Transnational tendencies in multinational enterprises

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a synthesis of transnational tendencies in multinational enterprises (MNEs), to theoretically analyse the result and to study whether managers in MNEs have experienced the predicted tendencies.

Design/methodology/approach

The synthesis is based on an extensive literature review which is analysed by transaction cost economics. Identified tendencies are studied in a survey of managers in MNEs.

Research limitations/implications

The study provides an overview of a fragmented research area and suggests explanations for new tendencies described in the literature. The empirical study suggests that some tendencies have been more prevalent than others.

Practical implications

The survey was conducted with MNEs with substantial activities in Sweden. It investigates how managers perceive changes that have occurred during the past several years.

Originality/value

The paper analyses a synthesized view of transnational tendencies in MNEs and the results of a survey of how managers have perceived the tendencies described in literature.

Citation

Pihl, H. (2008), "Transnational tendencies in multinational enterprises", Baltic Journal of Management, Vol. 3 No. 3, pp. 328-345. https://doi.org/10.1108/17465260810902397