IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/abaman/v15y2016i4d10.1057_s41291-016-0004-0.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Aggressive acquirers, laidback owners? Organisational dynamics of subsidiary integration in Chinese MNCs

Author

Listed:
  • Yu Zheng

    (Royal Holloway, University of London)

Abstract

Why do Chinese MNCs appear to be ‘aggressive’ in cross-border acquisition (Zeng and Williamson, 2003), yet ‘laidback’ (Liu and Woywode, 2013) in consolidating subsidiaries in developed economies? This paper addresses this question by examining the power dynamics underpinning subsidiary integration and by bridging two relatively disconnected streams of literature in international business: subsidiary integration of emerging-market MNCs in advanced economies, and power relations inside MNCs. An exploratory case study is outlined to examine a Chinese MNC’s attempt to consolidate a newly acquired Canadian subsidiary. The findings suggest that developing process-based power is critical to subsidiary integration for Chinese MNCs.

Suggested Citation

  • Yu Zheng, 2016. "Aggressive acquirers, laidback owners? Organisational dynamics of subsidiary integration in Chinese MNCs," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 15(4), pages 317-342, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:abaman:v:15:y:2016:i:4:d:10.1057_s41291-016-0004-0
    DOI: 10.1057/s41291-016-0004-0
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41291-016-0004-0
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1057/s41291-016-0004-0?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Alan M. Rugman & Alain Verbeke, 2005. "Subsidiary Specific Advantages in Multinational Enterprises," Chapters, in: Analysis of Multinational Strategic Management, chapter 6, pages 77-90, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    2. Ed Clark & Mike Geppert, 2011. "Subsidiary Integration as Identity Construction and Institution Building: A Political Sensemaking Approach," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(2), pages 395-416, March.
    3. Xiaohui Liu & Trevor Buck, 2009. "The internationalisation strategies of Chinese firms: Lenovo and BOE," Journal of Chinese Economic and Business Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 7(2), pages 167-181.
    4. Max Boisot & John Child, 1999. "Organizations as Adaptive Systems in Complex Environments: The Case of China," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 10(3), pages 237-252, June.
    5. Dikova, Desislava & Rao Sahib, Padma, 2013. "Is cultural distance a bane or a boon for cross-border acquisition performance?," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 48(1), pages 77-86.
    6. Boisot, Max & Meyer, Marshall W., 2008. "Which Way through the Open Door? Reflections on the Internationalization of Chinese Firms," Management and Organization Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 4(3), pages 349-365, November.
    7. Peter J Buckley & L Jeremy Clegg & Adam R Cross & Xin Liu & Hinrich Voss & Ping Zheng, 2007. "The determinants of Chinese outward foreign direct investment," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 38(4), pages 499-518, July.
    8. Florian Becker-Ritterspach & Christoph Dörrenbächer, 2011. "An Organizational Politics Perspective on Intra-firm Competition in Multinational Corporations," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 51(4), pages 533-559, August.
    9. Wei, Tian & Clegg, Jeremy & Ma, Lei, 2015. "The conscious and unconscious facilitating role of the Chinese government in shaping the internationalization of Chinese MNCs," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 24(2), pages 331-343.
    10. Child, John & Rodrigues, Suzana B., 2005. "The Internationalization of Chinese Firms: A Case for Theoretical Extension?1," Management and Organization Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 1(3), pages 381-410, November.
    11. Eero Vaara & Janne Tienari & Rebecca Piekkari & Risto Säntti, 2005. "Language and the Circuits of Power in a Merging Multinational Corporation," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 42(3), pages 595-623, May.
    12. Deng, Ping, 2004. "Outward investment by Chinese MNCs: Motivations and implications," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 47(3), pages 8-16.
    13. Eero Vaara & Janne Tienari & Risto Santti & Rebacca Piekkari, 2005. "Language and the Circuits of Power in a Merging Multinational Corporation," Post-Print hal-02311809, HAL.
    14. Randall Morck & Bernard Yeung & Minyuan Zhao, 2008. "Perspectives on China's outward foreign direct investment," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 39(3), pages 337-350, April.
    15. Deng, Ping, 2009. "Why do Chinese firms tend to acquire strategic assets in international expansion?," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 44(1), pages 74-84, January.
    16. Yadong Luo & Rosalie L Tung, 2007. "International expansion of emerging market enterprises: A springboard perspective," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 38(4), pages 481-498, July.
    17. Tina C Ambos & Ulf Andersson & Julian Birkinshaw, 2010. "What are the consequences of initiative-taking in multinational subsidiaries?," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 41(7), pages 1099-1118, September.
    18. Michael A. Hitt & David Ahlstrom & M. Tina Dacin & Edward Levitas & Lilia Svobodina, 2004. "The Institutional Effects on Strategic Alliance Partner Selection in Transition Economies: China vs. Russia," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 15(2), pages 173-185, April.
    19. Ulf Andersson & Mats Forsgren & Ulf Holm, 2007. "Balancing subsidiary influence in the federative MNC: a business network view," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 38(5), pages 802-818, September.
    20. Max Boisot & Marshall W. Meyer, 2008. "Which Way through the Open Door? Reflections on the Internationalization of Chinese Firms," Management and Organization Review, The International Association for Chinese Management Research, vol. 4(3), pages 349-365, November.
    21. Deng, Ping, 2013. "Chinese Outward Direct Investment Research: Theoretical Integration and Recommendations," Management and Organization Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 9(3), pages 513-539, November.
    22. John Child & Suzana B. Rodrigues, 2005. "The Internationalization of Chinese Firms: A Case for Theoretical Extension?," Management and Organization Review, International Association of Chinese Management Research, vol. 1(3), pages 381-410, November.
    23. Ping Deng, 2013. "Chinese Outward Direct Investment Research: Theoretical Integration and Recommendations. 通过研究中国对外投资发展理论: 现实与建议," Management and Organization Review, The International Association for Chinese Management Research, vol. 9(3), pages 513-539, November.
    24. Ingmar Björkman & Carl F Fey & Hyeon Jeong Park, 2007. "Institutional theory and MNC subsidiary HRM practices: evidence from a three-country study," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 38(3), pages 430-446, May.
    25. Kristiina Makelal; & Ingmar Bjorkman & Mats Ehrnrooth & Adam Smale & Jennie Sumelius, 2013. "Explaining stakeholder evaluations of HRM capabilities in MNC subsidiaries," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 44(8), pages 813-832, October.
    26. Birkinshaw, Julian & Ridderstråle, Jonas, 1999. "Fighting the corporate immune system: a process study of subsidiary initiatives in multinational corporations," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 8(2), pages 149-180, April.
    27. Thite, Mohan & Wilkinson, Adrian & Shah, Dhara, 2012. "Internationalization and HRM strategies across subsidiaries in multinational corporations from emerging economies—A conceptual framework," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 47(2), pages 251-258.
    28. Jacky F. L. Hong & Mark Easterby‐Smith & Robin Stanley Snell, 2006. "Transferring Organizational Learning Systems to Japanese Subsidiaries in China," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(5), pages 1027-1058, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Timon Immanuel Haasis & Ingo Liefner & Ritam Garg, 2018. "The organization of knowledge transfer in the context of Chinese cross-border acquisitions in developed economies," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 17(4), pages 286-311, September.
    2. Cooke, Fang Lee & Wu, Gang & Zhou, Jing & Zhong, Chong & Wang, Jue, 2018. "Acquiring global footprints: Internationalization strategy of Chinese multinational enterprises and human resource implications," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 184-201.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Haifeng Yan & Juan Wang & Ping Deng, 2018. "Outbound linkage and inbound leverage for emerging multinationals: A signaling theory perspective," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 35(2), pages 347-372, June.
    2. Wu, Bing & Deng, Ping, 2020. "Internationalization of SMEs from emerging markets: An institutional escape perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 337-350.
    3. Weilei (Stone) Shi & Sunny Li Sun & Daying Yan & Zhu Zhu, 2017. "Institutional fragility and outward foreign direct investment from China," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 48(4), pages 452-476, May.
    4. Sun, Sunny Li & Peng, Mike W. & Lee, Ruby P. & Tan, Weiqiang, 2015. "Institutional open access at home and outward internationalization," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 50(1), pages 234-246.
    5. Ilan Alon & John Anderson & Ziaul Haque Munim & Alice Ho, 2018. "A review of the internationalization of Chinese enterprises," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 35(3), pages 573-605, September.
    6. Vukicevic, Jelena & Fallon, Grahame & Ott, Ursula F., 2021. "A theoretical and empirical investigation into investment activities of technologically-intensive Chinese state-owned enterprises in the UK," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(1).
    7. Valeria, Gattai & Rajssa, Mechelli & Piergiovanna, Natale, 2016. "FDI and Heterogeneous Firms: Evidence from BRIC Countries," Working Papers 322, University of Milano-Bicocca, Department of Economics, revised 18 Jan 2016.
    8. Fu, Xiaolan & Hou, Jun & Liu, Xiaohui, 2018. "Unpacking the Relationship between Outward Direct Investment and Innovation Performance: Evidence from Chinese firms," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 111-123.
    9. Dirk Holtbrügge & Sue Claire Berning, 2018. "Market Entry Strategies and Performance of Chinese Firms in Germany: The Moderating Effect of Home Government Support," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 58(1), pages 147-170, February.
    10. Ping Deng & Andrew Delios & Mike W. Peng, 2020. "A geographic relational perspective on the internationalization of emerging market firms," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(1), pages 50-71, February.
    11. Hu, Helen Wei & Cui, Lin, 2014. "Outward foreign direct investment of publicly listed firms from China: A corporate governance perspective," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(4), pages 750-760.
    12. Wang, Chengqi & Hong, Junjie & Kafouros, Mario & Boateng, Agyenim, 2012. "What drives outward FDI of Chinese firms? Testing the explanatory power of three theoretical frameworks," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 21(3), pages 425-438.
    13. Yakob, Ramsin & Nakamura, H. Richard & Ström, Patrik, 2018. "Chinese foreign acquisitions aimed for strategic asset-creation and innovation upgrading: The case of Geely and Volvo Cars," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 70, pages 59-72.
    14. Sun, Zhe & Vinig, Tsvi & Hosman, Thomas Daniël, 2017. "The financing of Chinese outbound mergers and acquisitions: Is there a distortion between state-owned enterprises and privately owned enterprises?," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 39(PA), pages 377-388.
    15. Su, Cong & Kong, Lingshuang & Ciabuschi, Francesco & Yan, Haifeng, 2021. "Reverse innovation transfer in Chinese MNCs: The role of political ties and headquarters," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(1).
    16. Yadong Luo & Hongxin Zhao & Yagang Wang & Youmin Xi, 2011. "Venturing Abroad by Emerging Market Enterprises," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 51(4), pages 433-459, August.
    17. Anderson, John & Sutherland, Dylan & Severe, Sean, 2015. "An event study of home and host country patent generation in Chinese MNEs undertaking strategic asset acquisitions in developed markets," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 24(5), pages 758-771.
    18. Luo, Yadong & Maksimov, Vladislav & Bu, Juan, 2021. "Making Geographic Dispersion Work for Emerging Market MNEs," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(3).
    19. Ajai S Gaur & Xufei Ma & Zhujun Ding, 2018. "Home country supportiveness/unfavorableness and outward foreign direct investment from China," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 49(3), pages 324-345, April.
    20. Olawoyin Gregory Adedigba & Runhui Lin & Nizam Ud Din, 2020. "The degree of internationalization of Chinese Multinationals along the belt and road initiative countries," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(7), pages 1-22, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:pal:abaman:v:15:y:2016:i:4:d:10.1057_s41291-016-0004-0. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.palgrave.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.