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Only connect: teamwork in the multinational

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  • Goodall, Keith
  • Roberts, John

Abstract

Multinational corporations are faced with what has been called the 'liability of foreignness'--a set of costs associated with, among other things, unfamiliar operating environments, economic, administrative and cultural differences, and with the challenges of coordination over geographic distance. In this article we draw on two case studies of multinational teams in Beijing and Bogota to analyse the realities of using locally-hired staff to help mitigate some of the liabilities of foreignness.

Suggested Citation

  • Goodall, Keith & Roberts, John, 2003. "Only connect: teamwork in the multinational," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 38(2), pages 150-164, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:worbus:v:38:y:2003:i:2:p:150-164
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    1. Goodall, Keith & Warner, M. & Lang, V., 2004. "HRD in the People's Republic: The MBA 'with Chinese characteristics'?," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 39(4), pages 311-323, November.
    2. Denice E. Welch & Lawrence S. Welch, 2008. "The importance of language in international knowledge transfer," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 48(3), pages 339-360, May.
    3. Koveshnikov, Alexei & Barner-Rasmussen, Wilhelm & Ehrnrooth, Mats & Mäkelä, Kristiina, 2012. "A framework of successful organizational practices in Western multinational companies operating in Russia," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 47(3), pages 371-382.
    4. Denk, Nikola & Kaufmann, Lutz & Roesch, Jan-Frederik, 2012. "Liabilities of Foreignness Revisited: A Review of Contemporary Studies and Recommendations for Future Research," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 18(4), pages 322-334.
    5. Sharp, Ziva, 2010. "From unilateral transfer to bilateral transition: Towards an integrated model for language management in the MNE," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 16(3), pages 304-313, September.
    6. Williams, Christopher & Lee, Soo Hee, 2009. "International management, political arena and dispersed entrepreneurship in the MNC," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 44(3), pages 287-299, July.
    7. Liu, Xiaohui & Gao, Lan & Lu, Jiangyong & Wei, Yingqi, 2015. "The role of highly skilled migrants in the process of inter-firm knowledge transfer across borders," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 50(1), pages 56-68.
    8. Cao, Mingchun & Alon, Ilan, 2021. "Overcoming the liability of foreignness – A new perspective on Chinese MNCs," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 611-626.
    9. Shenxue Li & Hugh Scullion, 2006. "Bridging the distance: Managing cross-border knowledge holders," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 23(1), pages 71-92, March.
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    11. Carla Millar & Chong Choi, 2010. "MNCs, Worker Identity and the Human Rights Gap for Local Managers," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 97(1), pages 55-60, December.
    12. Marchal, Léa & Nedoncelle, Clément, 2017. "How foreign-born workers foster exports," Kiel Working Papers 2071, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    13. Aichhorn, Nathalie & Puck, Jonas, 2017. "Bridging the language gap in multinational companies: Language strategies and the notion of company-speak," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 52(3), pages 386-403.
    14. Ron Berger & Chong Choi & Jai Kim, 2011. "Responsible Leadership for Multinational Enterprises in Bottom of Pyramid Countries: The Knowledge of Local Managers," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 101(4), pages 553-561, July.
    15. Connie Zheng & David Lamond, 2010. "Organisational determinants of employee turnover for multinational companies in Asia," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 27(3), pages 423-443, September.
    16. Makela, Kristiina & Kalla, Hanna K. & Piekkari, Rebecca, 2007. "Interpersonal similarity as a driver of knowledge sharing within multinational corporations," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 16(1), pages 1-22, February.
    17. Nurmi, Niina & Koroma, Johanna, 2020. "The emotional benefits and performance costs of building a psychologically safe language climate in MNCs," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 55(4).
    18. Bas Karreman & Martijn J. Burger & Frank G. van Oort, 2017. "Location Choices of Chinese Multinationals in Europe: The Role of Overseas Communities," Economic Geography, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 93(2), pages 131-161, March.
    19. Björkman, Anette & Piekkari, Rebecca, 2009. "Language and foreign subsidiary control: An empirical test," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 15(1), pages 105-117, March.
    20. Paul, Justin & Feliciano-Cestero, María M., 2021. "Five decades of research on foreign direct investment by MNEs: An overview and research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 800-812.
    21. Belderbos, René & Du, Helen S. & Slangen, Arjen, 2020. "When do firms choose global cities as foreign investment locations within countries? The roles of contextual distance, knowledge intensity, and target-country experience," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 55(1).
    22. Wang, Qiu & Clegg, Jeremy & Gajewska-De Mattos, Hanna & Buckley, Peter, 2020. "The role of emotions in intercultural business communication: Language standardization in the context of international knowledge transfer," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 55(6).
    23. Jae C. Jung & Khan-Pyo Lee, 2018. "Host Country Sourcing of Multinational Enterprises: A Corporate Social Responsibility Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 152(3), pages 683-701, October.
    24. Jane W. Lu & Hao Ma & Xuanli Xie, 2022. "Foreignness research in international business: Major streams and future directions," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 53(3), pages 449-480, April.

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