This thesis examines approaches to international human resource management by Taiwanese MNCs located in the UK. A range of international human resource management models are discussed, from the universalist paradigm originating in the US to more contextual models, particularly those emphasising the impact of culture. The key elements of Chinese culture and their application to management are reviewed Interview and questionnaire data is drawn from 32 Taiwanese companies operating in the UK in the manufacturing and financial services sectors, and is analysed using SPSS and NVivo packages. Key findings include that the cultural origin of Taiwanese managers remains crucial in the way they manage UK subsidiaries. The small size of the Taiwanese companies also influences their internationalisation and international human resource strategy. In addition, there is a sectoral difference in the different HR practices being adopted. Japanese MNCs have been the only non-western MNCs to have been studied in depth. Although the Japanese and Chinese have been said to share a similar culture, they are shown in this thesis to adopt different techniques to achieve their HRM goals. It is concluded that many goals similar to those of western models of HRM can be found in Taiwanese MNCs, but achieved through different HR practices, for example, group reward rather than individual reward for commitment. It is suggested that conventional HRM frameworks fail to readily explain companies of non-western origin and the thesis tries to develop an IHRM model suitable for Chinese MNCs. Following strong economic development in China, research on Taiwanese MNCs can contribute to future perspectives on Chinese internationalisation and management transfer.

Ao longo do século XX, o comportamento das empresas tomou novos rumos. A globalização e a conseqüente abertura do mercado tornaram-nas mais competitivas, exigindo a busca por novas alternativas que as mantivessem rentáveis. Desta forma, diversas empresas, na procura por novos mercados, alternativa à sua sazonalidade, busca por conhecimento, diversificação de risco, ou mesmo de vantagens produtivas, internacionalizaram suas atividades. Tal processo impactou no gerenciamento das pessoas e na estrutura dos Recursos Humanos. Portanto, objetiva este estudo compreender como multinacionais brasileiras localizadas na região sul do país, em diferentes estágios de internacionalização, gerenciam suas políticas e práticas de Gestão de Pessoas na subsidiária. Para cumprir tal objetivo, a presente pesquisa, exploratório-descritiva, foi dividida em duas etapas: uma qualitativa e outra quantitativa. A primeira, de caráter exploratório, foi realizada através de dois estudos de caso, em empresas gaúchas, em diferentes estágios de internacionalização. Esta fase permitiu a construção do instrumento de coleta utilizado na etapa quantitativa, sendo enviado para a população estimada de 41 empresas da região sul do país. Assim, com os resultados obtidos na fase exploratória e com uma amostra de 73,2%, na etapa quantitativa, pôde-se verificar diferenças na estrutura e funcionamento dos Recursos Humanos de empresas em níveis distintos do processo de internacionalização. Verificou-se que em estágios iniciais das atividades no exterior as empresas não possuem políticas e práticas de Gestão de Pessoas estruturadas, pois elas provêm da matriz. Com sua expansão internacional, as multinacionais passam gradualmente a estruturar seus recursos humanos, atendendo às diversas demandas do ambiente. O que permite supor que quanto mais inseridas em um país e conhecedores de sua cultura, mais o RH se estrutura, desenvolve e aprimora suas políticas e práticas. / Over the XX century, the enterprises behavior took new ways. Globalization process and the consequent market opening forced companies to be more competitive, demanding new alternatives that keep them more profitable. So, many companies, looking for new markets, knowledge, alternative to market changes, risk diversification, or even productivities advantages internationalized their activities. This process involved changes in people management and in Human Resources structure. Therefore, this study seeks to identify how Brazilian multinationals, located in Southern region of the country, in different stages of internationalization, manage its politics and practices oh Human Resources in the subsidiary. To reach the goal of the present research, exploratory-descriptive, was divided into two stages: one qualitative and the other quantitative. The first, exploratory, was done applying two case studies, in companies from the Rio Grande do Sul state in different stages of internationalization. This phase permitted to develop a questionnaire to the quantitative stage that was sent to 41 multinationals located in Southern Brazil. So, with the results obtained on exploratory stage and with 73,2% returned questionnaires, on quantitative phase, we could verify differences in the structure and management of Human Resources in companies in distincts stages of internationalization. We verified that in the initial stages of its activities in the foreign countries, those companies do not have structured policies and practices of HR. It comes from the headquarter. With the international expansion, the multinational gradually became to structure its Human Resources, accomplishing the demands from the environment. This led to suppose the more these companies are inserted a country and understand its culture, the better the HR is structured, develops and improves their politics and practices.

Ao longo do século XX, o comportamento das empresas tomou novos rumos. A globalização e a conseqüente abertura do mercado tornaram-nas mais competitivas, exigindo a busca por novas alternativas que as mantivessem rentáveis. Desta forma, diversas empresas, na procura por novos mercados, alternativa à sua sazonalidade, busca por conhecimento, diversificação de risco, ou mesmo de vantagens produtivas, internacionalizaram suas atividades. Tal processo impactou no gerenciamento das pessoas e na estrutura dos Recursos Humanos. Portanto, objetiva este estudo compreender como multinacionais brasileiras localizadas na região sul do país, em diferentes estágios de internacionalização, gerenciam suas políticas e práticas de Gestão de Pessoas na subsidiária. Para cumprir tal objetivo, a presente pesquisa, exploratório-descritiva, foi dividida em duas etapas: uma qualitativa e outra quantitativa. A primeira, de caráter exploratório, foi realizada através de dois estudos de caso, em empresas gaúchas, em diferentes estágios de internacionalização. Esta fase permitiu a construção do instrumento de coleta utilizado na etapa quantitativa, sendo enviado para a população estimada de 41 empresas da região sul do país. Assim, com os resultados obtidos na fase exploratória e com uma amostra de 73,2%, na etapa quantitativa, pôde-se verificar diferenças na estrutura e funcionamento dos Recursos Humanos de empresas em níveis distintos do processo de internacionalização. Verificou-se que em estágios iniciais das atividades no exterior as empresas não possuem políticas e práticas de Gestão de Pessoas estruturadas, pois elas provêm da matriz. Com sua expansão internacional, as multinacionais passam gradualmente a estruturar seus recursos humanos, atendendo às diversas demandas do ambiente. O que permite supor que quanto mais inseridas em um país e conhecedores de sua cultura, mais o RH se estrutura, desenvolve e aprimora suas políticas e práticas. / Over the XX century, the enterprises behavior took new ways. Globalization process and the consequent market opening forced companies to be more competitive, demanding new alternatives that keep them more profitable. So, many companies, looking for new markets, knowledge, alternative to market changes, risk diversification, or even productivities advantages internationalized their activities. This process involved changes in people management and in Human Resources structure. Therefore, this study seeks to identify how Brazilian multinationals, located in Southern region of the country, in different stages of internationalization, manage its politics and practices oh Human Resources in the subsidiary. To reach the goal of the present research, exploratory-descriptive, was divided into two stages: one qualitative and the other quantitative. The first, exploratory, was done applying two case studies, in companies from the Rio Grande do Sul state in different stages of internationalization. This phase permitted to develop a questionnaire to the quantitative stage that was sent to 41 multinationals located in Southern Brazil. So, with the results obtained on exploratory stage and with 73,2% returned questionnaires, on quantitative phase, we could verify differences in the structure and management of Human Resources in companies in distincts stages of internationalization. We verified that in the initial stages of its activities in the foreign countries, those companies do not have structured policies and practices of HR. It comes from the headquarter. With the international expansion, the multinational gradually became to structure its Human Resources, accomplishing the demands from the environment. This led to suppose the more these companies are inserted a country and understand its culture, the better the HR is structured, develops and improves their politics and practices.

Ao longo do século XX, o comportamento das empresas tomou novos rumos. A globalização e a conseqüente abertura do mercado tornaram-nas mais competitivas, exigindo a busca por novas alternativas que as mantivessem rentáveis. Desta forma, diversas empresas, na procura por novos mercados, alternativa à sua sazonalidade, busca por conhecimento, diversificação de risco, ou mesmo de vantagens produtivas, internacionalizaram suas atividades. Tal processo impactou no gerenciamento das pessoas e na estrutura dos Recursos Humanos. Portanto, objetiva este estudo compreender como multinacionais brasileiras localizadas na região sul do país, em diferentes estágios de internacionalização, gerenciam suas políticas e práticas de Gestão de Pessoas na subsidiária. Para cumprir tal objetivo, a presente pesquisa, exploratório-descritiva, foi dividida em duas etapas: uma qualitativa e outra quantitativa. A primeira, de caráter exploratório, foi realizada através de dois estudos de caso, em empresas gaúchas, em diferentes estágios de internacionalização. Esta fase permitiu a construção do instrumento de coleta utilizado na etapa quantitativa, sendo enviado para a população estimada de 41 empresas da região sul do país. Assim, com os resultados obtidos na fase exploratória e com uma amostra de 73,2%, na etapa quantitativa, pôde-se verificar diferenças na estrutura e funcionamento dos Recursos Humanos de empresas em níveis distintos do processo de internacionalização. Verificou-se que em estágios iniciais das atividades no exterior as empresas não possuem políticas e práticas de Gestão de Pessoas estruturadas, pois elas provêm da matriz. Com sua expansão internacional, as multinacionais passam gradualmente a estruturar seus recursos humanos, atendendo às diversas demandas do ambiente. O que permite supor que quanto mais inseridas em um país e conhecedores de sua cultura, mais o RH se estrutura, desenvolve e aprimora suas políticas e práticas. / Over the XX century, the enterprises behavior took new ways. Globalization process and the consequent market opening forced companies to be more competitive, demanding new alternatives that keep them more profitable. So, many companies, looking for new markets, knowledge, alternative to market changes, risk diversification, or even productivities advantages internationalized their activities. This process involved changes in people management and in Human Resources structure. Therefore, this study seeks to identify how Brazilian multinationals, located in Southern region of the country, in different stages of internationalization, manage its politics and practices oh Human Resources in the subsidiary. To reach the goal of the present research, exploratory-descriptive, was divided into two stages: one qualitative and the other quantitative. The first, exploratory, was done applying two case studies, in companies from the Rio Grande do Sul state in different stages of internationalization. This phase permitted to develop a questionnaire to the quantitative stage that was sent to 41 multinationals located in Southern Brazil. So, with the results obtained on exploratory stage and with 73,2% returned questionnaires, on quantitative phase, we could verify differences in the structure and management of Human Resources in companies in distincts stages of internationalization. We verified that in the initial stages of its activities in the foreign countries, those companies do not have structured policies and practices of HR. It comes from the headquarter. With the international expansion, the multinational gradually became to structure its Human Resources, accomplishing the demands from the environment. This led to suppose the more these companies are inserted a country and understand its culture, the better the HR is structured, develops and improves their politics and practices.

This thesis deals with the system of human resource management in international companies. The theoretical part is focused on the concept of international human resource management basic methods and trends and techniques of human resource management in international corporations. The practical part is devoted to analyze the current state of human resources management in ADP Employer Services Ceska republika a.s. the daughter company of international organization ADP Inc. Based on my practical research: employees survey and personal interview with the local HR Business Partner Lead I will evaluate the current state of human resource management system in the company and make series of recommendations that will help to improve the system of human resources for ADPs branch in Czech Republic which is the main contribution of this thesis.

Aim ~ The aim of the study is to explore the phenomenon of external international recruitment and examine how the international recruitment and selection process is designed in practice. Regarding this aim, the study’s focus is on standardization and customization of the international recruitment process in terms of cultural and institutional aspects. Method ~ The study is based on a qualitative research method and a thematic template analysis of 11 semi-structured interviews. The sampling technique is a non-probabilistic and purposive method, resulting in respondents who are recruiters or managers which in their work participate in full-cycle or parts of the external international recruitment process. The,interviews were conducted during the time period of April - May 2022, through digital meetings or by phone. Results ~ The methods used in external international recruitment were found to be online interviewing, tests, and sourcing. Findings disclose that the international recruitment processis affected by culture in terms of three features: national, global, and generational. Additionally, institutional aspects were found to affect the recruitment sources and thus influence the process by regional divisions. As well, corporate institutions such as company size and degree of centrality were found to influence the process design. Conclusion ~ The external international recruitment process is characterized by high standardization in the preliminary phases, while a higher degree of customization according to institutional differences and cultural individuality of candidates is undertaken towards these lection phase. Thus, results are explained by institutional theory and the concepts of legitimacy and isomorphism, as the international recruitment and selection process is adapted to constraints in turn to create legitimate practices. As well, organizations are seemingly taking on the presented international recruitment process and becoming similar in their actions.

The thesis deals with the phenomenon of employees' global mobility in large multinational companies. Primarily, it focuses on the expatriation process from the perspective of the necessary support of expatriates by HR department. In the practical part, there are compared the current practices of four multinational organizations. The goal of the work is to choose the best practice, which the most eliminates the international assignment failure. The thesis further formulates the recommendations designed for companies implementing new policies in the area of employee global mobility. Work is processed by an analysis of secondary sources - literature, textbooks, professional journals, international studies and articles or websites of analyzed companies.

In order to stay competitive in the market, multinational corporations (MNC) need to expand their businesses in the international market. Sending employees to work abroad is a great way of expanding. However, having employees working abroad, brings a lot of advantages for the corporation, but it can also be a disadvantage for the corporation if the final step of international assignments, which is the repatriation process, has not been handled correctly. This thesis investigates how the managers of IKEA, Electrolux and SEB handle the repatriation process and how the repatriates experienced the process, during their pre-return period and post-return period. Our findings show that the repatriates experienced that the repatriation process was poorly conducted by the corporations due to lack of engagement from their side. On the other hand, managers of the companies felt that they handled the repatriation process very well. Therefore, it is essential that corporations prepare the employees well, before they start the international assignments, as well as help them to readjusting back in the home country. Working with practical expectations may lead to a smooth adjustment, which in turn, leads to a well-functioning repatriation process.

This thesis deals with the issue of job and working conditions in British call centers located in the third world countries (understood in developing countries and countries of the former Soviet Union). The aim of this thesis is to analyze the existing job opportunities and working conditions and the applied principles and practices of human resource management and marketing in the call center of the British International company Cupid plc in Ukrainian city Dnepropetrovsk, identify the problems and suggest solutions. The thesis is divided into eight chapters: organizing (explains the essence of organizing and classifies the types of organizational structures), call center (describes the traditional call center model, modern trends and problems in call centers), international company (explains the philosophy and strategy of companies at the international market); the third world countries (defines and characterizes the problems of the third world countries), human resource management of the international company (defines and explains the strategy, policies and practices of human resources management of the international company); marketing of the international company (defines and explains the strategy, policies and procedures of customer relationship management of the international firms); call centers of the international companies in the third world countries (gives examples of the activities and problems of British call centers in India, Pakistan and the Philippines); British call center in Ukraine (analyzes specific British call center of the international company in Ukrainian city Dnepropetrovsk). This thesis is processed using literature, case studies, internal documents and personal experience of the author.

Cette thèse examine l’imbrication du social et du matériel dans les entreprises multinationales, lors du transfert transnational des pratiques de gestion des ressources humaines, et plus particulièrement le transfert des pratiques de gestion de la performance. En me basant sur l’étude de quatre entités chinoises locales d’une entreprise transnationale comme cadre de mon étude de cas, j’explore comment les salariés locaux s’approprient les pratiques de gestion de la performance en internalisation les pratiques globales et en innovant pour les adapter à leur environnement local. Cette étude se fonde sur 60 entretiens, des données secondaires et des observations collectées sur plus de dix ans. Dans la première partie de cette thèse j’explore plus particulièrement l’appropriation des pratiques de gestion des ressources humaines au niveau micro et j’identifie quatre archétypes de l’appropriation des pratiques de gestion des ressources humaines : formelle, cérémoniale, déviante et innovante. Dans la deuxième partie de cette thèse, je me concentre sur l’appropriation des pratiques de gestion des ressources humaines au niveau meso. En me fondant sur la théorie de la Sociomatérialité, je propose une nouvelle définition de l’hybridation comme le processus par lequel des pratiques uniques émergent dans des filiales locales à partir de l’imbrication du social et du matériel entre le siège et les filiales locales des entreprises multinationales. Cette définition me permet d’identifier deux nouvelles formes de gestion de la performance dans les quatre entités de l’entreprise multinationale étudiée que j’ai appelées la pratique harmonieuse confucéenne de gestion de la performance et la pratique harmonieuse instrumentale de gestion de la performance. Dans le troisième chapitre, je me base sur les résultats empiriques des deux chapitres précédents pour conceptualiser un modèle multiniveau intégré du transfert transnational des pratiques de gestion des ressources humaines, en développant un autre concept central de la théorie de la Sociomatérialité: la notion de « dispositif ». Cette thèse a ainsi pour objectif de contribuer à la fois à la littérature en gestion internationale des ressources humaines et à la littérature sur la sociologie des outils de gestion. / The present dissertation examines the entanglement of the social and material in Multinational Enterprises during the transnational transfer of Human Resource Management Practices, especially Performance Management Practices. Using 4 local Chinese entities of a transnational firm as my case study, I explore how local employees make Performance Management practices their own, both internalizing global practices and innovating to adapt to local environments. This research is based on 60 interviews, secondary materials and direct observations over more than 10 years. In the first chapter of this dissertation, I explore more specifically the adoption of Human Resource Management practices at the micro level, and I identify four archetypes of the adoption of Human Resource Management practices: formal, ceremonial, deviant and innovative. In the second chapter, I focus on the adoption of Performance Management practices in Multinational Enterprises at a meso level. Drawing on sociomaterial theory, I propose a new definition of hybridization as being a process by which unique practices emerge in local subsidiaries from the entanglement of the social and the material at Headquarters and in local subsidiaries. This definition allowed me to identify two new hybrid performance management practices in the four Chinese entities of the Multinational Enterprises under investigation, which I have called the “harmonious Confucian” Performance Management practice and the “harmonious instrumental” Performance Management practice. In the third chapter, I build on the results of the two previous empirical chapters to conceptualize an integrated multilevel model for the transnational transfer of Human Resource Management practices in Multinational Enterprises by expanding another central concept to sociomaterial theory: the notion of “apparatus”. This dissertation aims therefore at contributing both to International Human Resources Management literature and to the literature of the sociology of management tools.