• Journal of Information Technology Applications and Management
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.13-24
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• 2017

This study aims to analyze which subsidiary configuration strategy is more effective under uncertainty especially technology base multinational corporations (henceforth MNCs). In previous studies real option theory scholars argue that high breadth subsidiary configuration is most effective strategy because that provides flexibility to MNCs global network. In this study I want unveil more various types of uncertainty such as technology and learning uncertainty which are more important for technology base firm and further more examine the effect of MNCs subsidiary configuration on firm R&D performance each uncertainty case. Empirical study is performed by negative binominal model based on Japanese 108 multinational corporations. The result shows that under technology uncertainty, high breadth subsidiary configuration is better for firm R&D performance but under learning uncertainty high depth subsidiary configuration is better. Thus, the effects of MNCs subsidiary configuration on firm value can differ by types of uncertainty.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.111-121
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• 2011

Multinational Corporations (MNCs) are establishing globally-distributed R&D centers around the world. Firms can overcome resource constraints and achieve superior innovative performance not only by using internal resources but also acquiring knowledge from oversea R&D centers. This paper explores the key factors that have been cited as significant influences on the ability to transfer knowledge, an important area of knowledge management of MNCs. Also, we identify the emerging outcomes in terms of R&D transfer and for the education, employment, and retention of knowledge works in MNCs. The result will be helpful for both MNC's managers and governments' decision makers with respect to R&D centers.

• International Area Studies Review
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.309-340
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• 2009

Multinational Corporations (MNCs) are increasingly establishing globally-distributed R&D (Research and Development) centers in which sites around the world work collaboratively to develop new manufacturing and product technologies. Following new globalization strategies, these projects more often include sites in Emerging/Newly Industrializing Economies (E/NIEs). The success of these ventures promises to be increasingly important both for the bottom line of MNCs and for the development ambitions of E/NIEs. This study attempts to identify these trends and to compare R&D transfer between Korea and China. The study identifies specific factors on MNC's R&D transfer and compares those operating factors between the R&D centers in Korea and China, which attract many MNCs in the world. Among those eight dimensions relating to MNCs' operation, there are significant differences in site selection, market characteristics, government support, and R&D networking between Korea and China. The analysis show more positive factors on China than Korea regarding R&D operations. The result will be helpful for both MNC's managers and governments' decision makers with respect to R&D transfer.

• Asian Journal of Innovation and Policy
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.131-149
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• 2018

Multinational corporations (MNCs) leverage global locations for efficient production and sustained growth, and move significant foreign direct investments globally, particularly into emerging economies. MNCs also engage in entrepreneurial ecosystems of host countries for strategic benefits and impact the ecosystem as well. Of late, MNCs are increasingly entering into emerging economies like India through foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows and they are playing a vital role in start-up promotion in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Therefore, we examine the role of MNCs and its impact on the entrepreneurial ecosystems in India by exploring a symbiotic relationship between MNCs and startups. We use a case-based method to ascertain and analyze specific benefits that emerge from such symbiotic relationships and draw implications for startups in India's technology entrepreneurial ecosystem.

• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.174-191
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• 2024

This study analyzed the spatiotemporal evolution of Korean multinational corporations' (MNCs') foreign direct investment (FDI) networks from 1978 to 2023, focusing on Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics. Using data on the consolidated overseas subsidiaries of these two companies, a two-mode network was constructed to examine the status of host countries through the betweenness centrality index and to identify types of countries with similar value chain arrangements by investigating their linkage structures. The main findings are as follows. First, during the early phase of Korean electronics MNCs' overseas expansion in the 1980s, they primarily established sales bases in developed consumer markets. However, over time, they gradually expanded into other business areas, including manufacturing, producer services, and R&D, increasing complexity in their FDI networks as cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&As) became more frequent. Second, the United States has remained central to these MNCs' FDI networks since the 1980s, but more recently, China has emerged as a significant hub, challenging the U.S. in global value chains. Third, emerging Asian economies, including India, Vietnam, and Indonesia, have strengthened their positions due to the diversification of MNCs' investment objectives from manufacturing bases to a broader range of business areas. Finally, since the 2010s, the convergence of the electronics industry with the automotive electronics sector and new industries has led to a diversification of the value chain arrangements of Korean electronics MNCs.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.271-287
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• 2019

This paper reviews and analyzes the ethical issues of multinational corporations (MNCs) in Africa. First, we find that the transparency and institutions of a host country have a negative relationship with the number of ethical violations of the MNCs. Second, this covers the effects of industry characteristics on each category of ethical issues such as the human rights and the environment. Based on the database of "Ethical Consumer", we show that the Auto, Chemical, Finance, and Telecommunication industries are more likely to violate human rights issues, and that Mining, Oil, Cosmetics, and Chemical industries are more likely to pollute the environments. Further, the country of origin does matter: the US and Asian companies are more likely to be involved with the business ethics violations than are their European counterparts.

• International Area Studies Review
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.605-625
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• 2011

Doing business in multiple countries, multinational corporations (MNCs) are warmly welcomed for additional choices of products and services available to local consumers. But in other markets, they are viewed negatively as a means of cultural imperialism even though MNCs do not change their strategies much. While the literature remains muted about such unpredictable consumer reactions, this study explores how consumers form their cultural imperialism perceptions on incoming MNCs using the consumer attitude theory.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.221-237
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• 2019

Multinational corporations (MNCs) usually face indigenous business environments in host countries which are different from a home country's. In this circumstance, MNCs would accomplish low-investing performance if they pursuit the same as the home oriented business strategy in the host country. The more different kinds of specialized environments a host countries have, the more pressure of modifying the international strategy needed for MNCs. This paper examines that how a different market environment between a home country and a host country, through MNC's local responsive managements, can influence investing performance in a host country. This paper conducts structural equation analyses with collected empirical data focusing upon a MNC's market orientation efforts and the realization of management localization (i.e., increasing local sourcing intensity or local sales intensity) as mediators between the specialized environment in a host country and the MNC's investing performance. This paper has several contributions in developing the prior approaches: first, the market orientation variables are regarded not as normal independent factors but mediators; second, two step mediation model is examined to make link between host market's heterogeneity and MNC's performance.

• Asian Journal of Innovation and Policy
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.133-147
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• 2012

Asia is becoming a stronghold for innovation careers along with its resurgence in economic, political, and cultural arenas. This transformation happened on the backdrop of growing enrolments in higher education, increasing investments in scientific research & innovation, and innovation supportive policy measures by several Asian countries. Research and Development (R&D) and product customization centres of multinational corporations (MNCs) sited in emerging nations are also instrumental in this transformation.

• Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.277-306
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• 2008

Knowledge1 is considered to be a key element of understanding how organizations gain and sustain competitive advantages. But very few firms are capable of creating the requisite knowledge and thus, firms should acquire and exploit new knowledge through knowledge transfer processes. The empirical part of this study involves examining relationships among adaptability of knowledge and knowledge transfer and marketing performance and testing the moderating roles of absorptive capacity, socialization and local marketing knowledge. This study is organized as follows: (1) Previous literature on knowledge, knowledge transfer and absorptive capacity is summarized, followed by the development of hypotheses derived from the knowledge-based view and absorptive capacity. (2) The hypotheses are tested with data collected from MNCs' subsidiaries performing marketing activities in Korea.Thestudyisclosedwithfindings,implications,andconclusions. Following six research hypotheses are drawn from literature review in related areas: H1: Adaptability of knowledge transferred from the MNCs' headquarters and other subsidiaries is positively associated with knowledge inflows into the receiving subsidiary. H2: The level of marketing knowledge transferred from the MNCs' headquarters and other subsidiaries is positively associated with marketing performance of the receiving subsidiary. H3: Increases in potential absorptive capacity will enhance the relationship between adaptability of knowledge and the level of marketing knowledge transfer. H4: Increases in realized absorptive capacity will enhance the relationship between the level of knowledge transfer and marketing performance of the receiving subsidiary. H5: Increases in socialization activity among the headquarters and subsidiaries will enhance the relationship between adaptability of knowledge and the level of marketing knowledge transfer. H6: Increases in the level of locally developed marketing knowledge will enhance the relationship between the level of knowledge transfer and marketing performance of the receiving subsidiary. The research framework that illustrates the proposed hypotheses is presented in figure 1. The unit of analysis for this study is knowledge transfer from the MNCs' headquarters and other subsidiaries to their subsidiaries operating in South Korea. The population for this study consists of subsidiaries established either as joint ventures or as wholly-owned subsidiaries. A group of 603 foreign firms were drawn from diverse industry organizations and business societies. After personal contact, telephone, fax, and e-mail to request that the respondents complete the questionnaire, 282 valid questionnaires from 133 initial sample companies were collected. The results of the empirical analyses significantly support all of the proposed hypotheses except hypothesis 3. Adaptability of external knowledge promotes knowledge transfer and the relationship is moderated by a firm's potential knowledge absorptive capacity. On the other hand, knowledge transfer improves a firm's marketing performance and a firm's realized knowledge absorptive capacity and local marketing knowledge moderate the relationship. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings in this study are as follows: (1) firms must take seeking, transferring, sharing and exploiting of external knowledge into serious consideration, while simultaneously creating knowledge to support the necessary business operations, remain competitive, and achieve superior performance. (2) Firms should continuously seek to develop their knowledge absorptive capacity (both potential and realized capacity) to absorb, learn and utilize valuable external knowledge. (3) Firms should emphasize not only absorptive capacity, but also development of local knowledge. Firms with strong absorptive capability and local knowledge can learn and transfer more external knowledge, which can be translated into greater levels of competence and performance.