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Explaining stakeholder evaluations of HRM capabilities in MNC subsidiaries

Author

Listed:
  • Kristiina Makelal;

    (Aalto University School of Business, Aalto, Finland)

  • Ingmar Bjorkman

    (Aalto University School of Business, Aalto, Finland)

  • Mats Ehrnrooth

    (Hanken School of Economics, Helsinki, Finland)

  • Adam Smale

    (University of Vaasa, Vaasa, Finland)

  • Jennie Sumelius

    (Hanken School of Economics, Helsinki, Finland)

Abstract

This paper examines how functional and line-management stakeholders evaluate operational human resource management capabilities in multinational corporation (MNC) subsidiaries. We suggest that such evaluations are a function of two key structural factors: (1) that focal subsidiary human resource (HR) departments respond differentially to the expectations of differently located stakeholders; and (2) that the structural position of the stakeholder determines what cues he or she relies upon to construct the evaluation. Our findings show that the focal HR subsidiary department is likely to exert more effort towards meeting the expectations of line-management stakeholders, and we suggest that this is a function of line management’s co-location with the focal HR department. Second, we find that co-located line-management stakeholders are more likely to rely on experience-based cues when constructing evaluations, whereas headquarters-located functional stakeholders tend to rely on cognition-based evaluation, driven by their ability to compare across different subsidiary HR departments. We contribute to the literature by going beyond existing research that has tended to focus on evaluation from the perspective of organizational behavior, by providing a structural perspective on capability evaluation in MNCs that combines the insights of role theory and cognitive choice heuristics.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
  • Handle: RePEc:pal:jintbs:v:44:y:2013:i:8:p:813-832
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Turulja Lejla & Bajgorić Nijaz, 2016. "Human Resources or Information Technology: What is More Important for Companies in the Digital Era?," Business Systems Research, Sciendo, vol. 7(1), pages 35-45, March.
    2. Guercini, Simone & Milanesi, Matilde, 2020. "Heuristics in international business: A systematic literature review and directions for future research," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 26(4).
    3. López-Sáez, Pedro & Cruz-González, Jorge & Navas-López, Jose Emilio & Perona-Alfageme, María del Mar, 2021. "Organizational integration mechanisms and knowledge transfer effectiveness in MNCs: The moderating role of cross-national distance," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(4).
    4. 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.
    5. Turulja Lejla & Kožo Amra & Kurtić Emir & Bach Mirjana Pejić, 2023. "HRM Practices and Organizational Performance: Mediation Effect of Innovation," South East European Journal of Economics and Business, Sciendo, vol. 18(1), pages 85-99, June.
    6. Andrews, Daniel S. & Fainshmidt, Stav & Ambos, Tina & Haensel, Kira, 2022. "The attention-based view and the multinational corporation: Review and research agenda," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 57(2).
    7. Torben Pedersen & Marcus M Larsen & Àngels Dasí, 2020. "Searching locally and globally: Applying Daniel Levinthal’s scholarship to international business," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(9), pages 1532-1546, December.

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