Selling, resistance and reconciliation: A critical discursive approach to subsidiary role evolution in MNEs

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Balogun, Julia; Jarzabkowski, Paula; Vaara, Eero
• 署名单位: Lancaster University; Aston University; Hanken School of Economics; emlyon business school
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS STUDIES
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0047-2506
• DOI: 10.1057/jibs.2011.13
• 发表日期: 2011
• 页码: 765-786
• 关键词: primary data source; STRATEGIC CHANGE; strategy processes; discourse analysis; Case study; MNE integration

摘要

Studies of political dynamics between multinational enterprise (MNE) parents and subsidiaries during subsidiary role evolution have focused largely on control and resistance. This paper adopts a critical discursive approach to enable an exploration of subtle dynamics in the way that both headquarters and subsidiaries subjectively reconstruct their independent-interdependent relationships with each other during change. We draw from a real-time qualitative study of a revealing case of charter change in an important European subsidiary of an MNE attempting to build closer integration across European country operations. Our results illustrate the role of three discourses selling, resistance and reconciliation in the reconstruction of the subsidiary parent relationship. From this analysis we develop a process framework that elucidates the important role of these three discourses in the reconstruction of subsidiary roles, showing how resistance is not simply subversive but an important part of integration. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the micro-level political dynamics in subsidiary role evolution, and of how voice is exercised in MNEs. This study also provides a rare example of discourse-based analysis in an MNE context, advancing our knowledge of how discursive methods can help to advance international business research more generally. Journal of International Business Studies (2011) 42, 765-786.