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Human resource management in US subsidiaries in Europe and Australia: centralisation or autonomy?

Author

Listed:
  • Mark Fenton-O'Creevy

    (Open University Business School, Milton Keynes, UK)

  • Paul Gooderham

    (Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration, Bergen, Norway)

  • Odd Nordhaug

    (Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration, Bergen, Norway)

Abstract

We explore determinants of subsidiary autonomy in setting human resource management (HRM) practices within US-parented multinational enterprises (MNEs), in Europe and Australia. We examine both the effect of strategic context and the effect of the institutional location of the subsidiary. We find that US MNEs show greater centralisation of control over HRM where the subsidiary faces global markets, in coordinated market economies vs liberal market economies, and where union density is low. Journal of International Business Studies (2008) 39, 151–166. doi:10.1057/palgrave.jibs.8400313

Suggested Citation

  • Mark Fenton-O'Creevy & Paul Gooderham & Odd Nordhaug, 2008. "Human resource management in US subsidiaries in Europe and Australia: centralisation or autonomy?," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 39(1), pages 151-166, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:jintbs:v:39:y:2008:i:1:p:151-166
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Meyer, Klaus E. & Su, Yu-Shan, 2015. "Integration and responsiveness in subsidiaries in emerging economies," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 50(1), pages 149-158.
    2. Fainshmidt, Stav & Judge, William Q. & Aguilera, Ruth V. & Smith, Adam, 2018. "Varieties of institutional systems: A contextual taxonomy of understudied countries," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 53(3), pages 307-322.
    3. Elaine Farndale & Chris Brewster & Paul Ligthart & Erik Poutsma, 2017. "The effects of market economy type and foreign MNE subsidiaries on the convergence and divergence of HRM," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 48(9), pages 1065-1086, December.
    4. Galli Geleilate, Jose-Mauricio & Andrews, Daniel S. & Fainshmidt, Stav, 2020. "Subsidiary autonomy and subsidiary performance: A meta-analysis," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 55(4).
    5. Lazarova, Mila & Peretz, Hilla & Fried, Yitzhak, 2017. "Locals know best? Subsidiary HR autonomy and subsidiary performance," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 52(1), pages 83-96.
    6. 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.
    7. de Jong, Gjalt & van Dut, Vo & Jindra, Björn & Marek, Philipp, 2015. "Does country context distance determine subsidiary decision-making autonomy? Theory and evidence from European transition economies," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 24(5), pages 874-889.
    8. Nikolas Rathert, 2016. "Strategies of legitimation: MNEs and the adoption of CSR in response to host-country institutions," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 47(7), pages 858-879, September.
    9. van Kranenburg, Hans & Voinea, Cosmina Lelia, 2017. "Nonmarket strategies predictors for foreign firms," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 33(2), pages 82-92.
    10. Ignacio Cretini & Marcelo Delfini & Alejandra Quadrana, 2021. "Determinantes de la autonomía local en la gestión del trabajo en empresas multinacionales. El caso de las subsidiarias argentinas," Ensayos de Economía 19346, Universidad Nacional de Colombia Sede Medellín.
    11. Akiebe Humphrey Ahworegba & Christophe Estay & Myropi Garri, 2020. "Institutional duality incidence on subsidiaries: configuration, differentiation and avoidance strategies," Post-Print hal-03632783, HAL.
    12. Bruce E. Kaufman, 2014. "The development of human resource management across nations: history and its lessons for international and comparative HRM," Chapters, in: Bruce E. Kaufman (ed.), The Development of Human Resource Management Across Nations, chapter 1, pages 1-20, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    13. Ahlvik, Catarina & Smale, Adam & Sumelius, Jennie, 2016. "Aligning corporate transfer intentions and subsidiary HRM practice implementation in multinational corporations," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 51(3), pages 343-355.
    14. Norifumi Kawai & Roger Strange & Antonella Zucchella, 2016. "Stakeholder Pressures, EMS Implementation, and Green Innovation in MNC Overseas Subsidiaries," DEM Working Papers Series 121, University of Pavia, Department of Economics and Management.
    15. Cooke, Fang Lee & Wang, Jingtian & Wood, Geoffrey, 2022. "A vulnerable victim or a tacit participant? Extending the field of multinationals and corruption research," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(1).
    16. Cavanagh, Andrew & Freeman, Susan & Kalfadellis, Paul & Herbert, Kendall, 2017. "Assigned versus assumed: Towards a contemporary, detailed understanding of subsidiary autonomy," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(6), pages 1168-1183.
    17. Bayari, Celal, 2010. "Japanese Hybrid Factories in Australia: Analysing Labor Relations and Reflecting on the Work of Tetsuo Abo," MPRA Paper 101832, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 01 Feb 2010.
    18. Lukas Heidt & Felix Gauger & Andreas Pfnür, 2023. "Work from Home Success: Agile work characteristics and the Mediating Effect of supportive HRM," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(6), pages 2139-2164, August.
    19. Xiaoying Li & Xiaming Liu & Howard Thomas, 2013. "Market Orientation, Embeddedness and the Autonomy and Performance of Multinational Subsidiaries in an Emerging Economy," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 53(6), pages 869-897, December.
    20. Anthony Ferner & Jacques Bélanger & Olga Tregaskis & Michael Morley & Javier Quintanilla, 2013. "U.S. Multinationals and the Control of Subsidiary Employment Policies," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 66(3), pages 645-669, May.
    21. Goergen, Marc & Chahine, Salim & Wood, Geoffrey & Brewster, Chris, 2019. "The relationship between public listing, context, multi-nationality and internal CSR," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 122-141.
    22. Gammelgaard, Jens & McDonald, Frank & Stephan, Andreas & Tüselmann, Heinz & Dörrenbächer, Christoph, 2012. "The impact of increases in subsidiary autonomy and network relationships on performance," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 21(6), pages 1158-1172.
    23. Ma, Li & Zhai, Xin & Zhong, Weiguo & Zhang, Zhi-Xue, 2019. "Deploying human capital for innovation: A study of multi-country manufacturing firms," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 241-253.
    24. 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.
    25. Berkery, Elaine & Morley, Michael J. & Tiernan, Siobhán & Peretz, Hilla, 2020. "From start to finish: Flexi-time as a social exchange and its impact on organizational outcomes," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 38(4), pages 591-601.

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