The continuing rapid growth of the international hotel industry means there is a need for research to examine how hotel companies approach the internationalisation process. This thesis therefore develops a case study and interview-based analysis of three multinational companies (MNCs) who have sought varying degrees of global presence, and examines in particular the way they have managed human resources in the process of internationalising. It reports evidence from over 70 semi-structured interviews with corporate and unit level managers conducted in Austria, France, Great Britain, Poland, Sweden and the USA. The theoretical framework for this study is provided by three interreldted literature strands: the general processes of internationalisation; international human resource management; and the sectoral and industry context. These literature strands allow for an analysis of the dominant orientation adopted to internationalisation by the case study organisations, as based on Perlmutter's centricity profile. Furthermore there is an analysis of other factors which affect the behaviour of the MNC, most notably its country-of-origin and country-of-operation. The main findings from this thesis suggest the benefits of standardisation of the physical product remain an integral part of the internationalisation strategies of hotel MNCs; though there is also evidence of two of the companies drawing on obvious national signifiers to infuse their physical product with elements of 'Frenchness' and 'Swedishness'. In relation to human resource management (HRM), despite differing orientations in terms of the extent to which the case study companies are seeking a more global orientation, the evidence points to a high degree of similarity in many of the HRM practices utilised by the organisations, particularly those in support of a high quality approach to service. Nevertheless, this partial convergence is also offset by continuing diversity in the extent to which employees fully internalise the HRM practices transferred by the case study organisations.

This thesis investigates coordination of international research and development within the multinational company, a function previously assumed to be centralised. Specifically, it considers the effects of pressures for integration and responsiveness, as well as the nature of research and development activities, on the coordination of international research and development in 135 multinational companies located in the UK. The study reveals that international research and development can indeed be differentiated by the integration-responsiveness (I-R) framework. Four distinct clusters are identified, which correspond to the types of multinational company (MNC) identified by the I-R literature. In addition, these clusters are found to differentiate across a number of alternative variables. The clusters differ according to the extent to which the industry is technologically complex, and the degree to which each cluster understands how customers will use their new products. Additionally, the clusters can be differentiated by the extent to which the headquarters laboratory focuses on development activities as opposed to research. In terms of coordination, the clusters are differentiated by their usage of goal setting to coordinate a range of activities, as well as by their use of liaison personnel to coordinate. Analysis of the data reveals that pressures for integration in international research and development (R&D) are generally high, but that this is not the case for all MNCs. This suggests, contrary to the majority of studies in the field of international R&D, that not all MNCs need extensive coordination of their international R&D activities, and that surprisingly, strong pressures for local responsiveness remain for some MNCsBeyond establishing the appropriateness of the Integration-Responsiveness framework to the study of international R&D, a key finding of this study is that at present international R&D is characterised by a lack of fit with the strategic requirements of pressures for integration and responsiveness. Specifically, this research indicates that those MNCs in the transnational quadrant of the grid need to find ways of improving their knowledge of local markets, and increase their understanding of how their new products will be used in individual markets

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<p>The recent emergence of Multinational Companies (MNCs) from developing countries as players of major role inside their industry has led the academic agenda to dedicate a lot of efforts on better understand the internationalization particularities of companies from this kind. This research aims on contributing to the already existent theoretical bodywork by highlighting the differences between firms from developed and developing countries by performing a cross-country comparison between two firms from the same industry: a Brazilian company, which will be called Beta due to confidentiality issues, and a Swedish company, which will be named Alpha. Although being joint-managed by Swedish and Swiss assets, this study focus on the Swedish part of the society, which is constituted by the firm which will be named Gamma. Both companies operate on the electric motors, power and automation technologies segment. The theoretical framework used was built under traditional International Business theories, such as the Nordic Research School in International Business and the Eclectic Paradigm. The method used constituted in a multiple case-study and data were collected from companies’ reports  as well as other publications, and primary data were collected by applying a questionnaire with both firms. Results highlight how the self-experience was more important for Beta while partnerships affected more the case of Alpha. Different ownership advantages structures held each firm point out that the developed country MNC enjoys greater brand equity, making the developing country firm to provide adapted solutions to its customers in order to compete in the market. The orientation on seeking for localization advantages can be described as an extent as their capacities developed in the home market, and the drivers for producing abroad are similar among the firms.</p>

The recent emergence of Multinational Companies (MNCs) from developing countries as players of major role inside their industry has led the academic agenda to dedicate a lot of efforts on better understand the internationalization particularities of companies from this kind. This research aims on contributing to the already existent theoretical bodywork by highlighting the differences between firms from developed and developing countries by performing a cross-country comparison between two firms from the same industry: a Brazilian company, which will be called Beta due to confidentiality issues, and a Swedish company, which will be named Alpha. Although being joint-managed by Swedish and Swiss assets, this study focus on the Swedish part of the society, which is constituted by the firm which will be named Gamma. Both companies operate on the electric motors, power and automation technologies segment. The theoretical framework used was built under traditional International Business theories, such as the Nordic Research School in International Business and the Eclectic Paradigm. The method used constituted in a multiple case-study and data were collected from companies’ reports  as well as other publications, and primary data were collected by applying a questionnaire with both firms. Results highlight how the self-experience was more important for Beta while partnerships affected more the case of Alpha. Different ownership advantages structures held each firm point out that the developed country MNC enjoys greater brand equity, making the developing country firm to provide adapted solutions to its customers in order to compete in the market. The orientation on seeking for localization advantages can be described as an extent as their capacities developed in the home market, and the drivers for producing abroad are similar among the firms.

This thesis set out to investigate the relationship between political regime type, and FDI inflow. The academic field has seen a fair amount of research in recent years, but this is usually limited to the likes of democracies and autocracies. I argue that many countries are neither of these two, but find themselves in a political unstable gray zone in between, called hybrid regimes. This thesis draws on a comprehensive dataset ranging from 1980-2010, and by way of time-series cross-section analysis; it sets out to explore the attractiveness of hybrid regimes in relation to FDI inflow. The findings indicate that unstable political regimes do attract MNCs, but that they usually are dependent on natural resources. Hybrid regimes receive more FDI inflow than autocracies, but less than democracies. The thesis also find that the region Africa is special in that hybrid regimes are the biggest recipient of FDI inflow, with natural resources being the main factor. The findings support the former literature saying that democratic conditions attracts MNCs, but also question the alleged democratic transition taking place in a growing oil-dependent world.

Diss. Stockholm : Handelshögsk., 2003.

Diss. Göteborg : University, 2004. / Härtill 6 appendix.

No / This paper explores the character, density and likely importance of connections between directors of a sample of 12 early-twentieth century British multinational companies. Drawing on the notion of `gentlemanly capitalism¿, a reconstruction of multiple and interlocking directorships for 1899¿1900 and 1929¿1930 indicates that a complex network existed that comprised links, respectively, to 255 and 497 companies. We explore the social, cultural and political characteristics of the directors of our sample and argue that the ways in which members of this group interacted with each other would have influenced business attitudes, facilitated transfers of knowledge and promoted interdependencies, thereby shaping commercial behaviour. We argue that the directors of early multinationals formed the kind of definable `power geometries¿ within the wider corporate elite that have been identified amongst today's business elites. Our results indicate that a distinct and increasingly dynamic multinational corporate community existed in the early 1900s, which was in many respects like its modern counterparts. A key finding is that the complexity of dyadic connections between directors and their personal networks of contacts increased markedly between 1899¿1900 and 1929¿1930.