IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/abaman/v21y2022i1d10.1057_s41291-020-00118-y.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

International management strategies and expatriate practices of Taiwanese multinational corporations: a contingency perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Chun-Hsiao Wang

    (National Central University)

  • Arup Varma

    (Loyola University Chicago)

Abstract

In this paper, we examine how the international management strategy (centralized, local, and global) of an MNC affects its expatriate practices, and whether there is a contingent framework between international management strategy and expatriate practices. Drawing on a sample of 126 large Taiwanese multinational corporations, we examine the effects of international management strategies on six expatriate practices—staffing policies, selection criteria, selection methods, training, performance evaluations, and spouse/family support. We find some support for our expectation that, at the headquarters level, the specific international management strategy that an MNC employs affects the choice of expatriate practices. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Chun-Hsiao Wang & Arup Varma, 2022. "International management strategies and expatriate practices of Taiwanese multinational corporations: a contingency perspective," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 21(1), pages 129-153, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:abaman:v:21:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1057_s41291-020-00118-y
    DOI: 10.1057/s41291-020-00118-y
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41291-020-00118-y
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1057/s41291-020-00118-y?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cheng, Hsiang-Lin & Lin, Carol Yeh Yun, 2009. "Do as the large enterprises do?: Expatriate selection and overseas performance in emerging markets: The case of Taiwan SMEs," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 18(1), pages 60-75, February.
    2. Anne-Wil Harzing, 2000. "An Empirical Analysis and Extension of the Bartlett and Ghoshal Typology of Multinational Companies," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 31(1), pages 101-120, March.
    3. Caligiuri, Paula & Bonache, Jaime, 2016. "Evolving and enduring challenges in global mobility," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 51(1), pages 127-141.
    4. Jeffrey P Shay & Sally A Baack, 2004. "Expatriate assignment, adjustment and effectiveness: an empirical examination of the big picture," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 35(3), pages 216-232, May.
    5. Yunshi Liu & Wen-Ting Lin & Kuei-Yang Cheng, 2011. "Family Ownership and the International Involvement of Taiwan's High-Technology Firms: The Moderating Effect of High-Discretion Organizational Slack," Management and Organization Review, The International Association for Chinese Management Research, vol. 7(2), pages 201-222, July.
    6. René A Belderbos & Mariëlle G Heijltjes, 2005. "The determinants of expatriate staffing by Japanese multinationals in Asia: control, learning and vertical business groups," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 36(3), pages 341-354, May.
    7. Birkinshaw, Julian & Hood, Neil & Young, Stephen, 2005. "Subsidiary entrepreneurship, internal and external competitive forces, and subsidiary performance," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 14(2), pages 227-248, April.
    8. Mahajan, Ashish & Toh, Soo Min, 2014. "Facilitating expatriate adjustment: The role of advice-seeking from host country nationals," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 49(4), pages 476-487.
    9. Keith D. Brouthers & Lance Eliot Brouthers, 2003. "Why Service and Manufacturing Entry Mode Choices Differ: The Influence of Transaction Cost Factors, Risk and Trust," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(5), pages 1179-1204, July.
    10. Thite, Mohan & Wilkinson, Adrian & Shah, Dhara, 2012. "Internationalization and HRM strategies across subsidiaries in multinational corporations from emerging economies—A conceptual framework," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 47(2), pages 251-258.
    11. Hsu, Wen-Tsung & Chen, Hsiang-Lan & Cheng, Chia-Yi, 2013. "Internationalization and firm performance of SMEs: The moderating effects of CEO attributes," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 48(1), pages 1-12.
    12. Peltokorpi, Vesa & Froese, Fabian, 2014. "Expatriate personality and cultural fit: The moderating role of host country context on job satisfaction," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(1), pages 293-302.
    13. Shawn M Carraher & Sherry E Sullivan & Madeline M Crocitto, 2008. "Mentoring across global boundaries: an empirical examination of home- and host-country mentors on expatriate career outcomes," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 39(8), pages 1310-1326, December.
    14. Liu, Yunshi & Lin, Wen-Ting & Cheng, Kuei-Yang, 2011. "Family Ownership and the International Involvement of Taiwan's High-Technology Firms: The Moderating Effect of High-Discretion Organizational Slack," Management and Organization Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 7(2), pages 201-222, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sarabi, Almasa & Froese, Fabian J. & Hamori, Monika, 2017. "Is inpatriate assignment experience a ticket to the top of a foreign subsidiary? The moderating effect of subsidiary context," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 52(5), pages 680-690.
    2. Chipoong Kim & Chul Chung & Chris Brewster, 2019. "Beyond Nationality: International Experience as a Key Dimension for Subsidiary Staffing Choices in MNEs," John H Dunning Centre for International Business Discussion Papers jhd-dp2019-03, Henley Business School, University of Reading.
    3. Sihong Wu & Di Fan & Liang Chen, 2022. "Revisiting the Internationalization-Performance Relationship: A Twenty-Year Meta-Analysis of Emerging Market Multinationals," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 62(2), pages 203-243, April.
    4. Heejin Kim & B. Sebastian Reiche & Anne-Wil Harzing, 2022. "How does successive inpatriation contribute to subsidiary capability building and subsidiary evolution? An organizational knowledge creation perspective," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 53(7), pages 1394-1419, September.
    5. Li, Liang (Arthur) & Schotter, Andreas P.J. & Beamish, Paul W., 2024. "The origin and nationality of general manager successors in local-market-seeking MNE subsidiaries," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(3).
    6. Sana Mumtaz & Sadia Nadeem, 2022. "Understanding the Integration of Psychological and Socio-cultural Factors in Adjustment of Expatriates: An AUM Process Model," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(1), pages 21582440221, February.
    7. Faisal M. Ahsan & Ajay Singal, 2019. "Performance of mid-size internationalized Indian firms: evaluating the role of family control," Asian Journal of Empirical Research, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 9(12), pages 387-400, December.
    8. Jean–Luc Arregle & Bat Batjargal & Michael A. Hitt & Justin W. Webb & Toyah Miller & Anne S. Tsui, 2015. "Family Ties in Entrepreneurs’ Social Networks and New Venture Growth," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 39(2), pages 313-344, March.
    9. Lipeng Gary Ge & Cuili Qian & Jiatao Li, 2019. "Mimicry, Knowledge Spillover and Expatriate Assignment Strategy in Overseas Subsidiaries," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 59(6), pages 981-1007, December.
    10. Church, Bryan K. & Kuang, Xi (Jason) & Liu, Yuebing (Sarah), 2019. "The effects of measurement basis and slack benefits on honesty in budget reporting," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 74-84.
    11. Kawai, Norifumi & Chung, Chul, 2019. "Expatriate utilization, subsidiary knowledge creation and performance: The moderating role of subsidiary strategic context," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 54(1), pages 24-36.
    12. Caligiuri, Paula & Bonache, Jaime, 2016. "Evolving and enduring challenges in global mobility," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 51(1), pages 127-141.
    13. Mikel Alayo & Txomin Iturralde & Amaia Maseda & Gloria Aparicio, 2021. "Mapping family firm internationalization research: bibliometric and literature review," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 15(6), pages 1517-1560, August.
    14. Schwens, Christian & Kabst, Ruediger, 2011. "Internationalization of young technology firms: A complementary perspective on antecedents of foreign market familiarity," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 20(1), pages 60-74, February.
    15. Bader, Benjamin & Schuster, Tassilo, 2015. "Expatriate Social Networks in Terrorism-Endangered Countries: An Empirical Analysis in Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 21(1), pages 63-77.
    16. Li, Wen Helena & Guo, Bin & De Sisto, Marco, 2021. "Untangling the commonalities and differences between domestic cross-regional experience and international experience in shaping speed of internationalization," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(2).
    17. Alvarado-Vargas, Marcelo J. & Hermans, Michel & Newburry, William, 2020. "What’s in it for me? Local employees’ anticipated career opportunities derived from firm internationalization," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 201-211.
    18. Xueru Yang & Jun Li & Laura J. Stanley & Franz W. Kellermanns & Xinchun Li, 2020. "How family firm characteristics affect internationalization of Chinese family SMEs," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 37(2), pages 417-448, June.
    19. Bader, Benjamin & Berg, Nicola & Holtbrügge, Dirk, 2015. "Expatriate performance in terrorism-endangered countries: The role of family and organizational support," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 24(5), pages 849-860.
    20. Evert, Robert E. & Sears, Joshua B. & Martin, John A. & Payne, G. Tyge, 2018. "Family ownership and family involvement as antecedents of strategic action: A longitudinal study of initial international entry," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 301-311.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:pal:abaman:v:21:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1057_s41291-020-00118-y. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.palgrave.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.