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Subsidiary embeddedness as a determinant of divisional headquarters involvement in innovation transfer processes

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  • Dellestrand, Henrik

Abstract

This paper conceptualizes divisional headquarters as an important hub-firm within the MNE, orchestrating innovation transfer processes between subsidiaries. It is argued that the internal and external embeddedness of a subsidiary hosting an innovation development project subsequently influences divisional headquarters involvement in the transfer of that innovation. In this way, embeddedness, i.e., the relationships that firms have with each other in the innovation development phase, is brought to the fore as an important factor for MNE subsidiaries hosting innovation development projects for explaining the involvement of divisional headquarters in a subsequent transfer. This highlights divisional headquarters as an active orchestrator of innovation transfers within the MNE. Data from 169 innovation transfer projects as well as 146 internal and 121 external embedded relationships at subsidiary level support the argument of embeddedness as a driver of divisional headquarters involvement in subsidiary innovation transfer projects. From a business network perspective, the findings highlight the role of internal and external embeddedness during innovation development in the subsequent involvement of divisional headquarters in the transfer phase. Embeddedness is not only important for subsidiaries in the innovation development phase but also for divisional headquarters involvement in, and orchestration of, innovation transfer.

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  • Dellestrand, Henrik, 2011. "Subsidiary embeddedness as a determinant of divisional headquarters involvement in innovation transfer processes," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 17(3), pages 229-242, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:intman:v:17:y:2011:i:3:p:229-242
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    Cited by:

    1. Benoit Decreton & Henrik Dellestrand & Philip Kappen & Phillip C. Nell, 2017. "Beyond Simple Configurations: The Dual Involvement of Divisional and Corporate Headquarters in Subsidiary Innovation Activities in Multibusiness Firms," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 57(6), pages 855-878, December.
    2. Heini Vanninen & Rod B. McNaughton & Olli Kuivalainen, 2022. "The Multiple Dimensions of Embeddedness of Small Multinational Enterprises," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 62(6), pages 785-816, December.
    3. Su, Cong & Holm, Ulf & Martín Martín, Oscar, 2024. "Liability of political embeddedness in Chinese multinationals: Implications for headquarters’ roles and reverse knowledge transfer," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(3).
    4. Chung-Jen Chen & Ya-Hui Lin & Shan-Huei Wang & Ruey-Shan Guo, 2022. "Parent-subsidiary linkage: How resource commitment and resource similarity influence firm performance," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 39(2), pages 615-658, June.
    5. Mudambi, Ram & Swift, Tim, 2011. "Leveraging knowledge and competencies across space: The next frontier in international business," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 17(3), pages 186-189, September.
    6. Gölgeci, Ismail & Ferraris, Alberto & Arslan, Ahmad & Tarba, Shlomo Y., 2019. "European MNE subsidiaries' embeddedness and innovation performance: Moderating role of external search depth and breadth," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 97-108.
    7. Klaus E. Meyer & Chengguang Li & Andreas P. J. Schotter, 2020. "Managing the MNE subsidiary: Advancing a multi-level and dynamic research agenda," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(4), pages 538-576, June.
    8. Sheng, Margaret L. & Hartmann, Nathaniel N., 2019. "Impact of subsidiaries' cross-border knowledge tacitness shared and social capital on MNCs' explorative and exploitative innovation capability," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 25(4).
    9. Klaus E. Meyer & Chengguang Li & Andreas P. J. Schotter, 0. "Managing the MNE subsidiary: Advancing a multi-level and dynamic research agenda," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 0, pages 1-39.
    10. Conroy, Kieran M. & Collings, David G., 2016. "The legitimacy of subsidiary issue selling: Balancing positive & negative attention from corporate headquarters," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 51(4), pages 612-627.
    11. Dellestrand, Henrik & Holm, Ulf & Lindahl, Olof, 2023. "Moving beyond the transfer dyad: Exploring network influences on transfer effectiveness," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(2).
    12. Hossain, Mokter, 2017. "Mapping the frugal innovation phenomenon," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 199-208.
    13. Fu, Xiaolan & Sun, Zhongjuan & Ghauri, Pervez N., 2018. "Reverse knowledge acquisition in emerging market MNEs: The experiences of Huawei and ZTE," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 202-215.
    14. Agárdi, Irma & Berezvai, Zombor & Alt, Mónika-Anetta, 2017. "A nemzetközi diverzifikáció, az innováció és a teljesítmény kapcsolata az európai élelmiszer-kiskereskedelemben [International diversification and the innovation activity and performance of leading," Közgazdasági Szemle (Economic Review - monthly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Közgazdasági Szemle Alapítvány (Economic Review Foundation), vol. 0(7), pages 805-822.
    15. Oehmichen, Jana & Puck, Jonas, 2016. "Embeddedness, Ownership Mode and Dynamics, and the Performance of MNE Subsidiaries," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 22(1), pages 17-28.
    16. Ambos, Tina C. & Tippmann, Esther & Nell, Phillip C., 2023. "Realizing subsidiary initiatives: A network mobilization view," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 29(6).
    17. Tomi Laamanen, 2019. "Dynamic attention-based view of corporate headquarters in MNCs," Journal of Organization Design, Springer;Organizational Design Community, vol. 8(1), pages 1-15, December.
    18. Andrews, Daniel S. & Fainshmidt, Stav & Ambos, Tina & Haensel, Kira, 2022. "The attention-based view and the multinational corporation: Review and research agenda," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 57(2).
    19. Viktor Prokop & Jan Stejskal, 2015. "Determinants of machinery firms' innovation activity - case study from the Czech Republic," ERSA conference papers ersa15p1111, European Regional Science Association.
    20. Ratajczak-Mrozek Milena, 2017. "Interorganizational Network Embeddedness and Performance of Companies Active on Foreign Markets," Journal of Management and Business Administration. Central Europe, Sciendo, vol. 25(4), pages 144-157, December.
    21. Rong, Ke & Wu, Jinxi & Shi, Yongjiang & Guo, Liang, 2015. "Nurturing business ecosystems for growth in a foreign market: Incubating, identifying and integrating stakeholders," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 21(4), pages 293-308.
    22. Ferraris, Alberto & Degbey, William Y. & Singh, Sanjay Kumar & Bresciani, Stefano & Castellano, Sylvaine & Fiano, Fabio & Couturier, Jerome, 2022. "Microfoundations of Strategic Agility in Emerging Markets: Empirical Evidence of Italian MNEs in India," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 57(2).
    23. Ciabuschi, Francesco & Dellestrand, Henrik & Kappen, Philip, 2012. "The good, the bad, and the ugly: Technology transfer competence, rent-seeking, and bargaining power," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 47(4), pages 664-674.
    24. Gorgijevski, Alexander N. & Andrews, Daniel S., 2022. "Getting the seal of approval: Pathways to subsidiary initiative acceptance," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(2).

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