IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/worbus/v53y2018i4p540-554.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Subsidiary coopetition competence: Navigating subsidiary evolution in the multinational corporation

Author

Listed:
  • Tippmann, Esther
  • Sharkey Scott, Pamela
  • Reilly, Marty
  • O’Brien, Donal

Abstract

This paper examines the engagement of subsidiaries in coopetition, the simultaneous pursuit of competitive and cooperative behavior, in subsidiary role development. Drawing on twelve detailed case studies, we uncover how framing of the mandate situation shapes subsidiary actions to influence role development, thereby leading to competitive and cooperative subsidiary behavior. This paper advances our understanding of coopetition in MNCs by developing the concept of subsidiary coopetition competence and extends theory on subsidiary evolution.

Suggested Citation

  • Tippmann, Esther & Sharkey Scott, Pamela & Reilly, Marty & O’Brien, Donal, 2018. "Subsidiary coopetition competence: Navigating subsidiary evolution in the multinational corporation," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 53(4), pages 540-554.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:worbus:v:53:y:2018:i:4:p:540-554
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jwb.2018.02.006
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090951617300044
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jwb.2018.02.006?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. Julian Birkinshaw, 1996. "How Multinational Subsidiary Mandates are Gained and Lost," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 27(3), pages 467-495, September.
    2. Wenpin Tsai, 2002. "Social Structure of “Coopetition” Within a Multiunit Organization: Coordination, Competition, and Intraorganizational Knowledge Sharing," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 13(2), pages 179-190, April.
    3. Luo, Yadong, 2007. "A coopetition perspective of global competition," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 42(2), pages 129-144, June.
    4. D. Charles Galunic & Kathleen M. Eisenhardt, 1996. "The Evolution of Intracorporate Domains: Divisional Charter Losses in High-Technology, Multidivisional Corporations," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 7(3), pages 255-282, June.
    5. L. Felipe Monteiro & Niklas Arvidsson & Julian Birkinshaw, 2008. "Knowledge Flows Within Multinational Corporations: Explaining Subsidiary Isolation and Its Performance Implications," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 19(1), pages 90-107, February.
    6. Julian Birkinshaw & Mats Lingblad, 2005. "Intrafirm Competition and Charter Evolution in the Multibusiness Firm," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 16(6), pages 674-686, December.
    7. Dörrenbächer, Christoph & Gammelgaard, Jens, 2010. "Multinational corporations, inter-organizational networks and subsidiary charter removals," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 45(3), pages 206-216, July.
    8. Hong, Jacky F.L. & Snell, Robin Stanley, 2015. "Knowledge development through co-opetition: A case study of a Japanese foreign subsidiary and its local suppliers," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 50(4), pages 769-780.
    9. Buckley, Peter J., 2009. "The impact of the global factory on economic development," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 44(2), pages 131-143, April.
    10. Carlos Garcia‐Pont & J. Ignacio Canales & Fabrizio Noboa, 2009. "Subsidiary Strategy: The Embeddedness Component," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(2), pages 182-214, March.
    11. Nitin Nohria & Sumantra Ghoshal, 1994. "Differentiated fit and shared values: Alternatives for managing headquarters‐subsidiary relations," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 15(6), pages 491-502, July.
    12. Kappen, Philip, 2011. "Competence-creating overlaps and subsidiary technological evolution in the multinational corporation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 40(5), pages 673-686, June.
    13. Catherine Welch & Rebecca Piekkari & Emmanuella Plakoyiannaki & Eriikka Paavilainen-Mantymaki, 2011. "Theorising from case studies: Towards a pluralist future for international business research," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 42(5), pages 740-762, June.
    14. Kendall Roth & Allen J Morrison, 1992. "Implementing Global Strategy: Characteristics of Global Subsidiary Mandates," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 23(4), pages 715-735, December.
    15. Peter J. Buckley, 2011. "International Integration and Coordination in the Global Factory," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 51(2), pages 269-283, April.
    16. Ram Mudambi & Pietro Navarra, 2004. "Is knowledge power? Knowledge flows, subsidiary power and rent-seeking within MNCs," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 35(5), pages 385-406, September.
    17. Sarah Kaplan, 2008. "Framing Contests: Strategy Making Under Uncertainty," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 19(5), pages 729-752, October.
    18. T. K. Das & Bing-Sheng Teng, 2000. "Instabilities of Strategic Alliances: An Internal Tensions Perspective," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 11(1), pages 77-101, February.
    19. Schmid, Stefan & Dzedek, Lars R. & Lehrer, Mark, 2014. "From Rocking the Boat to Wagging the Dog: A Literature Review of Subsidiary Initiative Research and Integrative Framework," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 20(2), pages 201-218.
    20. Alain Verbeke & James J. Chrisman & Wenlong Yuan, 2007. "A Note on Strategic Renewal and Corporate Venturing in the Subsidiaries of Multinational Enterprises," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 31(4), pages 585-600, July.
    21. Ciabuschi, Francesco & Dellestrand, Henrik & Kappen, Philip, 2012. "The good, the bad, and the ugly: Technology transfer competence, rent-seeking, and bargaining power," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 47(4), pages 664-674.
    22. Conroy, Kieran M. & Collings, David G., 2016. "The legitimacy of subsidiary issue selling: Balancing positive & negative attention from corporate headquarters," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 51(4), pages 612-627.
    23. 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.
    24. Esther Tippmann & Pamela Sharkey Scott & Vincent Mangematin, 2012. "Problem solving in MNCs: How local and global solutions are (and are not) created," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 43(8), pages 746-771, October.
    25. Julia Balogun & Paula Jarzabkowski & Eero Vaara, 2011. "Selling, resistance and reconciliation : A critical discursive approach to subsidiary role evolution in MNEs," Post-Print hal-02312627, HAL.
    26. 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.
    27. Neil Hood & James Taggart, 1999. "Subsidiary Development in German and Japanese Manufacturing Subsidiaries in the British Isles," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 33(6), pages 513-528.
    28. Andersson, Ulf & Pedersen, Torben, 2010. "Organizational design mechanisms for the R&D function in a world of offshoring," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 26(4), pages 431-438, December.
    29. Gnyawali, Devi R. & Park, Byung-Jin (Robert), 2011. "Co-opetition between giants: Collaboration with competitors for technological innovation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 40(5), pages 650-663, June.
    30. Julian Birkinshaw, 1999. "The Determinants and Consequences of Subsidiary Initiative in Multinational Corporations," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 24(1), pages 9-36, October.
    31. Luo, Yadong, 2005. "Toward coopetition within a multinational enterprise: a perspective from foreign subsidiaries," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 71-90, February.
    32. Esther Tippmann & Pamela Sharkey Scott & Andrew Parker, 2017. "Boundary Capabilities in MNCs: Knowledge Transformation for Creative Solution Development," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(4), pages 455-482, June.
    33. Dörrenbächer, Christoph & Gammelgaard, Jens, 2006. "Subsidiary role development: The effect of micro-political headquarters-subsidiary negotiations on the product, market and value-added scope of foreign-owned subsidiaries," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 12(3), pages 266-283, September.
    34. Mudambi, Ram, 1999. "MNE internal capital markets and subsidiary strategic independence," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 8(2), pages 197-211, April.
    35. Julia Balogun & Paula Jarzabkowski & Eero Vaara, 2011. "Selling, resistance and reconciliation: A critical discursive approach to subsidiary role evolution in MNEs," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 42(6), pages 765-786, August.
    36. Ingmar Björkman & Wilhelm Barner-Rasmussen & Li Li, 2004. "Managing knowledge transfer in MNCs: the impact of headquarters control mechanisms," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 35(5), pages 443-455, September.
    37. Karen Locke & Karen Golden-Biddle & Martha S. Feldman, 2008. "Perspective---Making Doubt Generative: Rethinking the Role of Doubt in the Research Process," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 19(6), pages 907-918, December.
    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. Elsahn, Ziad & Earl, Anna, 2022. "Alternative ways of studying time in qualitative international business research: A review and future agenda," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(3).
    2. Ambos, Tina C. & Tippmann, Esther & Nell, Phillip C., 2023. "Realizing subsidiary initiatives: A network mobilization view," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 29(6).
    3. Wioletta Mierzejewska & Maria Aluchna & Emilia Tomczyk, 2023. "Do coopetition and cohesion of business groups stimulate their innovation performance?," DECISION: Official Journal of the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, Springer;Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, vol. 50(2), pages 153-168, June.
    4. Ambos, Björn & Kunisch, Sven & Leicht-Deobald, Ulrich & Schulte Steinberg, Adrian, 2019. "Unravelling agency relations inside the MNC: The roles of socialization, goal conflicts and second principals in headquarters-subsidiary relationships," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 54(2), pages 67-81.
    5. Tina C Ambos & Sebastian H Fuchs & Alexander Zimmermann, 2020. "Managing interrelated tensions in headquarters–subsidiary relationships: The case of a multinational hybrid organization," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(6), pages 906-932, August.
    6. 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).
    7. Mierzejewska Wioletta, 2023. "Does coopetition pay off? Benefits of intra-organizational coopetition within business groups," International Journal of Management and Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, Collegium of World Economy, vol. 59(2), pages 150-167, June.
    8. Henrik Dellestrand & Philip Kappen & Olof Lindahl, 2020. "Headquarter resource allocation strategies and subsidiary competitive or cooperative behavior: achieving a fit for value creation," Journal of Organization Design, Springer;Organizational Design Community, vol. 9(1), pages 1-16, December.
    9. Gillmore, Edward, 2022. "Mandate dynamics and the importance of mandate loss for subsidiary evolution," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(6).
    10. Chiambaretto, Paul & Massé, David & Mirc, Nicola, 2019. "“All for One and One for All?” - Knowledge broker roles in managing tensions of internal coopetition: The Ubisoft case," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(3), pages 584-600.
    11. Joey Soehardjojo & Rick Delbridge & Guglielmo Meardi, 2023. "The hidden layers of resistance to dominant HRM transfer: Evidence from Japanese management practice adoption in Indonesia," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 44(3), pages 679-702, August.
    12. Andrews, Daniel S. & Fainshmidt, Stav & Newburry, William & Parente, Ronaldo & Haensel, Kira, 2023. "What determines subunit integration in the multinational firm? A meta-analysis," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 29(6).
    13. Reilly, Marty & Scott, Pamela Sharkey & Tippmann, Esther & Mangematin, Vincent, 2023. "Sustaining competence creation in the multinational enterprise: The role of piloting in subsidiaries," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 29(3).
    14. Stendahl, Emma & Tippmann, Esther & Yakhlef, Ali, 2022. "Practice creation in multinational corporations: Improvisation and the emergence of lateral knowledge," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 57(3).
    15. Jong Min Lee, 2022. "MNCs as dispersed structures of power: Performance and management implications of power distribution in the subsidiary portfolio," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 53(1), pages 126-155, February.
    16. Marty Reilly & Esther Tippmann & Pamela Sharkey Scott, 2023. "Subsidiary closures and relocations in the multinational enterprise: Reinstating cooperation in subsidiaries to enable knowledge transfer," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 54(6), pages 997-1026, August.
    17. Emma Stendahl & Svante Schriber & Esther Tippmann, 2021. "Control changes in multinational corporations: Adjusting control approaches in practice," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(3), pages 409-431, April.
    18. Dzikowska Marlena & Gorynia Marian, 2020. "Long-term evolution of the subsidiary’s role: a qualitative perspective on a subsidiary located in Poland," International Journal of Management and Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, Collegium of World Economy, vol. 56(1), pages 79-95, March.
    19. Wioletta Mierzejewska, 2022. "Understanding Coopetition Within Multinational Corporations: The Perspective of Relationship Between Subsidiaries," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 23(3), pages 371-385, September.
    20. Cooper, Maggie & Nguyen, Quyen T.K., 2019. "Understanding the interaction of motivation and opportunity for tax planning inside US multinationals: A qualitative study," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 54(6), pages 1-1.
    21. Lee, Hyoungjin & Chung, Chris Changwha & Beamish, Paul W., 2019. "Configurational characteristics of mandate portfolios and their impact on foreign subsidiary survival," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 54(5), pages 1-1.

    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. Reilly, Marty & Scott, Pamela Sharkey & Tippmann, Esther & Mangematin, Vincent, 2023. "Sustaining competence creation in the multinational enterprise: The role of piloting in subsidiaries," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 29(3).
    2. Achcaoucaou, Fariza & Miravitlles, Paloma & León-Darder, Fidel, 2017. "Do we really know the predictors of competence-creating R&D subsidiaries? Uncovering the mediation of dual network embeddedness," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 181-195.
    3. Conroy, Kieran M. & Collings, David G., 2016. "The legitimacy of subsidiary issue selling: Balancing positive & negative attention from corporate headquarters," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 51(4), pages 612-627.
    4. Klaus E. Meyer & Chengguang Li & Andreas P. J. Schotter, 0. "Managing the MNE subsidiary: Advancing a multi-level and dynamic research agenda," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 0, pages 1-39.
    5. Lee, Hyoungjin & Chung, Chris Changwha & Beamish, Paul W., 2019. "Configurational characteristics of mandate portfolios and their impact on foreign subsidiary survival," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 54(5), pages 1-1.
    6. Wioletta Mierzejewska, 2022. "Understanding Coopetition Within Multinational Corporations: The Perspective of Relationship Between Subsidiaries," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 23(3), pages 371-385, September.
    7. Ambos, Tina C. & Tippmann, Esther & Nell, Phillip C., 2023. "Realizing subsidiary initiatives: A network mobilization view," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 29(6).
    8. Chatzopoulou, Erifili-Christina & Dimitratos, Pavlos & Lioukas, Spyros, 2021. "Agency controls and subsidiary strategic initiatives: The mediating role of subsidiary autonomy," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(3).
    9. Klaus E. Meyer & Chengguang Li & Andreas P. J. Schotter, 2020. "Managing the MNE subsidiary: Advancing a multi-level and dynamic research agenda," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(4), pages 538-576, June.
    10. Achcaoucaou, Fariza & Miravitlles, Paloma & León-Darder, Fidel, 2014. "Knowledge sharing and subsidiary R&D mandate development: A matter of dual embeddedness," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(1), pages 76-90.
    11. Tina C Ambos & Sebastian H Fuchs & Alexander Zimmermann, 2020. "Managing interrelated tensions in headquarters–subsidiary relationships: The case of a multinational hybrid organization," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(6), pages 906-932, August.
    12. Roger Schweizer & Katarina Lagerström & Johan Jakobsson, 2021. "Headquarters–subsidiary interaction during the introduction of a value product in India," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 20(5), pages 666-688, November.
    13. Marcus Matthias Keupp & Maximilian Palmié & Oliver Gassmann, 2011. "Achieving Subsidiary Integration in International Innovation by Managerial “Tools”," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 51(2), pages 213-239, April.
    14. 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.
    15. Ryan, Paul & Giblin, Majella & Andersson, Ulf & Clancy, Johanna, 2018. "Subsidiary knowledge creation in co-evolving contexts," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(5), pages 915-932.
    16. Gillmore, Edward, 2022. "Mandate dynamics and the importance of mandate loss for subsidiary evolution," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(6).
    17. Ming Pu & Pek-Hooi Soh, 2018. "The role of dual embeddedness and organizational learning in subsidiary development," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 35(2), pages 373-397, June.
    18. Phookan, Himadree & Sharma, Revti Raman, 2021. "Subsidiary power, cultural intelligence and interpersonal knowledge transfer between subsidiaries within the multinational enterprise," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(4).
    19. Jong Min Lee, 2022. "MNCs as dispersed structures of power: Performance and management implications of power distribution in the subsidiary portfolio," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 53(1), pages 126-155, February.
    20. Najafi-Tavani, Zhaleh & Giroud, Axèle & Andersson, Ulf, 2014. "The interplay of networking activities and internal knowledge actions for subsidiary influence within MNCs," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 49(1), pages 122-131.

    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:eee:worbus:v:53:y:2018:i:4:p:540-554. 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: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/620401/description#description .

    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.