The Agency Perspective for Studying Headquarters-Subsidiary Relations: An Assessment and Considerations for Future Research
Perspectives on Headquarters-subsidiary Relationships in the Contemporary MNC
ISBN: 978-1-78635-370-2, eISBN: 978-1-78635-369-6
Publication date: 10 August 2016
Abstract
Despite the increasing use of the agency perspective in studies of headquarters-subsidiaries relations in the multinational corporation (MNC), opponents fundamentally question its utility. In an attempt to contribute to this debate, we evaluate prior studies and develop considerations for future research. Our review of extant studies of headquarters-subsidiaries relations that make (explicit) use of the agency perspective reveals two significant shortcomings. First, we identify a need to validate the underlying assumptions when using the agency perspective in studies of headquarters-subsidiaries relations. Second, we detect a need to better account for the complex nature of headquarters-subsidiary relations in the MNC. A focus on these two areas can improve the use of the agency perspective and, ultimately, help resolve the contentious debate over the utility of the agency perspective.
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Acknowledgements
Acknowledgments
We thank the editors – Tina Ambos, Björn Ambos, and Julian Birkinshaw – as well as an anonymous reviewer for their guidance and helpful comments. In addition, we are grateful to Albert Cannella, Phillip Nell, and Metin Sengul for their constructive comments on an earlier version of this manuscript.
Citation
Steinberg, A.S. and Kunisch, S. (2016), "The Agency Perspective for Studying Headquarters-Subsidiary Relations: An Assessment and Considerations for Future Research", Perspectives on Headquarters-subsidiary Relationships in the Contemporary MNC (Research in Global Strategic Management, Vol. 17), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 87-118. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1064-485720160000017004
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016 Emerald Group Publishing Limited