The relationship between organizational architecture levers and subsidiary competence-creating capability in multinational corporations
Type
fundamental research project
Start Date
July 1, 2010
End Date
June 30, 2011
Status
ongoing
Keywords
organizational design
knowledge asset
transfer
performance
international management
innovation
MNC
multinational firm
Description
In this research proposal I highlight an important research gap in the international
innovation literature. Despite a lot of research on parent-subsidiary relationship in multinational
companies (MNCs), so far very little is known about which organizational design measures the
parent firm can take to achieve the successful integration of its globally dispersed subsidiaries
into the firm's global network. This research proposal features my suggestions on how theory
could be developed to close this gap, and how this theory could be empirically tested.
First, I set out the theoretical and practical relevance of the topic (section 7.2.1) and
show that very little research on organizational design measures by which subsidiary integration
can be achieved has been conducted so far (section 7.2.2). I then summarize my previous
research in the area of international management and innovation management (section 7.2.3)
and formulate the research question (section 7.2.4). Subsequently I develop both a preliminary
theoretical framework and hypotheses as well as an empirical roadmap (section 7.2.5).
Empirical operationalisation is likely to be greatly facilitated given data collection for the dataset
with which I intend to test my theory has just been finished. This dataset comprises extensive
and detailed information about 301 foreign R&D subsidiaries of MNCs headquartered in
Switzerland and Germany. Finally, I produce a schedule for the project (section 7.2.6) and
highlight its potential for generating a strong publication output and hands-on implications for
executives and managers.
innovation literature. Despite a lot of research on parent-subsidiary relationship in multinational
companies (MNCs), so far very little is known about which organizational design measures the
parent firm can take to achieve the successful integration of its globally dispersed subsidiaries
into the firm's global network. This research proposal features my suggestions on how theory
could be developed to close this gap, and how this theory could be empirically tested.
First, I set out the theoretical and practical relevance of the topic (section 7.2.1) and
show that very little research on organizational design measures by which subsidiary integration
can be achieved has been conducted so far (section 7.2.2). I then summarize my previous
research in the area of international management and innovation management (section 7.2.3)
and formulate the research question (section 7.2.4). Subsequently I develop both a preliminary
theoretical framework and hypotheses as well as an empirical roadmap (section 7.2.5).
Empirical operationalisation is likely to be greatly facilitated given data collection for the dataset
with which I intend to test my theory has just been finished. This dataset comprises extensive
and detailed information about 301 foreign R&D subsidiaries of MNCs headquartered in
Switzerland and Germany. Finally, I produce a schedule for the project (section 7.2.6) and
highlight its potential for generating a strong publication output and hands-on implications for
executives and managers.
Leader contributor(s)
Funder
Topic(s)
organizational design
knowledge asset
transfer
performance
international management
innovation
MNC
multinational firm
Method(s)
tobit regression
structural equation model
OLS regression
factor analysis
robustness tests
Range
School
Range (De)
School
Division(s)
Eprints ID
69360