Impact of the multinational corporation

Efforts to deal with crises in the world economy ignore the real cause—the immense economic power of the multinational corporation. The multinational corporation may harm the economy of the host government by minimizing any negative effects of changes in currency values, and the internationalization of financial institutions has inhibited the host countries' monetary objectives. There is little agreement concerning solutions, either within governments or between governments. The problems will become even more visible. The first steps toward any solution involve a redefinition of business-government relationships and the formulation of a foreign policy that achieves goal congruence.     

Dual embeddedness,influence and performance of innovating subsidiaries in the multinational corporation

This study adopts a business network view to study the effects of subsidiary embeddedness on both subsidiary influence within the MNC and innovation-related business performance. Through Structural Equation Modeling we analyze subsidiary relationships connected to 85 innovation projects. The results show that external and corporate embeddedness are complementary contexts, although they affect subsidiary influence and performance differently. Whereas external embeddedness directly affects innovation-related business performance, corporate embeddedness strengthens the subsidiary's influence within the MNC, which in turn positively relates to performance. Moreover, as the study also finds that external and corporate embeddedness are positively associated, it stresses the issue of simultaneously balancing both external and corporate relationships (i.e., dual embeddedness) to nurture innovation projects.     

SECURITY analysis and the multinational corporation

Each item is listed under the heading for which the contents seem most pertient. Listings here include only basic material, not news items or reports of transitory significance. To aid readers essential data on publisheres of books and other items are provided in the listings in each issue, and the addresses of periodicals read regularly by TIE are given at the end of the GUIDE in the Winter issue of each year.     

Subsidiary coopetition competence: Navigating subsidiary evolution in the multinational corporation

This paper examines the engagement of subsidiaries in coopetition, the simultaneous pursuit of competitive and cooperative behavior, in subsidiary role development. Drawing on twelve detailed case studies, we uncover how framing of the mandate situation shapes subsidiary actions to influence role development, thereby leading to competitive and cooperative subsidiary behavior. This paper advances our understanding of coopetition in MNCs by developing the concept of subsidiary coopetition competence and extends theory on subsidiary evolution.     

Independent financial advisors: open innovation and business performance

The purpose of this paper is to examine the behaviour of small independent financial advisors (IFAs) in terms of their involvement in networks and open innovation. A mail survey of small IFAs was undertaken utilising previously validated scales to assess business performance in relation to networking and open innovation. Results indicate that IFAs involvement in networks and open innovation can assist business performance. The managerial implications are that IFAs and other financial services organisation sector firms may be able to achieve higher sales growth by participating in networks and engaging in open innovation. This paper provides an original empirical assessment of possible strategies to enhance sales growth in small financial service sector firms facing volatile market conditions.     

The corporate social challenge for the multinational corporation

The modern corporation has come to be regarded as a dynamic force for subverting traditional norms in repressive societies. However, the role that MNCs can play in transforming the socio-political landscapes of most host countries is largely circumscribed by the actions that host governments can take. In the case of South Africa, the vast disparities and inequalities created and maintained by many years ofapartheid rule are limiting factors to the trickle-down effect that would normally take place. The paper argues that under the existing circumstances, the corporate withdrawal strategy proved to be the most effective catalytic role MNCs could play in the transformation of SA society.The author, holder of an M.B.A. and a Ph.D. in Strategic Management, is a native of South Africa. He lived there and worked for a large MNC prior to going to the U.S. nine years ago. He teaches at the University of Massachusetts' School of Management in the areas of Business Policy & Strategy, Organization Theory, and Business and Its Environment. He is the Director of the M.B.A. program.     

跨国公司理财环境问题研究

理财环境是跨国公司生存和发展的空间。跨国公司的理财环境具有整体性或系统性、层次性、多变性的特点。任何一个跨国公司的理财活动都受国内和国际环境的影响。东道国对跨国公司的影响主要有政治和法律环境、经济环境、社会和自然环境、技术环境等。而受国际环境影响的主要因素有国际法律环境、金融环境和多国经济组织等。     

Breakthrough innovation in international business: The impact of tech-innovation and market-innovation on performance

The literature suggests that the greater the perceived novelty of a firm’s products and markets, the greater the potential value to the user (Lepak et al., 2007). In this study we analyze the extent to which breakthrough innovation (both tech-innovation and market-innovation) has a positive impact on both economic and strategic export performance. Tech-innovation incorporates technological developments to improve customer benefits versus existing alternatives in the market. Our findings reveal that tech-innovation has a positive impact on the economic and strategic export performance of firms. This relationship becomes stronger when more human resources are available and the exporter becomes more oriented toward the importer. In less competitive markets, the positive relationship between tech-innovation and both types of export performance becomes even stronger.Market-innovation occurs when the product concept or benefits depart from serving existing or conventional markets. Market-innovation was found to be negatively associated with strategic export performance, as it requires major learning effort by importers. This suggests that to create value, exporters need to develop solutions jointly with importers. Overall, these findings suggest that value creation in terms of both tech-innovation and market-innovation needs to involve importers to achieve expectations, thereby leading to improvement in a firm’s short-term and long-term export performance.     

The attention-based view and the multinational corporation: Review and research agenda

Prior research increasingly recognizes the role of managers’ attention within the multinational corporation (MNC). However, literature has been fragmented, focusing on diverse aspects of attention allocation and drawing on distinct conceptualizations of attention and its antecedents and outcomes. To address these lacunae, we systematically review attention-relevant MNC research. We compile a nomological network of attention and identify pertinent tensions in existing research. Leveraging our findings, we propose future research avenues to de-fragment the body of research and advance a more coherent attention-based view of the MNC and its subsidiaries.     

Managing the embedded multinational: a business network view

This response welcomes A. Godley and H. Hang's comment on N. Alexander's recent article. It acknowledges those theoretical issues on which there is broad agreement and explores theoretical issues around which debate is likely to focus in the future. Consideration is given to international retailing in the first and second global economies and the problems surrounding the evaluation of longer term trends. It explores the nature of innovation and the international transfer of retail innovation in an international retail firm and market context. Market structural conditions and their impact on international retail activity are considered. Further areas for historically based research are suggested.     

Language and identity in the shadow: A multi-case study of a Japanese multinational corporation

This paper explores how different organizational identities can be constructed by the use of multiple languages within a multinational corporation’s (MNC) subsidiaries. Scholars are increasingly interested in the importance of language in international business but little is currently known about how identities interact with language across an MNC’s subsidiaries. Applying language and social identity theory, this paper analyses the interactions between organizational identity and the use of multiple languages within the lines of communication in the Thai, Taiwanese and US subsidiaries of a Japanese MNC, focusing especially on communications with customers and headquarters. The findings reveal the range of uses of different languages in the lines of communication and the attendant sharing and shaping of social identities in each subsidiary, thus highlighting the importance of the contexts of subsidiaries. In addition, in a sharp contrast to the approach to linguistic identity assumed in the current literature, the findings reveal how national identity can be sustained independently of the use of language. Moreover, the findings also reveal that perceived identity is influenced not only by actors’ language abilities and ethnicity, but also by their post-colonial views on both parent and host countries, and how this underpins shadow organizational structures.     

The multinational corporation as a coordinated network: Organizing and managing differently

A multinational corporation (MNC) has a number of unique advantages. Of these, the flexibility to operate as a coordinated multinational network places the strategic emphasis on resources and learning. Coordination and integration are needed to provide coherence in resource commitments. Operating as a coordinated multinational network can provide the flexibility needed to implement global strategies. A network organization results in linkages and interrelationships that require organizing and managing differentially. This article focuses on the organizational and managerial characteristics that are needed to operate as a coordinated multinational network. These characteristics include: a strong central leadership role; the flexibility to respond to opportunities; a differentiated, multidimensional focus; distributed, interdependent capabilities; the managerial capacity to achieve coordination; and a collaborative decision-making process. This article also discusses the changes needed in structural mechanisms and systems. Explored are the planning process, performance evaluation and control, information technology/management information systems, and human resource management. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.