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Control mechanisms of their subsidiaries by multinational firms: A multidimensional perspective

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  • Jaussaud, Jacques
  • Schaaper, Johannes

Abstract

Multinational companies use a wide range of mechanisms to keep control over a subsidiary abroad such as the share of capital in the case of international joint ventures, expatriation, active participation in the board of directors, staffing key management positions, training and socialization of employees, technology transfer, and so on. However, only a few empirical studies on the control of international subsidiaries embrace all these dimensions simultaneously and show how they interact. This paper presents the empirical results of a quantitative survey of 316 subsidiaries, international joint ventures and wholly foreign owned enterprises, set up in China by European and Japanese multinationals. The main objective of the survey is to bring out an inductive multidimensional model of control, and to allow a better understanding of complex interaction and balance between the instruments of control of a subsidiary abroad.

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  • Jaussaud, Jacques & Schaaper, Johannes, 2006. "Control mechanisms of their subsidiaries by multinational firms: A multidimensional perspective," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 12(1), pages 23-45, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:intman:v:12:y:2006:i:1:p:23-45
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Argimón, Isabel & Rodríguez-Moreno, María, 2022. "Risk and control in complex banking groups," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    3. Abdellatif, Mahamat & Amann, Bruno & Jaussaud, Jacques, 2010. "Family versus nonfamily business: A comparison of international strategies," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 1(2), pages 108-116, June.
    4. Schmid, Stefan & Grosche, Philipp & Mayrhofer, Ulrike, 2016. "Configuration and coordination of international marketing activities," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 25(2), pages 535-547.
    5. J. Windsperger, 2009. "Allocation of decision rights in joint ventures," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(8), pages 491-501.
    6. Du, Yan & Deloof, Marc & Jorissen, Ann, 2015. "The Roles of Subsidiary Boards in Multinational Enterprises," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 21(3), pages 169-181.
    7. Pintar Rok & Bernik Mojca & Martins Jorge Tiago, 2017. "Analysis of Expatriation Process in a Slovenian Company," Organizacija, Sciendo, vol. 50(1), pages 63-79, February.
    8. Dolgopyatova, Tatiana & Libman, Alexander & Yakovlev, Andrei, 2018. "Unintended Benefits of Empowering Boards in Conglomerates: A Case Study of AFK Sistema," Journal of East European Management Studies, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 23(2), pages 177-202.
    9. Jell-Ojobor, Maria & Windsperger, Josef, 2014. "The Choice of Governance Modes of International Franchise Firms — Development of an Integrative Model," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 20(2), pages 153-187.
    10. Kuang-Hua Hu & Ming-Fu Hsu & Fu-Hsiang Chen & Mu-Ziyun Liu, 2021. "Identifying the key factors of subsidiary supervision and management using an innovative hybrid architecture in a big data environment," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 7(1), pages 1-27, December.
    11. Xufei Ma & Andrew Delios & Shu Yu, 2020. "Innovation in MNC’S strategy and structure: the (re) emergence of host country headquarters in large emerging markets," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 37(3), pages 609-632, September.
    12. Yong Suhk Pak & Qinglu Sun & Yi Yang, 2019. "Influences of expatriate managerial styles on host-country nationals’ turnover intention," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 18(4), pages 263-280, September.
    13. Francesco Giacobbe & Zoltan Matolcsy & James Wakefield & Tom Smith, 2016. "An investigation of wholly-owned foreign subsidiary control through transaction cost economics theory," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 56(4), pages 1041-1070, December.
    14. Martina Sageder & Birgit Feldbauer-Durstmüller, 2019. "Management control in multinational companies: a systematic literature review," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 13(5), pages 875-918, November.
    15. Matolcsy, Zoltan & Wakefield, James, 2017. "Multinational headquarter control of wholly owned foreign subsidiaries," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 49(3), pages 275-293.
    16. Christopher Melin, 2011. "Le management de projets des firmes multinationales comme un mécanisme de coordination des relations siège-filiales," Post-Print hal-00690839, HAL.

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