Headquarters and Subsidiaries in Multinational Corporations : Strategy, Control and Coordination in the Multinational Corporation

This book is a development of my doctoral dissertation. Parts of the material here have appeared in various locations but I have decided to present the results of the research in a classic monograph form in order to facilitate their further dissemination. There are three major reasons for this decision. First, the book presents a more general conceptualization of the headquarters-subsidiary relationship in multinational corporations than any previous model. Second, it adds considerably to the empirical literatures on subsidiary autonomy, control mechanisms and knowledge management and innovation in multinational corporations. Third, from a more parochial perspective, there is a paucity of recent research on multinational corporations in Australia and this book offers, I hope, a baseline and guide for future firm level studies of this topic. The work should be of interest to scholars, practitioners and students alike. To complete a task of this order required advice, assistance and encouragement and many people made contributions both great and small to this venture. Multinational corporations are the most significant busines institutions to emerge in the last century. The hundreds of thousands of subsidiaries that they have spawned have immense influence on all aspects of contemporary life, from telecommunications and toys to pharmaceuticals and forests. In the global business environment, new organizational forms appear almost daily but in most modern multinational corporations the headquarters-subsidiary link remains the primary channel by which the enterprise is managed. It smoothes the progress of inter-unit product, personnel, financial and knowledge flows of every kind and is the conduit through which strategy, control and coordination are implemented. Using data from senior managers of a large sample of Australian subsidiaries of foreign firms, this book brings new practical and theoretical insights into the nature of this vital corporate relationship Annotation In the global business environment, new organizational forms come and go but in today's multinational corporations the headquarters-subsidiary link remains the primary channel by which the firm is managed. It facilitates strategy, control and coordination, and smoothes the progress of inter-unit product, personnel, factor and knowledge flows of every kind. Using data from CEOs of a large sample of Australian subsidiaries of foreign firms, this book brings new insights into the nature of this vital corporate relationship "Multinational corporations are the most significant business institutions to emerge in the last century. The hundreds of thousands of subsidiaries that they have spawned have immense influence on all aspects of contemporary life, from telecommunications and toys to pharmaceuticals and forests. Using data from senior managers of a large sample of Australian subsidiaries of foreign firms, this book brings new practical and theoretical insights into the nature of this vital corporate relationship."--Jacket

in Today's Multinational Corporations The Headquarters-subsidiary Link Remains The Primary Channel By Which The Firm Is Managed. It Facilitates Strategy, Control And Coordination, And Smoothes The Progress Of Inter-unit Product, Personnel, Factor And Knowledge Flows Of Every Kind. Using Data From Ceos Of A Large Sample Of Australian Subsidiaries Of Foreign Firms, This Book Brings New Insights Into The Nature Of This Vital Corporate Relationship.

In the global business environment, new organizational forms come and go but in today's multinational corporations the headquarters- subsidiary link remains the primary channel by which the firm is managed. Johnston from University of Melbourne, Vic