The research question addressed by the study asks, "Is international integration strategic and departmental structural fit a predictor of performance in U.S.-based, single-business multinational organizations?" The study is designed to extend existing research in international integration strategy, which is often called "global strategy," "globalization," or "internationalization" in the popular press and academic research literature.

Globally operating business organizations tend to use a global strategy by using a standardized strategy as a fixed format. However, this has developed to be very ineffective for the ability to compete in the different markets worldwide. The adaptation of local preferences hence, seems to be crucial but also very complex for multinational retailers. This study therefore, determines the complexity of considerations that a shift from a global to a transnational strategy includes. The decision making of which strategy is appropriate for multinational retailers to compete on a global market can be quite puzzling, as is can be seen in the bed textile segment. Therefore this research paper investigates, within a case study of IKEA’s bed textile department, if a shift from a global to a transnational strategy is of advantage for a multinational retailer like IKEA and to what extend cultural awareness has to be considered. The methods that were used for this study include a literature review in the mentioned focus area and a collection of primary data through a qualitative research design with an open questionnaire sent to the Sales Leaders of IKEA. The research has shown that market research is an important factor when it comes to cultural related differences between the countries. Also, when dealing with the concern of adaptation of the market relevant bed textile sizes to the product range, the Sales Leaders of IKEA have perceived different concerns. Therewith a full adaptation may not be the solution for all businesses, since this depends on the product and market preferences. The cultural preferences in each country and the right degree of standardization and local preferences are a big issue for the global bed textile industry and are hence perceived as the main challenges in this concern. Possible paths for future investigations are shown by the results of this study. Thus, an inclusion of other cases could enable the possibility of a generalization of the study’s findings. Also, the same case study could be expanded by including customers input in the individual markets; this would lead to a better understanding of the customer’s preferences and a higher validity of the study. Last but not least this study has shown that there is no simple answer given whether a shift from a global towards a transnational strategy is of advantage for multinational retailers; however interesting factors concerning the shift could be identified.

Les multinationales qui s’implantent à l'étranger en créant des filiales peuvent recourir à la stratégie globale, multi- nationale,transnationale et internationale afin de gérer leurs entreprises à l'étranger. Le recrutement international est un élément essentiel de lamise en oeuvre des quatre stratégies d’implémentation à l’étranger. Pour le recrutement, l'organisation peut suivre l'une des troisméthodes de dotation ou combiner les trois approches (PCN , HCN, TCN) en fonction des circonstances nationales et du cycle de vie duMNC. Dans les trois approches de recrutement (ethnocentrique, polycentrique, géocentrique) PCN , HCNs et TCN sont utilisés. Toutefois,ils diffèrent dans des proportions relatives. Il y a peu de preuves à l'appui de l'utilisation des HCNs et TCNs . La plupart des recherches ontporté sur les expatriés ( PCN) de HCN et TCN. Pour cette raison, nous voulons étudier, dans notre travail, dans quelles situations lesmultinationales utilisent les approches HCNs et TCN . Notre étude examine l'alignement entre la stratégie commerciale internationale et lerecrutement des dirigeants. Les fondements théoriques sont tirés essentiellement de la littérature existante.Les données primaires ont été recueillies auprès des cadres supérieurs de 22 multinationales. Des entretiens approfondis ont été menés etdes questions ouvertes ont été utilisés pour examiner l'alignement entre la stratégie commerciale internationale et le recrutement desdirigeants dans une filiale, le rôle joué par les expatriés au cours des différents cycles de vie de l'organisation. Les multinationalesparticipant à notre échantillon proviennent de Singapour, Dubaï, Inde, France, Pays-Bas et Belgique. L'analyse des données est basée sur laphilosophie interprétative. L'analyse des propositions de recherche révèle que le modèle de résultat est cohérent lorsque la pression de lanormalisation est plus élevée et l'utilisation de la dotation ethnocentrique ( PCN) est plus importante. Plus la pression de la normalisationest faible, plus les multinationales ont recourent à d'autres méthodes de recrutement- recrutement polycentrique ( HCNs ). La structureest partiellement cohérente avec l'alignement de la stratégie de recrutement lorsque plus la réactivité locale est plus élevée que lerecrutement polycentrique ne devrait être. Mais dans une situation donnée, le recrutement ethnocentrique est légèrement pluspolycentrique, même si la réactivité locale est élevée. Les résultats étendent l'application des théories soutenues pour expliquer lastratégie de l'entreprise et le recrutement des dirigeants et cadres et contribuent au développement des connaissances. L’implication desrésultats et des recherches futures sont recommandés. / Multinationals that are moving abroad for its subsidiary operation may use any one of the typology such as Global, Multi-domestic,Transnational, and International strategy in order to manage and maintain their business abroad. International staffing is a critical elementof the implementation of the four strategies for doing business globally. In staffing the international operation, the organization mayfollow one of the three staffing approaches or a combination of three approaches (PCN, HCN, TCN) depending on their domesticcircumstances and the life cycle of the MNC. In all the three staffing approaches (Ethnocentric, Polycentric, Geocentric) PCNs, HCNs andTCNs are used. But they will differ in relative proportions. There is little evidence in support of the utilization of HCNs and TCNs. Most ofthe research focused on expatriates (PCNs) than HCNs and TCNs. Therefore we want to explore on what situations multinationals useHCNs and TCNs. Further the study investigates the alignment between international business strategy and executive staffing. Theoreticalfoundations are drawn basically from existing literature.Primary data were collected from top executives of 22 multinationals. In depth interviews were conducted and open ended questionswere used to examine the alignment between international business strategy and executive staffing for subsidiary operation, expatriateroles during organization’s different life cycle. The multinationals participated in our sample are from Singapore, Dubai, India, France,Netherlands, and Belgium. The data analysis is based on interpretative philosophy. The analysis of the proposed research expectationrevealed that the pattern of result is consistent when higher the pressure for standardization, utilization of ethnocentric staffing (PCNs) ismore. Whereas the pressure for standardization is low, then multinationals used other staffing approaches - polycentric staffing (HCNs).The pattern is partially consistent with strategy staffing alignment when the higher the local responsiveness then the utilization ofpolycentric staffing should be more. But in the given situation, ethnocentric staffing is slightly more than polycentric even when the localresponsiveness is high. The findings extend the application of the underpinned theories and their beliefs in explaining the businessstrategy and executive staffing relationship and contribute to the body of knowledge. Implications of the results and direction for futureresearch are recommended.