16. Final Reflections: Connectivity, Innovation, Transformation, and Global Challenges

Despite the beginning of the trade war between China and the U.S. in 2018, and despite Huawei’s competitive disadvantages in its globalization process, such as being a latecomer in the market, lack of technological leadership, and liability of foreignness with a negative country of origin image, within 30 years, Huawei managed to become a leading global provider of information and communications technology. Lattemann et al. summarize the discussions in the edited book on Huawei goes Global—with Vol. II studying the question how Huawei overcomes these challenges stemming from the institutional distances between China and the host country they are operating in. The authors show how latest International Business theories on firm-specific and home- and host-country-specific advantages and disadvantages can contribute to the discussion.