Beyond the TNC paradigm in research on international innovation
Type
conference paper
Date Issued
2007-08-06
Author(s)
Abstract
Recent advances in international management theory as well as new empirical findings cast doubts on the explanatory validity of Bartlett and Ghoshal's para-digm of the transnational corporation (TNC) as a superior form of economic or-ganisation, at least as it refers to firms' international innovation activi-ties. In this contribution we present findings from two firm-level surveys that present psychometrically derived intrafirm data on the international research and deve-lopment (R&D) activities of multina-tional firms. These data cast additional doubts on the explanatory validity of the TNC paradigm.
Following our results, we suggest a more fine-grained look at the intrafirm orga-nisation of interna-tional R&D using firm-level data. Drawing on literature on the decision making behaviour of indi-viduals and on organisational phenomena, and taking up recent calls in literature for research beyond the TNC paradigm, we propose a decision-making perspective on international R&D and offer some suggestions for a quantitative operationalisation of this new perspective.
Following our results, we suggest a more fine-grained look at the intrafirm orga-nisation of interna-tional R&D using firm-level data. Drawing on literature on the decision making behaviour of indi-viduals and on organisational phenomena, and taking up recent calls in literature for research beyond the TNC paradigm, we propose a decision-making perspective on international R&D and offer some suggestions for a quantitative operationalisation of this new perspective.
Language
English
Keywords
International management
MNC
transnational corporation
R&D
subsidiary relationships
HSG Classification
not classified
Refereed
Yes
Event Title
Academy of Management Annual Meeting (AOM) 2007 "Doing Well By Doing Good"
Event Location
Philadelphia, PA
Event Date
03-08.08.2007
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Eprints ID
39598