The development of subsidiary-management research: review and theoretical analysis

Abstract

This article begins with a summary of the foundations of four streams of multinational management literature pertaining to the subsidiary. The most recent of these streams, namely Subsidiary Development, receives special attention. We look at the way in which the literature on subsidiary-management has evolved, and investigate how the streams have built upon each other. Autonomy is investigated as a growing theme in the literature and report word counts to validate our literature-based propositions. We also examine the literature in the light of national cultural differences, revealing considerable country bias. Finally, we look into the potential future directions of the field.