TY - JOUR
T1 - The Interplay of Networking Activities and Internal Knowledge Actions for Subsidiary Influence within MNCs
AU - Najafi-Tavani, Zhaleh
AU - Giroud, Axèle
AU - Andersson, Ulf
PY - 2014/1
Y1 - 2014/1
N2 - Knowledge-based and network-based activities are known determinants of foreign subsidiary influence. We demonstrate that the interaction between these factors is essential in understanding how subsidiaries gain influence within an MNC. We test this using data on 184 foreign-owned subsidiaries in the UK. The results indicate that the possession of strategic resources (knowledge or embedded relations) increases subsidiary influence only when the knowledge is transferred back to headquarters. Importantly, the impact of subsidiary-headquarters embeddedness, external embeddedness and knowledge development on influence is mediated by the extent of reverse knowledge transfer. This mediating role sheds new light on the antecedents to subsidiary influence.
AB - Knowledge-based and network-based activities are known determinants of foreign subsidiary influence. We demonstrate that the interaction between these factors is essential in understanding how subsidiaries gain influence within an MNC. We test this using data on 184 foreign-owned subsidiaries in the UK. The results indicate that the possession of strategic resources (knowledge or embedded relations) increases subsidiary influence only when the knowledge is transferred back to headquarters. Importantly, the impact of subsidiary-headquarters embeddedness, external embeddedness and knowledge development on influence is mediated by the extent of reverse knowledge transfer. This mediating role sheds new light on the antecedents to subsidiary influence.
KW - Embeddedness
KW - Reverse knowledge transfer (RKT)
KW - Knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS)
KW - Knowledge development
KW - Influence
U2 - 10.1016/j.jwb.2013.02.004
DO - 10.1016/j.jwb.2013.02.004
M3 - Journal article
SN - 1090-9516
VL - 49
SP - 122
EP - 131
JO - Journal of World Business
JF - Journal of World Business
IS - 1
ER -