Hexagonal diamond model for international competitive advantages of high-speed railway industry

With the development of the economy, many countries and regions worldwide are implementing or planning to implement high-speed railway (HSR) projects. However, the great international demand has attracted fierce competition in the HSR industry. This study explained the determinants of international competitive advantages in the HSR industry. A questionnaire survey was used to obtain the relevant data from the international HSR industry. A group of 24 variables was identified through a literature review and verified by a pilot study. According to the international questionnaire survey, the 24 variables were categorized into 6 factors using exploratory factor analysis: technology conditions, industrial integrality, firms’ coopetition, demand conditions, capital and economics, and international reputation. By comparing these to the framework of the existing diamond model, a new model, i.e., the hexagonal diamond model, which describes the determinants of international competitive advantages in the HSR industry, was proposed. Postsurvey interviews were performed using a strength, weakness, opportunity, and threat (SWOT) analysis of the major HSR industrial systems to validate the hexagonal diamond model. This paper presents a novel model for the determinants of international competitive advantage in the HSR industry. The identified variables and the model are of great significance for both practitioners and researchers to enhance their understanding of international competitiveness in the HSR industry.