Résumés
Abstract
This paper intersects extant theories of the MNC with empirically observed patterns in the intra-company emergence and diffusion of technological capabilities. It draws upon a database containing the complete patenting history of 24 Swedish multinationals over the 1890-2008 period, which allows for the identification of when and where in the multinational organization new technological capabilities first emerged, and when and to where they subsequently diffused into other units of the multinational organization. The results reveal an increasing share of foreign-introduced technological capabilities, as well as distinctive and differentiated diffusion patterns across headquarters, greenfield subsidiaries, and acquired units in the MNC group. We conclude that a theory of the MNC should recognize the shift towards more equal conditions for the generation of new technology within the multinational organization, but that within this overall development some conspicuous inequalities in intra-company capability diffusion remain to be accounted for.
Keywords:
- Theory of the MNC,
- innovation,
- technological capabilities,
- diffusion
Résumé
Cet article croise les théories existantes des FMN avec des modèles empiriques d’émergence et de diffusion de capacités technologiques au sein des multinationales. En s’appuyant sur une base de données, les auteurs identifient quand et où les nouvelles technologies apparaissent ainsi que les conditions de diffusions. Ils montrent que les filiales, qu’elles soient nouvellement créées ou acquises, ont une contribution croissante et que la vitesse et la probabilité de diffusion sont supérieures d’une filiale vers le centre qu’inversement. Ils différencient également les schémas de diffusion selon le type de filiales mettant en défaut le fait de considérer toutes les filiales de manière identique ainsi que le modélisent les théories de la firme.
Mots-clés :
- Firmes multinationales (FMN),
- innovation,
- capacités technologiques,
- diffusion
Resumen
Este artículo intersecta teorías existentes sobre las CMN con patrones observados empíricamente durante la emergencia y difusión de capacidades tecnológicas intra-empresariales. Una base de datos longitudinal nos permite identificar cuándo y dónde una nueva tecnología apareció dentro de la organización multinacional, así como, cuándo y hacia qué otras unidades dentro de la organización multinacional ésta tecnología se difundió. El resultado revela una creciente participación de capacidades tecnológicas de origen extranjero, así como patrones de difusión distintos y diferenciados a través de las sedes centrales, las subsidiarias, y las unidades adquiridas por la corporación. Se concluye que cualquier teoría de CMN debe reconocer diferencias persistentes en la difusión de las capacidades dentro de la empresa las cuales no han sido suficientemente tomadas en cuenta en estudios anteriores.
Palabras clave:
- Teoría de corporaciones multinacionales (CMN),
- innovación,
- capacidades tecnológicas,
- difusión
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Parties annexes
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation for financial support that made this research possible
Biographical notes
Katarina Blomkvist is an assistant professor of International Business at the Department of Business Studies, Uppsala University. Her main research interest is the development and transfer of knowledge and technology within MNEs.
Philip Kappen is an associate professor of Strategy and International Management at the Department of Strategic Management and Globalization, Copenhagen Business School. His research focuses on subsidiary evolution and the role of headquarters in MNEs.
Ivo Zander received his PhD from the Institute of International Business, Stockholm School of Economics. He currently holds the Anders Wall Chair of Entrepreneurship at the Department of Business Studies, Uppsala University. His research focuses on the technological evolution of foreign subsidiaries of the MNE, the entrepreneurial dynamics of internationalization, and corporate entrepreneurship.
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Parties annexes
Notes biographiques
Katarina Blomkvist est professeur adjoint au Département des Affaires Internationales de l’Université d’Uppsala. Son principal domaine de recherche est le développement et le transfert de connaissances et de technologie au sein des firmes multinationales.
Philip Kappen est professeur agrégé en Stratégie et Management International au Département de Management Stratégique et Globalisation à la Copenhagen Business School. Ses recherches portent sur l’évolution des filiales et le rôle des sièges sociaux des firmes multinationales.
Ivo Zander a obtenu son PhD à l’Institut of International Business, Stockholm School of Economics. Il est actuellement détenteur de la Anders Wall Chair of Entrepreneurship au Département des Affaires Internationales, à l’Université d’Uppsala. Ses recherches portent sur l’évolution technologique des filiales étrangères des firmes multinationales, sur la dynamique entrepreneuriale du processus d’internationalisation, et sur le « corporate entrepreneurship ».
Parties annexes
Notas biograficas
Katarina Blomkvist es profesora adjunta de Emprendimiento Internacional en el departamento de Estudios de Negocios de la Universidad de Uppsala. Su principal interés es la investigación en el desarrollo y transferencia de tecnologías dentro de las CMN.
Philip Kappen es profesor adjunto de Estrategia y Gestión Internacional en el departamento de Gestión Estratégica y Globalización de la Escuela de Negocios de Copenague. Su investigación se enfoca en la evolución de las subsidiarias y el rol de las sedes centrales de las CMNs.
Ivo Zander recibió su PhD del Instituto de Negocios Internacionales de la Escuela de Negocios de Estocolmo. Posée actualmente el Anders Wall Chair of Entrepreneurship en el Departmento de Estudios de Negocios de la Universidad de Uppsala. Su investigación se centra en al evolución tecnológica de las subsidiarias extranjeras de las CMNs, la dinámica emprendedora de la internacionalización y el emprendimiento corporativo.