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Coordinating globally dispersed research centres of excellence--the case of Philips Electronics

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  • Reger, Guido

Abstract

Multinational enterprises (MNE) have increased their research and development (R&D) investment in foreign countries, especially since the early 1980s. This quantitative growth is accompanied by a qualitative dimension which is the restructuring of global R&D towards corporate-wide centres of excellence (CoEs) in highly internationalized corporations. The basic assumption of this paper is that the capability of coordinating these centres is a decisive competitive advantage and at the heart of a global learning process. The paper explicitly analyses research CoEs. It aims at developing possible mechanisms for their coordination and a conceptual framework for the use of suitable coordination mechanisms. A case study on the electronics company Philips illustrates the conceptual part. Finally, a model of coordinating global research CoEs is derived.

Suggested Citation

  • Reger, Guido, 2004. "Coordinating globally dispersed research centres of excellence--the case of Philips Electronics," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 10(1), pages 51-76.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:intman:v:10:y:2004:i:1:p:51-76
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    1. Petr Pavlínek, 2012. "The Internationalization of Corporate R&D and the Automotive Industry R&D of East-Central Europe," Economic Geography, Clark University, vol. 88(3), pages 279-310, July.
    2. Un, C. Annique & Cuervo-Cazurra, Alvaro, 2008. "Do subsidiaries of foreign MNEs invest more in R&D than domestic firms?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(10), pages 1812-1828, December.
    3. Keupp, Marcus Matthias & Gassmann, Oliver, 2009. "Why do transnational approaches to international innovation fail?," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 23(2), pages 206-222, June.
    4. Elisa Arrigo, 2012. "Alliances, Open Innovation and Outside-in Management," Symphonya. Emerging Issues in Management, Niccolò Cusano University, issue 2 Innovat, pages 53-65.
    5. Maria Adenfelt & Katarina Lagerström, 2008. "The development and sharing of knowledge by Centres of Excellence and transnational teams: A conceptual framework," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 48(3), pages 319-338, May.
    6. Chen, Chung-Jen & Huang, Yi-Fen & Lin, Bou-Wen, 2012. "How firms innovate through R&D internationalization? An S-curve hypothesis," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(9), pages 1544-1554.
    7. Adenfelt, Maria & Lagerström, Katarina, 2006. "Knowledge development and sharing in multinational corporations: The case of a centre of excellence and a transnational team," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 15(4), pages 381-400, August.
    8. Liu, Yang, 2019. "The Processes of New Product Development Recentralization towards a Transnational Emphasis in Multinational Corporations," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 25(1), pages 19-36.
    9. Paola Criscuolo & Rajneesh Narula, 2007. "Using multi-hub structures for international R&D: Organisational inertia and the challenges of implementation," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 47(5), pages 639-660, September.
    10. Manolopoulos, Dimitris & Söderquist, Klas Eric & Pearce, Robert, 2011. "Coordinating decentralized research and development laboratories: A survey analysis," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 17(2), pages 114-129, June.
    11. Nader Ale Ebrahim & Shamsuddin Ahmed & Zahari Taha, 2009. "Virtual R & D teams in small and medium enterprises: A literature review," Post-Print hal-00593358, HAL.
    12. Lusine Arzumanyan & Ulrike Mayrhofer & Christopher Melin, 2011. "Coordinating R&D activities in multinational companies: towards new tools and practices?," Post-Print halshs-00690220, HAL.
    13. Filippaios, Fragkiskos & Papanastassiou, Marina & Pearce, Robert & Rama, Ruth, 2009. "New forms of organisation and R&D internationalisation among the world's 100 largest food and beverages multinationals," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(6), pages 1032-1043, July.

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