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Whither national subsidiaries? The need to refocus international management research on structures and processes that matter

Author

Listed:
  • Tony Edwards

    (International Management and Dean of Loughborough University London)

  • Luda Svystunova

    (Loughborough University London)

  • Phil Almond

    (Leicester University)

  • Philipp Kern

    (Loughborough University London)

  • Kyoungmi Kim

    (York St John University)

  • Olga Tregaskis

    (University of East Anglia)

Abstract

The notion that multinational companies (MNCs) are comprised of multiple subsidiaries in different countries is one that underpins voluminous research in international management. This body of research was recently the subject of an authoritative and comprehensive review in this journal (Meyer et al. in J Int Bus Stud 51(4):538–576, 2020). However, we share the concerns about the prevalence of the term ‘subsidiary’ within academic writing expressed by some others (Mees-Buss et al. in J Int Bus Stud 50(9):1513–1543, 2019) and take this further by questioning the assumptions of authority and control on which it is based. We argue that the role of national subsidiaries in how MNCs are organized has been eroded by developments ‘from above’ and ‘from below’ the national level such that it cannot be assumed that national subsidiaries are important influences on how MNCs govern and coordinate their production and service provision and how work is organized. We set out the implications for theory and methods in international management (IM).

Suggested Citation

  • Tony Edwards & Luda Svystunova & Phil Almond & Philipp Kern & Kyoungmi Kim & Olga Tregaskis, 2022. "Whither national subsidiaries? The need to refocus international management research on structures and processes that matter," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 53(1), pages 203-210, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:pal:jintbs:v:53:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1057_s41267-021-00437-y
    DOI: 10.1057/s41267-021-00437-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kostova, Tatiana & Marano, Valentina & Tallman, Stephen, 2016. "Headquarters–subsidiary relationships in MNCs: Fifty years of evolving research," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 51(1), pages 176-184.
    2. Christina Lubinski & R. Daniel Wadhwani, 2020. "Geopolitical jockeying: Economic nationalism and multinational strategy in historical perspective," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(3), pages 400-421, March.
    3. Mäkelä, Kristiina & Barner-Rasmussen, Wilhelm & Ehrnrooth, Mats & Koveshnikov, Alexei, 2019. "Potential and recognized boundary spanners in multinational corporations," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 54(4), pages 335-349.
    4. Tony Edwards & Rocío Sánchez-Mangas & Patrice Jalette & Jonathan Lavelle & Dana Minbaeva, 2016. "Global standardization or national differentiation of HRM practices in multinational companies? A comparison of multinationals in five countries," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 47(8), pages 997-1021, October.
    5. Jacqueline Mees-Buss & Catherine Welch & D. Eleanor Westney, 2019. "What happened to the transnational? The emergence of the neo-global corporation," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(9), pages 1513-1543, December.
    6. Jesper Edman, 2016. "Reconciling the advantages and liabilities of foreignness: Towards an identity-based framework," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 47(6), pages 674-694, August.
    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. Andrew Delios, 2017. "The Death and Rebirth (?) of International Business Research," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(3), pages 391-397, May.
    9. Nicolai J Foss & Ram Mudambi & Samuele Murtinu, 2019. "Taxing the multinational enterprise: On the forced redesign of global value chains and other inefficiencies," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(9), pages 1644-1655, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Westney, D. Eleanor & Piekkari, Rebecca & Koskinen, Kaisa & Tietze, Susanne, 2022. "Crossing borders and boundaries: Translation ecosystems in international business," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(5).

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