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Multinational Companies and the Diffusion of Employment Practices from Outside the Country of Origin

Author

Listed:
  • Tony Edwards

    (King’s College London)

  • Paul Edwards

    (Warwick University)

  • Anthony Ferner

    (De Montfort University)

  • Paul Marginson

    (Warwick University)

  • Olga Tregaskis

    (De Montfort University)

Abstract

This paper analyses the issue of variation between multinational companies in the extent to which they use their foreign operating units as the origin of employment practices that are subsequently transferred across the firm. It uses data from a nationally representative survey of MNCs in the UK and contrasts the relative influences of three sets of factors on diffusion. The results demonstrate that while the nationality of the parent firm and the way in which the multinational is configured have only modest effects on diffusion, the organisational conduits through which the diffusion of practices can occur are central to explaining variation between firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Tony Edwards & Paul Edwards & Anthony Ferner & Paul Marginson & Olga Tregaskis, 2010. "Multinational Companies and the Diffusion of Employment Practices from Outside the Country of Origin," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 50(5), pages 613-634, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:manint:v:50:y:2010:i:5:d:10.1007_s11575-010-0051-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s11575-010-0051-2
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    Cited by:

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    2. Mari Yamauchi, 2016. "Employment Systems in Japan's Financial Industry: Globalization, Growing Divergence and Institutional Change," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 54(3), pages 522-551, September.
    3. Johannes Meuer & Marlies Kluike & Uschi Backes-Gellner & Kerstin Pull, 2018. "Using expatriates for adapting subsidiaries' employment modes to different market economies: a comparative analysis of US subsidiaries in Germany, the UK and Switzerland," Working Papers 372, University of Zurich, Department of Business Administration (IBW).
    4. Anne Stevenot & Loris Guery & Geoffrey Wood & Chris Brewster, 2018. "Country of Origin Effects and New Financial Actors: Private Equity Investment and Work and Employment Practices of French Firms," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 56(4), pages 859-881, December.
    5. Joe Spearing, 2024. "The effect of retirement eligibility on mental health in the United Kingdom: Heterogeneous effects by occupation," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(8), pages 1621-1648, August.
    6. Alison J. Glaister & Yipeng Liu & Sunil Sahadev & Emanuel Gomes, 2014. "Externalizing, Internalizing and Fostering Commitment: The Case of Born-Global Firms in Emerging Economies," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 54(4), pages 473-496, August.
    7. Tony Edwards & Olga Tregaskis & David Collings & Patrice Jalette & Lourdes Susaeta, 2013. "Control over Employment Practice in Multinationals: Subsidiary Functions, Corporate Structures, and National Systems," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 66(3), pages 670-695, May.
    8. Klaas Szierbowski-Seibel & Marius Claus Wehner & Rüdiger Kabst, 2019. "HR Integration, HR Strategy, and HR Partnership - Comparing the "Strategic Partner" between the USA and Germany," Working Papers Dissertations 47, Paderborn University, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics.
    9. Chul Chung & Masayuki Furusawa, 2015. "The HRM of Foreign MNCs Operating in Europe," John H Dunning Centre for International Business Discussion Papers jhd-dp2015-04, Henley Business School, University of Reading.
    10. Akiebe Humphrey Ahworegba & Christophe Estay & Myropi Garri, 2020. "Institutional duality incidence on subsidiaries: configuration, differentiation and avoidance strategies," Post-Print hal-03632783, HAL.

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