Potential and recognized boundary spanners in multinational corporations

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 boun...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of world business : JWB 2019-06, Vol.54 (4), p.335-349
Main Authors: Mäkelä, Kristiina, Barner-Rasmussen, Wilhelm, Ehrnrooth, Mats, Koveshnikov, Alexei
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Boundary spanning
In-group
Mixed methodology
Multinational corporations
Out-group
Recognition
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Summary: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.
ISSN:1090-9516
DOI:10.1016/j.jwb.2019.05.001