The Interplay between HQ Legitimation and Subsidiary Legitimacy Judgments in HQ Relocation : A Social Psychological Approach

Balogun, Julia Christine and Fahy, Kathryn Mary and Vaara, Eero (2019) The Interplay between HQ Legitimation and Subsidiary Legitimacy Judgments in HQ Relocation : A Social Psychological Approach. Journal of International Business Studies, 50 (2). 223–249. ISSN 0047-2506

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Abstract

This paper marks a departure from the focus on external stakeholders in much research on legitimacy and Multinational Corporations, adopting a social psychological approach to study how MNCs build internal legitimacy for controversial decisions with their subsidiaries. We explore this through a longitudinal, real-time qualitative case study of a regional office relocation, since office relocations represent rare yet significant strategic decisions. We analyze the interplay between the legitimation strategies of senior managers and subsidiary legitimacy judgments, based in instrumental, relational, and moral considerations, and how the relationship between the two develops over time. From this analysis we derive inductively a process model that reveals the dynamics of building internal legitimacy with subsidiaries, and how an MNC moves on even in the absence of full legitimacy, when dealing with controversial MNC decisions. The model highlights two important dynamics. The first is a dynamic between legitimation strategies and legitimacy judgments and how this is influenced by local subsidiary contexts. The second is a temporal dynamic in how both the legitimation strategies and legitimacy judgments evolve over time. Our model contributes to research on legitimacy in MNCs, what we know about tensions that characterize MNC sub-unit relationships, and research on headquarters relocation.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Journal of International Business Studies
Additional Information:
The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/s41267-017-0122-8
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1400/1400
Subjects:
?? headquarters–subsidiary roles and relations strategic change qualitative research case studygeneral business,management and accountingeconomics and econometricsbusiness and international managementstrategy and managementmanagement of technology and innova ??
ID Code:
88203
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
31 Oct 2017 16:12
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
15 Sep 2024 00:29