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Regional Management as a System

Author

Listed:
  • Rebecca Piekkari

    (Aalto University)

  • Phillip C. Nell

    (Copenhagen Business School)

  • Pervez N. Ghauri

    (King’s College London)

Abstract

We apply information processing theory to investigate the evolution of regional management. Based on a longitudinal case study of a European multinational we capture the overall structural development of the firm and within this context, we conduct an in-depth analysis of two regions and their regional management centres. We conceptualise regional management as a system of differentiated centres. The notion that headquarters can be found in a single location is replaced by the view that headquarters’ activities are spatially distributed within a system. Over time, this multi-level system adapts to changing information processing requirements.

Suggested Citation

  • Rebecca Piekkari & Phillip C. Nell & Pervez N. Ghauri, 2010. "Regional Management as a System," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 50(4), pages 513-532, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:manint:v:50:y:2010:i:4:d:10.1007_s11575-010-0044-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s11575-010-0044-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Benoit Decreton & Henrik Dellestrand & Philip Kappen & Phillip C. Nell, 2017. "Beyond Simple Configurations: The Dual Involvement of Divisional and Corporate Headquarters in Subsidiary Innovation Activities in Multibusiness Firms," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 57(6), pages 855-878, December.
    2. Bruno Amann & Jacques Jaussaud & Johannes Schaaper, 2020. "The bridging role of regional headquarters. Multinational companies in the Asia-Pacific region," Post-Print hal-03264624, HAL.
    3. Chakravarty, Dwarka & Hsieh, Ying-Ying & Schotter, Andreas P.J. & Beamish, Paul W., 2017. "Multinational enterprise regional management centres: Characteristics and performance," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 52(2), pages 296-311.
    4. Suder, Gabriele & Liesch, Peter W. & Inomata, Satoshi & Mihailova, Irina & Meng, Bo, 2015. "The evolving geography of production hubs and regional value chains across East Asia: Trade in value-added," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 50(3), pages 404-416.
    5. Randi Lunnan & Youzhen Zhao, 2014. "Regional headquarters in China: Role in MNE knowledge transfer," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 31(2), pages 397-422, June.
    6. Tomi Laamanen, 2019. "Dynamic attention-based view of corporate headquarters in MNCs," Journal of Organization Design, Springer;Organizational Design Community, vol. 8(1), pages 1-15, December.
    7. Alain Verbeke & Christian Geisler Asmussen, 2016. "Global, Local, or Regional? The Locus of MNE Strategies," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(6), pages 1051-1075, September.
    8. Conroy, Kieran & Gammelgaard, Jens & Jooss, Stefan, 2023. "Operating in the middle-power position: Conceptualising the role of regional headquarters through loaned and owned power," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(5).
    9. 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.
    10. Christine Holmström Lind & Olivia H. Kang, 2017. "The Value-Adding Role of the Corporate Headquarters in Innovation Transfer Processes: The Issue of Headquarters Knowledge Situation," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 57(4), pages 571-602, August.
    11. Bruno Amann & Jacques Jaussaud & Johannes Schaaper, 2014. "Clusters and Regional Management Structures by Western MNCs in Asia: Overcoming the Distance Challenge," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 54(6), pages 879-906, December.
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