Potential and recognized boundary spanners in multinational corporations

Kristiina Mäkelä; Wilhelm Barner-Rasmussen; Mats Ehrnrooth; Alexei Koveshnikov

doi:10.1016/j.jwb.2019.05.001

Potential and recognized boundary spanners in multinational corporations

Kristiina Mäkelä, Wilhelm Barner-Rasmussen, Mats Ehrnrooth, Alexei Koveshnikov

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Abstract

Boundary spanners play an important role in multinational corporations (MNC), yet it is unclear who these valuable individuals are and why certain individuals, and not others, perform this role. We advance a ‘recognition’ perspective based on whether and how relevant others on both sides on the boundary experience positive impact. A dynamic integrated mixed method analysis of 118 individuals involved in headquarters-subsidiary interactions in four MNCs, shows that only a minority are ‘recognized boundary spanners’, experienced by others to positively impact intergroup relations. We identify different categories and mechanisms of recognition, and make a methodological contribution by integrating qualitative and quantitative analysis.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	335-349
Number of pages	15
Journal	Journal of World Business
Volume	54
Issue number	4
Early online date	2019
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwb.2019.05.001
Publication status	Published - 1 Jun 2019
MoE publication type	A1 Journal article-refereed

Keywords

Boundary spanning
Recognition
In-group
Out-group
Mixed methodology
Multinational corporations

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10.1016/j.jwb.2019.05.001Licence: CC BY

1-s2.0-S1090951617300135-mainFinal published version, 1.47 MBLicence: CC BY

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090951617300135

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Potential and recognized boundary spanners in multinational corporations

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