Abstract
This paper is to suggest strategic options for improving the export performance of the plant and construction industry. The overall objective of this study is to explore the feasibility of a sustained export performance in the plant and overseas construction industry by an analysis of its international competitiveness and technological competence. The empirical work of this study relates to a chosen sample of Korean and non-Korean firms in the plant and construction industry sector. Primary data was collected through a comprehensive questionnaire survey administered to plant and construction firms in twelve countries, including Korea. The actual number of firms for which full information at a sufficient level of disaggregation was obtained was 62, a response rate of 44.6％. Of these, 42 firms were drawn from Korean plant and construction firms and the remaining 20 firms from 11 other countries. The structure of responding firms by industry shows a total of 29 plant exporters and 33 construction firms. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS statistical technique such as Multiple Regression in order to examine the linear relationship among variables. The findings of the study indicate that export success and failure in plant and construction export markets is determined by firm size and by various qualitative variables. The high export volume (export success) of Plant and construction exporters is more strongly influenced by mutual economic cooperation and number of employees than by sales volume and competent knowledge of the plant and construction markets. It was also found that weak political and diplomatic relation between countries, low sales volume and lack of bid experience have an adverse effect and represent serious barriers to exports.