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The complexity of the business network context and its effect on subsidiary relational (over-) embeddedness

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  • Nell, Phillip C.
  • Andersson, Ulf

Abstract

Many studies have focused on the effects of MNC subsidiaries’ external relational embeddedness. Little attention has been given to its antecedents and especially to the potential effect that the business network context might have. We try to fill this gap and attempt to explain variation among subsidiaries’ degree of relational embeddedness. Our results show a strong and robust effect of the business network context – i.e. the network context in which the direct business relationships between the subsidiary and its partners are embedded – on the degree of relational embeddedness. However, contrary to previous literature, we find an inverted u-shaped relationship. We discuss our findings with regard to the issue of over-embeddedness and the literature on the strength of weak vs. strong ties.

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  • Nell, Phillip C. & Andersson, Ulf, 2012. "The complexity of the business network context and its effect on subsidiary relational (over-) embeddedness," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 21(6), pages 1087-1098.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:iburev:v:21:y:2012:i:6:p:1087-1098
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ibusrev.2011.12.002
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    9. Randi Lunnan & Sverre Tomassen & Ulf Andersson & Gabriel R. G. Benito, 2019. "Dealing with headquarters in the multinational corporation: a subsidiary perspective on organizing costs," Journal of Organization Design, Springer;Organizational Design Community, vol. 8(1), pages 1-24, December.
    10. Suma Athreye & Georgios Batsakis & Satwinder Singh, 2013. "Subsidiary Embeddedness is a Strategic Choice: Complementarity and the factors associated with different types of embeddedness," DRUID Working Papers 13-05, DRUID, Copenhagen Business School, Department of Industrial Economics and Strategy/Aalborg University, Department of Business Studies.
    11. Colakoglu, Saba & Yamao, Sachiko & Lepak, David P., 2014. "Knowledge creation capability in MNC subsidiaries: Examining the roles of global and local knowledge inflows and subsidiary knowledge stocks," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(1), pages 91-101.
    12. Guimón, José & Salazar, Juan Carlos, 2014. "Collaboration in innovation between foreign subsidiaries and local universities: evidence from Spain," Papers in Innovation Studies 2014/5, Lund University, CIRCLE - Centre for Innovation Research.
    13. Guimón, José & Chaminade, Cristina & Maggi, Claudio & Salazar-Elena, Juan Carlos, 2018. "Policies to Attract R&D-related FDI in Small Emerging Countries: Aligning Incentives With Local Linkages and Absorptive Capacities in Chile," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 24(2), pages 165-178.
    14. Ratajczak-Mrozek Milena, 2017. "Interorganizational Network Embeddedness and Performance of Companies Active on Foreign Markets," Journal of Management and Business Administration. Central Europe, Sciendo, vol. 25(4), pages 144-157, December.
    15. Lô, Amadou & Geiger, Martha, 2022. "Managing internal embeddedness in multinational corporations’ R&D subsidiaries: An evolutionary perspective on the automotive industry in Silicon Valley," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
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    17. Liu, Xiaming & Vahtera, Pekka & Wang, Chengang & Wang, Jue & Wei, Yingqi, 2017. "The delicate balance: Managing technology adoption and creation in multinational affiliates in an emerging economy," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(3), pages 515-526.
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