse power, the lack of synergy between shareholders, the increasing risk of sustainable operation of the loss-making companies and the role of dispatched personnel is not fully played. Based on the theories, combined with the existing research and practical cases, the paper proposed specific approaches, such as perfecting top-level system design, maintaining the discourse power, carrying out differentiated management, arranging personnel rationally, arranging shareholders synergy, and innovating methods to provide references for China Railway Group's subsequent management of joint venture railway companies.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the existing literature by providing a comprehensive analysis of the challenges faced by China Railway Group in managing participation in joint-venture railway companies following the regional restructuring. The study offers novel insights and practical recommendations for addressing these challenges. The findings can serve as valuable references for China Railway Group's subsequent management of joint-venture railway companies which participated in, as well as for other state-owned enterprises facing similar challenges in managing their joint ventures.