Human resource management in Chinese multinationals in the UK: the interplay of institutions, culture and strategic choice

Khan, Z., Wood, G., Tarba, S., Rao-Nicholson, R. and He, S. (2018) Human resource management in Chinese multinationals in the UK: the interplay of institutions, culture and strategic choice. Human Resource Management. 0090-4848. (In Press)

Texts
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10420:22746

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10420:22746

Accepted version
Human Resource Management in Chinese Multinationals in the UK - Paper - accepted version.pdf - Accepted Version

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Abstract:

This is a study of the challenges faced by Chinese expatriate managers and their strategic responses in securing a workable degree of alignment in UK subsidiaries, against a backdrop of competing home and host country pressures. Although much of the literature on home and host country effects tends to either adopt a culture or an institutional approach this study highlights the intermeshed nature of the two. In locating cultural dynamics within an institutional firmament, this study juxtaposes the effects of each, and draws conclusions as to their intersection. It is founded on in-depth interviews with home and host country managers. The findings suggest, on the one hand, Chinese expatriate managers tended to see local regulations as an obstacle to efficiency, rather than as a means to access context specific complementarities. On the other hand, these managers recognized the need to fit in with established locally specific ways of doing things and in securing sufficient staff buy in to sustain operations, and played a key intermediary role between HQ and subsidiary.

Uncontrolled Keywords:

China outward FDI, Chinese MNEs, HRM practices, boundary spanning employees, standardization, adaptation, comparative institutional analysis, culture

Subjects:

H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management
H Social Sciences > HF Commerce > HF1379 International commerce

Creators:

Khan, Z., Wood, G., Tarba, S., Rao-Nicholson, R. and He, S.

Publisher:

John Wiley & Sons

Faculties, Divisions and Institutes:

Faculties > Faculty of Business & Law > International Strategy & Business
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Research Centre > China and Emerging Economies Centre
Research Centres > China and Emerging Economies Centre
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Faculty of Business & Law > Business

Date:

20 August 2018