Towards a Three-Dimensional Conceptual Model of

International Human Resource Management

Yvonne Hwee Hong Yeo

Bachelor of Commerce, Murdoch University

Diploma in Translation, University of Malaya
Master of Modern Language Studies, University of Malaya

This thesis is presented for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy,

Murdoch University 2014
 Declaration

I declare that this thesis is my own account of my research and contains as its main
content work which has not been previously submitted for a degree at any tertiary
education institution.

Yvonne Hwee Hong Yeo

i
 Abstract

This study centred on the purpose of contributing to theory building in International

Human Resource Management (IHRM), premised on the fact that IHRM is a relatively
new scholarly field with narrow definition of IHRM as a professional practice. With an
ultimate objective to formulate a generic, holistic, comprehensive and practice-relevant
conceptual model of IHRM, the study explored IHRM as a professional practice in the
context of HRM in multinational companies (MNCs). Based on an inductive and
qualitative research approach, the study collected and analysed data through semi-
structured interviews and the ‘data display and analysis framework’ respectively.
Twenty-one (21) top managers from seventeen (17) MNCs based in Malaysia
participated as interviewees in the study.

The study derived two groups of findings, namely ‘fundamentals of IHRM’ and
‘process structures (process vehicles) of IHRM’. Drawing on these findings and the
related conceptual elaboration, a three-dimensional conceptual model of IHRM was
developed. While the horizontal plane of the model depicts IHRM phenomena and
concepts associated with findings grouped under ‘fundamentals of IHRM’, the vertical
plane depicts those of the ‘process structures of IHRM’. Through the intrinsic linkage
between its horizontal and vertical dimensions, the model projects interactive
relationships between all IHRM processes.

The horizontal plane encapsulates the following points (and concepts) derived in the
study: (i) IHRM is the extended version of HRM (‘inseparability of IHRM and HRM’);
(ii) IHRM is a functional network that serves a physical network in an MNC, entailing
cross-country mutual support and shared processes (‘IHRM as a HR network of shared
connections’); and (iii) IHRM is driven by ‘borderless partnerships and relationships’;
‘cross-cultural adaptability and relationship building’; ‘flexibility amid consistency’;
‘oneness and equity in diversity’; and ‘talent and leadership sharing’ (pivotal roles and
interconnectedness of relationship management, diversity management and talent
management in the workings of IHRM). Another feature on the horizontal plane is
infinity in the number of variables that influence IHRM, from the internal and external
environments where IHRM operates.

ii
The vertical plane concerns the interactions between ‘standardization of HR
policies/practices (standardization)’, ‘localization of HR policies/practices
(localization)’ and ‘HR best policies/practices (HR best practice)’, the three HR
elements identified as process vehicles of IHRM in the study. This facet of the model is
underscored by the following concepts/points derived in the study: (i) ‘localization
within parameters of standardization’; (ii) ‘HR best practice as a product of
organizational learning and localization’; and (iii) interrelations between IHRM process
vehicles and the organizational hierarchy – where the organizational hierarchy
determines the extent and or/conditions of standardization/localization; probability of
MNC-wide HR best practice; flexibility of implementing MNC-wide HR best practice;
and flexibility in the overall workings of IHRM.

The model is a manifestation of the integrative, generic and holistic outlook of the
study: it embodies conceptual, functional, local and global perspectives concerning
IHRM; its view is not confined to any particular IHRM research strand; and it addresses
the entirety rather than specific issues or topic areas of IHRM. Overall, the study
contributes insights towards both holistic advancement of theoretical IHRM and better
structured practical IHRM. Theoretical significance of the study is threefold: besides
introducing an alternative approach to conceptualizing IHRM, the study magnifies
IHRM as concurrently a functional system and a process; and it advances several
concepts for theoretical understanding of IHRM. In terms of practical significance, the
study defines the essentials for anchoring the workings of IHRM across cultures and
national borders; it also identifies the bases and linkages for administering various
aspects of IHRM as an integrative whole.

The overall implication of the study is that meaningful development of IHRM as both a
scholarly field and a professional practice hinges on an interdisciplinary, holistic and
‘world-savvy’ approach to IHRM research and theory building. Moreover, the journey
in this direction should be underpinned by substantive intent to establish IHRM as a
unique field in itself, hence to safeguard it against the existing threat of being subsumed
under the more established fields of International Management and Human Resource
Management.

iii
 Acknowledgments

I would like to first thank Murdoch University for providing me a place to do this
research project under the Research Training Scheme. This has been an opportunity for
me to fulfil my need for self-actualization.

I would also first thank Associate Professor Dr. Antonia Girardi for her supervision and
support. I especially appreciate her giving me much space and autonomy in the research
and thesis writing process. I was able to explore the learning experience as well as my
ideas to a great extent and learn much in the process.

My gratitude also goes to the late Dr. Phllip Reece, who was my supervisor for several
months. I am grateful to him for helping me commence my PhD candidature; and for his
interest in my work and earnest thesis supervision effort.

I am also grateful to Dr. Megan Paull for checking and commenting on the methodology
chapter of this thesis. Such support was then a morale booster to me.

I must acknowledge the assistance provided by Kerrie Carr and Chee Yong: the former
transcribed a large part of the interview data; the latter worked with me to have the
IHRM model I created displayed graphically in the thesis. Meanwhile, I cannot thank
my friend, Siti Hajar, enough for making much effort to help me resolve some major
issues in the final formatting of this thesis.

This research project would not have been accomplished in the first place without the
contribution of the participants. To these participants who took time off their busy
schedules to have interviews with me, I would like to say, once again, a big ‘thank you’.

This acknowledgement page would be incomplete without a mention of the great jobs
done by all at Murdoch University’s Graduate Research Office, library, Teaching and
Learning Centre and the School of Management and Governance in supporting research
students. In particular, I would like to thank librarians, Soun Wong and Judith Beach,
for their assistance with referencing matters; and Dr. Julia Hobson of the Teaching and
Learning Centre for her moral support.

My family and friends are definitely not the least important to acknowledge here. As I
close this chapter of my life pursuit, I know that I will always be grateful to them for
their support during the challenging time I lived in completing this thesis.

iv
 List of Tables

Chapter 1

TABLE 1.1 Main Themes of Thesis Chapters …………………………………… 17

Chapter 4

TABLE 4.1 Sampling Criteria ............................................................................... 108

TABLE 4.2 Information Sought for Sampling Purposes ........................................ 109

TABLE 4.3 Statistical Plan for Sampling ............................................................... 110

TABLE 4.4 Principles of Research Ethics Complied With .................................... 111

TABLE 4.5 Measures Taken to Address Research Ethics...................................... 113

TABLE 4.6 Breakdowns of Participants ................................................................ 118

TABLE 4.7 Profiles of Participating MNCs ........................................................... 119

TABLE 4.8 Profiles of Participating Managers ...................................................... 120

Chapter 5

TABLE 5.1 Common Keywords Pertaining to HRM and IHRM........................... 127

TABLE 5.2 Additional Keywords Pertaining to IHRM ......................................... 127

TABLE 5.3 Shared HR Factors .............................................................................. 139

TABLE 5.4 Complex Nexus of Human Relationships in an MNC ........................ 145

TABLE 5.5 Employee-Friendly and Relationship-Building Factors in IHRM ...... 147

Chapter 6

TABLE 6.1 Benefits of Standardization of HR Policies/Practices ......................... 176

TABLE 6.2 Absence of Full Standardization/Full Localization in

MNC Subsidiaries ............................................................................... 178

TABLE 6.3 Localization within Parameters of Standardization (1) ....................... 182

TABLE 6.4 Localization within Parameters of Standardization (2)....................... 183

TABLE 6.5 Interrelation between Organizational Hierarchy and

Standardization/Localization .............................................................. 185

v
TABLE 6.6 Commonly Localized Activities in MNCs .......................................... 185

TABLE 6.7 Interrelation between Organizational Hierarchy and

Probability of MNC-Wide HR Best Practice ..................................... 195

TABLE 6.8 Interrelations between Organizational Hierarchy,

Standardization/Localization and Probability of
MNC-Wide HR Best Practice ............................................................. 195

TABLE 6.9 Interrelations between Organizational Hierarchy,

Standardization/Localization, Probability of MNC-Wide
HR Best Practice and Flexibility Factor in IHRM .............................. 197

Chapter 8

TABLE 8.1 Interrelations between Organizational Hierarchy and

Standardization/Localization, Probability of MNC-Wide
HR Best Practice and Flexibility in the Implementation of
MNC-Wide HR Best Practice ............................................................. 247

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 List of Figures

Chapter 2

FIGURE 2.1 Integrative IHRM Model (Shen, Edwards and Lee, 2005) ................... 29

FIGURE 2.2 Integrative Framework for Understanding Cross-National HRM

Practices (Budhwar and Sparrow, 2002) ............................................... 33

FIGURE 2.3 Morgan’s (1986) IHRM Model............................................................. 42

Chapter 3

FIGURE 3.1 Outward Research Steps in the Study ................................................... 87

FIGURE 3.2 Integrated Components of the Data Analysis........................................ 99

FIGURE 3.3 Data Analysis Strategy ........................................................................ 100

FIGURE 3.4 Cognitive Processes in Parts of the Data Analysis ............................. 102

Chapter 4

FIGURE 4.1 Data Collection Steps .......................................................................... 106

Chapter 8

FIGURE 8.1A A Three-Dimensional Conceptual Model of IHRM ........................... 240

(Horizontal View)

FIGURE 8.1B A Three-Dimensional Conceptual Model of IHRM ………………. 241

(Vertical View)

vii
 List of Appendices

Chapter 2

APPENDIX 2-1 Two Logics Approach of IHRM .................................................. 272

(Evans and Lorange, 1989)

APPENDIX 2-2 Integrative Framework of Strategic IHRM in Multinational

Enterprises .................................................................................... 273
(Schuler, Dowling and De Cieri, 1993)

APPENDIX 2-3 European (Contextual) Model of HRM ………………………. 274

(Brewster, 1995)

APPENDIX 2-4 Two Dimensions of IHRM .......................................................... 275

(Paauwe and Dewe, 1995)

APPENDIX 2-5 Model of Strategic IHRM ............................................................ 276

(Taylor, Beechler and Napier, 1996)

APPENDIX 2-6 Model of Strategic HRM in Multinational Enterprises ................ 277

(Dowling, 1999)

APPENDIX 2-7 Thematic Framework of IHRM in MNEs:

2007 Update and Extension ......................................................... 278
(Schuler and Tarique, 2007)

Chapter 3

APPENDIX 3-1 Interview Schedule ....................................................................... 280

APPENDIX 3-2 Data Display Matrices .................................................................. 285

APPENDIX 3-3 Data Display Matrices with Labels .............................................. 292

APPENDIX 3-4 Data Display Networks ................................................................ 297

Chapter 4

APPENDIX 4-1 Working Tables for Procurement of Representative Samples ..... 298

viii
 Abbreviations

MNC-S MNC subsidiary/subsidiaries

MNC-P MNC-Participant(s)
(Participating MNC/MNCs)

Exec-P Executive-Participant(s)
(Participating Top HR Manger(s) and/or Other Participating Top
Manger(s))

ix
 Explanatory Notes

1. The Researcher
The researcher of this study

2. ‘HRM in MNCs’ & IHRM

These two terms are used interchangeably in this thesis.

3. The Participants
The interviewees and/or the participating MNCs in this study

4. (a) Executive-Participants (Exec-P)

Managers who participated in this study

(b) MNC-Participants (MNC-P)

MNCs (MNCs’ subsidiaries) that participated in this study

5. MNC-S
Subsidiary/Subsidiaries of one or more MNCs
‘MNC-S’ and ‘MNC subsidiaries’ are used interchangeably in this thesis.

6. MNC-(number)
For a specific participating MNC subsidiary [i.e. MNC-S-(number)],
‘MNC-(number)’ refers to the MNC concerned as a firm in its totality.

(e.g. Where ‘MNC-S-(number X)’ is mentioned, ‘MNC-(number X)’ refers to

the MNC concerned as a whole.)

In the context where a certain MNC-(number) is discussed, ‘MNC-(number)’

and ‘MNC-S-(number)’ are used interchangeably where relevant.

7. Standardization & Global Integration

These two terms convey the same concept. However, the former pertains
mainly to policies/practices of MNCs while the latter pertains mainly to
strategies of MNCs.

8. Localization & Local Responsiveness

These two terms refer to the same concept. However, the former pertains
mainly to policies/practices of MNCs while the latter pertains mainly to
strategies of MNCs.

9. (a) HR best practice

A single HR ‘best’ practice or a combination of several HR ‘best’
practices
(b) HR best practices
Several HR ‘best’ practices

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 Contents
D e c l a r a t i o n ........................................................................................................................... i
A b s t r a c t ................................................................................................................................. ii
A c k n o w l e d g m e n t s ............................................................................................................ iv
L i s t o f T a b l e s ..................................................................................................................... v
L i s t o f F i g u r e s ................................................................................................................. vii
L i s t o f A p p e n d i c e s ........................................................................................................ viii
A b b r e v i a t i o n s .................................................................................................................... ix
E x p l a n a t o r y N o t e s ............................................................................................................ x

CHAPTER 1 .......................................................................................................................................... 1

INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 1
Background of the Field of Study: IHRM as a Field of Scholarly Enquiry ............................... 1
1.1.1 Growth in Scope and Importance of IHRM ........................................................................ 1
1.1.2 Strands of IHRM Research ................................................................................................. 3
1.1.3 Ongoing and Emerging Themes in IHRM Research ........................................................... 4
1.1.4 Fundamental Issues Facing IHRM as a Scholarly Field ...................................................... 6
Overview of the Study ................................................................................................................... 9
1.2.1 Research Purpose, Questions and Objective ....................................................................... 9
1.2.2 Overall Approach to the Study .......................................................................................... 10
1.2.3 Assumptions, Ontology and Epistemology Underlying the Study .................................... 11
1.2.4 Research Strategy and Research Structure ........................................................................ 12
1.2.5 Data Collection Method and the Underlying Rationale .................................................... 13
1.2.6 Data Collection Sources and Sampling Design ................................................................. 14
1.2.7 Data Analysis Strategy and the Underlying Rationale ...................................................... 15
1.2.8 Outcome of the Study........................................................................................................ 16
Overview of the Thesis ................................................................................................................ 16
1.3.1 Organization of the Thesis ................................................................................................ 16
1.3.2 Approach to the Presentation of the Thesis ....................................................................... 19
1.4 Concluding Remarks: The Study and the Thesis in Brief ......................................................... 19

CHAPTER 2 ........................................................................................................................................ 22

LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................................................................... 22

2.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................. 22
2.2 Challenges Facing IHRM as a Scholarly Field: Some General Phenomena and Issues ........ 23
2.3 Development of IHRM Theory ................................................................................................... 25
2.3.1 Research Issues and Slow Development of Theory .......................................................... 25
2.3.2 Integrative Approaches to Theory Building in IHRM....................................................... 24
Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Cross-Fertilization of Ideas between Research Strands ...... 26
Integration of IHRM Policies/Practices and Multiple Intervening Factors at Multiple Levels .... 28
Integration of Major IHRM Determinants ................................................................................... 32
2.3.3 Reasons and Challenges behind Integrative Approaches to IHRM Theory Building ....... 35
2.3.4 Development of IHRM Theory: Inferences and Summary Drawn from the Literature
Review …………………………………………………………………………………...37
2.4 Definition of IHRM .................................................................................................................... 40
2.4.1 Definition of IHRM as an Area of Concern in IHRM Research ....................................... 40
2.4.2 Existent Descriptions of IHRM as Exemplification of Inadequacies in the Existent
Definition of IHRM ……………………………………………………………………...42
2.4.3 Closer Examination of Inadequacies in the Existent Definition of IHRM ........................ 46
2.4.4 Definition of IHRM: Inferences and Summary Drawn from the Literature Review ......... 49

xi
2.5 Methodological Matters in IHRM Research .............................................................................. 50
2.5.1 Significance of Methodological Matters in IHRM Research and Theory Building .......... 50
2.5.2 Effects of Culture on IHRM Research Methodology ........................................................ 51
2.5.3 Potential of Qualitative Methodology in IHRM Research and Theory Building .............. 53
2.5.4 Mixed-Method Approach to IHRM Research ................................................................... 56
2.5.5 Methodological Matters in IHRM Research: Inferences and Summary Drawn from the
Literature Review ............................................................................................................. 59
2.6 IHRM in the Context of Managing across Cultures and National Borders ............................. 60
2.6.1 Some Overall Understanding ............................................................................................ 60
2.6.2 Some Major IHRM Themes under Ongoing Deliberation ................................................ 62
HR Best Practice .......................................................................................................................... 62
Convergence versus Divergence .................................................................................................. 64
Standardization versus Localization ............................................................................................ 67
2.6.3 IHRM in the Context of Managing across Cultures and National Borders: Inferences and
Summary Drawn from the Literature Review ................................................................... 71
2.7 Research Focus Derived from the Literature Review ................................................................ 72
2.7.1 Refined Research Purpose ................................................................................................. 72
2.7.2 Research Questions and Research Objective .................................................................... 73
2.7.3 Concluding Remarks: General Implications for the Study ................................................ 74

CHAPTER 3 ........................................................................................................................................ 75

METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................................... 75
3.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................. 75
3.2 Philosophical Stance of the Study .............................................................................................. 76
3.2.1 Ontology Underlying the Study ........................................................................................ 77
3.2.2 Epistemology Underlying the Study ................................................................................. 78
3.3 Research Approach ..................................................................................................................... 79
3.3.1 Inductive Approach: Rationale Pertaining to the Research Paradigm and Research Field 79
3.3.2 Inductive Approach: Rationale Pertaining to the Research Purpose ................................. 80
3.3.3 Inductive Approach: Further Perspectives ........................................................................ 81
3.4 Research Strategy ........................................................................................................................ 81
3.4.1 Qualitative Strategy: the Rationale.................................................................................... 81
Rationale Pertaining to the Philosophical Stance and Approach of the Study………………… 81
Rationale Pertaining to the Purpose of the Study ......................................................................... 82
3.4.2 Qualitative Strategy: the Emphases ................................................................................... 83
Meanings in Relation to Social Reality ........................................................................................ 83
Context and Process of Social Reality ......................................................................................... 84
Descriptive Details ....................................................................................................................... 85
3.4.3 Qualitative Strategy: the Research Structure ..................................................................... 86
3.5 Research Steps and Considerations............................................................................................ 87
3.6 Data Collection Method .............................................................................................................. 93
3.6.1 Qualitative Interview: The Rationale ................................................................................ 93
3.6.2 Semi-Structured Interview: The Rationale ........................................................................ 94
3.7 Data Analysis Approach and Strategy ........................................................................................ 95
3.7.1 Fundamental Notions Underlying the Data Analysis ........................................................ 95
3.7.2 Approach to Data Analysis ............................................................................................... 97
3.7.3 Components, Processes and Strategy of the Data Analysis............................................... 98
Integrated Components of the Data Analysis............................................................................... 98
Strategy and Processes of the Data Analysis ................................................................................99
3.8 Concluding Remarks................................................................................................................. 103

xii
CHAPTER 4 ...................................................................................................................................... 105

DATA COLLECTION ....................................................................................................................... 105

4.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................... 105
4.2 Procedures of Data Collection .................................................................................................. 106
4.3 Results of Data Collection ........................................................................................................ 108
4.3.1 Sources of Data ............................................................................................................... 118
4.3.2 Remarks on the Participating Managers .......................................................................... 121
4.4 Concluding Remarks................................................................................................................. 122

CHAPTER 5…………………………………………………………………………………………124

FINDINGS: FUNDAMENTALS OF IHRM ................................................................................... 124

5.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................... 124
5.2 Themes Developed from the Interview Data ............................................................................ 125
5.3 IHRM as the Extended Version of HRM/HRM as the Foundation of IHRM ........................ 126
5. 3. 1 Global and Strategic Outlook of IHRM .......................................................................... 128
5 .3 .2 Cross-Cultural Pertinence of IHRM ................................................................................ 132
5 .3 .3 HR Network of Shared Connections in IHRM ............................................................... 136
5.4 Relationship Management as a Core Component of IHRM ................................................... 140
5.4.1 Significance of Human Relationships and Relationship Management in IHRM ............ 140
Human Relationships, Diversity and Cultural Differences as Interwoven Concerns in MNCs..140
Complex Nexus of Human Relationships as a Complicating Factor in MNCs.......................... 144
5.4.2 Means and Process of Relationship Management in IHRM ............................................ 146
5.5 Diversity Management as a Core Component of IHRM .......................................................... 152
5.5.1 Concept of ‘Diversity’ in MNCs ..................................................................................... 152
5.5.2 Significance of Diversity and Diversity Management in IHRM ..................................... 153
Diversity Policies and Initiatives as Major Managerial Instruments in MNCs .......................... 153
Diversity as a Source of Strength for MNCs ............................................................................. 153
5.5.3 Means and Process of Diversity Management in IHRM ................................................. 155
5.6 Talent Management as a Core Component of IHRM .............................................................. 159
5.6.1 Significance of Talent and Talent Management in IHRM .............................................. 159
The Notion of ‘Talent’ and Competition for Talent at the Global Talent Market...................... 159
Strategic and Instrumental Roles of Talent Management in MNCs........................................... 160
5.6.2 Means and Process of Talent Management in IHRM...................................................... 162
5.7 Concluding Remarks……………………………………………………………………………………....166

CHAPTER 6 ...................................................................................................................................... 169

FINDINGS: PROCESS STRUCTURES OF IHRM ........................................................................ 169

6.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................... 169
6.2 Themes Developed from the Interview Data ............................................................................ 170
6.3 Standardization of HR Policies and Practices ......................................................................... 171
Consistency of Corporate Policies, Culture and Identity ................................................ 171
Staff Equity, Alignment in Administration and Leadership ............................................ 173
6.3.3 Increased Standardization in the Course of ‘Being Global’ …………………………... .177

6.4 Localization of HR Policies and Practices ............................................................................... 178

Combined Standardization-Localization Approach ........................................................ 178
Standardization versus Localization: Viability versus Necessity for Adaptation ........... 180
Localization within Parameters of Standardization ......................................................... 182
Organizational Hierarchy and Localization ..................................................................... 184

xiii
 Commonly Localized HR Activities ............................................................................... 185
Recruitment and Selection……………………………………………………………………. 186
Compensation and Benefits ....................................................................................................... 186
Training and Development ........................................................................................................ 187
Performance Appraisal............................................................................................................... 188
6.5 HR Best Practice ....................................................................................................................... 189
Organizational Learning, Localization and HR Best Practice ......................................... 190
Cross-Border/Cross-Cultural IHRM ‘Shared Affair’ and HR Best Practice ................... 192
Organizational Hierarchy, Standardization/Localization and MNC-Wide HR Best Practice
........................................................................................................................................ 194
Organizational Hierarchy, Standardization/Localization, MNC-Wide HR Best Practice
and Flexibility in the Workings of IHRM ....................................................................... 196
6.6 Concluding Remarks................................................................................................................. 198

CHAPTER 7 ...................................................................................................................................... 200

DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS ......................................................................................................... 200

7.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................... 200
7.2 IHRM as the Extended Version of HRM/HRM as the Foundation of IHRM ........................ 201
7.2.1 Inseparability of HRM and IHRM .................................................................................. 201
7.2.2 Global and Strategic Outlook of IHRM .......................................................................... 202
7.2.3 Cross-cultural Pertinence of IHRM ................................................................................. 204
7.2.4 HR Network of Shared Connections in IHRM ............................................................... 205
7.3 Relationship Management as a Core Component of IHRM ................................................... 209
7.4 Diversity Management as a Core Component of IHRM .......................................................... 214
7.5 Talent Management as a Core Component of IHRM .............................................................. 219
7.6 Standardization and Localization as Process Structures of IHRM ......................................... 225
7.7 HR Best Practice as Process Structure of IHRM .................................................................... 230
7.8 Concluding Remarks................................................................................................................. 236

CHAPTER 8 ...................................................................................................................................... 238

CONCLUSION .................................................................................................................................. 238

8.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................... 238
8.2 Ultimate Outcome of the Study: Conceptual Model of IHRM ................................................ 238
8.2.1 Overall Attributes of the Model ...................................................................................... 238
8.2.2 Major Features and Concepts of the Model .................................................................... 242
Continuum and Interconnectedness ........................................................................................... 242
Infinite Number of Variables and Variations ............................................................................. 243
Three-Dimensional View ........................................................................................................... 246
8.3 Contributions of the Study and Highlights of the Thesis ........................................................ 247
8.3.1 Theory Building in IHRM ............................................................................................... 247
8.3.2 IHRM in Practice ............................................................................................................ 249
8.4 Limitations of the Study ............................................................................................................ 254
8.4.1 Limitations in the Final Outcome of the Study ............................................................... 254
8.4.2 Limitations in the Samples and Data Obtained ............................................................... 255
Measures Taken to Address the Limitations .............................................................................. 257
8.4.3 Limitations in the Research Method and Overall Research Design ................................ 260
8.5 Implications for Future Research in IHRM ............................................................................ 262
8.5.1 Research Concerning Conceptual Frameworks of IHRM ............................................... 263
8.5.2 Research Concerning IHRM in Practice ......................................................................... 264
8.5.3 Research Concerning IHRM as a Scholarly Field of Enquiry ......................................... 266

xiv
APPENDICES ................................................................................................................................... 270

BIBLIOGRAPHY .............................................................................................................................. 299

xv
 CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION

Background of the Field of Study: IHRM as a Field of Scholarly

Enquiry

1.1.1 Growth in Scope and Importance of IHRM

International Human Resource Management (IHRM) is a hybrid between International

Management (IM) and Human Resource Management (HRM). It is generally

considered a relatively new scholarly field (cf. Bjorkman and Stahl, 2006; Briscoe,

Schuler and Claus, 2009; Dowling and Schuler, 1990; Ozbilgin, 2005). This fact

notwithstanding, the field has undergone considerable growth over the last three

decades or so (cf. Briscoe et al., 2009; Pudelko, Reiche and Carr, 2015; Rowley and

Warner, 2007; Scullion, Collings and Gunningle, 2007). While it was deemed to be in

the infancy stage in the 1980s’ (cf. Laurent, 1986), in a relatively recent review it has

been described as a ‘vibrant and diverse’ field of scholarly enquiry (cf. Lazarova, 2006).

In a more recent review, it is said to have ‘reached its adolescence if not early

adulthood’ (cf. Pudelko et al., 2015).

Indeed, as a scholarly field, IHRM has in recent years witnessed expansion in the scope

of studies, as well as significant increase in scholarly outputs and conferences on

various topics (cf. Bjorkman and Stahl, 2006; Morley, Heraty and Collings, 2006a;

Pudelko et al., 2015; Scullion et al., 2007). As a professional practice, IHRM has in

recent years witnessed increased emphasis on globalization of HRM, as well as

organized training seminars and courses on practical aspects of HRM in the

international contexts (Briscoe et al., 2009). There is also increasing diversity in

1
international work that falls within the domain of international human resource

management (cf. Dowling, Festing and Engle, 2013). It is palpable that the importance

of IHRM is now pronounced (cf. De Cieri, Fenwick and Hutchings, 2005). In Rowley

and Warner’s (2007, p. 704) observation, ‘the subject of IHRM is evidently a highly

flourishing one these days’. In the prediction of Scullion et al. (2007, p. 314), ‘[there is]

a very sanguine future for IHRM research in the early decades of the 21st century’.

The increasing importance of IHRM as a scholarly field is in tandem with the ongoing

development of IHRM as a professional practice. In the aggregate, the growth of IHRM

as both a scholarly field and a professional practice is attributable to a number of factors

in the global business context, some general ones of which are as follows:

 Rapid increase in internationalization of business (Briscoe et al., 2009; Ozbilgin,

2005)

 Globalization and growth in international trade supported by extensive

deregulation, regional integration and communication technologies (Ozbilgin,

2005)

 Rapid growth and internationalization of small and medium-sized enterprises,

followed by the emergence of ‘micro-multinationals’, in recent years

(Dimitratos, Johnson, Slow and Young, 2003)

 Advent of ‘outsourcing’ and ‘offshoring’ following globalization of business

(Harris, 2008)

 Heightened realization among MNCs that people management practices are

crucial in ensuring profitability and viability of their business operations

(Morley, Heraty and Collings, 2006b)

 Persistent expatriate underperformance and failure (Dowling and Welch, 2004)

2
  Growing importance of global work experience/expatriate experience for career

advancement (Harris, 2008; Stroh, Black, Mendenhall and Gregersen, 2005)

 Growing importance of global knowledge management within HRM as a key

strategic area for global firms (Desouza and Evaristo, 2003)

 Consensus among managers of MNCs, in the last three decades, that the

mainstream HR approaches and theories are inadequate to address HR issues

facing MNCs (Clark, Grant and Hijltjes, 2000).

Further, following the growth of HRM as an academic program in regions outside of

North America where it originated, it has become evident that the views of HRM can no

longer be confined to those of North America, and must instead be expanded to

incorporate those of global level (Harris, 2008).

1.1.2 Strands of IHRM Research

Knowledge about IHRM has so far been developed through three strands of research.

These strands of research are (i) studies examining various aspects of HRM in MNCs;

(ii) studies examining cross-cultural issues, cross-cultural management and international

perspectives of HRM in organizations with an international outlook, and (iii) studies

comparing HR approaches and systems in different countries or between the home

countries and host countries of global firms (cf. De Cieri and Dowling, 1999; Dowling,

et al., 1999; Ozbilgin, 2005). In concise terms and in accordance with De Cieri and

Dowling’s (1999) categorization, these three strands of research can be identified as

‘HRM in MNCs’, ‘cross-cultural management’ and ‘comparative HRM’ respectively.

3
Of the three strands of IHRM research, ‘HRM in MNCs’ is the dominant strand

(Harzing and Ruysseveldt, 2004; Keating and Thompson, 2004; Torrington, 1994).

Research into HRM in MNCs conventionally focuses on aspects of

expatriation/expatriate management (Scullion; 2005; Tayeb, 2005). In recent years

however, research interests in this strand of research (HRM in MNCs) have been

expanded. A wide range of themes are now covered in this strand of research, in an

effort to define HRM in MNCs beyond a narrow context (Keating and Thompson, 2004;

Tayeb, 2005).

1.1.3 Ongoing and Emerging Themes in IHRM Research

There are numerous ongoing and emerging themes in IHRM research. Different themes

emanate from and are addressed in different research strands. The critical and practical

nature coupled with the variety of these themes have enriched the field, contributing to

its growth. However, there is a lack of consensus on the areas covered in IHRM as a

scholarly field (Scullion and Linehan, 2005); and the variety of themes spreading across

three separate research strands is discernibly one of the contributory factors to this issue.

The following are some of the themes which have attracted many ongoing discussions

and debates in the field. These themes emanate from all existing research strands in the

field but mainly concern HRM in MNCs.

 Standardization versus localization/global integration versus local

responsiveness (e,g. Gunnigle, Murphy, Cleveland, Heraty and Morley, 2002;

Lindholm, Tahvanainen and Bjorkman, 1999; Myloni et al., 2004; Resenzweig,

2006; Rosenzweig and Nohria, 1994)

4
  Convergence versus divergence of HR practices (which is related to

standardization versus localization/global integration versus local

responsiveness) (e.g. Brewster, Mayrhofer and Morley, 2004; Hall and Soskice,

2001; Sorge, 2004;Tregaski and Brewster, 2006)

 ‘Country of origin’ effect on HR practices in MNCs (e.g. Clark, Colling,

Almond, Gunnigle, Morley, Peters and Portillo, 2002; Ferner, 1997;

Noorderhavan and Harzing, 2003)

 HR issues in developing countries (e.g. Budhwar and Debrah, 2001, 2005;

Warner, 2004)

 Strategic HRM in MNCs (e.g. De Cieri and Dowling, 1999, 2006; Schuler,

Dowling and De Cieri, 1993; Scullion and Paauwe, 2005)

 ‘One-best wayism’/HR best practice (e.g. Belanger, Edwards and Wright, 1999;

Delery and Doty, 1996; Dinur, Hamilton III and Inkpen, 2009; Huselid, 1995;

Ichniowski and Shaw, 1999; Martin and Beaumont, 1998; Pfeffer, 1994, 1998;

Royle, 2000; Taylor, Beechler and Napier, 1996; Von Glinow, Drost and

Teagarden, 2002; Wood and Albanese, 1995; Wood and De Menzes, 1998).

Among many other themes, emerging themes in the field include the following:

 Decreasing reliance on expatriate assignees and broader conceptualization of

international assignments (e.g. Collings, Scullion and Morley, 2007; Fenwick,

2004; Harzing, 2001; Hertel, 2005; Mendenhall, Kuhlmann and Stahl, 2001;

Scullion and Brewster, 2001; Tahvanainen, 2005)

 People management in cross-border alliances, mergers and acquisition (e.g.

Lajara, Lillo and Sempere, 2003; Schuler, Jackson and Luo, 2004; Schweiger

and Goulet, 2005; Stahl and Mendenhall, 2005)

5
  Cross-border knowledge transfer, diffusion of management practices and

organizational learning (e.g. Bonache and Brewster, 2001; Cerdin, 2003; Chiesa

and Manzini, 1996; Edwards, 1998; Frost, Birkinshaw and Prescott, 2002;

Minbaeva, Pedersen, Bjorkman, Fey and Park, 2003)

 Global leadership (e.g. Goldsmith, Greenberg, Robertson and Hu-Chan, 2003;

Kets de Vries, Vrignaud and Florent-Treacy, 2004; McCall and Hollenbeck,

2002; Rosen, Digh, Singer and Philips, 2000)

 International performance management (Cascio, 2006; Knight, Durham and

Locke, 2001; Oddou and Mendenhall, 2000)

 International dimensions of the management of human resources in large as well

as small organizations (Benson and Scroggins, 2011).

Still another theme that has received increased attention in IHRM research concerns the

pivotal roles of the HR function in the operations of MNCs. Equally significant, IHRM

research is increasingly being framed in terms of organization theories (cf. Bjorkman

and Stahl, 2006).

1.1.4 Fundamental Issues Facing IHRM as a Scholarly Field

As a relatively new scholarly interest, IHRM is inevitably faced with many challenges.

In the first place, as a field with an international outlook, it is necessary that IHRM

evolves persistently in tandem with the volatile global scenarios. Simply, theoretical

IHRM that evolves with changing times is necessary for improvement in practical

IHRM; this is especially true when theoretical underpinning is necessary to inform

practice and provide practice with a focus (cf. Benson and Scroggis, 2011; Scroggis and

Benson, 2010; Taylor, Beecher and Napier, 1996).

6
Equally important, despite being a hybrid between International Management and

Human Resource Management, IHRM as a scholarly field is expected to have an

established body of theory of its own. This expectancy is plausible given that, ‘[a]t the

end of the 20th century, the field of IHRM, albeit no longer perhaps in its infancy, still

ran the danger of being subsumed under the broader fields [sic] of international

management or HRM’ (Brewster, Dickmann and Sparrow, 2007, p.9). Moreover, due to

its traditional orientation towards issues in practice rather than theoretical

conceptualization (Benson and Scroggins, 2011), the field has so far witnessed a lack of

theoretical foundations (Clark et al., 2000). As clearly put across by Dowling and

Welch (2004), the field has been slow in developing a rigorous body of theory.

In the absence of a rigorous body of theory, IHRM as a field is also inadequate in terms

of its definition. Where the latter is concerned, there is not only a lack of consensus on

the areas covered in IHRM (Scullion and Linehan, 2005), but also the following issues:

the existing definitions of IHRM are descriptive, narrow, and academically oriented

(Clark et al., 2000; Ozbilgin, 2005); IHRM is perceived by many as synonymous with

expatriate management (Harris and Brewster, 1999); and the roots of IHRM have not

been explicitly accounted for and fully explained (Rowley and Warner, 2007). On the

whole, IHRM is still a ‘fairly recent conceptual topic’ (Rowley and Warner, 2007,

p.713): while ‘[suffering] from conceptual and normative limitations’ (Clark et al.,

2000, p.11), it ‘appears to be “exceptional” in business practice rather than the rule in

how people are managed’ (Rowley and Warner, 2007, p. 713).

On the whole, among the multitude of issues facing IHRM, the above-mentioned issues

pertain directly to definition of IHRM, and generally to theory of IHRM. They reflect

7
not only inadequacies in IHRM theory, but also that these inadequacies constitute key

challenges facing IHRM as a scholarly field. It is discernible that these issues need to be

fundamentally addressed in IHRM research. The roots of these issues, as identified or

alluded to by some researchers, are as follows:

 The possibility of IHRM researchers avoiding the difficult task of defining

IHRM (Clark et al., 2000)

 Excessive emphasis on research into the following topics (as cited by different

authors), at the expense of developing theoretical foundations: functional

activities of IHRM (Clark et al., 2000); expatriate management (Harris and

Brewster, 1999); comparative HRM and industrial relations (Dowling and

Welch, 2004)

 Existing disciplinary boundaries in IHRM research (Keating and Thompson,

2004)

 Fragmentation coupled with a lack of cohesion amid increasing scope and

diversity in IHRM research (‘unsystematic enrichment’) ( Pudelko et al., 2015)

 Costs, difficulties and major methodological problems in developing and/or

conducting international-level research (Dowling and Welch, 2004).

The above is merely a partial list of the roots to various issues pertaining to

inadequacies in the definition and theory of IHRM. However, the partial list is

indicative of the scale and complexity of the key challenges facing IHRM research

where the conceptual and theoretical dimensions of IHRM are concerned. IHRM

researchers obviously have the mission to confront these challenges with heightened

attention. It is palpable that this mission entails delving into the fundamentals of IHRM,

for a start.

8
 Overview of Study

1.2.1 Research Purpose, Questions and Objective

This study explored IHRM on the premise to address the existing inadequacies in

conceptual understanding of IHRM. The general preliminary purpose of the study was

to explore and better understand IHRM as both a scholarly field and a professional

practice. The central theme of the study was the fundamentals and conceptual

understanding of IHRM.

Based on a comprehensive literature review that unravelled many details surrounding

the inadequacies in the definition, and generally theory of IHRM, the above-mentioned

general preliminary purpose of the study was refined. The refined purpose was to

contribute to IHRM theory building through conceptualizing IHRM. Seeking to

structurally frame the IHRM fundamentals unravelled in the study as a form of

conceptual understanding of IHRM, this refined research purpose gave value and form

to the central theme of the study.

Based on the refined research purpose, and with a view to achieving practical as well as

theoretical relevance in the research outcome, the following general preliminary

research question1 of the study was identified:

In what manner can IHRM be conceptualized so as to contribute to both

holistic understanding of IHRM practice and holistic development of
IHRM theory?

1
This is the ‘question that flows from the research idea and may lead to several more detailed questions
or the definition of research objectives’ (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2009, p.592).

9
Revolving around the above question, a series of more specific questions (specific

preliminary research questions) were then identified. Based on all these research

questions that essentially asked of ways to conceptualize IHRM in a generic, holistic,

comprehensive and practice-relevant manner, an ultimate research question was

identified. A ‘what’- and ‘how’-question, this ultimate research question reads as

follows:

What are the fundamentals and essentials of IHRM; and how can these
ingredients of IHRM be consolidated to theoretically represent IHRM in a
generic, holistic, comprehensive and practice-relevant light?

In tandem with the refined research purpose and ultimate research question, the ultimate

objective of the study was set as follows:

To conceptualize IHRM through the formulation of a generic, holistic,

comprehensive and practice-relevant IHRM conceptual model.

1.2.2 Overall Approach to the Study

The study was exploratory, ‘interpretivist’ and inductive in approach. The overall

rationale of this approach is twofold. Firstly, with inadequacies in the definition/theory

of IHRM, there is much room for exploration, interpretation and inductive reasoning of

phenomena associated with IHRM. Secondly, the ‘interpretivist’ and inductive approach

catered to the general purpose of the study to explore and better understand IHRM as

both a scholarly field and a professional practice.

The exploratory nature of the approach saw this study actively ask questions, as well as

delving into and assessing relevant phenomena in a holistic light. Meanwhile, the

10
‘interpretivist’ nature of the approach saw this study emphasize details and meanings:

while looking into details behind the phenomena under study, it interpreted meaning

and sought to understand meanings that are socially constructed, subjective and multiple

in form. With its exploratory and ‘interpretivist’ nature, this study was not guided by

any theoretical propositions; instead it was geared towards generating theoretical

propositions. This is where this study also stood as an inductive study.

In taking the exploration- interpretation- and induction-based approach, this study

revolved around gaining rich insights into IHRM-related phenomena. While giving

ample consideration to the contexts of these phenomena, it emphasized meanings that

the participants of the study attached to these phenomena. Succinctly put, this approach

saw the study emphasize ‘meanings’, ‘contexts’ and ‘perceptions’ associated with

IHRM subject matters under study.

1.2.3 Assumptions, Ontology and Epistemology Underlying the Study

The overall approach of the study, as described above, was underscored by the

following four assumptions: (i) research in management concerns meanings attached to

organization life; (ii) every circumstance addressed in management is unique, as it is

shaped by unique contexts and human actors; (iii) in management, the process is equally

important as the structure, given that the process is connected with the subjective reality

and subjective meanings of organization life; and (iv) order in management and

organizations is worked out more through social interactions than through pre-defined

structures.

11
In subscribing to the above assumptions, this study took the ontological positions of

subjectivism and constructivism. According to these ontological positions, social

phenomena and their meanings are products of social interaction; as such, it is necessary

for social research to explore the subjective reality and meanings associated with

people’s action. Meanwhile, the same assumptions stated in the preceding paragraph see

the study taking the following epistemological positions: intangible phenomena are as

valid as tangible phenomena to be studied for knowledge development; in addition,

knowledge is created through delving into the details and subjective meanings of the

phenomena under study. In short, the epistemological view underlying this study was

that knowledge is created and negotiated through human beings.

1.2.4 Research Strategy2 and Research Structure

A qualitative research strategy was employed in this study. Under this strategy, concepts

and theoretical elaborations emerge from the data during the research process. This

research orientation is congruent with the objective of the study to develop a conceptual

model of IHRM. In succinct terms, the interpretivist and inductive views of qualitative

research are in line with the exploratory nature of this study.

In employing a qualitative strategy, this study involved a flexible research structure. It

neither delimited the areas of enquiry at the outset nor employed a fully structured data

collection method. Unrestricted enquiry as such ensured that fresh perspectives

2
In this study, ‘research strategy’ refers to the choice between ‘qualitative study’ and ‘quantitative study’.
This concept of ‘strategy’ in research is drawn from Bryman and Bell (2007). There are authors who refer
to research strategy as the general plan or method by which the researcher goes about answering the
research question(s). Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2009), for example, listed the following as some of
the research strategies: experiment; survey; case study; action research; grounded theory; ethnography;
and archival research.

12
pertaining to IHRM could be uncovered during the research process. Meanwhile, a data

collection method that is not fully structured ensured that no inappropriate frame of

reference was imposed on the research participants and their social world.

As an integral part of the flexible qualitative research structure, there were circular and

iterative steps in the research process, entailing constant ‘reflexivity’ on the part of the

Researcher. Apart from constantly reflecting on the research process in its totality and

linking each research step to the preceding step, the Researcher constantly linked

empirical analysis to flexible literature review and theories. Ultimately, the flexible

structure of qualitative research allowed theoretical elaborations to emerge during the

research process. This facilitated the development of the IHRM conceptual model as the

ultimate outcome of the study.

1.2.5 Data Collection Method and the Underlying Rationale

This study employed face-to-face, semi-structured interviews as the data collection

method. An interview schedule without pre-coded answers was used for the interviews.

The interview schedule covered a wide range of topic areas concerning IHRM.

Concisely, the data collection method was non-standardized, open and relatively broad-

based.

Through the open and broad-based data collection approach, the participants had ample

flexibility to convey a wide spectrum of perspectives on the topic areas covered in the

interviews. Likewise, the Researcher enjoyed flexibility to explore the topic areas

concerned beyond the structure and wording of the interview schedule. Such flexibility

catered to the requirement of this exploratory and inductive study to procure rich data.

13
Rich data allowed this study to extensively explore the various facets of IHRM and

develop an IHRM conceptual model at its conclusion.

1.2.6 Data Collection Sources and Sampling Design

Through face-to-face interviews, this study procured first-hand information on HRM in

MNCs from MNCs’ real-life settings. Interview data were collected from top HR

managers and other top managers of participating MNCs located in the city of Kuala

Lumpur and the state of Selangor in Malaysia. The presence of MNCs from different

parts of the world and a relatively large number of expatriates was the basis for the

choice of the data collection location.

The sample was obtained through self-selection sampling3. However, every endeavour

was made to procure the participation of at least one top HR manager and one other top

manager from each participating MNC – with the specification that at least one of these

managers be an expatriate. In addition, every endeavour was made to procure the

participation of MNCs headquartered in as many countries from different continents as

possible. The former endeavour was part of the measures in this study to ensure that the

participating managers consisted of a cross-section of MNC top managers who could

convey the reality of HRM in MNCs. The latter endeavour was to ensure that the

participating MNCs consisted of a cross-section of MNCs that could, as far as possible,

represent MNCs worldwide. Specifically, this endeavour was to procure the

participation of MNCs from various industries and various countries across Europe,

America, Asia and Australasia.

3
This is a ‘non-probability sampling procedure in which the case, usually an individual, is allowed to
identify their desire to be part of the sample’ (Saunders, Lewis and Thornbill, 2009, p.601).

14
The above-mentioned sampling requirements addressed the ‘credibility’ and

‘transferability’ factors that are desirable in the research outcome. In specific terms, the

objective of the sampling design was twofold: i) to address the ‘credibility’ factor by

procuring multiple accounts of the social reality of HRM in MNCs; and (ii) to address

the ‘transferability’ factor by procuring rich and detailed data that can serve as a source

of information for other related studies on IHRM.

1.2.7 Data Analysis Strategy and the Underlying Rationale

This study employed Miles and Huberman’s (1994) ‘data display and analysis

framework’ as the data analysis strategy. In the data analysis process, data were reduced

through summarizing (condensation), aggregation and categorization (grouping) of

meanings. This process revolved around processing of meanings, entailing

interpretation of meanings and drawing of inferences to derive theoretical

understanding. In short, the interview data were reflected on, interpreted and theorized.

This is essentially an inductive approach to data analysis.

This study required an inductive rather than a deductive approach to data analysis: it

was the position of the study not to have its data analysis influenced by any prior

expectations and/or to depart from the participants’ socially constructed views. In the

first place, the design of the study was based not on a predetermined theoretical

framework, but on a plan for developing a conceptual framework.

15
1.2.8 Outcome of the Study

The outcome of this study was derived from interview data collected from twenty-one

(21) top managers from seventeen (17) MNCs. There are two parts to the outcome. The

first part consists of findings that answer the first part of the research question4 (‘What

are the fundamentals and essentials of IHRM?’). The second part of the outcome

addresses the second part of the research question (‘How can the ingredients of IHRM

be consolidated to theoretically represent IHRM in a generic, holistic, comprehensive

and practice-relevant light?’). It takes the form of a three-dimensional IHRM conceptual

model.

Overview of the Thesis

1.3.1 Organization of the Thesis

This thesis consists of eight chapters. Table 1.1 below lists the chapters and the main

themes of each chapter:

4
The research question reads as follows: What are the fundamentals and essentials of
IHRM; and how can these ingredients of IHRM be consolidated to theoretically
represent IHRM in a generic, holistic, comprehensive and practice-relevant light?

16
 TABLE 1.1
Main Themes of Thesis Chapters

CHAPTER THEMES

1 Introduction  Background of the Field of Study

 Overview of the Study
 Overview of The Thesis

2 Literature Review  General Phenomena and Understanding

Pertaining to Challenges Facing IHRM as a
Scholarly Field
 Issues Concerning the Definition of IHRM
 Major Themes and Dichotomies of IHRM in
the Context of Managing across Cultures and
Countries Borders
 Methodological Matters in IHRM Research
 Research Focus and Research Questions
Derived from the Literature Review

3 Methodology  Philosophical Stance Underlying the Study

 Research Approach
 Research Purpose, Questions and Objective
 Research Strategy
 Research Steps and Considerations
 Data Collection Method
 Data Analysis Approach and Strategy

4 Data Collection  Procedures of Data Collection

 Sources of Data
 Result of Data Collection

5 Findings:  Link between HRM and IHRM

Fundamentals of  Shared Network in IHRM
IHRM  Relationship Management
 Diversity Management
 Talent Management

6 Findings:  Standardization of HR Policies and

Process Structures Practices
of IHRM  Localization of HR Policies and Practices
 HR Best Practice

17
 CHAPTER THEMES

 IHRM as the Extended Version of HRM/HRM

7 Discussion of as the Foundation of IHRM
Findings  IHRM as a ‘HR Network of Shared
Connections’
 Relationship Management, Diversity
Management and Talent Management as the
Core Components of IHRM
 Standardization and Localization (of HR
Policies and Practices) as the Process
Structures of IHRM
 HR Best Practice as the Process Structure of
IHRM

 Integrative Conceptual Model of IHRM

8 Conclusion  Limitations of the Study
 Contributions of the Study
 Highlights of the Thesis

Each of the chapters from Chapter 3 to Chapter 7 starts with an introduction and ends

with concluding remarks. The introduction section outlines the structure and approach

of the chapter, explaining the Researcher’s rationale behind the approach where

necessary. The ‘concluding remarks’ section highlights the salient points presented

and/or derived from the discussion in the chapter. Wherever relevant, this concluding

section provides a link between the chapter and the subsequent chapter.

(‘Literature Review’) shows the initial exploration process of the study. The chapter

ends in two parts: (i) outcome of the literature review: ultimate research

purpose/questions/objective derived from the literature review; and (ii) implications of

the outcome of the literature review for the rest of the study. These two parts of the

chapter set the focus and direction for the study.

18
The two-part outcome of the study is presented over three chapters: the findings of the

study are presented in Chapter 5 and Chapter 6; and the IHRM model resulting from the

findings presented in Chapter 8. Wherever relevant in Chapter 5 and Chapter 6, extracts

of interview transcriptions are exhibited to substantiate the presentation of the findings.

The findings are further deliberated and substantiated in Chapter 7 (‘Discussion of

Findings’). The IHRM model is presented in Chapter 8 (‘Conclusion’), where it is

deliberated in conjunction with the limitations and contributions of the study.

1.3.2 Approach to the Presentation of the Thesis

This thesis is presented as an ‘after-study’ report rather than a progressive account of

the development of the study. It is written mainly in the past tense except for the

following parts: the literature review sections of Chapter 2; the presentation of findings

in Chapter 5 and Chapter 6; the discussion of findings in Chapter 7; and certain parts of

the thesis where the use of tenses other than the past tense is more appropriate. As the

first part of this ‘after-study’ report, this chapter provides – through Section 1.2 and

Section 1.4 – a summarized account of the study. This summarized account serves as a

preamble to full details of the study presented in the rest of the thesis.

1.4 Concluding Remarks: The Study and the Thesis in Brief

This study was exploratory and comprehensive, necessarily so by virtue of its research

purposes. Firstly, the general preliminary purpose of the study was to explore and better

understand IHRM as both a scholarly field and a professional practice. Secondly, the

refined purpose of the study was to contribute to IHRM theory building through

19
conceptualizing IHRM. These research purposes required comprehensive exploration of

IHRM in various stages of the study.

The exploratory and comprehensive nature of the study was manifested in the following

aspects of the study: extensive literature review (Chapter 2) that covered theoretical as

well as practical facets of IHRM; broad-based interview questions used in data

collection (Chapter 4); detailed deliberation and substantiation of the findings (Chapter

5 and Chapter 6); and in-depth discussion of the findings (Chapter 7). These exploratory

and comprehensive research processes were facilitated by the qualitative strategy

employed in the study.

The IHRM model introduced in this study is underpinned by – and is intended to be

understood in conjunction with – the theoretical elaborations and propositions

developed in the study (as presented in Chapter 5, Chapter 6 and Chapter 7). There are

three levels of significance in the model. First, the model fulfils the ultimate objective of

this study to conceptualize IHRM, encapsulating answers to its research questions

concerning fundamental ingredients and processes of IHRM. Second, the model

contributes towards IHRM research, particularly research addressing the existent

inadequacies in the concept/definition of IHRM. Third, the model represents an original

endeavour towards contributing to IHRM theory building.

This study sought to conceptualize IHRM as a professional practice through

comprehensive examination of theoretical and practical IHRM. Every endeavour was

made in producing a generic, holistic, comprehensive and practice-relevant conceptual

model of IHRM. However, this ultimate outcome of the study is a ‘contribution’, rather

20
than a ‘solution’, with regard to the existent inadequacies in the definition of IHRM.

The Researcher understands that there is no instant solution to this issue concerning

definition of IHRM; and that the endeavour to address this issue is necessarily an

ongoing process involving joint inputs from interested IHRM researchers.

21
 CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Introduction

There are five sections of literature review in this chapter. The themes of the literature

review are based on the general preliminary purpose of the study (‘to explore and better

understand IHRM as both a scholarly field and a professional practice’). Following the

literature review is a section reporting on the research focus derived from the literature

review.

Starting from evaluation of the overall challenges facing IHRM as a scholarly field

(Section 2.2), the literature review progresses to examine theory building in IHRM

(Section 2.3). This is followed by an examination of definitions of IHRM (Section

2.4), an important aspect within theory building in IHRM. In seeking to understand

IHRM as a professional practice, the literature review covers IHRM in the context of

managing across cultures and national borders (Section 2.6). In view of the pivotal role

of methodologies in research, methodological matters specifically pertaining to IHRM

research are also examined (Section 2.5). Based on insights derived from the literature

review (from Section 2.2 to Section 2.6), the ultimate purpose and objective of the study

are presented in Section 2.7.

22
2.2 Challenges Facing IHRM as a Scholarly Field: Some General
Phenomena and Issues

The comprehensive review of IHRM literature at the start of this study suggested that

IHRM, as a relatively new scholarly field, is faced with major challenges in terms of

theory development and conclusive definition. In the first place, some authors have

categorically highlighted or alluded to the ‘underdevelopment’ of theory advancement

in IHRM. Dowling et al. (2008, 2013) and Dowling and Welch (2004), for example,

point out that there has been a slow development of a rigorous body of IHRM theory;

and that this accounts for the marginal position of IHRM, until relatively recently,

within both academia and the wider international business community.

Citing Scullion (1995) and Welch (1994), Shen, Edwards and Lee (2005) have painted a

similar picture about the slow development of IHRM theory. The authors even assert

that ‘the study of HRM in the international context is in itself a relatively

underdeveloped field’ (p.369). In the authors’ elaboration, ‘research into international

HRM (IHRM) has tended to focus on the relationship between single factors and IHRM

policies and practices […] rather than on a comprehensive and integrated model’ (p.

371). The authors apparently see the development of IHRM theory as largely residing in

the development of a comprehensive and integrated model.

In an IHRM research handbook that reviews contemporary knowledge about IHRM,

Harris (2008) raises the question as to whether the existing IHRM theories are

comprehensive enough to cover HRM on a global basis or whether they need to be

modified. The author then argues that much more empirical work is needed to answer

this question. Indeed, reviews of research into various aspects of international HRM in

23
the same handbook have pointed to many issues and questions that need to be addressed

more definitively in IHRM. Among others, these issues and questions concern the

following in relation to IHRM: positioning of IHRM in the broader context of

international business strategy; ways of dealing with aspects of national culture; effects

of differences in industrial relations systems on workplace relations; under-employment

of qualitative research strategies and other methodological issues.

In a comprehensive review and critique of IHRM, Schuler, Budhwar and Florkowski

(2002) conclude that IHRM research outcomes published thus far have led to more

questions that demand answers through further research. According to the authors, these

questions arise despite the fact that substantive ground has been covered in the

exploration of IHRM functional issues, and that there is increasing expectancy of

achieving competitive advantages through strategic IHRM practices. These observations

of Schuler et al. (2002) are noteworthy to IHRM researchers dwelling on IHRM as a

field of scholarly enquiry. In particular, the observations can be noted in conjunction

with the importance of a clear IHRM research agenda. According to Schuler et al.

(2002), a clear IHRM research agenda is one that seeks to study, within an international

sphere, human resources in relation to industrial strategy, organizational strategy,

functional areas and operations of the firm; in addition, there would be an emphasis on

multi-level analysis. The latter refers to evaluation of not only the internal and external

environments of the firm, but also groups and individuals within the firm.

In a brief review of IHRM, Brewster et al. (2007, p.9) assert as follows: ‘At the end of

the 20th century, the field of IHRM, albeit no longer perhaps in its infancy, still ran the

danger of being subsumed under the broader fields of international management or

24
HRM.’ This is despite the fact that major efforts had been made to establish IHRM as a

field in itself through exploring the difference, and drawing up boundaries, between

IHRM, international management and HRM (Brewster et al., 2007). Nevertheless, it is

interesting to note that IHRM authors are increasingly working on dissolving the

boundaries between different disciplines and drawing lesson from across these

boundaries. According to Brewster et al. (2007), this development in IHRM is similar to

that in the field of international business, where academics have begun to use new

perspectives. This development clearly reflects the need to have what Brewster et al.

(2007, p.10) call ‘richer theoretical attempts to analyse and understand IHRM’ and

‘more context-sensitive, varied and nuanced understanding’ of IHRM. Ultimately, this

development suggests that there is plenty of room for theory development in IHRM.

2.3 Development of IHRM Theory

2.3.1 Research Issues and Slow Development of Theory

The slow development of a rigorous body of IHRM theory (Dowling et al., 2008, 2013;

Dowling and Welch, 2004) was given much attention in this study: it was taken as the

departure point to reviewing literature pertaining to the development of IHRM theory.

According to Dowling et al. (2008, 2013) and Dowling and Welch (2004), the

development of IHRM theory has been slow because it is difficult and costly to develop

a stream of research at the international level; in addition, there are some major

methodological problems. The methodological problems, as can be gathered from the

authors, are mainly culture related: it is difficult to define culture and the emic-etic5

5
‘Emic’ and ‘etic’ refer to ‘culture-specific’ aspects and ‘culture-common’ aspects respectively of
concepts/behaviour. These are borrowed terms from Linguistics. Both the emic and etic approaches are
legitimate research orientations. (Dowling, Festing and Engle, 2008, 2013)

25
distinctions; difficult to make cross-cultural comparison; and difficult to deal with

culture-specific concepts.

The above assertions of Dowling et al. (2008, 2013) and Dowling and Welch (2004)

bring to the fore the centrality of research issues in the slow development of IHRM

theory, hence the lack of a rigorous body of IHRM theory. It is also clear from these

assertions that methodological issues constitute a substantial part of IHRM research

issues. In short, insofar as research pertaining to the development of IHRM theory is

concerned, the implication of research methodology is significant.

2.3.2 Integrative Approaches to Theory Building in IHRM

Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Cross-Fertilization of Ideas

between Research Strands

The centrality of research issues in the slow development of IHRM theory can be

deliberated in relation to Keating and Thompson’s (2004) argument against

‘disciplinary sectarianism’ and advocacy for an ‘inclusive approach to IHRM research’.

Just like Dowling et al. (2008, 2013) and Dowling and Welch (2004) (cf. Section 2.3.1),

Keating and Thompson (2004) highlight methodological issues as a major concern 6 in

IHRM research endeavours. While the former authors allude to cultural factors as the

root to many methodological problems in IHRM research, Keating and Thompson

pinpoint ‘disciplinary boundaries’ as a shortcoming in the methodological design of

IHRM research. In particular, Keating and Thompson (2004) argue that all the three

existing strands of research in IHRM – namely ‘HRM in MNCs’, ‘cross-cultural

6
While Thompson and Keating’s (2004) main concern was methodological issues, they do mention cross-
cultural issues as a major source of problem in IHRM research as well.

26
management’ and ‘comparative HRM’ – have been too ‘introverted’, confined only to

their respective areas of discipline. This, according to the authors, does not contribute

positively towards methodological design and theory building in IHRM research.

Keating and Thompson (2004) had earlier categorized the literature found in the field of

IHRM based on the three IHRM research strands. This ground work led Keating and

Thompson to point out that, as the three research strands stem from different areas of

discipline, they are distinct in terms of research question, research purpose, research

methodology and research strength/weakness (including methodological shortcomings

and limitations). Assessing these three distinct approaches as ‘introverted’, the authors

argue that there is a need for interdisciplinary collaboration and cross-fertilization of

ideas between these approaches. This interdisciplinary approach to IHRM research, the

authors argue, facilitates the construction of an inclusive approach to theory building in

IHRM. The authors’ aim is to ultimately advance a relevant theory in the field of IHRM

through an inclusive approach to theory building. According to the authors, this is only

possible through overcoming, in the first place, what they describe as ‘disciplinary

sectarianism’ in the field.

Keating and Thompson’s (2004) advocacy for interdisciplinary collaboration and cross-

fertilization of ideas between the different research strands in IHRM can be appreciated

alongside the augmentation of integrative, multi-theoretical approaches in recent IHRM

research (cf. De Cieri, Cox and Fenwick, 2007). The interdisciplinary approach to

IHRM research, as advocated by Keating and Thompson’s (2004), can also be viewed

as part of the ‘signs that a more integrated, eclectic approach [in IHRM research] is

emerging […] as researchers strive to weave together elements taken from a variety of

27
theoretical perspectives’ (Quintanilla and Ferner, 2003, p. 364). Being an instrument for

an inclusive approach to theory building in IHRM, the interdisciplinary approach to

IHRM research will lead theory building in IHRM to be assessed more in terms of its

inclusion than its exclusion, similar to the way theory building in the normal science is

assessed (cf. Chia, 1997; De Cieri et al., 2007). On balance, the combination of

interdisciplinary approach to IHRM research and inclusive approach to IHRM theory

building is congruent with the shift of focus – within the existing transformation in

IHRM research – from investigating specifics of expatriation7 and other HR practices

towards investigating variables at multiple levels and the relationships between these

variables (De Cieri et al., 2007; De Cieri and Dowling, 2006).

Integration of IHRM Policies/Practices and Multiple Intervening

Factors at Multiple Levels

Shen et al. (2005) are one of the teams of authors who have contributed to the shift of

focus towards multiple-level variables, and generally the augmentation of integrative

approaches, in recent IHRM research. Shen et al. note the tendency of IHRM research

to focus on the relationship between IHRM policies/practices and single factors only

(factors such as strategy of the firm; structure of the firm; senior management’s attitude

towards internationalization; stage of internationalization; organizational life cycles

etc.). Identifying this tendency as a shortcoming in IHRM research, the authors

developed an integrative IHRM model that features the relationship between IHRM

policies/practices and multiple intervening factors (FIGURE 2.1).

7
As pointed out by Schuler and Jackson (2005), many IHRM researchers and practitioners no longer
focus mainly on ‘expatriation’.

28
 FIGURE 2.1
Integrative IHRM Model
(Shen, Edwards and Lee, 2005)

The integrative model of Shen et al. (2005) is significant in IHRM theory development.

The significance resides in the fact that the model advances the importance of

addressing the relationships between IHRM policies/practices and multiple factors,

rather than a single factor. This contribution of the model synergizes with the

contribution of several other major integrative IHRM frameworks/models listed below8:

(i) The Two Logics Approach to IHRM (Evans and Lorange, 1989)
(APPENDIX 2-1)

(ii) Integrative Framework of Strategic IHRM in Multinational Enterprises

(Schuler, Dowling and De Cieri, 1993)
(APPENDIX 2-2)

(iii) ‘European’ (Contextual)Model of HRM (Brewster, 1995)

(APPENDIX 2-3)

8
The Researcher does not claim that this list is exhaustive.

29
 (iv) Two Dimensions of IHRM (Paauwe and Dewe, 1995)
(APPENDIX 2-4)

(v) Model of Strategic IHRM (Taylor, Beechler and Napier, 1996)

(APPENDIX 2-5)

(vi) Model of Strategic HRM in Multinational Enterprises (Dowling, 1999)

(This is a modified version of the model in (ii) above)
(APPENDIX 2-6)

(vii) Integrative Framework for Understanding Cross-National HRM Practices

(Budhwar and Sparrow, 2002)
(FIGURE 2.2)

(viii) Thematic Framework of IHRM in MNEs: 2007 Update and Extension

(Schuler and Tarique, 2007)
(This is a modified version of the model in (ii) above)
(APPENDIX 2-7)

All the above-listed integrative models look into the linkages between IHRM

policies/practices and multiple intervening factors consisting of organization factors

and/or environmental factors. Overall, these integrative models take into consideration

factors associated with IHRM policies/practices, the impact of intervening factors on

IHRM policies/practices and the interplay of IHRM activities (Shen et al., 2005). By

inference, it is with the integration of multiple intervening factors and variables in the

model that each of these models is termed an ‘integrative’ model. It is noteworthy that,

in advancing the ‘Integrative Framework of Strategic IHRM in Multinational

Enterprise’ (APPENDIX 2-2), Schuler et al. (1993) even suggest integrating a

multidisciplinary set of tools – including those from political science; economics; law;

strategic management; organization theory; sociology; anthropology; and psychology –

in managing human resources internationally.

It is also noteworthy that three of the integrative IHRM models [Schuler, Dowling and

De Cieri’s (1993) ‘Integrative Framework of Strategic IHRM in Multinational

30
Enterprises’; Taylor, Beechler and Napier’s (1996) ‘Model of Strategic IHRM’; and

Dowling’s (1999) ‘Model of Strategic HRM in Multinational Enterprises’] are each

named as ‘strategic IHRM model/framework’. The ‘strategic’ leaning of these models

can be traced to the overlap between IHRM and strategic IHRM in the practical sense.

As indicated by Schuler et al. (1993), IHRM now witnesses a close linkage with the

strategic needs of international business and undergoes the characterization of

‘strategic’ IHRM. The close connection between Strategic IHRM and IHRM is that the

former explicitly links the latter with the strategies of an MNC (cf. Taylor et al., 1996).

In recent years, literature on and research into HRM in MNCs has considered the

increasingly strategic focus of MNCs, highlighting the need for MNC management and

IHRM researchers to think more strategically (Hutchings and De Cieri, 2007). It is

plausible that the development of IHRM models with strategic leaning represents a

positive step in IHRM theory development. This view can be substantiated with the

following words of Schuler et al. (1993, p. 451):

Much of the existing research literature on international HRM has

focused on expatriate assignments and the management of expatriates.
The next task for researchers is to examine the influence of exogenous
and endogenous factors on strategic international HRM and to consider
the consequences of these influences and interrelationships.

Besides the strategic concerns, there seems to be a strong consensus on the “best fit”

approach to IHRM policies and practices among the originators of the three integrative

IHRM frameworks/models highlighted in the preceding paragraph. This observation is

based on the following explanations of ‘best fit’ IHRM, especially the part explaining

consideration of various intervening factors: ‘best fit’ IHRM is where effective IHRM

policies and practices reach a point where there is simultaneous global co-ordination

31
and local responsiveness; to employ the ‘best fit’ approach to IHRM, individual MNCs

need to consider various intervening factors, including the characteristics of their

respective firms and the environments in which their firms operate (Shen et al., 2005).

In seemingly having a strong consensus on the ‘best fit’ approach to IHRM, the

originators of the above-mentioned IHRM frameworks/models presumably appreciate

the need for MNCs to manage their human resources globally and locally

simultaneously – or as Bartlett and Ghoshall (1998) put it, to manage as if the world is

both a single vast market and a vast number of separate, loosely connected markets.

These originators of IHRM frameworks/models clearly also appreciate the need to have

IHRM theory building endeavours address how MNCs can operate and compete most

effectively.

Integration of Major IHRM Determinants

In dwelling on the topic of integrative IHRM frameworks/models, it is pertinent to

understand Budhwar and Sparrow’s (2002) perspectives that are conveyed through the

‘Integrative Framework for Understanding Cross-national HRM Practices’ (FIGURE

2.2 below) In this framework, Budhwar and Sparrow delineate the distinctive facets of

three main categories of HRM determinants – namely ‘national factors’, ‘contingent

variables’, and ‘organizational and HR strategies and policies’ – that may be used to

evaluate cross-national comparative HRM practices. Based on the literature they

reviewed, the authors initially found that integrative frameworks for evaluating cross-

national comparative HRM practices were non-existent then; moreover, the nature of

varied determinants (of HR) in different national and regional settings was rarely

analysed.

32
 FIGURE 2.2
Integrative Framework for Understanding Cross-National HRM Practices
(Budhwar and Sparrow, 2002)

Intended as an instrument for cross-national HRM comparison (‘comparative HRM’,

which is one of the three strands9 in IHRM research), Budhwar and Sparrow’s (2002)

integrative framework is identifiable as an important contribution to theory development

in IHRM. On a macro level, the contribution of the framework resides in integrating

knowledge of IHRM and that of comparative management disciplines. On a micro level,

this framework ties together pieces of large phenomena surrounding HR policies and

practices. As implied by Budhwar and Sparrow (2002), it is necessary to put together

such phenomena in the development of IHRM approaches, models and theories.

9
As mentioned in Section 1.1.2 (Chapter 1), the three strands of IHRM research are (i) HRM in MNCs;
(ii) Cross-Cultural Management; and (iii) Comparative HRM.

33
In presenting the cross-national HRM framework, Budhwar and Sparrow (2002) stress

the context-specific influence of different facets of national factors (e.g. national culture

and institutions), contingent variables (e.g size, age, life cycle stage and nature of the

firm) and organizational as well as HR strategies and policies. Simply, Budhwar and

Sparrow (2002) stress that IHRM is highly context-specific. This attribute of IHRM

should be taken into account in any IHRM research and theory building. The following

points are noteworthy in this regard:

(i) ‘[Current] debate in the area of cross-national human resource

management [IHRM] suggests that both “culture-bound” and “culture-

free” factors and variables are important determinants of HRM policies

and practices’ (Budhwar and Sparrow, 2002, p. 377).

(ii) Under the current global business dynamics, principles of HRM which

have been developed from a restricted sample of Anglo-Saxon based

experience are questionable (e.g. Budhwar and Sparrow, 2002; Clark et

al., 2000; Namazie and Tayeb, 2006; Tatli, 2005).

(iii) Compared to the ‘best practice’/’one best’ approach to HRM (e.g. Delery

and Doty, 1996; Huselid, 1995; Ichniowski and Shaw, 1999; Pfeffer,

1994, 1998; Royle, 2000; Wood and Albanese, 1995; Wood and De

Menzes, 1998), the ‘best fit’/’contingency’ approach to HRM (e.g.

Hickson, Hinings, McMillan and Schwitter, 1981; Myloni, Harzing and

Mirza, 2004; Paauwe and Farndale, 2006; Shen et al., 2005) takes into

consideration many more issues, emphasizing not only cultural

differences, but also other regional, national, institutional, sectoral and

organizational differences among different firms.

34
2.3.3 Reasons and Challenges behind Integrative Approaches to
IHRM Theory Building

According to De Cieri et al. (2007), IHRM research has progressed beyond its first-

generation development. The first generation research was atheoretical or mono-

theoretical, based on cross-cultural comparisons, and heavily dependent on descriptions.

The newer IHRM research, De Cieri et al. point out, employs integrative, multi-

theoretical approaches. As can be further gathered from the authors, this new

development is underscored by the view that IHRM may be best understood through

integration of multiple disciplinary bases and theoretical perspectives.

De Cieri et al (2007) discuss the new IHRM research development in relation to IHRM

theory development. First of all, they highlight that existent IHRM theories are

inadequate, as IHRM research has traditionally had a lopsided focus on micro-level

IHRM issues and variables. Their deliberation on this point revolves around the need to

understand IHRM more comprehensively through bridging the ‘micro-macro’ gap in

IHRM theory development, taking into account the complexity of globalization and

global events in the research process. On the whole, De Cieri et al. (2007) allude to the

need for more comprehensive understanding of IHRM as the push factor for the

development of theoretical integration in IHRM.

In addition to the above, De Cieri et al (2007) categorically identify the development of

theoretical integration in IHRM as a reason behind existent criticisms against earlier

IHRM research. As can be summed up from the authors’ explication, these criticisms

concern methodology, research design, analytical method and rigor, as well as

development of case material. According to De Cieri et al. (2007), these issues in IHRM

35
research have not been fully resolved through the integrative IHRM models that have

been developed so far. It is palpable from the authors’ explication that gaps in IHRM

research have a major bearing on the state of theory development in IHRM. Conversely,

the latter has a an influence on the direction of IHRM research.

On the whole, De Cieri et al. (2007) have highlighted not only the challenges

confronting the development of integrative IHRM models, but also the ongoing nature

of these challenges. As discernible from the authors’ deliberation, in addressing these

challenges, IHRM researchers need to cover more areas of consideration and delve

deeper into each factor of consideration. In this process, it is also necessary to be

mindful of the implications of language, as language can bring about positive as well as

negative effects on IHRM research, theory building and practice. Here are the authors’

words:

[C]ertain typologies and terminology depictive of IHRM have been

vigorously and persistently articulated and applied. These may assist
theory building and research activity as well as enhance decision
choices for IHRM practitioners. The risk here is that terminology and
the structuring of it into descriptive typologies can impose narrow and
exclusive meanings (Westwood, 2004) […]

(De Cieri et al., 2007, p.286)

To be mindful of the typologies and terminology depictive of IHRM, IHRM researchers

need to look into the implications of ‘perception’ and ‘conception’ when analyzing

phenomena and developing theory. This is because ‘”[p]erception is always guided by

conception” (Kallinikos, 1996, p.39), and […] conceptual categories, like measuring

36
instruments, produce rather than reflect “the dimensional reality of the measured object”
10
(Hardy and Clegg, 1997, 87)’ (De Cieri et al., 2007, p.287).

2.3.4 Development of IHRM Theory: Inferences and Summary

Drawn from the Literature Review

Based on the above literature review, it can be concluded that so far there has been

some concrete, continuous research endeavours towards the development of IHRM

theory; and that more of such endeavours are now anticipated. The research endeavours

have been concrete and continuous in that they have progressed from atheoretical/

monotheoretical, single-level and micro-level research to multi-theoretical, multi-level

and macro-level research; and in the course, some IHRM theoretical

frameworks/models have been developed. However, even more of such IHRM research

endeavours are anticipated, as past research has unravelled some major issues and gaps

in the research studies, theory building and practical aspects of IHRM. Further

investigation into these issues and gaps would contribute to enhanced understanding of

practical IHRM and augmentation of IHRM theory. Where theory development is

concerned, future research is anticipated to contribute to theoretical rigor that is

currently lacking in IHRM, and to ensure that such theoretical rigor takes form with

relevance to IHRM in practice.

The overall lesson learned from the existent IHRM research is that theory building in

IHRM should never be based on restrictive perspectives, much less a single perspective;

instead, it should be based on multiple perspectives and a view towards

10
De Cieri et al. (2007) substantiate this assertion (concerning conceptual categories and dimensional
reality) using the following example: the dominant organizational reality of MNEs (multinational
enterprises) has traditionally been that of large, mature organizations which have gone through linear
stages of internationalization; however it has been argued that observations about large MNEs are also
applicable to small and medium-sized MNEs.

37
comprehensiveness. As far as possible, it should integrate all of the following

perspectives: micro as well as macro perspectives; local as well as global perspectives;

strategic as well as operational perspectives; theoretical as well as functional

perspectives; cultural as well as non-cultural perspectives; and finally, interdisciplinary

perspectives. It is necessary to integrate multiple perspectives in IHRM theory building

in order to advance comprehensive knowledge about IHRM and spur IHRM toward

theoretical rigor.

On the above bases, the existent research endeavours in developing integrative IHRM

frameworks/models are clearly a positive contribution to IHRM theory building.

Though not emphasized by the originators, the integrative IHRM frameworks/models

highlighted in the above literature review imply the benefit of inclusive and eclectic

approach to IHRM theory building. Taking this approach to theory building is arguably

the first essential step to avoid a narrow view and narrow definition of IHRM. In this

sense, for researchers seeking to contribute towards the definition of IHRM through

advancing integrative IHRM frameworks/models, a common scheme that facilitates

inclusive and open approaches to IHRM theory building is beneficial. It is essential that

this common scheme incorporates major considerations pertaining to the increasingly

strategic focus of IHRM.

In conjunction with the strategic focus of IHRM, IHRM theory building endeavours

necessarily include reflection on the ‘best fit’/‘best practice’ approach to IHRM. This is

in view of the fact that being ‘strategic’ in IHRM entails identifying the most suitable

and most effective (that is, the ‘best’) approach to IHRM. In reflecting on the ‘best

fit’/‘best practice’ approach to IHRM, it is by implication necessary to dwell on the

38
phenomena of ‘global co-ordination’/’global integration’ and ‘local responsiveness’,

which parallel ‘standardization’ and ‘localization’ of HR policies/practices respectively.

After all, identification of ‘best practice’/‘best fit’ in IHRM entails asking questions on

what, and to what extent, to standardize and localize.

In addition to the above two considerations (namely strategic focus and HR ‘best

practice’/’best fit’ in IHRM), the common scheme for IHRM theory building is

necessarily underscored by contextual considerations. This is in view of the major

impacts of contextual elements on various aspects of IHRM. To be added to these

contextual considerations are considerations of various internal and external factors

facing the firm, as well as the effects of perception and conception on understanding

IHRM phenomena. The crux of the matter is that IHRM is highly context-specific and

context-dependent; and such contextual specifics are compounded by the fact that

IHRM operates in cross-national, cross-cultural settings. In this context, consideration

of ‘diversity’ necessarily constitutes yet another facet of the common scheme of IHRM

theory building.

Finally, it is imperative that the phenomena associated with globalization be emphasized

in the common scheme of IHRM theory building. Otherwise, whatever IHRM

conceptual/theoretical frameworks developed would be irrelevant to the contemporary

global situation, let alone providing an accurate account of IHRM. Such emphasis is

necessarily underscored by a view to addressing the gaps in understanding the micro-

and macro-level IHRM phenomena. This would include putting together micro

variables and large phenomena of IHRM, showing the intra- and inter-links between

39
them. One way to begin establishing these links is to include them in the definition of

IHRM.

2.4 Definition of IHRM

2.4.1 Definition of IHRM as an Area of Concern in IHRM Research

As briefly noted at the start of this chapter, the lack of a conclusive definition of IHRM

is one of the major challenges facing IHRM as a scholarly field. The comprehensive

review of IHRM literature in the early stage of this study indeed unveiled variety in the

existent descriptions and conceptual understanding of IHRM. This indicates that there

has so far been no consensus among IHRM researchers and authors on this fundamental

aspect of IHRM. This issue had in effect been highlighted in the 1990s (e.g. Adler and

Bartholomew, 1992; Clark, 1996; Dowling and Schuler, 1990; Scullion, 1995; Welch,

1994) and again in the 2000s (e.g. Clark et al., 2000; Ozbilgin, 2005; Rowley and

Warner’s, 2007; Scullion, 2005). Apparently, little has been attempted or achieved by

IHRM researchers in this regard in the past two decades. The remarks of Ozbilgin

(2005) and Clark et al. (2000) are notable. The former comments that IHRM studies

have hardly attempted to provide a stand-alone definition of IHRM; the latter alludes to

possibility of IHRM researchers having avoided the problem of defining IHRM.

Among the authors who have highlighted issues concerning definition of IHRM, the

discontent revolves around the fact that the existent ‘definitions’ of IHRM are

‘descriptive and academic oriented’; and that IHRM is generally ‘ill-defined’ and

‘narrowly-defined’. In addition, there is a concern about the lack of consensus on the

areas covered by IHRM and the variety of interpretations about IHRM. The following

are what some of these authors have to say:

40
 Many people in the past have found HRM and IHRM to be a rather
vague and indeed elusive notion – we must admit – not least because it
seems to have a variety of interpretations [… …] IHRM as such is a
fairly recent conceptual topic in the literature and its roots are not
explicitly accounted for and fully explained. […] IHRM appears to be
‘exceptional’ in business practice rather than the rule in how people
are managed.

(Rowley and Warner, 2007, p. 713)

[I]nternational HRM literature is characterized by an emphasis on

functional activities at the expense of the development of theoretical
foundations. The result is an extremely narrow definition of
international HRM that suffers from conceptual and normative
limitations similar to those in models of domestic HRM.

(Clark et al., 2000, p. 11)

The unclear concept and inconclusive definition of IHRM is evidently a major

theoretical concern, the remedy of which hinges on focussed IHRM research and theory

building endeavours. Such endeavours are, in any case, a vital part of the development

of IHRM as a relatively new scholarly field. Logically speaking, while many aspects of

IHRM – as both a scholarly field and a professional practice – require researching, its

conceptual understanding and definition is one of the most fundamental aspects to be

addressed.

41
2.4.2 Existent Descriptions of IHRM as Exemplification of
Inadequacies in the Existent Definition of IHRM

According to Morgan’s (1986) model (FIGURE 2.3), IHRM is the interplay between

three elements, namely human resource activities, types of employees and countries of

operations. Verbally, IHRM has been described and loosely defined in various veins. In

the most general vein, it has been described as ‘human resource management in a global

context’ (Briscoe et al., 2009) and ‘worldwide management of human resources’ (e.g.

Brewster, 2002; Brewster and Suutari, 2005; Briscoe and Schuler 2004; Harris and

Brewster, 1999; Poole, 1999).

FIGURE 2.3
Morgan’s (1986) IHRM Model

In Lucas, Lupton and Mathieson’s (2006, p.48) words, ‘[i]nternational HRM is

managing an international workforce including expatriates, frequent commuters, cross-

cultural team members and specialists involved in international knowledge transfer’.

This is one of the more specific descriptions of IHRM. Another such description is that

provided by Scullion (2005, p. 4): ‘[IHRM is about] the HRM issues and problems

arising from the internationalization of business, and the HRM strategies, policies and

practices which firms pursue in response to internationalization of business.’ Taylor et

42
al. (1996), meanwhile, refer to IHRM as ‘the MNC’s IHRM system’ and define it as

follows:

[T]he MNC’s IHRM system [is] the set of distinct activities, functions
and processes that are directed at attracting, developing and
maintaining an MNC’s human resources. It is thus the aggregate of
the various HRM systems used to manage people in the MNC, both at
home and overseas.

(Taylor et al., 1996, p.960)

IHRM has also been defined broadly in terms of what it covers as a field. According to

Bjorkman and Stahl (2006, p.1), as a field, IHRM covers ‘all issues related to the

management of people in an international context’, as well as ‘a wide range of human

resource issues facing MNCs in different parts of their organizations’. To De Cieri et al.

(2007, p. 283), IHRM is ‘a branch of management studies that investigates the design

and effects of organizational human resource practices in cross-cultural contexts’. As

for Briscoe et al. (2009, p.20), ‘the field of IHRM is the study and application of all

human resource management activities as they impact the process of managing human

resources in enterprises in the global environment’. As a field, IHRM has also been

stated, repeatedly by several authors, in a more detailed vein as follows:

The field of IHRM is about understanding, researching, applying and

revising all human resource activities in their internal and external
contexts as they impact the processes of managing human resources in
enterprises throughout the global environment to enhance the
experience of multiple stakeholders.

(Briscore and Schuler, 2004, p.20; Schuler and Jackson, 2005; Schuler
and Tarique, 2007, p.718; Sparrow and Braun, 2006; Sparrow and
Brewster, 2006)

43
As pointed out by Briscoe and Schuler (2004), the ‘multiple stakeholders’ mentioned in

the above IHRM definition include the following parties: investors; employees;

partners; suppliers; environment; and society. It is notable that Briscoe and Schuler

(2004) (as well as Briscoe et al., 2009) define IHRM in relation to HRM. Briscoe and

Schuler allude to IHRM as largely about ‘internationalization of HRM’. According to

the authors, HR managers in most types of firms are confronted with at least some

aspects of internationalization of HRM; and internationalization of HRM can take many

forms. The authors allude to the following, among others, as the main activities of

IHRM: (i) meeting the ‘ever-increasing demands for new, internationally focused [HR]

competencies’; and (ii) ‘[helping to develop] the understanding and competencies

necessary for HR managers to succeed (personally and professionally as business

contributors) in the international arena’ (Briscoe and Schuler, 2004, p.21).

Besides Briscoe and Schuler (2004), Dowling and Welch (2004) also define IHRM in

relation to HRM. According to the latter authors, IHRM involves the same activities as

domestic HRM except for the aspect of managing diversity. The authors stress that the

way workforce diversity is managed within a single-country context (in domestic HRM)

may not be applicable to a multinational context (in IHRM) without some

modifications. As can be gathered from the authors’ assertions, this disparity between

domestic HRM and IHRM is notwithstanding two facts, namely (i) domestic HRM is

increasingly taking on some of the characteristics of IHRM, as it deals more and more

with a multicultural workforce (as is the case with global firms); and (ii) some of the

current focuses of domestic HRM on managing workforce diversity may prove to be

beneficial to the practice of IHRM.

44
Through their broad-based verbal descriptions of IHRM, all the afore-mentioned

authors highlight, directly or indirectly, that IHRM concerns more than one national

context. Ozbilgin (2005) is another author who mentions the same indirectly, albeit

through a different way of describing IHRM. In Ozbilgin’s description, IHRM can be

any of the following three levels of study and practice: (i) single country, with

consideration of the global context; (ii) across countries; (iii) between countries. This

description of IHRM parallels the following categorization of IHRM activities by Jain,

Lawler and Morishima (1998): (i) single-country HRM activities that entail

considerations of HR issues in the global context; (ii) HRM activities across countries,

entailing, for example, management of international assignments, expatriation and

repatriation (HRM in MNCs); and (iii) HRM activities that address national differences

between a global company’s home-country operations and host-country operations

(comparative HRM).

It is evident that the varied concepts and definitions of IHRM at present stem from

different approaches to understanding IHRM and different ways of describing it. While

the existent IHRM descriptions have each contributed to the current understanding of

IHRM, they are arguably inadequate for presenting a conclusive, comprehensive and

practice-relevant definition of IHRM. A very close examination of the inadequacies in

the existent descriptions/definitions of IHRM is necessary before IHRM researchers can

build on them to seek a more appropriate course in conceptualizing or defining IHRM.

45
2.4.3 Closer Examination of Inadequacies in the Existent Definition
of IHRM

The literature reviewed in the preceding sections suggests that the field of IHRM is in

need of a clear, conclusive, comprehensive and practice-relevant definition. By

implication, researchers seeking to define IHRM need to examine a wide spectrum of

issues pertaining to practical and theoretical IHRM. This is arguably a fundamental step

to defining IHRM adequately. In addition, there is a need to consider the existence of

three different IHRM research strands – namely ‘HRM in MNCs’, ‘cross-cultural

management’ and ‘comparative HRM’ (De Cieri and Dowling, 1999). With variation

between these research strands in terms of the area of discipline, research purpose and

methodological approach (Keating and Thompson, 2004), the existence of three

research strands in the field invariably complicates the task of defining IHRM.

The implication of the variations between the three research strands is even more

apparent when examined in relation to Keating and Thompson’s (2004) perspectives.

Highlighting ‘disciplinary introspection’ within and between each of the strands,

Keating and Thompson (2004) opine that it is necessary to look beyond disciplinary

boundaries for contribution towards theory building in IHRM. In this regard, the

authors suggest integrating the three research strands into a framework that embraces

the disciplinary areas and approaches concerned. It is through this integrative

framework that the authors anticipate cross-fertilization of ideas and methodologies

between the three strands – and ultimately, an inclusive approach to IHRM theory

building and enriched research across the field. On the whole, the authors encourage

IHRM researchers to look into the overlaps and gaps between the three strands, thereby

engage in collaborative, interdisciplinary, comparative and cross-cultural research.

46
Insofar as the endeavour to conceptualize or define IHRM is concerned, the general

insight derivable from Keating and Thompson’s (2004) assertions is twofold. First,

disciplinary sectarianism between the three strands of IHRM research is one of the root

causes of the existing inadequacies in the concept/ definition of IHRM. Second, IHRM

researchers need to look beyond disciplinary sectarianism to contribute towards the

concept/definition of IHRM.

From Keating and Thompson’s (2004) explications, it is clear that issues of all three

IHRM research strands require equal and concurrent attention in the endeavour to

conceptualize or define IHRM. As can be derived from the authors’ explications, some

of the necessary considerations within this endeavour are as follows: (i) the need for a

broader, holistic and strategic view of HRM in MNCs (‘HRM in MNCs’ strand); (ii) the

need to include, apart from culture, other variables in explaining the variance in

management practice worldwide (‘cross-cultural management’ strand); (iii) the need to

continue with the ‘convergence versus divergence’ debate, taking cognizance that

convergence and divergence of HR policies/practices may each occur at both the micro

and macro levels of the organisational life of global firms (‘cross-cultural management’

strand); (iv) the need to examine the concept of HR ‘best practice’, as well as the

applicability and effectiveness of certain national HR systems and practices in other

national contexts (‘comparative HRM’ strand); (v) the need to adopt a process-oriented

approach to understanding the transition hence convergence and divergence of HRM

between countries (‘comparative HRM’ strand); and (vi) the need to look beyond

cultural and institutional factors, besides being more analytical and explanatory, in

comparing HR systems and practices between countries (‘comparative HRM’ strand).

47
Another essential consideration necessary in conceptualizing/defining IHRM revolves

around the question of whether IHRM is ‘a means to an end’ or ‘an end in itself’. This

question parallels the question of whether HRM is an ‘intervening variable’ (as in the

‘HRM in MNCs’ strand) or an ‘independent variable’ (as in the ‘cross-cultural

management’ strand and, to a lesser extent, in the ‘comparative HRM’ strand) (cf.

Keating and Thompson, 2004). Ideas for consideration can be drawn from Keating and

Thompson’s (2004) viewpoints. Keating and Thompson perceive HRM as an

intervening variable in an organization’s operations, hence a means to an end – a means

to effectiveness and competitiveness in the organization’s performance. The authors

indicate that a process model positioning HRM as an intervening variable would be in

tandem with the perspective of HRM as a means to an end.

Keating and Thompson (2004) take the above position while deliberating on the

advancement of the IHRM field. Arguably, Keating and Thompson have indirectly

introduced the idea of ‘a process model of IHRM’. Alongside this position, the authors’

support for De Cieri and Dowling’s (1999) ‘model of strategic HRM in Multinational

Enterprises’ is notable. The authors indicate that the advancement of this particular

model on the part of De Cieri and Dowling is a good step in the direction of positioning

IHRM as a means to an end. Overall, Keating and Thompson suggest that IHRM is a

process and a strategic means to managerial effectiveness and business competitiveness

in an MNC. Implicit in this notion of IHRM is the understanding that IHRM is an

intervening variable in the MNC’s management process. Arguably, this notion of IHRM

warrants major consideration in any attempt to conceptualize or define IHRM.

48
2.4.4 Definition of IHRM: Inferences and Summary Drawn from the
Literature Review

Inadequacies in the existent definitions of IHRM are an issue to be fundamentally

addressed in IHRM research and theory building. The first step in addressing this issue

is arguably the development of enhanced conceptual understanding of IHRM. The crux

of the matter is that the development of IHRM, as both a scholarly field and a

professional practice, hinges on adequate conceptual understanding of IHRM.

Inconclusiveness in the existent definitions of IHRM is attributable to different

approaches taken to understanding and describing IHRM. However, the different

understanding and descriptions have each contributed to the contemporary knowledge

of IHRM, and should be built on in IHRM theory building. For researchers seeking

specifically to conceptualize or define IHRM, it is imperative to venture beyond

acknowledging the existent inadequacies in the definition of IHRM. These researchers’

mission ahead is to build on the existent understanding of IHRM, and work towards

establishing a clear, conclusive, comprehensive and practice-relevant concept/definition

of IHRM. This is an immense challenge /confronting IHRM researchers as far as

conceptualizing or defining IHRM is concerned.

IHRM researchers seeking to conceptualize or define IHRM should be encouraged to

employ an innovative, process-based, integrative and inclusive approach to their

endeavours. This requires the researchers to undertake the following measures:

(i) to look beyond verbal descriptions of IHRM;

(ii) to closely examine various practical aspects of IHRM;

(iii) to appreciate and project IHRM as a process, a strategic means and an

intervening variable towards the organization’s objectives;

49
 (iv) to include more explanatory variables in addition to cultural and

institutional variables;

(v) to cross-fertilize perspectives from different disciplines and integrate the

three research strands of IHRM.

In general, IHRM researchers should be encouraged to adopt a generic and holistic

approach to conceptualizing/defining IHRM. In conjunction with this approach, IHRM

researchers should be more concerned with ‘how best to represent’ rather than ‘how

best to verbally describe’ IHRM. This whole approach requires the researchers to

explore and understand IHRM in a comprehensive manner. The choice of research

methodology plays a pivotal part in this endeavour. As such, there should be in-depth

deliberation linking research methodology with IHRM research from the very outset.

2.5 Methodological Matters in IHRM Research

2.5.1 Significance of Methodological Matters in IHRM Research and

Theory Building

This section of literature review is pertinent to the study because ‘understanding and

addressing methodological issues in IHRM research is critical and must take priority

over the rush to embrace IHRM studies and the associated findings’ (Chan 2008, p.54).

Literature reviewed in this section, however, pertains largely to conceptual views of

methodological matters rather than specific research methods and techniques in IHRM

research. This choice of literature in the review is underscored by two beliefs. Firstly,

the understanding and application of methodological principles underlying IHRM

research is more fundamental than technical knowledge of specific research methods

(Chan, 2008). Secondly, given that most methods are applicable to different research

paradigms and theories, the development of theoretical and methodological consistency

50
depends more on how methods are used, rather than which methods are used (Gephart

and Richardson, 2008).

As highlighted earlier, the slow development of a rigorous body of IHRM theory is

attributable to two research issues, namely (i) difficulty and cost of developing

international level research; and (ii) major methodological problems (Dowling et al.,

2008, 2013; Dowling and Welch, 2004). It is discernible that both these issues are

inseparable and require ‘mutually inclusive’ consideration in any IHRM research. In

other words, the choice as well as implementation of methodology in IHRM research

hinge, to a substantial extent, on the difficulty and cost of conducting international-level

research.

2.5.2 Effects of Culture on IHRM Research Methodology

Dowling et al. (2008, 2013) and Dowling and Welch (2004) allude to the difficulty of

dealing with culture and culture differences as a major cause of methodological

problems in IHRM research. In appreciating this perspective of the authors, it is

pertinent to look into the impacts of culture and cultural differences on specific aspects

of data collection in IHRM research. According to Harris (2008), it is particularly

important for IHRM researchers to consider variation of culture in the sampling

procedures of data collection. Harris highlights this point in response to the following

suggestion of Chan (2008, p.62): ‘a wide and representative variation will avoid

methodological problems associated with range restrictions that might lead to

ambiguous or even misleading interpretations of findings.’

51
According to Chan (2008), for a particular construct, the variation in the scores of the

selected cultures should reflect the variation in the population of the cultures concerned.

Chan also cautions IHRM researchers against assuming that reliability coefficients

obtained in one culture is applicable to another culture. Chan specifically stresses this:

items that are representative of a construct in one particular culture should not be

assumed to be representative of the same construct in another culture.

In connection with the above assertions centred on representative variation in sampling

of cultures, Chan considers it problematic that IHRM research frequently involves only

two countries. According to Chan, the thrust of this problem lies not only in insufficient

variation and lack of cross-cultural representativeness, but often also in the confounding

of culture and language. As regards the latter, Chan points out the need to obtain an

appropriate sample of several countries/cultures so as to isolate variance and between-

country differences. On the whole, it can be inferred from the author’s assertions that

the effects of culture and language should be fully addressed in the analysis of data and

interpretation of overall research results. This issue coupled with that of cross-cultural

representativeness should be addressed even from the start of the research study,

through careful sampling.

The above deliberations show that Dowling et al. (2008, 2013), Dowling and Welch

(2004) and Chan (2008) emphasize the imperative to closely examine the implication of

culture in IHRM research methodology. In this regard, Chan is notable for highlighting

not only the importance of careful sampling in IHRM research, but also the fact that

‘dedicated discussion on the theory and practice of sampling is virtually absent in the

IHRM literature’ (p.61). The author elaborates as follows:

52
 Sampling of cultures and sampling within cultures are both critical
issues that have not been given sufficient attention in […] IHRM
research […]. The central idea […] is that the sampling procedure
should result in a representative sample so that valid inferences as
intended by the purpose of the study can be made. The explicit
specification of the research question and the proper definition of the
target population and context of interest are both critical because they
determine the extent to which the resulting sample is considered
representative.

(Chan, 2008, p.63)

A clear lesson is derivable from the literature review in his sub-section. It is learned that

the major effects of cultures on IHRM (Harris, 2008) are necessarily addressed in

IHRM research methodology11, starting even at the stage of research design. This is

plausible considering that IHRM research is essentially a form of cross-cultural research

(Chan, 2008), with ‘the goal of making appropriate inferences from cross cultural data

obtained […]’ (Chan, 2008, p. 57).

2.5.3 Potential of Qualitative Methodology in IHRM Research and

Theory Building

According to Gephart and Richardson (2008), qualitative research methodology has

much to contribute to the development of IHRM. The plausibility of this assertion can

be traced, in the first place, to the fact that development of IHRM necessarily starts with

development of IHRM research. Nevertheless, it is notable that the development of

IHRM research is enveloped by at least two major issues. First, research in the field of

IHRM has been dominated by studies using a quantitative approach (Harris, 2008). This

According to Chan’s (2008, p. 53) definition, research methodology includes study design, procedures,
11

measurement, and data analysis.

53
indicates that the potential of the qualitative approach to research has not been

adequately explored or has been overlooked in IHRM research. Second, there are

inadequacies in the current application and implementation of qualitative methodology

in IHRM research: while the primary qualitative methods have all been used in IHRM

research, their uses are often limited, underscored by the fact that it is generally

uncommon to find fully developed applications of key qualitative methodologies (cf.

Gephart and Richardon, 2008).

Gephart and Richardson (2008, p.49) argue that IHRM research not only ‘can be

advanced by more effective implementation and use of qualitative research methods’,

but ‘can also be advanced by more extensive use of interpretive and critical postmodern

perspectives’. This argument for the use of qualitative research methods, in conjunction

with the interpretive and critical postmodern perspectives in IHRM research, is tenable.

This is in view of the parallel between the attributes of qualitative research,

interpretivism and critical postmodernism (cf. Bryman and Bell, 2007; Eriksson and

Kovalainen, 2008; Geertz, 1973; Gephart and Richardson, 2008; Grbich, 2007).

As pointed out by Gephart and Richardson (2008), qualitative research12 ‘favours

inductive, interpretive work and is often oriented to exploration, discovery, description,

and theory building’ (p.31): it ‘often adopts an interpretive, naturalistic approach to

understanding phenomena’ (p. 30); and it ‘seeks to […] include detailed descriptions of

social actors’ behaviour […] with “reasoned interpretations” of this behaviour’ (p.30).

These attributes of qualitative research are congruent with those of interpretivism, as the

latter ‘seeks often to engage in exploration, discovery, and theory building’, for which
12
In accordance with Gephart and Richardson’s (2008, p. 31) definition, ‘qualitative research’ refers to
‘qualitative analysis of qualitative data’. This entails a combination of qualitative data collection method
and qualitative data analysis method.

54
‘data that provide “think description” (Geertz, 1973) of events and meanings are

needed’ (Gephart and Richardson, 2008, p.48). The attributes of qualitative research and

interpretivism combined – interpretive, exploratory and naturalistic /orientation coupled

with an emphasis of details and reasoning – are conducive for uncovering deeper levels

of reality required in critical postmodern research. As critical postmodernism assumes

that the reality is often hidden by political interests, it is the intention of critical

postmodern research to delve deep into the reality through the use of appropriate data

collection and data analysis methods (Gephart and Richardson, 2008).

All the above deliberations demonstrate the potential of qualitative research in exploring

new theoretical grounds, in agreement with what has been directly highlighted by

Welch (1994), among other authors. Welch considers qualitative research most

appropriate for theory building based on the author’s own study on determinants of

IHRM approaches and activities. In explaining the qualitative methods used in the

study, Welch alludes to the following three attributes of qualitative research that are best

suited to theory building in IHRM: (i) qualitative research seeks to be exploratory and

receptive to new ideas, building on existing knowledge without prior commitment to

any theoretical model; (ii) qualitative research seeks to interpret phenomena directly

within real-life contexts, without excluding any variables at the outset; (iii) by going

into the real-life contexts to study contemporary phenomena, qualitative research

facilitates understanding of the processes relating to the phenomena, thereby enabling

qualitative researchers to answer ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions pertaining to the

phenomena concerned.

55
Ferner’s (1997) perspectives on the positive points of qualitative approach to IHRM

research are equally noteworthy as those of Welch (1994), mentioned above, on the

appropriateness of qualitative research to IHRM theory building. Ferner (1997, p.31)

asserts the following when discussing a research study on the effects of country of

origin on HRM in MNCs: ‘[S]urvey work needs to be supplemented by careful

qualitative case study research to follow through complex linkages, explore processes,

and uncover how decisions are really made.’ In general, Ferner puts across the

understanding that a qualitative approach to research facilitates successful exploration

and evaluation of several aspects of the organizational life in MNCs. These aspects of

organizational life include the following, all of which have a bearing on HRM in

MNCs: the dynamics of organizational micropolitics; the constraints within which the

firm operates; the subtle interactions between the firm’s structure, strategy, corporate

culture and the national culture; and the influence of historical legacies (cf. Shen et al.,

2005).

2.5.4 Mixed-Method Approach to IHRM Research

Ferner’s (1997) study, as mentioned above, exemplifies the use of mixed methods –

combined qualitative and quantitative methods – in an IHRM research study. The study

employed questionnaire survey (quantitative method) and case study (qualitative

method) for data collection. Korabik and Lero’s study (2003) is another mixed-method

IHRM research study. The authors used focus group interviews (qualitative method) as

well as questionnaire survey (quantitative method) to collect data for their research into

work-family interface in ten different countries. In the study, data collected from focus

group interviews unveiled new variables as well as culturally specific themes. These

qualitative data were then used to inform the survey in the quantitative component of

56
the study. While the qualitative component of the study provided emic- and macro-level

understanding of the topic under investigation, the quantitative component presented an

opportunity for etic- as well as meso- and micro-level understanding of the topic.

Another case of mixed-method research study in IHRM is that of Brewster, Sparrow

and Harris (2005). In this study, which examined the development of IHRM as a

significant and rapidly changing field, web-based and mail-out surveys (quantitative

method) as well as detailed case studies (qualitative method) were used for data

collection. In the data analysis, qualitative data collected from the case studies were

used to confirm the findings of the surveys.

A comparison between Korabik and Lero’s study (2003) and that of Brewster et al.

(2005) unfolds the fact that qualitative data collection methods can be used either before

or after quantitative data collection methods in IHRM research, depending on the

research purposes and objectives. Apart from that, both types of methods can be

employed to collect qualitative data and quantitative data simultaneously, in a single

data collection step. This is evidenced by Bjorkman, Budhwar, Smale and Sumelius’s

(2008) research study on HRM in foreign-owned subsidiaries in China and India. In

this study, data for hypothesis testing were obtained through questionnaires completed

during the researchers’ personal visits to the participating firms. During the same visits,

participants were interviewed for specific details pertaining to the research topic (details

on the firms’ HR practices and the participants’ experiences surrounding these

practices).

57
The above literature review demonstrates two salient points about methodology in

IHRM research. Firstly, despite the fact that ‘the approaches used by qualitative and

quantitative IHRM researchers will continue to diverge […] there is much to learn from

both approaches’ (Harris, 2008, p. 233). Secondly, ‘no one specific method or technique

is inherently better than others in IHRM research’ (Chan, 2008, p.74). In addition, it can

be inferred from the above literature review that, in general, qualitative and quantitative

approaches can be carefully put together for several purposes in IHRM research: (i) to

be more effective in fulfilling the objectives of the study; (ii) to prevent IHRM

researchers from inadvertently designing research methodology to confirm their own

expectations about the research outcome (cf. Chan, 2008); and (iii) to enhance the rigor

of IHRM research in accordance with the following suggestion:

Complementary methods are needed to produce integrative programs

of research that will advance the field of IHRM […] [M]ethodological
integration will allow us to obtain triangulation of methods and
approaches and achieve convergent validity in substantive inferences
in IHRM research.

(Chan, 2008, p.74)

It is conclusive from the above deliberations that the mixed-method approach is

desirable in IHRM research, contingent upon the constraints within the research

project concerned.

58
2.5.5 Methodological Matters in IHRM Research: Inferences and
Summary Drawn from the Literature Review

Given the slow development of a rigorous body of IHRM theory, more extensive and

intensified IHRM research endeavours are anticipated. Nevertheless, meaningful

theoretical development occurs only through fruitful research; and fruitful research

hinges on appropriate application of research methodologies coupled with

methodological rigor. In order to attain methodological rigor, researchers need to not

only thoroughly understand methodological concepts and principles, but also apply

these concepts and principles in ways that best befit the research question, purpose and

objective.

Alongside the dominance of the quantitative approach, the underemployment and

underdevelopment of the qualitative approach to research is a methodological issue to

be seriously addressed in IHRM research. This is particularly necessary in the case of

research aimed at theory building in IHRM. The qualitative research approach is

necessary for theory building: while exploring and developing understanding of

processes, linkages, relationships and phenomena, it uncovers new perspectives, new

themes and new variables. Through these attributes, qualitative research provides

answers to the ‘why’ and ‘how’ questions, complementing the answers to the ‘what’

questions resulting from quantitative research. The complementary contributions of the

qualitative approach and quantitative approach to research are most desirable for

methodological development, and ultimately methodological rigor, in IHRM research.

Such methodological development and rigor in turn contributes towards theoretical

development and in the long run, theoretical rigor in IHRM.

59
Appropriate choice of methodology coupled with discerning application of

methodological concepts and principles are imperatives for fruitful IHRM research.

However, these are only imperatives on the conceptual dimension of the methodological

concern in IHRM research. On the practical dimension, there are ever present culture

related issues to be addressed. Culture and cultural differences have a major impact on

not only IHRM in practice but also IHRM research. They are a source of problems in

the latter, as it is normally difficult to deal with culture and cultural differences in

research methodology. Confronting this difficulty on the part of IHRM researchers

necessitates considerations of the issues of cultural variation and cross-cultural

representativeness in the sampling procedures, as well as cultural contexts in the data

analysis process.

In conclusion, it is only appropriate that IHRM research be recognized as a form of

cross-cultural research. This means blending IHRM and cross-cultural management in

IHRM research. A further implication is that it is necessary to address cross-cultural

intricacies right from the start of the research process, even at the stage of selecting the

research methodology.

2.6 IHRM in the Context of Managing across Cultures and

National Borders

2.6.1 Some Overall Understanding

This chapter has so far examined IHRM in terms of theory building (Section 2.3),

definition (Section 2.4) and research methodology (Section 2.5). While the practical

aspects of IHRM have been given due attention in these earlier sections of the chapter,

60
deliberating IHRM next in terms of people management across cultures and national

borders would give IHRM in practice a heightened emphasis in this study.

It is self-evident that, as an international people management function, IHRM is faced

with major challenges in terms of identifying effective HR practices in cross-cultural,

cross-national contexts. Indeed, as pointed out by De Cieri et al. (2007), globalization of

business witnesses increased necessity to understand ways in which MNCs may operate

effectively; and ‘a major aspect of this understanding is based in the field of

international management and its dimension [sic] of international human resource

management (IHRM)’ (p.281). At the outset of the this requirement, however, is clearly

a fundamental, general question as to what constitutes ‘effective management practices’

(cf. Waldman, Sully de Luque and Wang, 2012).

According to Waldman et al. (2012), ‘good management’ in the competitive and

volatile international business environment entails not only a host of important practices

and competencies pertaining to long-term concerns of the firm, but also cross-cultural

interpretations and leadership processes. In particular, Waldman et al. highlight the

potential of leadership processes in bringing about organizational change and

organizational learning. In the authors’ assertion, research concerning firm performance

and management quality across countries should not focus on management practices to

the exclusion of the firm’s leadership quality. In addition, Waldman et al assert the need

to account for shared or distributed leadership in such research. According to the

authors, ‘leadership is a shared process that includes multiple top management people

working in concert to collaborate with, and inspire, each other as well as individuals at

lower organizational levels’ (p. 35).

61
The above assertions of Waldman et al. bring to the fore the people-focused shared

processes in managing across cultures and national borders. By implication, strategic

people management is necessary to bring about the desired shared leadership and

positive performance outcomes in global firms. In strategically managing people across

cultures and national borders, the major effects of cross-cultural differences and the

need for cross-cultural considerations cannot be over-emphasized. Among others, one

crucial consideration is cross-cultural influence on the perception, as well as

expectation, of management practices and leadership behaviours (cf. Waldman, 2012).

2.6.2 Some Major IHRM Themes under Ongoing Deliberation

HR Best Practice

HRM originated from Anglo-American scholarly culture that is rooted in the wider

political-economic and societal contexts of America (cf. Rowley and Warner, 2007;

Tayeb, 2006). Alongside a myriad of issues surrounding cross-cultural/cross-national

people management, such background of HRM has a strong bearing on the ongoing and

interrelated IHRM themes of ‘HR best practice’, ‘convergence versus divergence’ and

‘global integration versus local responsiveness’. One basic, significant point underlying

these themes is that many countries do not share the business contexts of North America

where HRM originated (cf. Rowley and Warner, 2007; Tayeb, 2006). These countries

include even those that are close to United States in political, cultural and economic

terms (Tayeb, 2006). In effect, HRM has not quite taken root in Europe (Clark and

Pugh, 2000); more so in developing countries where the political, social and economic

conditions are widely diverse (Namazie and Tayeb, 2006; Tayeb and Namazie, 2003).

This brings into play questions as to ‘the extent to which MNCs can and do adopt HRM

62
“best practices”’ and ‘the extent to which the [HRM best] practices MNCs do adopt are

constrained by corporate, national and local considerations’ (Pauuwe and Farndale,

2006, p.92).

The concept of ‘universal HRM best practice’ (HR best practice), which converges

mainly on the American model (Dowling et al., 1999) and revolves around the

convergence theory, has been challenged by many. The critics subscribe to divergence

theory, arguing that people management practices are context-specific and culture-

specific (Myloni et al., 2004; Tatli, 2005; Tayeb, 2006). Tatli (2005), for one, argues

that if the universal HRM best practice model is adopted in a national context that is

different from that of the United States, there may be adverse effects; and this is

especially true for firms operating internationally. The basis of Tatli’s arguments resides

with the effects of societal contexts on organizational dynamics. In elaborating on the

arguments, Tatli highlights variations in labour management among different national

contexts. While the much talked about ‘best practice models’ are mostly based on the

‘high-performance work system’ that is prevalent in the United States, there are other

significantly different systems in other countries. These systems include the

‘sociotechnical system’ in Sweden; the ‘lean production system’ in Japan; the ‘flexible

specialization system’ in Italy; and the ‘diversified quality production system’ in

Germany.

In dwelling on the viability, applicability and extent of applicability of HR best

practices, it is pertinent to ponder over Tayeb’s (2006) assertion concerning cross-

national transfer of HR strategies, policies and practices. Alluding to such cross-national

transfer of HR elements as ‘cross-cultural transfer’, Tayeb asserts that where this is

63
concerned, it is important to distinguish between HR strategies, policies and practices.

According to the author, while HRM generally ‘does not travel well’, it is generally

easier to transfer HR strategies and policies than HR practices to other countries. As

regards the culture-specific nature of some HR policies and practices, the author

highlights ‘modification’ as a means to adapt to local cultural conditions.

Modifying HR policies and practices to adapt to local conditions constitutes

‘localization’ in the standardization-localization dichotomy, along a broad spectrum of

considerations in practical IHRM. The standardization-localization dichotomy concerns

‘how far MNC subsidiaries’ practices resemble those of the parent company or some

global standards (standardization)’ versus ‘how far the practices resemble those of local

firms (localization)’ (cf. Evans, Pucik and Barsoux, 2002; Myloni et al., 2004; Pudelko

and Harzing, 2007; Rosenzweig, 2006). There has been an ongoing ‘standardization

versus localization’ debate in IHRM literature. As a precursor to a literature review in

this chapter on this debate – and especially with respect to the topic of HR best practice

– a literature review on the ‘convergence versus divergence’ debate is in order. As

pointed out by Pudelko and Harzing (2007), the ‘standardization versus localization’

debate constitutes one of the central issues in MNCs, while the ‘convergence versus

divergence’ debate a key point of controversy in cross-cultural management; the former

debate being at the meso (firm) level, while the latter debate the macro (country) level.

Convergence versus Divergence

The ‘convergence versus divergence’ debate concerns the extent to which management

practices converge or diverge across nation states. It is stoked up by cases of

homogeneity and heterogeneity in management practices across national borders

64
(Tregaskis and Brewster, 2006). Many questions surrounding this debate remain

unanswered. Among others, the questions concern the following themes: (i)

susceptibility of different areas of HRM to convergence and divergence respectively

(Rosenzweig and Nohria, 1994; Tregaskis and Brewster, 2006); (ii) the pattern as to

how multinational affiliates may be more likely to be locally responsive in certain

contexts (Ferner, Quintanilla and Varul, 2001; Gooderham, Nordhaug and Ringdal,

1999; Tregaski, Heraty and Morley, 2001).

One of the most significant topic areas in this debate is that concerning convergence

around the ‘one best practice’ model. At the core of the argument for this best practice

model is the convergence thesis which, in turn, is underpinned by the institutional

theory and globalization theory. Both the institutional and globalization theorists predict

convergence of organizational practices. The institutional theorists believe that

organizations catch up on best practices as a consequence of technological innovations,

minimizing, in the process, differences perpetuated by geographic distances (Morley

and Collings, 2004). The globalization theorists, meanwhile, claim that in a borderless

world under globalization, economic systems and firm operations are detached from and

no longer influenced by nationality factors. This group of theorists categorically assert

that, in being transnational, global firms converge on a best practice model (Bartlett and

Ghoshal, 1998; Ohmae, 1990; Reich, 1990).

The above beliefs underpinning the convergence thesis have been rejected by some

scholars. Studies have shown that dissimilarities between organizations in terms of

business forms and management practices do hinder convergence on HR best practice

(Morley and Collings, 2004). These studies support the divergence thesis instead of the

65
convergence thesis. According to the divergence thesis, systems in national institutions

constitute a powerful force in shaping local organizational responses (cf. Tregaskis and

Brewster, 2006). There is also growing evidence of national and regional variations in

management and organizational behaviour that render the globalization theory debatable

(Girgin, 2005). A significant case in point is the distinctive Japanese work organization

and managerial practices, which Japan maintains tenaciously ever since the country

emerged as an industrial power in the global economy in the 1970s.

In a major comparative HRM study13 that sought to understand the particularities of

contexts in the variation of HR policies and their application across countries (in

Europe), Brewster (2001) discovered a trend towards a distinctive and converging

European pattern of HRM. Notably, this is a case of ‘similarity in trends’ (directional

convergence), which is different from ‘increasing similarity of practice’ (final

convergence) (cf. Mayrhofer and Brewster, 2005; Mayrhofer, Morley and Brewster,

2004). In agreement with the studies mentioned generally in the preceding paragraph,

this study of Brewster does not support the convergence thesis.

Brewster’s (2001) study is comparable to that of Tregaskis and Brewster (2006). The

latter examined whether organizations operating in Europe (over a 10-year period)

converged in adopting contingent employment practices. This study of Tregaskis and

Brewster found that, rather than converging on regional or global practices, the

participating organizations adopted contingent employment practices that were in line

with local practices. Factors found to be limiting convergence and determining the

13
This comparative HRM study was based on the data set gathered through the Price Waterhouse-
Cranfied Survey (Cranet-E Survey). This survey is deemed one of the most extensive studies of HRM and
industrial relations (Girgin, 2005). The survey initially compared HRM practices in five European
countries and had since been extended to cover over 16 countries by 2005.

66
locally focused practices were local institutional factors, such as microeconomic

conditions, industrial relations and government policies that the organizations were

embedded in. Congruent with the divergence thesis, the findings of this study suggest

that neither regional institutional pressures nor global competitive pressures necessarily

lead to convergence of HR practices.

The above literature review demonstrates that the convergence-divergence dichotomy

involves a myriad of intertwined factors relating to globalization, institutional systems,

culture and organizations. Given that the standardization-localization dichotomy

parallels, at the organization level, the convergence-divergence dichotomy, it is

palpable that these two dichotomies share the same intertwined factors and intricacies

(cf. Pudelko and Harzing, 2007). The following literature review sheds light on these

intricacies and various facets of the ‘standardization versus localization’ debate.

Standardization versus Localization

The standardization versus localization debate (standardization-localization debate)

constitutes one of the oldest and most central debates in literature on MNCs. It concerns

the ongoing, opposing pressures between internal consistency (and/or some global

standards) and local adaptation in MNCs. As regards MNC subsidiaries’ practices

particularly, this debate is about how far these practices resemble those of the parent

company and those of local firms. Sometimes this debate is referred to as the ‘global

integration versus local responsiveness’ debate. In general, the terms global integration

and local responsiveness are employed mostly in respect of general MNC strategies,

while the terms standardization and localization in respect of functional areas such as

marketing and HRM (cf. Pudelko and Harzing, 2007).

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According to Rosenzweig (2006), the standardization-localization debate is highly

useful for understanding HRM in MNCs. This assertion is plausible. First and foremost,

‘[w]hile on a theoretical level [the standardization versus localization] debate mainly

has been conducted with regard to management practices [in MNCs] in general, human

resource management has occupied a particularly important position in empirical studies

in this [debate]’ (Pudelko and Harzing, 2007, p. 535). More specifically, this debate is

useful for understanding HRM in MNCs because HRM practices in MNCs are shaped

by this very dichotomy between standardization and localization (cf. Evans, Doz and

Laurent, 1989; Myloni et al., 2004; Rosenzweig and Nohria, 1994). At the core of this

dichotomy are the grounds for standardization and localization of HR practices

respectively. The grounds for, and actual implementation of, standardization and

localization are determined by the following factors, among others: economic

consideration; control; institutional influence; and cultural influence (cf. Lindholm et

al., 1999).

The relevance of the standardization-localization debate to the understanding of HRM

in MNCs can also be viewed in terms of the pivotal role of HRM in global

organizations. In the light of globalization, HRM has evolved from a support function to

a strategically important function. It is increasingly viewed as a crucial component of

any global firm’s overall strategy. Some scholars even identify it as the binding force

that holds together globally dispersed units in a global firm (cf. Pudelko and Harzing,

2007; Schuler and Rogovsky, 1998; Teagarden and Von Glinow, 1997).

In recognizing HRM as a bond between their globally dispersed subsidiaries, many

MNCs’ headquarters attempt to transfer HR practices to these overseas branches of

68
theirs (Pudelko and Harzing, 2007). The result of this attempt, as Pudelko and Harzing

point out, is the occurrence of ‘country-of-origin effect’ at the subsidiaries. This is a

‘standardization’ situation where HR practices resemble those in the home country more

than those in the host countries. This situation is obviously influenced by the ‘control’

factor among other factors determining standardization/localization (cf. Lindholm et al.,

1999). It is noteworthy that this situation represents only one of the many

standardization/localization situations of HRM in MNCs. Research has often shown

‘localization’ situations that are determined by cultural and institutional factors (cf.

Khilji, 2003; Myloni et al., 2004; Pudelko and Harzing, 2007; Schuler and Rogovsky,

1998).

In effect, some empirical research findings have shown that of all the management

functions, HRM adheres most closely to local practices (Rosenzweig, 2006). Cultural

influence has a major bearing on this localization-prone condition of HRM in MNCs

(Tayeb, 2005). According to Tayeb, the culture-specific aspects of the global firms tend

to be differentiated in response to local conditions, unlike culture-free aspects14 that

tend to be geared towards integration across all subsidiaries. In Tayeb’s elaboration,

HRM style and leadership style are part of the culture-specific aspects of the firms; they

bring people as well as the values and attitudes of the people into contact with one

another.

As can be gathered from Rosenzweig (2006), the comparatively high level of

localization in HRM in MNCs is due to the following factors at the subsidiaries of

MNCs: mandatory local regulations governing HR practices; strong local conventions;

14
The author cites aspects of the firms that are related to financial target and budgetary control as culture-
free aspects of the firms.

69
and the employment of local employees. This points to strong influence of local

institutional factors on HRM in MNCs. Reflecting the same and consistent with the

prediction of institutional theorists are the findings of Gunningle, Murphy, Cleveland,

Heraty and Morley (2002). Gunningle et al. had examined firms in five European

countries (UK, Ireland, Denmark, Germany and Sweden) using the database of the

Cranfield network of European HRM15 and found evidence of the following

phenomenon: as host country regulations increase, home country influence decreases,

necessitating localization in certain aspects of HRM in the MNCs concerned. It is

therefore conclusive that institutional factors are a powerful determinant of localization

in HRM in MNCs.

According to Myloni, Harzing and Mirza (2004, 2007), an MNC always engages in

many differentiated practices, each with a different level of susceptibility to pressure for

local adaptation. A single MNC subsidiary may adopt, all at the same time, management

practices that resemble those of the parent company, management practices that

resemble those of the host country and management practices that follow global

standards. To paraphrase Myloni et al., differentiated practices in an MNC subsidiary

comprise ‘standardization’, ‘localization’ and some sort of ‘best practice’. By

implication, HR practices in MNCs are not confined within the standardization-

localization dichotomy: apart from standardized and localized HR practices, there are

also HR ‘best practices’.

15
This database resulted from the Price Waterhouse-Cranfied Survey (Cranet-E Survey). This survey is
deemed one of the most extensive studies of HRM and industrial relations (Girgin, 2005). The survey
initially compared HRM practices in five European countries and had since been extended to cover over
16 countries by 2005.

70
Standardization, localization and the adoption of ‘best practices’ co-exist as an integral

part of the major challenge to simultaneously achieve global integration and local

responsiveness on the part of MNCs (cf. Bartlett and Ghoshal, 1998; Evans et al., 2002;

Rosenzweig, 2006;). In order to achieve these two ends of the global integration-local

responsiveness dichotomy simultaneously, MNCs need to be both global and local in

scope, as well as both centralized and decentralized in the management process. As

highlighted by Evans et al. (2002), these are key dichotomies facing MNCs in the

management of their foreign operations; and both ends of each dichotomy must co-

exist. Bartlett and Ghoshal (1998) call this state of co-existence a ‘dynamic balance’

between globalization and localization. According to the authors, global firms must

maintain this dynamic balance in order to become truly transnational.

2.6.3 IHRM in the Context of Managing across Cultures and

National Borders: Inferences and Summary Drawn from the
Literature Review

Any endeavour to understand IHRM in practice entails answering, at the outset,

questions concerning effective people management across cultures and national borders.

Such endeavour is necessarily based on the understanding that people management in

cross-cultural/cross-national context entails, among others, shared leadership processes

and cross-cultural interpretation. For a global firm, the former is instrumental in

bringing about the desired organizational outcomes; the latter is necessary in addressing

varied perceptions and expectations with regard to management and leadership

approaches, among diverse people in the firm.

The above understanding serves as a departure point for exploring the major, ongoing

themes and dichotomies in IHRM in practice. As a critical part of the exploration

71
process, connection should be made between cross-cultural shared leadership, cross-

cultural interpretation and cross-national administering of HR strategies, policies,

practices, and processes. The crux of the matter is that in endeavouring to explore and

better understand IHRM, there should always be an emphasis on cross-cultural

particularities. Due consideration should also be given to the fact that HRM is rooted in

the wider North American contexts.

With many questions surrounding the prevalent dichotomies within IHRM, and with

these questions manifesting as ongoing debates, any endeavour to understand IHRM in

practice necessarily seeks and dwells on new insights into these dichotomies.

Meanwhile, the many factors influencing IHRM policies and practices should be

examined as intertwined factors and in relation to globalization. Overall, such

endeavour should centre on the pivotal and strategic roles of IHRM in global

organizations.

2.7 Research Focus Derived from the Literature Review

2.7.1 Refined Research Purpose

Drawing on insights derived from the above literature review, the general preliminary

purpose of this study was refined. While the general preliminary purpose was to explore

and better understand IHRM as both a scholarly field and a professional practice, the

refined purpose was to contribute to IHRM theory building through conceptualizing

IHRM. This refined purpose generally emanated from inadequacies in the development

of IHRM theory and specifically, inadequacies in the existent definition of IHRM.

72
Geared towards contributing to theory building in IHRM and the concept of IHRM as a

professional practice, this refined research purpose is underscored by the importance to

include the following elements that have been lacking, inadequately addressed or

randomly addressed in existent attempts to understand and/or define IHRM: (i)

integration of multiple perspectives; (ii) inclusive and interdisciplinary approach; (iii)

holistic view; (iv) strategic focus; (v) contextual considerations; (vi) consideration of

‘global-local’ gaps; (vii) consideration of ‘macro-micro’ gaps; (viii) emphasis of

globalization; and (ix) emphasis of process.

2.7.2 Research Questions and Research Objective

For the refined research purpose coupled with its underlying elements of concern, the

preliminary research question identified in the study was how IHRM can be

conceptualized so as to encompass both the practical and theoretical perspectives. In

specific terms, this general, preliminary research question reads as follows:

In what manner can IHRM be conceptualized so as to contribute to both

holistic understanding of IHRM practice and holistic development of
IHRM theory?

In tandem with the above preliminary research question, the ultimate research question

and research objective of the study were then identified as follows.

Research Question Statement:

What are the fundamentals and essentials of IHRM; and how can these
ingredients of IHRM be consolidated to theoretically represent IHRM in a
generic, holistic, comprehensive and practice-relevant light?

73
Research Objective Statement:

To conceptualize IHRM through the formulation of a generic, holistic,

comprehensive and practice-relevant IHRM conceptual model.

2.7.3 Concluding Remarks: General Implications for the Study

The research question and objective of this study were oriented towards achieving

holistic and comprehensive understanding of IHRM, centring on a clear purpose to

contribute to IHRM theory building. By implication, it is necessary to comprehensively

answer a good number of ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions pertaining to IHRM. In order to

answer such questions, it is necessary to explore processes, linkages, relationships and

phenomena, uncovering fresh perspectives, themes and variables pertaining to IHRM in

the process. Overall, such expectancy and planned orientation of the study point to

qualitative strategy as the most appropriate strategy for the study (cf. Bryman and Bell,

2007; Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2009).

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 CHAPTER 3
METHODOLOGY

3.1 Introduction

This chapter provides a comprehensive account of methodological matters of the study.

These matters are deliberated with respect to business and management research; the

state of the field of IHRM; and the purpose and objective of the study. Some of these

matters are discussed in relation to one another for further clarification of the study

and/or the research contexts.

Section 3.2 introduces the philosophical stance, ontology and epistemology underlying

the study. Section 3.3 explains the approach taken in the study with respect to research

paradigm; research field; research purpose in general; and the context of IHRM in

particular. Section 3.4 explains the choice of research strategy employed in the study;

and the emphases and research structure under such strategy.

Section 3.5 lays out the steps involved in the study, focussing mainly on the

considerations in each step. Section 3.6 introduces the data collection method employed

in the study and explains the rationale for the choice. Section 3.7 explicates the

approach, strategy and process of data analysis in the study, including the fundamental

notions underlying the data analysis.

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3.2 Philosophical Stance of the Study

At the fundamental level, this study was based on the assumption that management

research is about understanding the meanings attached to organizational life. This

assumption was used to address the overall concern of the study, which was to

understand and explain what goes on behind all that is apparent in global firms’ HR

policies, practices and processes. The assumption and central concern of the study

combined saw the study taking an interpretivist stance (interpretivism).

Based on the interpretivist stance, this study was geared towards gaining rich insights

into the subject matter under study. In specific terms, this study aimed at gaining rich

insights into the realm of IHRM, without following definite ‘laws’, formulas or

generalizations. Equally important, with an interpretivist stance, this study took an

empathetic approach with regard to the participants in the study, seeking to understand

their social world and perspectives. An empathetic approach is suited to this study, as

the study pertained to people, people management and the complex social world within

global firms. The relevance of the interpretivist and empathetic views of this study can

be further appreciated through the following assertion of Saunders et al (2009, p.116):

Some would argue that an interpretivist perspective is highly

appropriate in the case of business and management research,
particularly in such fields as organizational behaviour, marketing and
human resource management. Not only are business situations
complex, they are also unique. They are a function of a particular set
of circumstances and individuals coming together at a specific time.

Clearly, the relevance of the interpretivist and empathetic views to business and

management research largely resides with the complexity of the business environment.

76
However, even with such open views, it is necessary that the research assumes a clear

position with regard to ‘nature of reality’ (as in ontology of research) and ‘nature of

knowledge’ (as in epistemology of research).

3.2.1 Ontology Underlying the Study

Ontologically, and in tandem with its interpretivist stance, this study took the

subjectivist stance that in order to understand people’s action, it is necessary to explore

the subjective realities coupled with the subjective meanings motivating those actions.

As such, while giving due attention to the structure of management, this study

emphasized the ways individual managers attach meanings to their roles and to the

issues confronting their organizations’ managerial processes. Generally, it was the

stance of this study that the realities of organizations are socially constructed,

subjective, changeable and consisting of multiple meanings (cf. Saunders et al., 2009).

The subjectivist stance (subjectivism) taken in this study is in contrast with the

objectivist stance (objectivism). Where management is concerned, the assumption

underlying objectivism is that management is similar in all organizations except for the

aspect of organizational objectives. Hence, under objectivism, the emphasis is on the

structural aspects of management, and an organization is viewed as a tangible object,

the reality of which is external to the individuals who make up the organization. Simply,

under objectivism, social phenomena and their meanings are deemed to have an

existence that is independent of social actors (cf. Bryman and Bell, 2007; Saunders et

al., 2009).

77
In subscribing to the subjectivist stance, this study took the ontological position of

constructivism. This is where social phenomena and their meanings are deemed to be

dependent on social actors, produced through social interaction, and in a constant state

of revision. Where management and organizations are concerned, there is no excessive

preoccupation with structures, formal characteristics and rules; the emphasis is on

achieving order through everyday social interaction. In taking the position of

constructivism, this study therefore researched IHRM from the view that order in

management and organizations is something that is worked out and constantly evolving.

3.2.2 Epistemology Underlying the Study

In accordance with the above-mentioned positions of the study, the belief underpinning

this study was far from the positivist belief (positivism), which presumes that only

phenomena that can be seen, measured and modified can give rise to credible data.

Instead, the study was of the belief that social phenomena (such as human feelings and

attitudes) are perfectly valid objects to be studied for development of knowledge; in

addition, data presented in narrative form is not less credible than data presented in

statistical form. Generally, the study subscribed to the belief that knowledge is acquired

through delving into the details and reality of situations/phenomena under study; and

that ample attention should be given to subjective meanings in the process.

78
3.3 Research Approach

3.3.1 Inductive Approach:

Rationale Pertaining to the Research Paradigm and Research Field

Between the deductive approach and inductive approach to research, this study

employed the latter. This choice was based on the interpretivist stance underlying the

study. In accord with interpretivism that emphasizes details, reality, as well as

meanings that are socially constructed, subjective, multiple and changeable, the

inductive approach emphasizes a close understanding of the context associated with the

research object coupled with meanings humans attach to events (cf. Bryman and Bell,

2007; Saunders et al., 2009). This is different from the theoretically-based deductive

approach that is congruent with the research philosophy of positivism. In positivism,

scientific principles are followed; and quantifiable observations and statistical analysis

are emphasized.

In relation to the research field, the rationale behind the inductive approach to this study

revolved around the current state of IHRM as a relatively new scholarly field. As

unfolded in the literature review in Chapter 2, there are ongoing deliberations among

researchers as to what constitutes IHRM. Besides the fact that there is hardly any

comprehensive literature concerning the definition of IHRM, literature featuring a

conceptual framework of IHRM is also limited. Simply, there is hardly an established

theory or an immediately identifiable descriptive framework on what constitutes IHRM.

Such theory and frameworks, if available, can be applied in conjunction with the use of

scientific methods in a deductive study of IHRM. With a lack of such theory and

frameworks, an inductive study is more relevant. This is especially true given that an

inductive approach is useful for formulating theoretical frameworks. In sum, in the

79
current situation where there is insufficient knowledge about what constitutes IHRM,

the inductive approach is more suited to this study than the deductive approach. This

view can be better appreciated through the explanation of Saunders et al. (2007, p. 127):

With research into a topic that is new, is exciting much debate, and on
which there is little existing literature, it may be more appropriate to
work inductively by generating data and analysing and reflecting
upon what theoretical themes the data are suggesting.

3.3.2 Inductive Approach:

Rationale Pertaining to the Research Purpose

The ultimate purpose of the study was ‘to contribute to IHRM theory building through

conceptualizing IHRM’. This was underscored by a general preliminary purpose to

explore and better understand IHRM both as a scholarly field and a professional

practice. These research purposes invariably require any researcher to ask questions, to

find out what is happening, to seek new insights and to assess phenomena in a new

light. These measures typify those of an exploratory study (cf. Robson, 2002) and

represent the requirements of an inductive study. Given its research purposes, ultimately

it was only appropriate that this study employed an exploratory and inductive approach

to researching into IHRM.

Despite its exploratory and inductive nature, this study was not without a clear

direction. This study was founded on a clear research question as well as a clear

research objective. However, it was understood from the outset of this study that being

‘exploratory’ meant the study would initially have a broad focus that become narrower

with the progress of the research (cf. Adams and Schvaneveldt, 1991).

80
3.3.3 Inductive Approach: Further Perspectives

Besides the philosophical stance of the study, the current state of IHRM as a scholarly

field and the purpose of the study, a further factor behind the inductive approach to this

study revolved around ‘meaning’, ‘context’ and ‘perception’. Without any pre-set,

restrictive propositions, the inductive approach allowed the Researcher to explore and

uncover meanings pertaining to the participating MNCs’ contexts and participating

managers’ perceptions. The findings of the study factually reflected MNCs’ collective

social realities as well as international managers’ perceptions, views and experiences in

relation to HRM and other aspects of management in MNCs. These outcomes served the

intent of the study to develop conceptual understanding that is in accord with social

realities pertaining to HRM in MNCs – in other words, conceptual understanding that

can be practically applied (cf. Bryman, 1988; Bryman and Bell, 2007; Saunders et al.,

2009).

3.4 Research Strategy

3.4.1 Qualitative Strategy: The Rationale

A qualitative strategy16 was employed in this study. The rationale behind this strategy

resides with the philosophical stance, approach, and purpose of this study.

Rationale Pertaining to the Philosophical Stance and Approach of

the Study

As indicated by Bryman and Bell (2007), while qualitative research most obviously

16
In this study, ‘research strategy’ refers to the choice between ‘qualitative research’ and ‘quantitative
research’. This concept of ‘strategy’ in research is drawn from Bryman and Bell (2007). There are authors
who refer to ‘research strategy’ as the general plan or method by which the researcher goes about
answering the research question(s). Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2009), for example, listed the
following as some of the research strategies: experiment; survey; case study; action research; grounded
theory; ethnography; and archival research.

81
tends to be concerned with words17 rather than numbers, the distinctiveness of

qualitative research does not reside solely in the absence of numbers. The

epistemological position, ontological position and approach of the study are particularly

important in determining the aptness of the qualitative strategy. Encompassing all these

dimensions, the nature of qualitative research, according to the authors, is as follows:

(i) it is of interpretivist stance, where the emphasis is on understanding the social

world through examining the participants’ interpretation of that world;

(ii) it is of social constructionist stance, where social properties are believed to

be outcomes of the interactions between individuals and not isolated

phenomena;

(iii) it employs an inductive approach, where theory is generated out of research.

This study took all the above positions.

Rationale Pertaining to the Purpose of the Study

The rationale behind this study was inadequacies in the development of IHRM theory

generally, and inadequacies in the existent definition of IHRM specifically.

Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to contribute to IHRM theory building

through conceptualizing IHRM. The pertinence of qualitative strategy to the purpose of

this study can be appreciated in terms of the central position of concepts/theories in

quality research. First of all, ‘concepts’ are a substantial part of the landscape of

qualitative research: concepts and theoretical elaboration emerge from the qualitative

data, and from other respects of the qualitative research process (Bryman and Bell,

17
While qualitative research is most commonly associated with spoken and written words, it can also
involve action (participation), audio-visual materials (e.g. video) or visual materials (e.g. pictures,
photographs – photo voice, photo elicitation, photo novella etc.) (Bryman and Bell, 2007; Goodrick,
2007)

82
2007). Throughout this process, fine nuances of concepts, alternative views of concepts

and manifestation of such views are never sidelined. Ultimately, in qualitative research,

concepts serve as cues and a means to developing as well as diversifying ideas (cf.

Blumer, 1954).

The absence of a definitive IHRM concept/definition is indicative of room for existing

notions of IHRM to be viewed in alternative ways, and to be expanded and developed

into more definitive concepts and theory. It was around this phenomenon that this study

endeavoured to develop IHRM concepts to contribute to the development of IHRM

theory.

3.4.2 Qualitative Strategy: The Emphases

Meanings in Relation to Social Reality

As a qualitative research study in one of the fields in social science, this study took

cognizance of the fact that participants in social science research attribute meanings to

events, phenomena and their environments (cf. Bryman and Bell, 2007). For this reason,

the study accorded much attention to ‘meanings’ attributed by the participants,

especially in the data collection and data analysis processes. For data collection, the

study conducted interviews to interact face-to-face with the participants and fully

engage with the participants’ minds. The study then took the participants’ perspectives

and revelations as a departure point in data analysis.

Apart from the research stance and approach explicated earlier, this study drew on

Lofland and Lofland’s (1995) and O’Leary’s (2010) assertions in making the choice of

data collection method. According to Lofland and Lofland, the epistemology underlying

83
qualitative research consists of the following two tenets: (i) it is necessary to

‘participate’ in the mind of another human being to acquire knowledge; (ii) ’face-to-face

interaction is the fullest condition of participating in the mind of another human being’

(p.16). According to O’Leary, as there is possibility of negotiated outcomes in

qualitative methodologies, there is a need for the researched to be a contributor to a

researcher’s constructed meanings in qualitative research.

Context and Process of Social Reality

Within its qualitative research strategy, this study was concerned with contexts

associated with events and people’s behaviours. It emphasized contextual understanding

of events surrounding HRM in MNCs and people’s behaviours in MNCs. It also

emphasized ‘contextual sensitivity’, which means it was cognizant that ‘apparently

uniform institutions take on a variety of meanings in different contexts’ (Silverman,

2006, p.17). In this connection, naturally occurring data in qualitative research are a

source for describing how a certain phenomenon is locally constituted: such data enable

qualitative research ‘to find the sequences (‘how’) in which participants’ meanings

(‘what’) are deployed and thereby establish the character of some phenomenon’

(Silverman, 2006, p.44).

Further to the above, it was recognized in this study that, where social events,

phenomena and behaviours are concerned, ‘context’ is inseparable from ‘process’.

Giving due attention to social processes, this study was interested in the following

respects of the social realities in individual MNCs: the ways events, phenomena and

behaviours develop over time; the ways different elements (for example values,

attitudes, beliefs, behaviours) interconnect in individual MNCs’ social systems; the

84
stages in the development of events (cf. Bryman and Bell, 2007). In summary, as

qualitative research, this study recognized social reality as consisting of a host of

interdependent social events and elements; it took into consideration the process in

which these events and elements develop. It was along this line that this study addressed

its data.

Descriptive Details

With its emphasis of contextual understanding, contextual sensitivity, process of social

reality and generally, meaning pertaining to social reality, this study entailed descriptive

details in its reporting of research outcome. These descriptive details in turn projected

this study as qualitative research. The significance of descriptive details in qualitative

research is evident in the following words of Bryman and Bell (2007, p. 418):

Very often qualitative studies seem to be full of apparently trivial

details. However these details are frequently important for the
qualitative researcher, because of their significance for their subjects
and also because the details provide an account of the context within
which people’s behaviour take place.

Descriptive details are the fundamentals for dwelling on the reality under study in

qualitative research. To dwell on this reality requires that qualitative researchers ‘truly

explore and understand the interactions, processes, lived experiences, and belief systems

that are a part of individuals, institutions, cultural groups, and even the everyday’

(O’Leary, 2010, pp113-114). It is the tradition of qualitative research to strongly value

‘depth’ over ‘quantity’; it is ‘the goal [of qualitative research] to gain an intimate

understanding of people, places, and situations through rich engagement and even

immersion into the reality being studied’ (O’Leary, 2010, p.114).

85
3.4.3 Qualitative Strategy: The Research Structure

The use of qualitative strategy saw this study asking fairly general rather than very

specific research questions at the outset of the research journey. As pointed out by

Bryman and Bell (2007), qualitative research does not tend to be constrained by areas of

enquiry; this facilitates the uncovering of fresh perspectives that are particularly

important to the study during the research process.

Without delimiting the areas of enquiry at the outset, this study employed a flexible

approach to its data collection structure: no specific instruments were used for

answering very specific questions. Flexibility in data collection method is a common

orientation in qualitative research. Such flexibility ensures that qualitative researchers

do not impose an inappropriate frame of reference on people and their social world. The

relevance of flexibility (in not limiting the area of enquiry) in qualitative research can be

further appreciated through the following words of Bryman and Bell (2007, p. 420):

[I]f a structured method of data collection is employed, since this is

bound to be the product of an investigator’s ruminations about the
object of enquiry, certain decisions must have been made about what
he or she expects to find and about the nature of the social reality that
is to be encountered. Therefore the researcher is limited in the degree
to which he or she can genuinely adopt the world views of the people
studied.

Flexibility in terms of areas of enquiry and structure of data collection is part of the

‘non-linear’ and ‘circular’ orientation of the overall setting of qualitative research.

Unlike quantitative research, qualitative research does not operate on pre-set modelling

on variables and their mutual correlations or causal relationships. Instead of logico–

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deductive mode, qualitative research operates largely on an iterative and reflexive

mode. This means in the qualitative research process there is constant reflexivity and

circularity, whereby the researcher reflects on the research process in its totality and

relates each research step to the previous one.

The major concern in the qualitative research process is not the existence of causal

relationships modelled on some earlier research and theoretical literature, but the

relevance of empirical materials to the researched question. The central part of this

process is the constant linking of empirical analysis to flexible literature review and

theories. As such, prior understanding and perspectives of the object under study are

subject to further elaboration and development during the research process (cf. Eriksson

and Kovalainen, 2008; Giddens, 1988; Haberman, 1978).

3.5 Research Steps and Considerations

The following diagram18 illustrates the steps involved in this study:

Step1: Formulation of Research Questions

Step 2: Selection of Sources of Data Collection

Step 3: Collection of Relevant Data

Step 4: Analysis of Data

Step 5: Drawing Up of Findings and Conceptual Framework

Step 6: Writing Up of Findings and Conclusions

FIGURE 3.1
Outward Research Steps in the Study

18
This linear diagram shows only the outward steps in the study. The actual qualitative research process
in this study is non-linear, circular and iterative in nature.

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Every step of this study was underpinned by certain considerations and emphases.

These considerations and emphases were central to the decisions made with regard to

the research design. The Researcher took cognizance of Eriksson and Kovalainen’s

(2008) suggestion that a qualitative researcher is a critical and reflexive researcher, who

is concerned as to how decisions made during the research process shape the research

outcome. In appreciating ‘reflexivity’19 and ‘critical attitude’ as necessary attributes of

any qualitative researcher, the Researcher sought to critically inspect all steps and their

linkages in the research process, as well as to establish the validity of the accounts of

the phenomena studied (cf. Eriksson and Kovalainen, 2008; Schwandt, 2001).

Step 1: Formulation of Research Questions

This step of the study consisted of three sub-steps, namely:

(i) formulation of general preliminary research question

(ii) formulation of specific preliminary research questions

(iii) formulation of the ultimate research question

As the first step in the research process, the formulation of a research question brings

about the research objective and provides the research with a direction. While charting

the research direction through this step, the Researcher sought not to have a highly

specific research question. This was based on the following reasoning:

The formulation of the research question(s) should not be so specific

that alternative avenues of enquiry that might arise during the

19
This term ‘refers to self-consciousness and awareness on the part of the researcher to reflect back on
oneself as research tool’ (Goodrick, 2007). The term ‘carries the connotation that business researchers
should be reflective about the implications of their methods, values biases and decisions for the
knowledge of the social world they generate […] [It] involves willingness to probe beyond the level of
straightforward interpretation’ (Bryman and Bell, 2007, p.712).

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 collection of fieldwork data are closed off. Such premature closure of
[…][the] research focus would be inconsistent with the process of
qualitative research, with the emphasis on the world view of the
[participants in the research], and with the approaches to qualitative
data analysis […]

(Bryman and Bell, 2007, p. 482)

Step 2: Selection of Sources of Data Collection

The selection of the sources of data collection is a very important step in the research

process. It must be recognized as such because it has much bearing on the credibility

and transferability of the research outcome.

The sources of data collection consist of the relevant sites and subjects from which to

collect the data. In the case of this study, the ‘sites’ of data collection was the

participating MNCs (‘MNC-participants’), while the ‘subjects’ the participating MNCs’

top managers who took part in this study (‘executive-participants’). Through the choice

of the prospective MNC-participants and executive-participants, the Researcher sought

to acquire multiple accounts of the social reality of HRM in MNCs, as well as rich

accounts of the contextual uniqueness of HRM in individual MNC-participants. Within

the constraints of this study, the objective of the Researcher at this stage was two-fold:

(i) to obtain a cross-section of MNC-participants that can represent MNCs worldwide,

and (ii) to obtain a cross-section of executive-participants who can convey the reality of

HRM in MNCs.

The above objective in the selection of sources of data collection was underscored by

three specific views concerning the social world, credibility of research outcome and

89
transferability of research outcome respectively. These views were as follows: (i) there

are no absolute truths, but more than one and possibly several accounts, of the social

world (Guba and Lincoln, 1994); (ii) multiple accounts of the social reality is pertinent

for the credibility of the research findings (Bryman and Bell’s, 2007); (iii) a ‘thick

description’ can serve as a ‘database’ for evaluating the transferability of research

findings to other milieus (Guba and Lincoln, 1994).

Step 3: Collection of Relevant Data

The method and process of data collection in this study were underscored by two major

considerations. First, due consideration was given to the fact that qualitative research

subsumes several considerably different research methods (Bryman and Bell, 2007). As

such, within constraints of the study, it was imperative that this study carefully select a

data collection method – and a corresponding data analysis method – that was most

suited to its research purpose and objective.

Second, much importance was given to the factor of ‘dependability’ in qualitative

research. As gathered from Guba and Lincoln (1994), ‘dependability’ is part of

‘trustworthiness’20 in qualitative research, and an equivalence of ‘reliability’ in

quantitative research. The Researcher was cognizant of the importance of addressing

this factor in the data collection part of the research process. In connection with this

factor, the Researcher paid full attention to the following points: the research data must

be adequate and relevant to the study, given that they are the raw materials for the

findings, inferences and conclusions of the study; however, the adequacy and relevance

20
‘Trustworthiness’ in qualitative research is made up of four criteria (with equivalence in quantitative
research): (i) credibility (validity); (ii) transferability (validity); (iii) dependability (reliability) and (iv)
confirmability (objectivity) (Guba and Lincoln, 1994).

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of the data hinge on an appropriate data collection method that is complemented by a

well conducted data collection process.

Where the factor of ‘dependability’ is concerned, this study also heeded Guba and

Lincoln’s (1994) advice to keep complete records of all phases of the research process.

As suggested by Guba and Lincoln, at the later stage of the research process, these

records can serve as a means for checking as to implementation of proper research

procedures and the degree to which theoretical inferences could be justified. This,

according to the authors, is helpful for establishing the research merit of ‘dependability’.

Step 4: Analysis of Data

For analysis of data, the Researcher was mindful of the ‘confirmability’ 21 (Guba and

Lincoln, 1994; Lincoln and Guba, 1985) aspect of ‘trustworthiness’ in qualitative

research. This facet of the study required the Researcher to be as objective as possible –

minimizing the influences of personal values and theoretical inclinations – in the

process of analyzing data and deriving research findings. The position taken by the

Researcher was that, while it is impossible to have complete objectivity in business

research (Bryman and Bell, 2007) and in qualitative research generally, the Researcher

should act in good faith.

Besides the question of ‘confirmability’, the Researcher was careful not to be

submerged by richness of the qualitative data when analysing data. The Researcher was

cognizant that richness of qualitative data poses a real challenge to finding an analytical

21
‘Confirmability’ is one of the criteria of ‘trustworthiness’ in qualitative research. This criterion was
proposed by Lincoln and Guba (1985) and Guba and Lincoln (1994) as an equivalence of ‘objectivity’ in
quantitative research.

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path. Labelled as an ‘attractive nuisance’ by Miles (1979), richness of qualitative data

may deter the researcher from carrying out a true analysis that gives the data a wider

significance for the research topic.

Step 5: Drawing Up of Findings and Conceptual Framework

In the process of deriving findings and conceptual framework through data analysis, the

Researcher subscribed to a view of Lincoln and Guba (1985) concerning concepts,

theories and social reality in qualitative research. According to the authors, concepts and

theories derived from a qualitative study are representations and not definitive versions

of the social reality; therefore it is possible to have other equally credible

representations of the phenomena concerned. It was based on this view that an IHRM

model was developed in this study: the model was developed under the understanding

that it is always open to further development.

Another major as regards for this stage of the study pertained to ‘relevance’ of the

study. Based on Hemmersley’s (1992) concept of ‘relevance’ in relation to research, the

elements of this consideration were identified as follows: (i) significance of the research

topic to the field of IHRM; (ii) contribution of the research outcome to the literature in

the field; and (iii) practical outcome of the study: whether the research findings address

the concerns and phenomena of IHRM in practice.

With regard to the third element of the ‘relevance’ consideration stated above, this study

took cognizance of the fact that practitioners and researchers do not always share the

same interests in terms of research questions and findings; practitioners are generally

more interested in research that helps them to understand and/or address specific

92
problems in their organizations. Based on this understanding, the step of drawing up

findings and conceptual framework in this study was approached with a view to catering

to the interests of both the Researcher and practitioners of HRM in MNCs. This view

was especially pertinent given that the role of qualitative business research is to

‘[produce] new knowledge about how things work in real-life business contexts, why

they work in a specific way, and how we can make sense of them in a way that they

might be changed’ (Eriksson and Kovalainen, 2008, p.3).

3.6 Data Collection Method

3.6.1 Qualitative Interview: The Rationale

For collection of data, this study employed qualitative interviews, the most widely used

data collection method in qualitative research. A series of face-to-face, semi-structured

interviews were conducted. Unlike interview schedules of structured interviews, the

interview schedule used in this study (APPENDIX 3-1) was without pre-coded answers

and not treated as a strictly standard document. In addition, this semi-structured

interview schedule covered a good range of themes and topic areas.

The above-mentioned features of the interview schedule were in line with the

exploratory nature of this study. In the first place, the choice of qualitative interview as

the data collection method was premised on the exploratory nature of the study. As

pointed out by Cooper and Schindler (2008), where an exploratory study or a study with

exploratory elements is concerned, the research design would likely include non-

standardized/qualitative interview.

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Besides the exploratory nature of the study, there were three other reasons behind the

choice of qualitative interviews as the method of data collection in this study. First,

drawing on some researchers’ (e.g. North, Leigh and Gough, 1983; Saunders et al.,

2009) research outcomes, it was believed in this study that managers are generally more

likely to agree to be interviewed than to complete a long questionnaire. Second,

personal contact with the participants through face-to-face interviews was recognized in

this study as a way to procure first-hand contextual information, hence better

contextualization of the participants’ answers. Third, the complexity of the research

questions required this study to employ a data collection method that involves ‘direct’,

‘real’ and ‘thorough’ processes – whereby the Researcher went direct to the

participants; obtained from them first-hand information in their real-life situations; and

thoroughly understood the information given by them.

3.6.2 Semi-Structured Interview: The Rationale

The choice of semi-structured interviews in this study was attributed to the flexibility

this data collection method provides for both the researcher and participants during the

data collection process. As highlighted by Bryman and Bell (2007), the semi-structured

interview process is flexible, and the emphasis is on how the participants frame and

understand issues and events. ‘[W]ith a [relatively] unstructured approach [in semi-

structured interviews], the researcher is less likely to come at participants’ world views

with presuppositions and expectations and is more likely to see things as the participants

see them’ (Bryman and Bell, 2007, p.479). More elaborately, the semi-structured

questions in such interviews, though based on fairly specific themes and topic areas,

give the participants leeway in responding. The researcher, meanwhile, enjoys the

leeway to vary the order and wording of the questions, as well as the leeway to exclude

94
certain questions22 and include extra questions. On the whole, such flexibility allows the

researcher to accommodate the flow of the conversation during the interview; adapt to

situational and organizational contexts associated with the interview; seek clarifications

on the participants’ responses; probe what participants have revealed; and express views

on and/or further explore the research questions.

The flexibility, as described above, was a pivotal element in the exploratory orientation

of this study. Within its interpretivist framework, this exploratory study sought data that

were sufficiently rich to provide answers to many ‘what-’, ‘how-’ and ‘why-’ questions

pertaining to HRM in MNCs. Besides rich data, this study emphasized the participants’

perspectives and viewpoints. These emphases were addressed through the elements of

flexibility in semi-structured interviews. All in all, the use of semi-structured interviews

as the data collection method ties in with the social constructionist and interpretivist

stance of this study.

3.7 Data Analysis Approach and Strategy

3.7.1 Fundamental Notions Underlying the Data Analysis

Two fundamental notions underlined the qualitative data analysis undertaken in this

study. First, qualitative data analysis was understood as an integral part of the

qualitative data collection method. The basis of this understanding is that in qualitative

research, data collection and data analysis are ‘interactive’ (Saunders et al., 2009) and

‘interconnected’ (Eriksson and Kovalainen, 2008); and that analysis of data occurs not

only after, but also during the process of collecting data (Kvale, 1996). Further, as

22
In every interview session conducted in this study, not a single question in the interview schedule was
left out. Change of wording was minimal and without change of meaning.

95
highlighted by Bryman and Bell (2007, p.300), the merging of data collection and data

analysis in qualitative research is ‘an organic whole’ that ‘begins in the data-gathering

stage and does not end until the writing is complete’.

Second, qualitative data analysis is a process of ‘reflecting on, interpreting and

theorizing data’. While the concept of ‘reflecting on and interpreting data’ is apparent,

the concept of ‘theorizing data’ requires deliberation. Theorizing of data is an essential

element of qualitative research. Bryman and Bell (2007) and Miles and Huberman

(1994) can be pertinently cited in this regard. According to Bryman and Bell, qualitative

research findings acquire significance only after the researchers have theorized the data.

According to Miles and Huberman, without theorizing of the data, qualitative research

findings may merely be ‘banal, unilluminating descriptions’.

As a process of ‘reflecting on, interpreting and theorizing data’, qualitative data analysis

is invariably a complex process. During this process, there is a risk that researchers fail

to do justice to the data, or ‘contaminate their subjects’ words and behaviour’, as

Bryman and Bell (2007) put it. This risk is necessarily balanced against the fact that the

research findings acquire significance only after the researchers have theorized the data

(Bryman and Bell, 2007). The presence of such risk and the need for theorizing the data

in qualitative data analysis are also apparent from the following words of Miles and

Huberman (1994, p.15):

The risk [confronting researchers in qualitative data analysis process]

is forcing the logic, the order, and the plausibility that constitute
theory making on the uneven, sometimes random, nature of social life.
Yet without theory we can be left with the banal, unilluminating
descriptions.

96
On the basis of the above notions and understanding, data analysis was recognized in

this qualitative study not as an isolated stage/process in the research journey, but as an

organic process that spans the journey. In other words, data analysis was recognized not

merely as a process to derive findings, but as a process to derive theory and conclusions.

3.7.2 Approach to Data Analysis

In subscribing to the notion of ‘data analysis as a process of reflecting on, interpreting

and theorizing data’, this study essentially employed an inductive approach to analysing

data. Unlike the deductive approach, the inductive approach to data analysis is not

organized through a theoretically based framework: it does not involve any pre-

formulated theoretical/descriptive framework that encompasses some predicted or

presumed relationships between variables, components, themes and issues (cf. Yin,

2003). This approach to data analysis is simply not influenced by any prior expectations

(cf. Saunders et al., 2009). In employing the inductive approach to data analysis in this

study, the Researcher essentially agreed with the following argument:

The prior specification of a theory [presents] the possibilities of

introducing a premature closure on the issues to be investigated, as
well as the possibility of the theoretical constructs departing
excessively from the views of participants in a social setting.

(Bryman, 1988, p.81)

No computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS) was used to analyse

data in this study. The data were analysed using fully ‘manual-and-cognitive’ manner.

As there is at present ‘no standard procedure’ (Saunders et al., 2009), ‘no one right way’

(Goodrick, 2007) and ‘few well-established and widely accepted rules’ (Bryman and

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Bell, 2007) for analysing qualitative data, this manner of data analysis was deemed

reasonable in this study.

Notwithstanding the general characteristics of qualitative data analysis outlined above,

data analysis in this study was neither without a specific analytic process nor without a

specific analytic strategy. This is evidenced by the specificity in the analytic process, as

delineated in Section 3.7.3 below. In being specific in its analytic process and strategy,

this study had echoed the following assertions of Goodrick (2007, p.37) concerning

qualitative data analysis:

Contrary to the views of some [empiricist] researchers who doubt the value
of qualitative data analysis, [qualitative data analysis] is not a case of
“anything goes”’;‘[t]he phrase “themes emerged from the data” is not a
sufficient explanation of the analysis processes.

Instead of doubting the value of qualitative data analysis, this study applied this

qualitative approach fully cognizant of its attributes, limitations, applicability as well as

aptness for the purpose and objective of the study.

3.7.3 Components, Processes and Strategy of the Data Analysis

Integrated Components of the Data Analysis

As highlighted in Section 3.7.1, in qualitative research, data analysis is an integral part

of data collection within an organic whole, and it ends only with the completion of the

writing (Bryman and Bell, 2007). This proved to be true in this study. In addition, this

study witnessed qualitative data analysis as a highly creative cognitive activity

consisting of several integrated components.

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Qualitative data analysis in this study consisted of the following integrated
components23:

(i) Interpretation of
Meanings

(ii) Comparing,
Contrasting & (iii) Identification of
Linking of Key Points, Themes &
Information Relationship Patterns (iv) Exploration of
from Information Outcomes of (iii) in
Relation to Research
Questions & Objective

(v) Development of
Theoretical Notions &
Conceptual
Propositions

(vi) Evaluation &

Further Exploration of (vii) Drawing up of
Outcomes of (v) in Assumptions & (viii) Verification of
Relation to Research Conclusions that Findings in Relation to
Questions & Objective Constitute Findings of Research Questions &
Study Objective

FIGURE 3.2
Integrated Components of the Data Analysis

Strategy and Processes of the Data Analysis

As its analytic strategy, this study adopted the ‘data display and analysis framework’, an

inductively based analytic framework advanced by Miles and Huberman’s (1994).

Within this framework, the core analytic processes are ‘summarizing (condensation)’

and ‘categorizing (grouping)’ of meanings. These analytic processes take place

concurrently in the form of data reduction and data display. Constituting an integral

23
This is the Researcher’s own assessment of what transpired during the data analysis process.

99
part of these processes is the drawing up as well as verification of assumptions and

conclusions. In essence, under Miles and Huberman’s ‘data display and analysis’

strategy, data analysis is an integral mechanism, consisting of and driven by the

interactions between ‘data reduction’, ‘data display’ and ‘drawing up/verification of

conclusions’.

Based on the ‘data display and analysis’ strategy outlined above, data analysis of this

study occurred as illustrated below:

Meanings expressed by participants were summarized in

matrix format
The summary matrices were categorized according to the
subject matters of different sections of the interview
schedule
(APPENDIX 3-2)

Meanings in matrices were further aggregated and

categorized
The identification and naming of the categories were
guided by the research questions and objective

Categorized meanings, represented by labels, were

displayed on the sides of the matrices
(APPENDIX 3-3)

Data display in ‘network’ format (in addition to data

display in matrix format) was drawn up
The networks present the research outcomes/conclusions
in the forms of theoretical notions and conceptual
propositions
(APPENDIX 3-4)

FIGURE 3.3
Data Analysis Strategy

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By condensing the huge amount of text in the interview transcripts (extended text)24 into

fewer words in the matrices, the following aspects of the data were uncovered: (i) key

points (issues, viewpoints, insights and other relevant information) conveyed by the

participants; (ii) principal themes that emerged from the interview data and apparent

relationships between these themes. Categorization of the data in matrices, meanwhile,

uncovered relationship patterns as well as conceptual structures pertaining to the

research questions and objectives. On the whole, in the ‘matrix data display’ part of the

framework, the processes of ‘condensation/summarizing’ and ‘categorization/grouping’

of data clarified the key information in the data. This is done by reducing and

rearranging the data into a more manageable form, as well as interpreting meanings and

making inferences from the data.

In the ‘networks data display’ part of the framework, the processes of ‘interpreting

meanings’ and ‘making inferences’ continued. Here these two processes were integral

parts of the processes of ‘deriving theoretical understanding’ and ‘drawing up

conclusions’. All these mutually inclusive cognitive processes can be illustrated, to a

certain extent, as follows:

24
‘Extended text’ refers to the transcribed and word-processed interview contents. It is the unreduced,
extensive and poorly-ordered form of interview data. As such it is difficult to analyze (Saunders, Lewis
and Thornhill, 2009).

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In between the cognitive processes of ‘interpreting meanings’, ‘making inferences’,
‘deriving theoretical understanding’ and ‘drawing up conclusions’

(In Networks Data Display part of Data Analysis)

(1)
Evaluation was made of themes, relationships
Throughout this
between themes, relationship patterns between
issues as well as conceptual structures that ‘emerged’ phase of the data
from the interview data.
analysis process,

Evaluation was made in relation to the following cognitive evaluation

factors: of information (as
described in item (1))
 backgrounds, experiences and designations of
individual executive-participants repeated several
 individual MNC-participants’ internal and times.
external environments
 settings where the interviews took place
 special elements or happenings during the
interviews that might have affected the nature The same for
of the data. cognitive verification,

Analytic aids such as interim summaries, self-memos clarification &

and researcher’s diary were used for this evaluation refinement of the
process.
research
↕ outcomes/conclusions
(2)
The research outcomes/conclusions in the forms of (as described in Item
theoretical notions and conceptual propositions were (3)).
presented in ‘networks’ form of data display.

↕
(3)
The ‘networks’ data display in turn verified, clarified
and refined the outcomes/conclusions derived in item
(2).

This completed the overall data analysis process.

FIGURE 3.4
Cognitive Processes in Parts of the Data Analysis

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3.8 Concluding Remarks

The data analysis process in this qualitative study was rigorous and creative, congruent

with what Goodrick (2007) suggests to be generally the case with analysis of qualitative

data. The process was rigorous as it involved ‘active interaction’ between the

Researcher and the data, a condition which, according to Saunders et al. (2009), is

necessary in qualitative data analysis. The data analysis process was also creative,

necessarily so given that presently there are neither broadly identifiable nor widely

taught qualitative data analytic skills (Bryman and Bell, 2007; Goodrick, 2007;

Saunders et al., 2009; Van Maanen, 1998) to rely on.

Alongside other aspects of the methodology of the study, this chapter has fully

accounted for the approach, strategy and process of the qualitative data analysis in the

study. Underlying this account is the awareness that ‘more recent texts have addressed

[data] analysis problem far more seriously’ (Miles and Huberman, 1994. p.2), and that

interest in qualitative research is generally keen and growing (Goulding, 2002; O’Leary,

2010; Van Maanen, 1998). There is also an understanding on the part of the Researcher

that, although Miles and Huberman’s (1994) ‘data display and analysis framework’ was

once criticised as ‘a data analysis method without techniques’ by some researchers

(related by Miles and Huberman, 1994), it is factually a recognized qualitative data

analysis strategy (in recent texts on research methods).

In this study, the Researcher had taken a ‘middle ground’ between critics of qualitative

approach to data analysis and another group who insist that data analysis is an art that

must be addressed using intuitive approaches (related by Miles and Huberman, 1994).

In addition, amidst the reality where it is difficult to formulate a set of specific

103
qualitative research features that would be shared by all qualitative researchers

(Eriksson and Kovalainen, 2008), the Researcher had played an active role in defining

qualitative research through the qualitative approach employed in this study. Eriksson

and Kovalainen (2008, p.298) would lend support to this claim: they assert that ‘each

qualitative researcher is an active participant in the process of defining the answer to the

question “what is qualitative research?”’

Based on the outcome of this qualitative study coupled with the deliberations in this

chapter, it is plausible that qualitative methodologies are a powerful means to

researching into management and business, as asserted by Gummesson (2000). The

Researcher thus agrees with Gephart and Richardson (2008), Ferner (1997) and Welch

(1994) that qualitative research methodologies can contribute to the development of

IHRM theory. In general terms, the use of qualitative methodology in this study is in

tandem with the growing interest in qualitative methodologies in management and

business research in recent years (Goulding, 2002).

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 CHAPTER 4
DATA COLLECTION

4.1 Introduction

While this study recognized the data collection method as part of the research

methodology, it considered data collection a sufficiently major part of the research

process to warrant detailed explanations in a chapter of its own. Data collection of the

study is viewed in this chapter in terms of its design and overall process. Specifically, it

is viewed in terms of four aspects, namely (i) procedures; (ii) documentation; (iii)

ethical considerations; and (iv) sources of data (sources of data collection).

The four aspects of data collection are consolidated and reported through an eight-step

data collection procedure framework (FIGURE 4.1). Presenting this framework, Section

4.2 (‘Procedures of Data Collection’) explains the eight data collection steps,

elucidating the data collection design and process of the study. The subsequent Section

4.3 (‘Sources of Data/Results of Data Collection’) presents the outcome of data

collection.

Overall, this chapter explains how the data collection steps were planned and

implemented in relation to the purpose and objective of the study. In addition, the

chapter illuminates how certain steps in the data collection shape the direction and

outcome of the study. Another highlight of the chapter is the ways the data collection

design and process complied with seven research ethics principles.

105
4.2 Procedures of Data Collection

As reported in Chapter 3, face-to-face interviews were used as the data collection

method in the study. This method saw the data collection process involve a fieldwork

phase, preceded and followed by a pre-fieldwork phase and a post-fieldwork phase

respectively. In between these three phases, eight data collection steps were

implemented. The procedures of data collection encompassing these eight steps are laid

out in the framework in FIGURE 4.1.

PRE-FIELDWORK PHASE
Step1: Identification of Data Collection Sources and Attributes of Prospective Participants 25

Step 2: Selection of Data Collection Location

Step 3: Information Search & Sourcing of Prospective Participants

Step 4: Ethical Considerations & Preparation of Fieldwork Documents

Step 5: Communication with Prospective Participants

Step 6: Finalizing of List of Participants

FIELDWORK
Step 7: Face-to-Face Interviews
POST-FIELDWORK PHASE
Step 8: Communication with Participants

FIGURE 4.1
Data Collection Steps

Step 1:
Identification of Data Collection Sources and Attributes of Prospective
Participants

Sources of data collection consisted of the relevant sites and subjects from which to

collect data. In the context of this study, the ‘sites’ of data collection were the

25
Throughout this chapter, ‘participants’ refers to the participating MNCs and/or participating top
managers from these MNCs. Separately, the former is referred to as ‘MNC-Participants’ (MNC-P) and
the latter ‘Exec-Participants’ (Exec-P) in other parts of the thesis.

106
participating MNC subsidiaries26 (‘participating MNCs’). The ‘subjects’ were the

participating MNCs’ top managers who participated in the study. In this thesis, the

former and latter are referred to as ‘MNC-participants’ (MNC-P) and ‘executive-

participants’ (Exec-P) respectively.

After the identification of MNC-P and Exec-P as sources of data collection, the next

task was to identify the required attributes of prospective MNC-P and Exec-P. This part

of the data collection process was closely guided by the purpose and objective of the

study. As clarified in Section 2.7 of Chapter 2, the purpose of the study was to

contribute to IHRM theory building through conceptualizing IHRM; and the objective

of the study was to conceptualize IHRM through the formulation of a generic, holistic,

comprehensive and practice-relevant IHRM conceptual model. Such intent required

that IHRM be researched in this study from a broad, macro perspective, and the research

data procured from a broad cross-section of the identified sources of data.

For the above-mentioned requirements and within the constraints27 of the study, the

pool of prospective MNC-P should ideally be composed of ‘a cross-section of MNCs

that can represent MNCs worldwide’ (CS-MNCs), while the pool of prospective Exec-P

‘a cross-section of MNC top managers who can convey the reality of HRM in MNCs’

(CS-Executives). TABLE 4.1-A and TABLE 4.1-B below define ‘CS-MNCs’ and ‘CS-

Executives’ respectively according to the requirements of the study.

26
In precise terms, each MNC-participant is a subsidiary of the MNC concerned. Each participating
MNC subsidiary is coded as ‘MNC-S-(number)’, where the ‘S’ denotes ‘subsidiary’. The acronyms
‘MNC’ and ‘MNC-S’ are used interchangeably to refer to a participating MNC subsidiary in this thesis.
27
As a PhD candidature project, the constraints facing this study were mainly in terms of finance, time
frame, access to the participants and labor.

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 TABLE 4.1-A
Sampling Criteria (1)

A Cross-Section of MNCs that Can Represent MNCs Worldwide

(CS-MNCs)
Comprises:
 MNCs from continents where most MNCs are headquartered
 MNCs from various countries across different continents
 MNCs from various industries
 MNCs with individual worldwide networks of subsidiaries/alliances

TABLE 4.1-B
Sampling Criteria (2)

A Cross-Section of MNC Top Managers28

Who Can Convey the Reality of HRM in MNCs
(CS-Executives)
Comprises:
 A mix of top managers (top HR managers & other top managers)

 A mix of local and expatriate top HR managers

 A mix of local and expatriate ‘other top managers’

 A mix of expatriate top managers of different national origins

 A mix of expatriate top managers with different professional

experiences and international experiences

Step 2:
Selection of Data Collection Location

Availability of CS-MNCs and CS-Executives was the major criterion for the selection

of the location of data collection. Another important criterion was convenience against

time and cost constraints facing the study. Based on these criteria, two places, namely

Kuala Lumpur (the business capital of Malaysia) and Selangor (the most industrialized

28
Throughout this chapter and the rest of the thesis, ‘top managers’ refers to ‘top HR managers’ and/or
‘other top managers’.

108
state in Malaysia, within which the federal territory of Kuala Lumpur is located) were

selected as the locations of data collection in the study29. At these two locations, not

only is there a pool of MNCs of various industries and national origins, there is also a

relatively large number of expatriates attending various organizational levels in these

MNCs. In precise terms, these two places were selected as the locations of data

collection because they provide good sources of the desired ‘CS-MNCs’ and ‘CS-

Executives’ samples. This in turn dispensed with the need for the Researcher to procure

the ‘CS-MNCs’ and ‘CS-Executives’ samples from several different places, saving time

and costs in the data collection fieldwork.

Step 3:
Information Search and Sourcing of Prospective Participants

This step involved two concurrent tasks: (i) sourcing of prospective participants; and (ii)

procurement of relevant information about the prospective participants. TABLE 4.2-A

and TABLE 4.2-B explain the composition of the information concerned.

TABLE 4.2-A
Information Sought for Sampling Purposes (1)

Information Collected on Each Prospective MNC-Participant (MNC-P)

national origin; industry; history; worldwide network; top
What it is
management members
management approach; ways of business operations; corporate
What it does missions and policies; organization structure; R & D activities; HR
policies and initiatives; staff training and development programs etc.
Where it is headquarters’ location(s); subsidiaries’/alliances’ locations
Contact details local addresses; telephone numbers of relevant departments

29
By implication, the host country of the participating MNC subsidiaries is Malaysia.

109
 TABLE 4.2-B
Information Sought for Sampling Purposes (2)

Information Collected on Each Prospective Executive-Participant (Executive-P)

Who s/he is full name, designation & standing in the organization chart
profile; career history
What s/he does
(if available on firm’s website)
Contact details secretary’s/personal assistant’s contact number/email address

Information about prospective Exec-P was sought and obtained from the websites of

prospective MNC-P. Information on prospective MNC-P was sought and obtained from

sources such as the internet, trade directories, business magazines, newspapers and

foreign embassy websites.

Two working tables (APPENDIX 4-1) were used to facilitate the endeavour to meet the

‘CS-MNCs’ criterion and ‘CS-Executives’ criterion when sourcing prospective MNC-P

and Exec-P respectively. Besides seeking to meet the specified criteria, the working

table for sourcing prospective Exec-P was intended for procuring a sample with (i) a

balance in numbers between top HR managers and other top managers; and (ii) a

balance in numbers between local Exec-P and expatriate Exec-P.

Given the exploratory nature of the study generally and the ‘CS-MNCs’ and ‘CS-

Executives’ criteria specifically, it was decided that the target samples of MNC-P and

Exec-P (consisting of both locals and expatriates) should not be too small in size. With

due consideration of the time and cost constraints of the study, the statistical plan for the

samples was set out as follows (TABLE 4.3):

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 TABLE 4.3
Statistical Plan for Sampling

Target Number of Target Number of

MNC-Participants Exec-Participants

Grand from Grand from

Total Each Continent Total Each of 12 MNC-Participants

2
Europe 5
America 2 Who they are:
12 24
Australasia 2 One (1) HR Top Manager
Asia 3 One (1) Other Top Manager
One of them an expatriate

Guided by TABLE 4.1 (A & B), TABLE 4.2 (A & B) and TABLE 4.3, the sourcing of

prospective participants resulted in a list of 20 prospective MNC-P and 60 prospective

Exec-P. The larger numbers (20 & 60) in the list compared to the target numbers (12 &

24) was provision for non-participation of some prospective participants in the list. The

composition of prospective Exec-P in each prospective MNC-P is in accordance with

the target set out in TABLE 4.3: participation of at least one top HR manager and at

least one other top manager; at least one of these participating top managers is an

expatriate.

Step 4:

Ethical Considerations and Preparation of Fieldwork Documents

Data collection and, for that matter, the overall research process of this study complied

with seven ethical principles (TABLE 4.4).

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 TABLE 4.4
Principles of Research Ethics Complied With

PRINCIPLES OF RESEARCH ETHICS

I No harm to participants
II Informed consents on the part of participants
III No invasion of participants’ privacy
IV No deception on the part of researcher
V Protection of confidential information given by participants
VI Mutual benefits between researcher and participants
VII Mutual trust between researcher and participants

In complying with Principles (I), (II), (III) and (IV), this study effectively took into

account the four major ethical concerns in business research (cf. Diener and Crandall,

1978). Compliance with Principles (V) and (VI), meanwhile, saw the study attending to

two ethical concerns that have become important in the recent trends30 of social science

research (cf. Bryman and Bell, 2007). Compliance with all the seven ethical principles

qualified this study for the approval from Murdoch University’s Human Research

Ethics Committee. The committee governed the ethical aspect of this study based on the

National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans, 1999 issued by

the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Australia.

The seven ethical principles were used in the study as terms of reference in the

approach to data collection and in the preparation of the major fieldwork-related

documents. The major fieldwork-related documents used in the study were as follows:

(i) interview schedule (APPENDIX 3-1); (ii) letter of information; (iii) participant

30
These new trends originated from research ethics frameworks developed by research funding bodies
such as Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and European Union (Bryman and Bell, 2007).

112
consent form; (iv) interview record form; and (v) post-interview ‘thank you’ email.

TABLE 4.5 below summarizes how these documents and the study as a whole complied

with the seven ethical principles (TABLE 4.4).

TABLE 4.5
Measures Taken to Address Research Ethics

ETHICAL HOW ETHICAL PRINCIPLES WERE ADHRED TO

PRINCIPLES
During Interview
No questions of personal nature or questions that constitute or
III
may be construed as invasion of privacy were asked. The interview
schedule was also very carefully prepared to exclude such
questions.

Nothing harmful to the feelings of the participants was said or

I
asked during the interview.

Before Interview
II, IV & VII Participants were provided with full and truthful information about
the study through the information letter. They were also provided
with ways and opportunities to seek clarifications on the study.

**These measures ensured that participants’ consent to

participate in the interviews was informed consent.
**These measures showed openness, truthfulness and
transparency (no deception) on the part of the Researcher.
**These measures emphasized and created mutual trust between
the Researcher and the participants.

After Interview
I&V Through the ‘thank you’ emails, participants were assured of
confidentiality of their identities, their organizations’ identities, as
well as any confidential information about them gathered during

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 the interviews.

Measures taken in this regard ensured that:

**confidential information was protected.
**the study would not cause any trouble/harm to the participants
or/and their organizations due to disclosure of certain information.

VI In the same ‘thank you’ emails, participants were also promised a

summary report of the outcome of the study as requested by
them.

Provision of summary report ensured that:

**participants could benefit from their participation in the study as
they wished– hence mutual benefits between the Researcher and
the participants.
(This complied with the requirement of ‘National Statement on
Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans’ to provide
feedbacks to Participants)

One noteworthy ethical consideration in the study is that concerning potential benefits

that Exec-P and MNC-P would receive for participating in the study. The potential

benefits for Exec-P were identified to be opportunities to evaluate the following: (i)

individual approach to management; (ii) individual leadership style; (iii) contribution as

a manager and leader to the MNC concerned; (iv) contribution to HRM in the MNC

concerned in the global context of the MNC; (v) the place and leadership role of a

senior manager in a global firm amid globalization. The potential benefits for MNC-P

can be summed up as ‘an opportunity to evaluate the firm’s current approaches to and

competence in managing people across cultures and national borders’.

114
Step 5:
Communication with Prospective Participants &
Step 6:
Finalizing of the List of Participants

These two steps constituted the intermediate stage between the ‘planning and

formulation’ stage and the ‘action’ stage of the data collection process. The first contact

between the Researcher and the prospective Exec-P was an invitation to participate in

the interview. The invitation was extended by means of a standard letter which also

served as an information letter.

The letter explained the study; outlined the topic areas to be covered in the interview;

introduced the research ethics committee that oversaw the ethical aspect of the study;

informed prospective Exec-P of their liberty to withdraw from their agreement to

participate in the interview; offered to provide further clarifications about the study if

required; and conveyed the Researcher’s readiness to provide a summarized report of

the outcome of the study. Equally important, the letter assured prospective Exec-P of

protection of their identities, their organizations’ identities and their organizations’

confidential information. Complemented by a participation consent form, the

information letter was sent to each prospective Exec-P six weeks before the scheduled

interviewing period.

The second contact between the Researcher and prospective Exec-P took place

when positive responses were received from the latter or when the latter were contacted

for responses as to participation in the study. Some prospective Exec-P gave outright

positive responses personally or through their secretaries/personal assistants soon after

115
the information letters were sent to them. With other prospective Exec-P, rounds of

contact with their secretaries/personal assistants were made by the Researcher to elicit

their responses.

Considerable effort was made by the Researcher to meet the number and composition of

participants set out in the statistical plan for sampling (TABLE 4.3). During the

continuous sourcing of participants, the lists of prospective MNC-P and Exec-P

(APPENDIX 4-1) were promptly updated and closely monitored for meeting the

sampling target. In the meantime, work-related background information about the

willing Exec-P (such as designation, managerial responsibilities, expertise, work

history, professional experience and international experience) was compiled.

Step 7:
Face-to-Face Interviews &

Step 8:
Communication with Participants

Face-to-face interviews with different Exec-P were conducted on different dates,

according to the Exec-P’s convenience, over a period of six weeks. The Exec-P were

each sent a copy of the interview schedule immediately after they had conveyed their

willingness to participate in the interviews and had granted appointments. The Exec-P’s

secretaries/personal assistants were contacted two or three days prior to the scheduled

interviews for confirmation of appointments and receipt of the interview schedule.

Based on the interview schedule, each face-to-face interview lasted around one hour.

Immediately before the interview, the purpose and ethical considerations of the study

were clarified to the Exec-P. Any queries raised by the Exec-P were answered fully. The

116
interview started only after the Exec-P was clear about the study, and had filled in and

signed the participant consent form. The interview contents were either audio-recorded

or noted in handwriting depending on whether the Exec-P consented to audio recording.

During audio recording of each interview, written notes were taken of important and

interesting points mentioned by the Exec-P. This was to ensure that relevant information

for the subsequent data analysis would not be left out. Special effort was also made to

note as many details as possible before, during and after the interview. Notes were taken

of the following: setting where the interview took place; organizational environment

and atmosphere of the MNC-P; overall impression and special observations the

Researcher had of the MNC-P and Exec-P; notable facial expressions and body

language of the Exec-P during the interview; and notable comments of the Exec-P

before, during and after the interview. Such information was helpful for the

interpretation of data during the data analysis process.

Immediately after the interview, the interview record form was filled in to keep a proper

record of the interview. The audio recording and handwritten interview notes were

reviewed at least once on the same day of the interview. Other field notes and printed

materials gathered during the interview visit to the MNC-P were read on the same day

as well. By referring to all these items soon after the interview, the Researcher was able

to make preliminary connection between some contents of the interview and make

further notes for use in data analysis at a later date. Thereafter, transcription was

undertaken on a date as close as possible to the interview date.

Within a few days after each interview, separate formal ‘thank you’ emails were sent to

117
the Exec-P and the Exec-P’s secretary/personal assistant. The former was thanked for

participating in the interview and the latter for making arrangements for the interview.

Any Exec-P who had earlier indicated a wish to know the outcome of this study was

assured of receiving a summary report after the conclusion of the study.

4.3 Results of Data Collection

4.3.1 Sources of Data

At the end of the data collection process, the breakdowns and profiles of the sources of

data were drawn up. These data collection results are displayed in TABLE 4.6, TABLE

4.7 and TABLE 4.8 below.

TABLE 4.6
Breakdowns of Participants

MNC-Participants Exec-Participants

17 21

from Europe 12 (Four (4) of the 17 MNC-Participants were each

America 1 represented by 2 exec-participants)
Australasia 3
Asia 1 Top HR Managers 10
Other Top Managers 11
Source Countries:
Europe Denmark Expatriates 12
France Locals 9
Germany
Italy Audio-recorded Interviews:
Netherlands 17 out of 21
Switzerland
United Kingdom

America United States of

America

Australasia Australia
New Zealand
Asia India

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 TABLE 4.7
Profiles of participating MNCs

MNC- Continent of Business Global Presence

Participant Origin of MNC as a Whole
MNC-S-1 Europe Consumer Products & ≈ 118,000 employees in > 60
Home Appliances countries
MNC-S-2 Australasia Dairy Products ≈ 15,600 employees in 22 countries;
global supply chain in
> 140 countries
MNC-S-3 Europe Foods & Beverages ≈ 265,000 employees in almost
every country
MNC-S-4 America Biomedical & ≈ 90,000 employees in >150
Pharmaceutical countries
Products
MNC-S-5 Europe Household, Health & ≈ 22,000 employees in 60 countries
Personal Care
Products
MNC-S-6 Europe Energy Infrastructure >1,500 employees & many more
Projects contractual engineers in 14 locations
across 5 continents
MNC-S-7 Europe Beverages ≈ 30,000 employees in 56 countries

MNC-S-8 Europe Retail >495,000 employees in 34 countries

MNC-S-9 Europe Foods, Health Care & ≈163,000 employees in 99 countries

Personal Care Top tier managers from 20
Products nationalities
MNC-S-10 Europe Shared Services ≈ 95,000 employees in Countries
across 5 continents
*MNC-S-11 Europe Market Intelligence > 21,500 specialists in 35 countries
(Various Products)
*MNC-S-12 Europe Market Intelligence > 21,500 specialists in 35 countries
(Technology)
MNC-S-13 Asia Construction & Operations in > 30 countries
Project Development
MNC-S-14 Europe Information > 100,000 employees in 140
Technology Services countries and territories
MNC-S-15 Australasia Health Care Barrier > 10,000 employees in 29 facilities in
Protection Products 16 countries across 3 continents
MNC-S-16 Europe Beverages ≈ 22,000 employees in 180 countries
MNC-S-17 Australasia Construction & ≈ 40,000 employees in 20 countries
Project Development across 2 continents
*MNC-S-11 & MNC-S-12 are alliances by shareholding and have the same parent company

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 TABLE 4.8
Profiles of Participating Managers

Local /Expatriate
Exec-Participant

Top Manger

Nationality
Participant

HR /Other

Gender
MNC-
Designation

Participant-A MNC-S-1 Chairman & Other Expat Singaporean M

Chief Executive Officer
Participant-B MNC-S-2 Human Resource Manager HR Local Malaysian F
Participant-C MNC-S-3 Human Resource Director HR Local Malaysian M
Participant-D MNC-S-4 Human Resource Director HR Local Malaysian F
Participant-E1 MNC-S-5 General Manager Other Expat Indian M
Participant-E2 MNC-S-5 Human Resource Director HR Local Malaysian F
Participant-F MNC-S-6 Chief Operating Officer Other Expat Scot M
Participant-G MNC-S-7 General Manager (Supply Other Expat British M
Chain)
Participant-H MNC-S-8 Human Resource Director HR Local Malaysian M
Participant-I MNC-S-9 Human Resource and HR Local Malaysian M
Corporate Relations Director
Participant-J1 MNC-S-10 Managing Director Other Expat British & M
Australian
Participant-J2 MNC-S-10 Director, Human Resource HR Expat Indian M
Services
Participant-K1 MNC-S-11 Chief Operating Officer Other Expat Danish M
Participant-K2 MNC-S-11 Human Resources Director HR Local Malaysian M
*Participant- *MNC-S-12 Managing Director Other Expat British M
K3
Participant-L MNC-S-13 Financial Controller & Other Expat Indian M
Administration Manager
Participant-M MNC-S-14 Executive Director & Other Expat New M
Country Manager Zealander
Participant-N MNC-S-15 Global Manufacturing Head Other Expat German M
Participant-O1 MNC-S-16 Executive Director Other Expat British M
Participant-O2 MNC-S-16 Head, Human Resources HR Local Malaysian F
Participant-P MNC-S-17 Human Resource and HR Local Malaysian M
Administration Manager
* MNC-11 & MNC-12 are alliances by shareholding and have the same parent company

120
4.3.2 Remarks on the Participating Managers
(cf. TABLE 4.8)

First Observation: Top HR Managers

Nine (9) out of the ten (10) (90%) participating top HR managers are locals. This is

anecdotal evidence that most MNCs prefer to have locals as the immediate managers

overseeing human resource matters at their subsidiaries. In connection with the findings

of the study pertaining to localization, this observation mirrors the fact that it is

imperative for MNC subsidiaries to address the local HR contexts – including the needs

of the local staff – and to implement localization, where necessary, through local HR

managers. This HRM condition in MNCs is underscored by two facts: (i) the majority

of the staff at MNC subsidiaries are normally locals; (ii) HRM is one of the more, if not

most, localized managerial functions in MNCs.

Second Observation: Other Top Managers

All the other top managers who participated in the study are expatriates. This indicates

that MNCs normally centralize the appointment of their top managers: they appoint

international managers from their respective global talent pools to top managerial posts

at their subsidiaries. Another indication is that there are always elements of

centralization that are perpetuated through standardization in an MNC; and such

elements are especially strong and clear at the top organizational levels of the MNC’s

subsidiaries.

121
Third Observation: Gender of Other Top Managers

All the eleven (11) ‘other top managers’ are expatriates and males. Concrete evidence

and in-depth study aside, this could be an indication that the following is the case in

contemporary IHRM: (i) most international managers in MNCs are males; (ii) most top

level managers in MNCs are males.

4.4 Concluding Remarks

Data collection in this study was based on carefully structured procedures and

documentation, clearly defined ethical considerations as well as strategically selected

data collection sources. This result-oriented approach to data collection was guided by

the following understanding about data collection on the part of the Researcher:

i) Data collection is a crucially important component of the research method

and overall research approach.

ii) Data collection method, in conjunction with all other components of the data

collection process, constitutes one of the crucial means to fulfil/ the research

purpose and objective.

iii) In aggregate, data collection method, process and sources constitute one of

the main contributory factors to ‘trustworthiness’ (embodying ‘credibility’,

‘transferability’, and ‘dependability’) of the research outcome (cf. Section

3.5).

Several aspects of data collection in the study are noteworthy. First, the data collection

phase witnessed a large part of the research ethics considerations in the study. Second,

the choice of data collection sources entailed consideration of ‘representativeness’ of

122
the samples, which in turn means consideration of the ‘breadth’ of the data and ‘balance

of perspectives’ in the data. Third, the data collection design entailed a clear emphasis

of ‘trustworthiness’ of the research outcome: an emphasis which was underpinned by

carefully structured procedures and documentation in the entire data collection process.

Consideration of ‘representativeness of the samples’ in the process of selecting data

collection sources was a pivotal measure. The objective of this measure was to achieve

‘trustworthiness’ in the final outcome of the study, as well as to minimize the following

limitations of the study: (i) the data were collected in only one country; and (ii) the data

were collected using self-selection sampling.

In short, data collection in the study was designed and implemented in keeping with the

Researcher’s understanding of data collection as one of the strategic organs of the

overall research process. Data collection in the study was given a defined role far

beyond that of an essential component of the research process. In conjunction with the

overall research approach and strategy, the data collection framework of the study was

driven to achieve the most fruitful research outcome possible.

123
 CHAPTER 5
FINDINGS: FUNDAMENTALS OF IHRM

5.1 Introduction

This chapter is the first of two chapters presenting the findings of the study. The

findings presented in this chapter pertain to the fundamentals of IHRM. It starts with

introduction of the major themes developed from the interview data (Section 5.2). This

is followed by four sections, each on one of the themes. These four sections are IHRM

as the Extended Version of HRM/HRM as the Foundation of IHRM (Section 5.3);

Relationship Management as a Core Component of IHRM (Section 5.4); Diversity

Management as a Core Component of IHRM (Section 5.5) and Talent Management as a

Core Component of IHRM (Section 5.6).

Section 5.3 examines the connection between HRM and IHRM which the Researcher

considers the most fundamental of knowledge about IHRM. Section 5.4, Section 5.5

and Section 5.6 revolve around aspects of ‘human relationships’, ‘diversity’ and

‘talent’ respectively in relation to IHRM. More particularly, these sections dwell on

relationship management, diversity management and talent management in the context

of IHRM. These sections elucidate as to why these three areas of management are

deemed in this thesis as core components of IHRM, unveiling in the process their

interconnectedness within IHRM. Based on the fundamentals and overall nature of

IHRM unraveled in the chapter, the chapter concludes by suggesting three ways to

generally describe IHRM (Section 5.7).

124
5.2 Themes Developed from the Interview Data

During the 21 one-hour interviews conducted in this study, the Researcher received a

myriad of responses from the participants for every interview question posed. Through

elaborate analysis of these responses using the data analysis approach explained in

Chapter 3, the Researcher arrived at several major themes. Listed below are the themes

about which the findings are presented in this chapter.

I IHRM as the Extended Version of HRM/HRM as the Foundation of IHRM

II Relationship Management as a Major Concern in IHRM

III Diversity Management as a Major Concern in IHRM

IV Talent Management as a Major Concern in IHRM

Theme (I) was developed from the following three sub-themes:

 Global and Strategic Outlook of IHRM

 Cross-Cultural Pertinence of IHRM

 HR Network of Shared Connections in IHRM

These three sub-themes pertain to IHRM attributes which the Researcher identified as

the contributing factors to the ‘extension’ between HRM and IHRM.

Theme (II) revolves around the significance of human relationships and relationship

management in IHRM. Such significance was identified from the following sub-themes

derived from the interview data:

 Human Relationships, Diversity and Cultural Differences as Interwoven

Concerns in MNCs

 Complex Nexus of Human Relationships as a Complicating Factor in MNCs

125
Theme (III) revolves around the significance of diversity and diversity management in

IHRM. Such significance was identified largely through understanding pertaining to the

following sub-themes:

 Concept of ‘Diversity’ in MNCs

 Diversity Policies and Initiatives as Major Managerial Instruments in MNCs

 Diversity as a Source of Strength for MNCs

Theme (IV) revolves around the significance of talent and talent management in IHRM.

This theme is underpinned by the following sub-themes:

 Competition for Talent at the Global Place

 Strategic and Instrumental Roles of Talent Management in MNCs

5.3 IHRM as the Extended Version of HRM /

HRM as the Foundation of IHRM

In the Researcher’s endeavour to compare IHRM against HRM in the study, the 21

participants were asked how they would best describe HRM and IHRM. Through

summarizing the participants’ responses into key points and aggregating the key points

into key words, the Researcher developed the following two tables:

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 TABLE 5.1
Common Key Words Pertaining to HRM and IHRM31

Common Key Words Derived from

Participants’ Descriptions of HRM and IHRM

 Staff Development
 Staff as Capital and Asset
 Staff Empowerment & Engagement
 Best Use of Human Resources
 Performance Management
 Talent Management
 Diversity Management
 Relationship management
 Management of Work Climate/Environment
 Strategic Business Partner & Support
 Provision of Directions & Consultancy

TABLE 5.2
Additional Key Words Pertaining to IHRM32

Additional Key Words Derived from

Participants’ Descriptions of IHRM

 Borderless Conditions
 Global Outlook
 Multinational Diversity
 Multinational Shared Resources
 Standardization & Commonality
 Cross-Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity
 Cross-Border Learning and Adaptation
 Open-Mindedness & Flexibility
 Openness, Transparency & Equality

31
The key words were derived from the participants’ responses to the following two interview questions:
(i) ‘How would you best describe HRM?’ (HRM-Question); (ii) ‘In very simple and superficial terms,
we define IHRM as managing across national borders. What do you think is the best way to further
describe IHRM?’ (IHRM-Question)
32
The key words were derived from the participants’ responses to the following interview question only:
‘In very simple and superficial terms, we define IHRM as managing across national borders. What do you
think is the best way to further describe IHRM?’ (IHRM-Question)

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In TABLE 5.1, the common key words pertaining to HRM and IHRM indicate

similarities between HRM and IHRM, pointing to the fact that HRM and IHRM are not

separate entities. In TABLE 5.2, the key words indicate that IHRM entails larger and

more complex phenomena compared to HRM. As generally summed up from the

interview data, the factors shaping such phenomena are ‘global processes’, ‘heightened

strategic concerns’ and ‘more complex cross-cultural circumstances’ facing IHRM.

All the participants highlighted the global, strategic and cross-cultural orientation of

IHRM imperatives and processes. In addition, the notions of ‘network’ and ‘sharing’

also emerged from the interview data as major facets of the IHRM processes. All these

perceived attributes of IHRM are deliberated under three headings in the subsequent

sections of this chapter, substantiated by anecdotal evidence from the interview data.

The following are the three headings concerned:

(i) Global and Strategic Outlook of IHRM

(ii) Cross-Cultural Pertinence of IHRM
(iii) HR Network of Shared Connections in IHRM

5.3.1 Global and Strategic Outlook of IHRM

The global and strategic outlook of IHRM is evident from the following comments of

Participant-E1 (MNC-S-5), among others:

At the global level, HRM is more about the processes and structures
that allow you to […] best develop talent. At the local level it is more
[about] execution. […] [In MNCs] the processes [are] common
globally and need to be common globally for a company which is
global.
- Participant-E1, MNC-S-5

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In the above comments, Participant-E1 alluded to IHRM as ‘HRM at the global level’,

for global firms. Moreover, in reflecting on HRM processes and structures at the global

level and on globally common HR processes within individual global firms, Participant-

E1 indirectly highlighted IHRM as a globally oriented entity. In contrasting

development of talent in HRM at the global level (IHRM) with the mainly executing

function of HRM at the local level, the participant indirectly pointed out the more

strategic orientation of IHRM compared to HRM.

The notion of ‘globally common HR processes in individual global firms’, as reflected

in Participant-E1’s comments above, is comparable to the notion of ‘customized and

globally used HR tools in IHRM’ in the following comments of Participant-E2:

I think (IHRM) borders on a number of things. […] There are a

number of HR tools that are customized and used globally. [To use
them] globally, how we use [them], technically speaking, will differ
from one country to another.
- Participant-E2, MNC-S-5

On aggregate, Paricipant-E1’s and Participant-E2’s comments indirectly pointed to the

need for common HR processes and tools among the globally dispersed subsidiaries of

individual MNCs. This means common HR processes and tools (within individual

MNCs) constitute one of the major imperatives in IHRM. In addition, the following

understanding about IHRM was derived from the above comments of Paricipant-E1 and

Participant-E2: (i) IHRM entails using HR processes, structures and tools that best

fulfil the strategic HR purposes of the MNC at the global level; and (ii) IHRM entails

customizing HR tools to fulfil both the global-level and local-level HR needs of the

MNC as a whole. Besides reflecting the global and strategic outlook of IHRM, these

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two points highlight IHRM as a larger and more complex version of HRM – or simply

the extended version of HRM.

The strategic outlook of IHRM cannot be over-emphasized. The following is some of

the anecdotal evidence supporting this claim:

[IHRM is about] having the right people with the right skills in the
right places. […] When you talk about international HRM you have to
take a longer term, more strategic view than you typically would for a
lot of [HR] activities in a single country. And again, it comes back to
developing, really, the right people and what you need for your
business in 5 years’, 10 years’ time.
- Participant-G, MNC-S-7

When you start talking about HRM across international borders, […]
you are starting to get into […] strategic issues about where, when,
how we want people: how we want to develop people, what are the
things we need to do to establish the resources we need in the right
place to drive the business forward.
- Participant-J1, MNC-S-10

[IHRM] can play a strategic role in international business by having

to be part and parcel of the entire business operations, ‘sitting at the
table instead of just serving at the table’. So it must be able to provide
the solution that is applicable and relevant to the business.
- Participant-C, MNC-S-3

[In IHRM] you develop structures that are easy for people to
understand, easy for us to transfer people, […] easy for people to move
from one country to another. You are involved in harnessing the most
important resource in the company, which is the ‘people resource’. It’s
quite easy for the HR professionals to make the [IHRM] function

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 strategic. […] If you don’t maximize on this option, [you] lose the
strategic advantage that you have as a function.
- Participant-I, MNC-S-9

The strategic concerns and roles of IHRM, as put across by the four participants above,

can be encapsulated as follows: global-level matching of people/skills/places; people

development for future business needs (Participant-G); cross-border ‘where/when/how’

measures in managing people (Participant-J1); partner and solution provider of

international business (Participant-C); system for harnessing people’s strengths across

country borders (Participant-I). In other words, IHRM is concerned with strategic

deployment of the right people for various strategic purposes at the global level. It

centres on harnessing people’s strengths across international borders, to meet the

ongoing global challenges as well as future needs confronting the firm. In the process, it

partners with the firm’s management to provide solutions for the firm’s international

business.

The role of IHRM in strategically deploying people, and harnessing people’s strengths,

across international borders, is further evidenced by the following IHRM instruments

commonly mentioned by the 21 participants: international assignments; global staff

development programs; global succession planning; and the creation and maintenance

of a global talent pool, all within individual MNCs. As gathered from the participants’

elaboration on these IHRM instruments, long-term HR planning and strategies are a

major concern in MNCs hence IHRM. In sum, the comments and revelations of the 21

participants point to the fact that IHRM is much more strategic in orientation compared

to HRM – and that this strategic orientation is intertwined with global orientation. By

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inference, it is due to such strategic and global orientation that IHRM stands as the

extended version of HRM.

5.3.2 Cross-Cultural Pertinence of IHRM

All participants in this study indicated the cross-cultural pertinence of IHRM, explicitly

or implicitly. For example, when talking about international assignments, the

participants indicated that this HR instrument is intended not merely to transfer and

exchange technical knowledge, but also to enable talent to acquire cross-cultural

competency and international experience. The following is what one of the participants

had to say:

Somebody in Thailand who had a great idea, [and had] implemented

that [idea] in the factory [in Thailand], […] might end up in Malaysia
on a product assignment, at least for six months or a year. Yes, from
one country to another. […] It is usually for the benefit of the
receiving factory. We do that also in some cases for the benefits of the
employee, as part of an assigned development plan. For example,
somebody who might in a few years take up a regional or even global
responsibility must have had worked in various countries and various
cultures. […] Somebody who would have regional responsibility in
Asia someday should […] have the experience of having worked in
Asia […]. We definitely want them to work at least for a certain period
in other factories [in different countries] among other people, with all
the language differences and the cultural differences you may find.
- Participant-N, MNC-S-15

Some of the participants talked about ‘expatriation’ instead of ‘international

assignment’. However, where cross-border assignments and responsibilities are

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concerned, all participants mentioned training people culturally. Here is an example of

what was said in this regard:

[T]thinking global and acting local is […] a mindset that needs to be

nurtured in people, and people have to be trained to think about how
[…] an expatriate behave like a local in [a different country’s]
environment […] So that is something which we train people for
expatriation. We say we are going to be transferred from here to
Poland, for example. So I undergo [training on] culture in Poland, I
am also [given the opportunity] to learn the Polish language
beforehand. So we train people, and I think these are some of the
things that help.
- Participant-A, MNC-S-1

Participant-A’s comment on the need to inculcate in people the ‘think global, act local’

mindset is notable. Immediately before making the above comments, the participant

stressed this: ‘HRM is the most critical aspect of internationalization [of business].

[When] you need to manage business across the globe, you cannot think that you are

local; you have to think you are global, but [you have to] act local.’ These comments of

Participant-A once again highlight the pivotal role of HRM in MNCs, and in

international business generally. Equally significant, the comments suggest that, while

at the centre of the global actions of MNCs, IHRM plays an equally pivotal role at the

local scenes of the MNCs’ subsidiaries. This is yet another indication that IHRM is the

extended version of HRM: IHRM plays a local-level role as well as an extended, global-

level role in managing human resources.

In addition to the above-mentioned perspectives, both Participant-N’s and Participant-

A’s comments suggest a strong cross-cultural underpinning in the global-cum-local role

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of IHRM. The comments constitute anecdotal evidence that cross-cultural factors have a

strong bearing on the workings of IHRM. This in turn suggests that it is imperative to

address cross-cultural factors in IHRM. This imperative is clearly reflected in the

comments of Participant-M (the Executive Director and Country Manager of MNC-S-

14 who had lived as an expatriate in 7 countries at the time of the interview). When

asked the question ‘In your opinion, what is the most crucial factor that makes

management of human resources across country borders different from HRM at the

local level?’ Participant-M said this:

I think […] probably the most important one is multicultural

differences […] managing and understanding the differences of how
people react and respond in their cultures which can be quite different
to other cultures. And we throw all those people together [working
side by side with their cultural differences in the same] organization.
There are some challenges in managing those cultural differences.
- Participant-M, MNC-S-14

When next asked what the management should do to address the factors that

differentiate IHRM from HRM, Participant-M said:

[…] Make people aware that diversity and [inclusiveness] are very
important attributes of a very successful organization. So we spend a
lot of time talking to people about their cultural differences and […]
training and educating people to accommodate those differences; to be
more aware of those differences when they have interactions; to really,
consciously value inclusiveness, including people that might have
different views from you, or might think differently from you. I think an
emphasis on that is most important.
- Participant-M, MNC-S-14

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Besides Participant-M, several other participants also identified ‘cultural differences’ as

the most crucial factor that differentiates IHRM from HRM. The following are what

some of them commented in response to the question seeking to identify the

differentiating factor:

Number one, it’s definitely cultural differences. That’s why we have

local HR managers. […] HR director in Australia can only guide his
local HR managers in terms of corporate HR practices and policies
and so on. He would not be able to go to Sri Lanka and have a
negotiation with some staff who, let’s say, have a grievance against
one of their [local] managers [… ...].
- Participant-N, MNC-S-15

The cultures of [different] countries. The way I look at it, the

principles of HRM remains the same across the globe; [but] the
practices differ. And the practices, you have to adopt the practices
based on the cultural requirement of the country or the region which
we are operating in.
- Participant-J2, MNC-S-10

I think certainly cultural differences are very important and I think

legislative frameworks and demographics are also important as
globalization progresses, as people become more and more mobile I
think the issues of cross boarder HRM are becoming a bigger and
bigger issue.
- Participant-J1, MNC-S-10

The ability to adapt to different cultural norms, what is acceptable in

Thailand isn’t necessarily acceptable in Singapore, or Vietnam or
Malaysia, even though it is still South-East Asia.
- Participant-K3, MNC-S-12

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The transcription extracts in this sub-section of the thesis have unravelled the fact that

MNCs employ a number of IHRM means to address cross-cultural issues and

circumstances. These means are international assignments; specific pre-expatriation

training; inculcation of ‘think global, act local’ mindset; promotion of diversity and

inclusiveness within the firm; cultural training and education programs; employment of

locals as HR head and HR manager; and localized HR practices that tie in with local

cultural contexts. This is merely the list drawn from the transcription extracts in this

sub-section; it cannot be deemed exhaustive. However, based on this list and the overall

contents of the transcription extracts, it is conclusive that IHRM is at the core of

managing cross-cultural competency and adaptability in MNCs. It is also conclusive

that this cross-cultural, cross-border role of IHRM constitutes part of the ‘extension’

that differentiates IHRM from HRM.

5.3.3 HR Network of Shared Connections in IHRM

HRM across country borders within an MNC entails a network of mutual support

among the subsidiaries of the MNC; through this network the subsidiaries share

benchmarking and best practice. This is the gist of Participant-B’s (MNC-S-2)

description differentiating between HRM across country borders (IHRM) and HRM at

the local level. The mention of ‘network’ in the description ties in with Participant J1’s

(MNC-S-10) comment alluding to an MNC as a ‘network of companies’. Participant-J1

was commenting about expatriation arrangement in MNCs, referring to it as the means

to bring experience, drive and knowledge to the network of companies within individual

MNCs.

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Participant-F (MNC-S-6) directly referred to an MNC as a ‘global network of

companies’. The participant was commenting on standardization and localization of HR

practices among subsidiaries of MNC-6, stressing the importance of localizing HR

practices amid standard corporate guidelines. Here is what the participant said:

Generally speaking, […] it’s an unwritten policy that [we standardize

our practices] but with a global network of companies, then there will
be autonomy for the companies in those countries. We believe that the
companies that we’ve acquired over the years or the operations we’ve
established in different countries are best run by the people that know
the countries and cultures […]. So we do have corporate guidelines
but we have localization wherever possible in a business unit.
- Participant-F, MNC-S-6

Drawing on the above interview data, IHRM arguably entails a functional network that

serves a physical network; the former consists of a ‘sharing’ phenomenon while the

latter closely inter-related business units. In succinct terms, IHRM entails a ‘HR

network of shared connections’. This notion of IHRM can be further substantiated by

citing some other participants whose comments and revelations suggest the phenomena

of ‘network’, ‘sharing’ and ‘connections’ in IHRM.

Participant-I (MNC-S-9) is one such participant to cite. As gathered from the

participant, an MNC-wide, standard expatriate management system provides a neat

platform to train, develop, transfer and reward talent of the MNC across country

borders. Further, according to the participant, having the subsidiaries share the same

processes make it easy for an MNC to leverage talent across country borders. While

elaborating on this, the participant mentioned several concept and phenomena relating

to globalization, for example, ‘global mindset’, ‘the world becoming increasingly

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borderless’ and ‘mobility of people across the globe’. On the whole, what the

participant related is the IHRM phenomenon of talent sharing within individual MNCs,

under the circumstances of globalization. In this phenomenon, the talent is connected

across country borders by some shared, standardized IHRM processes; everything

happens within a ‘HR network of shared connections’.

Participant-K3’s (MNC-S-12) comments provide further insights into the talent sharing

phenomenon in IHRM coupled with globalization situations surrounding it. In the

participant’s words, ‘globalization means sharing resources around the globe’. Relating

circumstances surrounding talent sharing – especially sharing of higher level talent and

international managers – within individual MNCs, the participant put across these

words: ‘you will see much more fluidity in terms of movement’; ‘people might have

long term [employment] contracts, but they won’t be geographically based: it will be a

specific role [that they undertake], and they will do it in different countries’.

Elaborating further, Participant-K3 said:

[Certain MNCs] rotate their people quite a bit - they bring people in,
and they take people out. People are coming from India, coming from
Europe, coming from the States, coming from all over; and [the]
maximum contract is three years; and generally they would be here
one to three year; and once their role is finished, […] they are sent
somewhere else. It’s become a much more global job; so no one gets a
fixed geographical position.
- Participant-K3, MNC-S-12

The above revelations of Participant-K3 again support the notion that IHRM entails a

HR network of shared connections. This network connects human resources between

geographically dispersed subsidiaries of individual MNCs and facilitates the sharing of

138
talent between these subsidiaries. Two important facets of talent sharing within this

network are mobility of talent and global orientation of the job undertaken by talent.

Based on the interview data highlighted in the last few paragraphs, three major

attributes of the HR network of shared connections in IHRM (NSC in IHRM) are

identifiable. First, the NSC in IHRM is underpinned by a global mindset and facilitated

by standardized systems, tools and processes. Second, NSC in IHRM provides the

medium as well as instruments for mutual support between the subsidiaries of an MNC.

Third, the NSC in IHRM is characterized by the sharing of HR factors (namely HR

policies, practices, processes, tools and activities), the major examples of which include

the talent pool and HR best practice. In effect, shared HR factors featured prominently

in the 21 participants’ responses to the various interview questions concerning HRM in

their MNCs. TABLE 5.3 below lists some of the shared HR factors derived from the

interview data.

TABLE 5.3
Shared HR Factors

Some Shared Elements in IHRM

 Human Relationships
 Social Capital
 Experience and Knowledge
 HR Policies and Practices
 Global Staffing
 Global Succession Planning
 Global Talent Pool
 Global Staff Training & Development
programs

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All in all, the interview data presented in the last few paragraphs not only unveils the

phenomena of ‘network’, ‘sharing‘ and ‘connections’ in IHRM, but also the fact that

these phenomena are crucial ingredients for the global workings of IHRM. Without the

HR network of shared connections, HRM arguably cannot be extended to play the

international role of IHRM and fulfil the cross-cultural, multinational HR demands of

MNCs. By extension, the HR network of shared connections is arguably one of the

major features that shape IHRM as the extended version of HRM.

5.4 Relationship Management as a Core Component of IHRM

5.4.1 Significance of Human Relationships and Relationship

Management in IHRM

Human relationship issues featured prominently in the interview data collected from the

21 participants. In general, the interview data witness ‘human factors’ and ‘human

relationships’ as core concerns in the life and operations of MNCs. More specifically,

the data unveil the following: the complexity of human relationships and human

relationship issues in MNCs; how such complexity emanates from diverse people from

across cultures and national borders; and how such complexity poses a major challenge

to HRM in MNCs. All in all, the data points to the pivotal role of relationship

management in IHRM.

Human Relationships, Diversity and Cultural Differences as

Interwoven Concerns in MNCs

In response to the interview question seeking description of IHRM, Participant-F

(MNC-S-6) pinpointed ‘human relationships’ as a major concern to be managed in

IHRM. When putting across this point, the participant highlighted the fact that an MNC

is a melting pot of people from around the globe; and that culturally people differ,

140
sometimes greatly, from one country to another. Participant-F stressed that if diverse

people from different countries are put in a melting pot at random, chances of them

working together perfectly well are limited.

It is evident that Participant-F had the following three factors as the bases for

identifying human relationships as a major concern in IHRM: diversity; differences

between diverse people; and complex relationship issues that inevitably stem from

differences between diverse people. Participant-F’s comments also suggest that

diversity, cultural differences, and human relationships are closely interconnected. By

extension, the comments point to the imperative to manage human relationships as one

of the core concerns in IHRM; and that integral to this imperative is the imperative to

address diversity and cultural differences between people.

Participant-K333 (MNC-S-12) is another participant who highlighted the major impacts

of human relationship issues on IHRM. The participant related the following

‘expatriate-locals’ relationship issues that emanate from cultural differences:

Even English people who go to Australia sometimes find it very hard to

fit in, because the Australians and the English [are] very different;
Australians are very laid-back, the English seem very uptight,
pompous [...] Even the so-called two types of expatriates would
actually have an issue there.
- Participant-K3, MNC-S-12

They don’t seem very adaptable to the local cultures. They think they can
do everything the American way, or the Australian way, and in some

33
Participant-K3 is English and had been an expatriate in Asia for 6 years at the time of the interview.

141
 cases, the British way. […] And often that just doesn’t work in nature,
and people smile sweetly and nod and agree, but what they are saying is
“I hear what you said but I’m not going to do it”.
- Participant-K3, MNC-S-12

The above revelations were based on Participant-K3’s own observations and

experiences, as well as those of the participant’s expatriate friends. The citation of the

English and the Australians in the first transcription extract shows that nationality can

be a major source of cultural differences, irrespective of possible similarity in cultural

root. The citation of the Americans, the Australians and the British in the second

transcription extract – in the participant’s discussion of ‘expatriate-locals’ relationship

issues in Asia – highlights the disparities between the Eastern culture and the Western

culture as a common source of difficulty for Western expatriate managers in Asia.

In making the above comments, Participant-K3 obviously implied that expatriate

managers must not have a closed mindset: they must always consider the local contexts

in the way they deal with people at work. Participant-K3’s message is clear: if the local

subordinates do not approve of the expatriate managers’ ways of doing things, they

might act in a passive and uncooperative manner. This situation is understandably a

precursor to strained human relationships and an unhealthy work atmosphere in the

organization.

Participant-K3’s comments also reflect pervasiveness of circumstances arising from

cultural differences and diversity of people in MNCs – as well as how such

circumstances constitute potential causes of relationship issues among people in MNCs.

It is common knowledge that in order to work well together in an organization, people

need not only good coordination and cooperation, but also good relationships; rather,

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there must be good relationships before good coordination and cooperation can be

established. By implication, in order for culturally diverse people to work well in the

‘melting pot’ of an MNC, the relationships among them must be directly and indirectly

managed.

Based on the above analyses, it can be concluded that relationship management is vital

in IHRM; and that within relationship management in IHRM, human relationships,

cultural differences and diversity are necessarily managed as a ‘package’. This

conclusion can be further substantiated by the following interview data:

I think you just have to be careful [not to practice] favouritism

[among] people within your team. If they feel your favouritism toward
one particular cultural background, this starts to create some fiction
[within the team]. Also, you can [find] cliques [based on cultural and
ethnic backgrounds within the team]. I just think you have to be very
open. I think if you are a good people manager, [do] understand why
people worry about diversity. I mean it’s not that people worry
because they are different [from one another]. They worry that they
are being penalized [because of their cultural and ethnic backgrounds]
or somebody else might get a better opportunity because [this
somebody is] favoured. […] I think as long as you understand that
and you are fair then people can understand that you are fair.
- Participant-G, MNC-S-7

Besides being in line with the preceding conclusion of the Researcher, the above

comments of Participant-G indicate that relationship management in IHRM entails the

promotion of openness, equality, fairness and trust. This, however, is not the whole

picture about relationship management in IHRM. As derived from the overall interview

data, relationship management is a demanding component of IHRM that requires a host

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of purposeful HR processes and efforts. On balance, the interview data show that

relationships among the culturally diverse people are in effect managed directly and

indirectly by MNCs’ HR departments through various means. This is deliberated in the

subsequent Section 5.4.2 (‘Means and Processes of Relationship Management in

IHRM’).

Complex Nexus of Human Relationships as a Complicating Factor in

MNCs

There is anecdotal evidence from the interview data that MNCs are faced with pervasive

and highly complex human relationship-related issues. As inferred from the interview

data, human relationships in an MNC are complex not only due to diversity and cultural

differences, but also the complex nexus of human relationships, among the staff. This

complex nexus of human relationships involves host country nationals, home country

nationals and third country nationals (staff of different national origins). Participant-

K3’s (MNC-S-12) comments cited in the preceding sub-section are anecdotal evidence

of human relationship issues that can potentially occur between staff of different

national origins. The circumstances related by the participant reflect the co-existence of

staff of different national origins, consisting of expatriates and non-expatriates, in

individual MNC subsidiaries.

To paraphrase the above paragraph, while the pervasive and complex human

relationship-related issues in an MNC are clearly caused by the factors of diversity and

cultural differences, such issues are further compounded by the complex nexus of

human relationships in the firm. This complex nexus of human relationships involves

expatriate and non-expatriate staff, collectively from the home country where the

headquarters is situated, the host country where the MNC subsidiary concerned is

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situated, and some third countries. The complexity of this nexus of human relationships

is demonstrated in the following table.

TABLE 5.4
Complex Nexus of Human Relationships in an MNC

RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN AN MNC-S

Sets of relationships involving the ‘Locals’ (Host Country Nationals)
and the ‘Expatriates’ (Home Country Nationals and/or Third Country Nationals)
Locals Locals

Locals Expatriates (various countries/cultures)

Locals Expatriate Managers (various countries/cultures)

Expatriates (various countries/cultures) Expatriates (various countries/cultures)

Expatriates (various countries/cultures) Expatriate Managers (various countries/cultures)

Expatriates (various countries/cultures) Local Managers

As pointed out by Participant-G (MNC-S-7), people have a tendency to form cliques

based on similar cultural or ethnic origins. This palpably further complicate the nexus of

human relationships in MNCs. Moreover, as evidenced by the following transcription

extracts, expatriates within an MNC may be grouped by the firm’s management based

on geographical area of expatriation, or they may not fall distinctly within the

‘expatriate’ or ‘non-expatriate’ category.

We previously had different schemes for the regional expatriates [and]

international expatriates, but now we only have one scheme for expats.
- Participant-A, MNC-S-1

We currently have about 400 employees. Ninety-five per cent of them

are locals [or] 98% are locals […]. When I say 95% or more are
locals, we have [only] about 11 people who are [our corporate]
expats, who are working here on a contract term. We probably have

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 about 35 people who may not be Malaysian passport holders but who
are recruited locally. So […] 15 or 16 Koreans; 4 or 5 Japanese;
we’ve got a couple of Thais, we’ve got some […]; we’ve got a guy
from East Timor; all [of them] have been living here in Malaysia, […]
we have recruited [them] on local Malaysian terms, conditions and
contract. [That makes] more than 95% of the staff [‘locals’].
- Participant-J1, MNC-S-10

Drawing on the above deliberations, this thesis recognizes diverse people in an MNC

not as a single mass of different people, but as varied groups of people that converge on

the firm. In addition, this thesis recognizes that within each of these groups, people are

again different – even greatly different – culturally, socially and individually. It is based

on this line of understanding that the subsequent Section 5.4.2 specifically examines

relationship management in IHRM.

5.4.2 Means and Process of Relationship Management in IHRM

As mentioned earlier, this study found that relationships among the culturally diverse

people in MNCs are managed directly and indirectly by the firms’ HR departments

through various means. TABLE 5.5 below lists some of these means gathered from the

interview data. This thesis identifies these means as ‘employee-friendly and

relationship-building factors in IHRM’.

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 TABLE 5.5
Employee-Friendly and Relationship-Building Factors in IHRM

Some Means of Managing Human Relationships in IHRM

 Flexible Leadership Styles

 Cross-cultural Training
 Corporate-level Diversity Policies and Initiatives
 Two-way and Open Communication between HR Department and Staff
 Equitable and Globally Consistent HR Policies and Practices
 Transparency in HR Processes and Procedures
 Standard Performance Appraisal System

All participants in this study do not believe in hard and fast rules but flexibility in

relating to diverse people in their organizations. They also view leadership style as an

individual matter. Participant-F (MNC-S-6), for example, uses either a diplomatic

approach or disciplinary approach to get things done through the subordinates,

contingent upon the circumstances and the subordinates involved. Participant-F stressed

during the interview: ‘To go into a [management] role like this – particularly in a

multicultural company – with a particular type of [leadership] style that was taken from

an MBA text would not work; you would definitely fail.’ Just as flexible in dealing with

diverse people in an MNC is Participant-N. Here is what Participant-N had to say:

My leadership style is German […] My attitude is German, my

background is German, so this is how I am and who I am. What I have
learned, still learning and hopefully never stop learning is adjusting to
cultural requirements and differences at where I am. […] I have to
condition myself all the time to where I am and to whom I am talking to.
- Participant-N, MNC-S-15

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Also noteworthy is Participant-O1’s ‘softer’ approach and Participant-K1’s consultative

approach to dealing with Asian subordinates. According to both these participants who

hail from Europe, compared to the manner they deal with Asian subordinates, they use

harder and more direct approaches when dealing with European subordinates.

The above participants’ high-level open-mindedness and flexibility in leadership style

boil down to two concerns in MNCs compared to non-global firms: the heightened need

to manage diverse people effectively using the right approach; and the heightened need

to avoid conflicts and create amiable working relationships between diverse people.

Compared to managers in non-global firms, international managers in MNCs inevitably

deal with much more diverse people and their complex nexus of relationships; it is

therefore only appropriate that these managers are flexible in their leadership styles.

This line of understanding in relation to IHRM is traceable from the essence of the

following comments of participant-B (MNC-S-2):

[IHRM is about being] multicultural […]. You have to prepare to be open

to diverse people. Sometimes you have a set […] management style, [a set
way] of doing things. You can’t think [and manage] like that; that is a bad
way of doing things. When [your firm] opens up [and operates] across
national borders, you really have to be very flexible and open-minded;
you can’t be narrow-minded. […] [Be] open, flexible and able to take
constructive feedback. […] Make the changes [when] necessary. You
have to adapt to changes.
- Participant-B, MNC-S-2

As gathered from the few participants cited above as well as all other participants who

talked extensively about IHRM, flexibility of leadership style comes about through

open-mindedness, cross-cultural sensitivity, cross-cultural adaptability and

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receptiveness on the part of the international managers. On aggregate, all participants’

comments point to the imperative for international mangers to have these attributes.

Some participants highlighted that MNCs seek to instil in their international managers

cross-cultural competency – which epitomizes these attributes – and they seek to do so

through specific cross-cultural training programs organized by their HR departments. It

is evident that flexible leadership style, cross-cultural competency and cross-cultural

training are crucial aspects of relationship management within the HRM function in

MNCs.

Besides the need for flexible leadership style on the part of individual international

managers, the participants highlighted the need for open and skilful communication

between international managers and their culturally diverse subordinates. The following

are what two of the participants said. Participant-F’s comments were about skilful

communication, while Participant-A’s comments open communication.

[To describe IHRM beyond ‘managing across country borders],

number one, it’s language. Communication being the single most
important part of management, it’s important that everyone [in the
MNC management] can communicate. So I find that language is a very
significant factor. Cultural differences are important [to note] in […],
for example, [a country where] you have a fairly sensitive society who
finds it difficult to deal with criticism, […] difficult to talk straight. So
there has to be a technique that you learn; and there’s no point in us
bringing in a big, tough American [expatriate manager] who is going
to shout and scream and [direct forthright criticisms] at local folk,
because it won’t work. So [that is a] culturally-linked language
[factor]. […] I think if you lump in cultural sensitivity and
appreciation along with language and call it the same thing, then
that’s what it is really, a mixture of two things.
- Participant-F, MNC-S-6

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 The most crucial factor in [the question] of local HR versus
international HR is, in my opinion, ‘communication’. People need to
know what this company’s values are. We practice consistent, similar
standards across the board. So [we place standard] values in
employees. And these are all people we value […] People know they
are being evaluated, and being evaluated by the managers [some of
whom] could be […] sitting in Singapore or Hong Kong. […] We at
management level know what the [standard] competencies are; it is
not just for me alone to decide. We have a kind of matrix structure […]
where we have two people evaluating: the [immediate] boss and [the]
function/line boss. So [the employees] know that, 1) there is good
communication, and 2) [there is] trust. You need to have a certain
level of trust because we are not dealing with a local situation; we are
dealing with a global situation. […] People have to trust that the
company is going to be fair to them. […] We make it very transparent.
It’s all on [our corporate] website. […] [Our] employees can see
everything there. […] It is very transparent. So once you have the
openness and the transparency, it’s not an issue any more.
- Participant-A, MNC-S-1

In the first transcription extract above, Participant-F’s message is twofold. First, in order

to maintain good relationships with culturally diverse people in the organization, an

MNC needs to deploy its international managers strategically; and the managers

employed should be skilful in communication. Second, skilful communication on the

part of the international managers is necessarily underpinned by cross-cultural

competency. Overall, it can be inferred from Participant-F’s message that the

management of relationships in MNCs is a multi-faceted and strategic process within

the HRM function.

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In the second transcription above, Participant-A’s main message is clear: it is essential

for every MNC to convey its corporate values and policies to the employees through

open communication, as such transparency promotes employees’ trust in the firm.

Another significant message put across by Participant-A is as follows: any firm with a

global presence should aim to be trustworthy and fair in managing its diverse and

globally dispersed workforce – and the means towards this end is a clear corporate value

system, which is upheld in conjunction with transparent, equitable and globally

consistent HR policies and processes. This whole issue of ‘trust’, as highlighted by

Participant-A, is effectively an issue of relationship management in IHRM. Participant-

A’s revelations and comments constitute anecdotal evidence that MNCs seek to foster

good employer-employee and superior-subordinate relationships by addressing, among

others, the human relationship issue of ‘trust’; and they seek to do so through several

IHRM tools and processes.

The deliberations in the preceding paragraphs highlight only some of the means and

processes of relationship management in IHRM. However, it is conclusive from the

deliberations that the means and processes of relationship management in IHRM

address the interwoven effects of human relationships, cultural differences and

diversity. By extension, there is a link between human relationship management and

diversity management in IHRM. It is clear that corporate-level diversity policies and

initiatives are one of the means of managing human relationships in IHRM (cf. TABLE

5.5).

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5.5 Diversity Management as a Core Component of IHRM

5.5.1 Concept of ‘Diversity’ in MNCs

All participants in this study acknowledged the significance of ‘diversity’ in MNCs.

Most participants identified ‘ethnicity’, ‘religion’, ‘gender’, ‘age’, ‘marital status’ and

‘nationality’ as the base factors of diversity. However, based on some participants’

elaboration, ‘diversity’ in MNCs is generally a very broad concept. The following

transcription extracts attest to this point.

We see diversity as more than just race [variety]; we look at diversity

from a male-female ratio perspective; we look at diversity from the
perspective of how many [staff members] you promote in-house as
opposed to recruiting external talent. […] We remind people that it is
against our policy to be discriminatory in anyway […]; and we do not
do Aids screening as a pre-appointment procedure because we say we
do not discriminate against anyone with Aids. […] That policy is
stated.
- Participant-D, MNC-S-4

Worldwide we have quite comprehensive policies […] in terms of

managing diversity; it is not just cultural diversity or general diversity.
We actually have to update our board of directors twice a year in terms
of our approaches to diversity management – and we have a list of what
we consider factors of diversity. Again, not just culture, colour of your
skin, gender; it goes as far as the number of handicapped people we are
employing, [as well as] sexual preferences: homosexuals or
heterosexuals and whatever.
- Participant-N, MNC-S-16

While defining ‘diversity’ broadly, the participants conveyed an unequivocal message:

that MNCs must not discriminate against any of their employees based on any of the

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base factors of diversity. Drawing on the participants’ revelations, ‘non-discrimination’

and ‘equality’ can be deemed the keywords that best describe every participating

MNC’s overall policy on diversity.

5.5.2 Significance of Diversity and Diversity Management in IHRM

Diversity Policies and Initiatives as Major Managerial Instruments in

MNCs

As can be concluded from the interview data, all participating MNCs take diversity very

seriously; and they all have diversity policies and initiatives of various degrees of

sophistication. Diversity policies and initiatives were even highlighted by some

participants as part of their firms’ corporate strategic plans. It is evident from the

transcription extracts in the preceding sub-section that MNC-4 and MNC-16 have very

clear and well-structured diversity policies. So does MNC-10. In March 2007, MNC-10

signed a diversity charter with an initiative launched by political and business

representatives in its home country, Germany. In the company’s 2007 ‘Facts and

Figures’ handbook, the company was reported to have senior executives from 36

countries and executive candidates from 39 countries.

Diversity as a Source of Strength for MNCs

All participants recognizes the central importance of diversity to their respective MNCs.

They unequivocally asserted during the interview that MNCs must create diversity in

their human resource pools by not discriminating against any prospective and current

employees. The fact, as evidenced by the interview data, is that MNCs benefit

enormously from diversity. Participant-J2 of MNC-10, for example, had this to say:

‘We view diversity as a clear competitive advantage [that enhances] business success.

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We recognize and use the diversity we have.’ MNC-10’s 2007 ‘Facts and Figures’

handbook indicates the importance of diversity even clearer: ‘The diversity of our

employees with their many different skills and talents offers us opportunities to find

innovative and creative solutions – particularly in view of the different needs of our

customers and business partners.’ The importance of diversity as a competitive

advantage and a means towards creativity and innovation in business is also evident

from the following words of Participant-I (MNC-S-9):

We must harness the diversity of [various cultures] […] And diversity

is very important to us because it is a source of innovation – because
by having diverse workforce we have diverse ideas, diverse opinions,
diverse views; these diverse perspectives if managed productively will
give us the competitive edge, […] will bring more creative and
innovative inputs into the business. […] We see [diversity] as an
opportunity.
- Participant-I, MNC-S-9

In benefiting MNCs in the above-mentioned respects, diversity is certainly important for

MNCs’ business sustainability. Participant-A (MNC-S-1), for one, highlighted this

latter area of importance, attributing it to the fact that diversity brings together all the

virtues and strengths of diverse people. In Participant-F’s (MNC-S-6) explanation,

diversity allows an MNC’s headquarters to draw the best from the firm’s human

resources and strengthen its business capacity across different countries.

To sum up the above findings, MNCs reap major benefits from diversity – including

competitive advantages, innovative and creative business solutions and business

sustainability. MNCs place central importance on diversity policies and initiatives, even

recognizing them as a strategic part of the firm’s overall management. There is every

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indication from the interview data that diversity is managed in organized manner in

MNCs, except that it is managed to different degrees of sophistication in different

MNCs. Ultimately, it can be inferred from the interview data that diversity management

is one of the core components of HRM in every MNC. The following sub-section

dwells on how diversity is managed in MNCs within the HRM function.

5.5.3 Means and Process of Diversity Management in IHRM

The interview data highlighted in the preceding sub-section indicate that diversity

policies and initiatives constitute a significant part of diversity management in IHRM.

Corporate culture based on clear corporate values is equally significant in diversity

management. Such corporate culture serves to unite staff of diverse backgrounds in the

MNC, enabling them to collaboratively achieve the objectives of the firm. This notion

linking corporate culture, corporate values, diversity management and firm performance

was conveyed directly and indirectly by some participants. Participant-E1 (MNC-5) was

one of the participants who conveyed the notion directly. Participant-E1 stressed the

significance of corporate culture in diversity management, asserting that diversity

management entails running the organization in accordance with the corporate culture.

Notably, the participant also stressed that the HR department plays the biggest role in

this regard.

Participant-J2 (MNC-10) is another participant who emphasised the role of corporate

culture in managing diversity. According to the participant, MNC-10 seeks neither to

change nor adjust to certain characteristics of its diverse staff; instead, the firm puts in

place a clear corporate culture for the diverse staff to live by. This corporate culture, as

Participant-J2 further explained, is based on merits and diversity principles; and the

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onus is on the individual employees to accept and adapt to it. Besides Participant-J2,

Participant-E2 (MNC-5) also alluded to the role of ‘merits’ in diversity management in

MNCs. According to the participant, MNC-5’s key performance indicators (KPI) assess

not only staff performance, but also if the staff live up to the firm’s corporate values.

This is the way the firm provides a level playing field for its staff of diverse

background. All in all, it is clear that corporate culture and diversity principles within a

merit-based framework are tools for managing diversity in IHRM.

Participant-B (HR manager of MNC-S-2) opined that the management of diversity is the

biggest HRM challenge in MNCs, citing the imperative to implement clear HR policies

that promote ‘transparency’, ‘openness’, ‘trust’, ‘fairness’ and ‘equity’, among other

values. It is noteworthy that, despite the implementation of such policies, Participant

B’s HR department was still faced with certain diversity related issues that it was unable

to address adequately. With regard to this, Participant-B said: ‘You should work it out

on a case-by-case basis.’ It is also noteworthy that Participant-B’s firm, MNC-S-2,

revises its HR policies every three years. This shows that this MNC constantly works on

improving the ways it addresses various IHRM challenges, which invariably include

challenges pertaining to diversity.

Participant-B’s comments and revelations reflect two facets of the process of managing

diversity in MNCs. On the one hand, there are standard frameworks that have been put

in place to govern the process. On the other hand, there are contextual factors that

complicate the same process. The former consists of specific diversity policies and

initiatives, a corporate value system as well as other HR policies that promote good

values pertaining to diversity. The latter involves various contextual factors and issues.

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The subsequent paragraphs examine this latter facet of the diversity management

process.

Participant-K3 (MNC-S-12) is one of the participants who emphasized the need to

consider the local contexts in the management of diversity. Responding to the

Researcher’s question34 on the challenges of managing a multi-cultural workforce, the

participant asserted: ‘The concept has always been “think globally, act locally”.’

Drawing on this assertion and other assertions of the participant during the interview,

the Researcher affirmed the understanding that as the majority of employees in an

MNC-S are local people, the management of the firm has to address the socio-cultural

dimension of the local workforce and, in general, the local contexts. This line of

understanding ties in with the following assertion of Participant-I (MNC-S-9): ‘In all the

countries we [MNCs] are in, we should reflect the societies we are in; we should reflect

the consumers that we are serving.’

The imperative to address the local contexts in managing diversity in MNCs is also

evident from the following transcription extract:

[Based on anecdotal evidence], people in Asia are more respectful,

less challenging of authority and quieter. So if I have a community
meeting at a town hall, […] and I am presenting stuff to people and
asking for ideas and challenges […] [I can] expect less challenges
from the audience of an Asian context than I would if I was presenting
in America, where Americans would be very happy to say ‘that’s
rubbish’, challenge it and want to debate the issue. In Malaysia, it is
sometimes quite difficult [for people] to do it. So we have consciously

34
The question reads as follows: ‘What do you consider the biggest challenge in managing a multi-
cultural workforce in general?’

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 been working on building people’s confidence to be [vocal], to have
independent thought, to prepare to challenge and confront. It is a
cultural thing.
- Participant-M, MNC-S-14

Participant-M obviously alluded to the fact that an MNC deals with culturally diverse

people from and at different parts of the world; and hence each cultural group ought to

be managed differently. The following comments of Participant-K1 (MNC-S-11)

directly conveyed the same message: ’I have Malaysians and I have Koreans [working

with me]; they are like black and white, [so] completely different ways of managing

[are required for different people].’

Participant-K1’s comments unveil a major fact about diversity management within an

MNC: the task of addressing the local contexts in an MNC-S entails more than

managing the socio-cultural dimension of the local staff per se; it also entails managing

the social-cultural differences between culturally diverse people in the MNC-S. This

condition boils down to the fact that, while the majority of the staff in an MNC-S are

normally local people of the host country, an MNC-S is essentially a smaller version of

the ‘melting pot’ of the MNC in its totality; it is made up of people from different

cultures and countries. Ultimately, it can be inferred that there are two levels of

diversity management in HRM in MNCs, namely (i) intra-subsidiary diversity

management within individual MNC-S; and (ii) inter-subsidiary diversity management

across the MNC.

Anecdotal evidence presented in this sub-section of the thesis confirms the central role

of diversity management in IHRM. It is evident from the interview data that diversity

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management is a highly strategic HR activity in any MNC: this HR activity involves the

corporate culture; and the policies and processes relating to this HR activity have a

strong bearing on the overall performance of the MNC. Another significant point

evidenced by the interview data is that it is a huge challenge to manage diversity in an

MNC. It is a huge challenge because there are vast variations and cultural differences

between the diverse people within a single MNC-S as well as across the MNC as a

whole to be managed.

5.6 Talent Management as a Core Component of IHRM

5.6.1 Significance of Talent and Talent Management in IHRM

During the series of interviews conducted in this study, subject matters relating to talent

and management of talent featured prominently. In the first place, talent management

emerged as the core of two participants’ descriptions of IHRM:

[IHRM is] capturing the ‘mind share’ of the talent; identifying talent
and their competencies, and plug them into a knowledge database for
them to be a bigger contributor on a global level, on the company’s
global issues.
- Participant-A, MNC-S-1

[IHRM is] managing talent beyond the national borders.

- Participant-I, MNC-S-9

The Notion of ‘Talent’ and Competition for Talent at the Global

Talent Market

Generally, all the participants emphasized the imperative for MNCs to have the best

people serving their firms’ operations in the face of global challenges. The terms ‘best

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people’, ‘talent’ and ‘best talent’ were used interchangeably by some participants.

Accordingly, and based on the details of the interview data pertaining to talent and

talent management, ‘talent’ was understood in this study as the best people that an MNC

is able to attract, select, develop and retain amid keen competition at the global level.

Keen competition for talent among MNCs is an IHRM issue commonly highlighted by

the 21 participants. As gathered from the participants, this is a phenomenon under

globalization that cannot be avoided by MNCs. This competition is so keen that some

participants called it the ‘battle for talent’ or ‘talent war’. To Participant-G (MNC-S-7),

the entire global place where MNCs compete for talent is a ‘battlefield’. In the

participant’s words, ‘the whole battlefield is [about] getting the right people and

retaining the right people’. It is discernible from the overall interview data that all the

‘wars’ and ‘battles’ involving talent emanate from two factors in the global talent

market, namely the quest for the best talent and the scarcity of talent. The latter factor is

particularly evident from various participants’ revelations on how talent is very ‘fluid’,

difficult to procure but susceptible to poaching by other firms, in this era of

globalization.

Strategic and Instrumental Roles of Talent Management in MNCs

As gathered from the 21 participants in this study, talent management plays a highly

strategic role in MNCs, catering to the long term needs and sustainability of these firms.

Participant-G cited below is one of the participants who explicitly conveyed this fact.

I think talent management [has become] a slightly more strategic

[activity]. Instead of looking at […] filling in a few vacancies short
term, you really have to look at your platform and say where […] the

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 company will be in 5-10 years and what [sort of] people [you] need to
help run the organization. […] So it is really a big issue. […] Just the
same as you can’t develop any new products overnight, you need to be
looking in the long-term horizon to develop the people you need.

- Participant-G, MNC-7

Participant-G’s comments also project the fact that long-term talent succession planning

and talent development programs are crucial aspects of talent management. The

strategic importance of these two aspects of talent management within IHRM is evident

from some other participants’ comments as well. Some of these comments are cited and

deliberated in the next sub-section of the thesis, together with interview data pertaining

to MNCs’ global talent pools and global talent sharing. On the whole, the interview data

reflects interconnection between global talent succession planning, global talent training

and development and global talent pool in serving the strategic role of talent

management within IHRM.

Overall, the interview data suggest that IHRM is to a large extent about managing talent

across cultures and national borders. This confirms what Participant-A and Participant-I

said about IHRM, as quoted at the start of this sub-section of the thesis35. The data also

suggest that talent management in IHRM is an ongoing process the integrated parts of

which can be encapsulated as follows: (i) global search and competition for talent; (ii)

sharing of talent across cultures and national borders; and (iii) long-term, cross-border

development and retention of talent. Given the wide ranging talent management

35
Participant-A said this: [IHRM is] capturing the ‘mind share’ of the talent; identifying talent and their
competencies, and plug them into a knowledge database for them to be a bigger contributor on a global
level, on the company’s global issues.
Participant-I: [IHRM is] managing talent beyond the national borders.

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activities within IHRM, as well as the centrality of these activities to the long-term,

strategic needs of the MNCs, talent management is effectively one of the core

components of IHRM.

5.6.2 Means and Process of Talent Management in IHRM

Several participants talked extensively about how their respective MNCs seek talent, as

well as how all MNCs must strategically develop and retain the talent they have

procured. As revealed by two participants, when the required talent is scarce and

unavailable in the local talent market, their firms recruit expatriates for the jobs

concerned. Such cross–border talent recruitment is also practiced when cost and

profitability are of concern to the firm. The following two transcription extracts are

noteworthy:

The best people make the best company, and without the best people
[…] all go down. So if everybody in this country […] is poaching off
[everybody else’ talented employees], so eventually, where does this
end? […] Eventually profitability falls and all the companies sink. So
we have to find different ways of doing that, and one of the ways is
cross-border recruitment.
- Participant-K3, MNC-S-12

In Eastern Europe, often you can’t get the best local guys: it’s so
expensive [to have them], it’s better to bring in an expatriate. […]
We have [such experience] in the Balkan countries. You’re limited to
such a small handful of really top-class people; they move around
every two years, and every time they move, they [command] higher
salaries.
- Participant-G, MNC-S-7

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Apart from scarcity of talent and profitability concerns that lead to cross-border

recruitment, the above transcription extracts unveil the phenomena of ‘talent poaching’

and ‘talent volatility’ in the global talent market. It is evident from the transcription

extracts that the combined impact of ‘talent scarcity’, ‘talent poaching’ and ‘talent

volatility’ on MNCs is immense. This effect is also evident from the following

comments of Participant-B: ‘We don’t mind losing [our talent] within our sister

companies, but not to [other MNCs]. You spend a lot of time, money and resources to

build [the talent pool]. To lose them is really very painful.’

Participant-B gave only a partial picture of what an MNC would experience when

losing talent to competitors. It is palpable that under this circumstance, the MNC not

only suffers loss of talent per se, but also time and resources that it has invested in

talent. It would now need to invest further time and resources replacing the poached

talent. Precisely, this means another round of talent search and recruitment, followed by

training of the newly recruited talent, for both work performance and adaptation to the

firm’s value system. It is therefore understandable that ‘talent retention’ and the

‘creation and maintenance of the talent pool’ were highlighted by some participants as

of great importance to an MNC.

As gathered from the participants, the efforts taken by MNCs to establish and maintain

their individual talent pools are largely supported by their training and development

structures. According to the participants, these training and development structures

range from management trainee programs for very junior talent to career development

programs for higher level talent. A number of participants highlighted that, while

attractive remuneration and benefit packages are important to attract and retain talent, of

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equal importance are career and personal development prospects that talent get to enjoy

in the firm. This suggests that the ‘battle’ for talent is a continuous IHRM process in

every MNC: the process does not stop upon successful procurement of the coveted

talent, but continues throughout the career of these people with the firm. Accordingly, it

can be concluded that the tasks of attracting, recruiting, training, developing and

retaining talent are an integrated whole in the management of the MNC’s talent pool.

While deliberations in the earlier sections of this chapter established international

assignments and cross-cultural training as crucial aspects of IHRM, the deliberations

fell short of identifying these aspects of IHRM as means of ‘talent sharing’ in MNCs.

The notion of ‘talent sharing’ is conceivable, for example, from Participant-I’s

description of IHRM in the following transcription extract. Meanwhile, it is notable that

some participants identified talent sharing as one of the major factors that differentiates

IHRM from HRM.

By implication, [when you manage across country borders and

cultures] you are at the same time wanting to harness and leverage
your strengths across borders – meaning, some countries are good in
certain areas, so you harness resources in [these countries] to help
[sister companies in other countries].
- Participant-I, MNC-S-9

Further to the above comments, Participant-I revealed that MNC-S-9 normally posts its

talent to sister companies in various countries for 3-5 years. Participant-J1 (MNC-S-10)

also notably related that every executive in MNC-10 must have worked for an extended

period in more than one country, preferably in more than one continent, before s/he is

granted the status of a senior executive. These practices of MNC-9 and MNC-10 typify

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what other participants revealed to be their respective MNCs’ practices with regard to

international assignments. It is evident from the participants’ revelations that

international assignments are an IHRM tool for promoting mutual learning among talent

within an MNC. Through international assignments, talent share expertise, knowledge,

perspectives and experiences across cultures and national borders, at various

subsidiaries of the MNC. This is how sharing of talent takes place in every MNC; this

talent sharing process is made possible through a shared talent pool.

From the findings presented so far, it is clear that talent pools are necessary for the long-

term talent needs of MNCs. Talent pools meet the contingency needs of the MNCs as

well. The use of talent pools is evident from a case related by Participant-G (MNC-S-7).

This case concerns the sudden death of a very senior expatriate manager at MNC-7‘s

subsidiary in Thailand. This unforeseen circumstance however did not jeopardize the

managerial process in this subsidiary. This is because MNC-7’s headquarters was able

to fill in the gap immediately through the managerial talent pool that it had always

maintained alongside a global talent succession plan. An important attribute of this

talent pool was that its members were all well-equipped with vast cross-cultural/cross-

national experiences and were internationally mobile. As a member of this talent pool,

the replacement manager posted to the subsidiary in Thailand was able to settle into the

job quickly. This international manager’s cross-cultural/cross-national competency

compensated for the fact that Thailand is very different culturally, socially and

politically from European countries where most of MNC-7’s top international managers

originated.

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Other than serving the long-term and contingent needs of the firm, the talent pool of

every MNC is important for the reasons cited by Participant-G in the following

transcription extract.

There is a lot of research that says – when you appoint senior leaders
in a business – if you recruit them from outside of the company, often
it’s less successful than if you appoint someone internally.
[… … ]
As the economy continues to grow globally, and places like China
come to really expand [economically] and really drain a huge amount
of talent, I think definitely having your own talent coming through your
own development programs [is helpful].
- Participant-G, MNC-S-7

Based on all the above deliberations, it can be concluded that a large part of talent

management in IHRM is about managing the talent pool and the sharing of talent.

Arguably, without cross-border talent management with its talent pool and talent

sharing process governed under the firm’s HRM function, an MNC is unable to manage

its geographically dispersed subsidiaries. By extension, without structured talent

management as one of its core components, IHRM (HRM in MNCs) cannot serve the

human resource needs of the MNC across cultures and national borders.

5.7 Concluding Remarks

The findings presented in this chapter concern the overall nature of IHRM. Based on

these findings, IHRM can generally be described in three ways. Firstly, IHRM can be

described in terms of what it is: it is a HR network of shared connections – within which

there is a nexus of diverse relationships; a formula of cross-cultural partnerships; a

program for leveraging diversity; and a structure of talent sharing. Alternatively

166
described, IHRM is a HR network of shared connections encompassing three systems

all in one: a system of cross-cultural relationships and partnerships; a system for

leveraging diversity; and a system of talent sharing.

Secondly, IHRM can be described in terms of the main challenges facing it and how it

generally operates in the context of these challenges. Within an individual global firm,

IHRM is faced with, among others, main challenges with respect to globalization,

diversity, multiculturalism and strategic partnerships among people across country

borders. Accordingly, the main variables underscoring IHRM processes are

globalization variables; diversity variables; cross-cultural variables; and global talent

variables, among others. In addressing these challenges and variables, IHRM invariably

operates around global, strategic, cross-cultural and open outlooks. This orientation of

IHRM in turn requires some cross-border, cross-cultural process factors, including (i)

shared HR factors (cf. TABLE 5.3); and (ii) employee-friendly and relationship

building factors (cf. TABLE 5.5).

Thirdly, IHRM can be described in terms of the factors driving its functional process

(drivers of IHRM). Drawing on the deliberations in this chapter, the following can be

identified as the drivers of IHRM: (i) ‘borderless’ partnerships and relationships; (ii)

cross-cultural adaptability and relationship building; (iii) flexibility amid consistency;

(iv) oneness and equity in diversity; and (v) talent and leadership sharing. The roles of

these IHRM drivers can be summarized in four points. First, it is through ‘borderless’

partnerships and relationships that IHRM operates across country borders. However,

such global-level connections within IHRM can only materialize if there are cross-

cultural adaptability and relationship building elements in the process. Meanwhile, amid

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consistent corporate value system and policies, flexible and locally relevant HR

policies/practices are a vital part of the IHRM process as well. Revolving around a

‘sharing’ phenomenon that largely concerns leveraging diversity and talent across

cultures and national borders, the process of IHRM is also driven by shared leadership,

shared talent and preserved diversity based on principles of equity.

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 CHAPTER 6
FINDINGS: PROCESS STRUCTURES OF IHRM

6.1 Introduction

While Chapter 5 dwells on the fundamentals of IHRM, this chapter focuses on the core

vehicles in the workings of IHRM. This thesis terms the latter as ‘process structures of

IHRM’, referring to them as standardization of HR policies and practices

(standardization), localization of HR policies and practices (localization) and HR best

practice. This study found the roles of these three aspects of IHRM pivotal as a defining

part of IHRM, alongside other IHRM fundamentals featured in Chapter 5.

Section 6.2 lays out the themes and sub-themes underscoring the identification of the

process structures of IHRM in this study. Section 6.3 examines the roles of

standardization36 pertaining to MNCs’ corporate identities, overall operations and HRM

processes. Section 6.4 examines localization37 mainly in relation to standardization and

in terms of its importance within the processes of HRM in MNCs. Section 6.5 dwells on

the concept of HR ‘best practice’ in relation to certain phenomena and processes in

MNCs. It also examines the link between HR best practice, organizational hierarchy and

standardization/localization within HRM in MNCs.

36
Throughout this chapter and the rest of the thesis, ‘standardization’ refers standardization of HR
policies and/or practices.
37
Throughout this chapter and the rest of the thesis, ‘localization’ refers to localization of HR policies
and/or practices.

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6.2 Themes Developed from the Interview Data

Based on the participants’ responses to various interview questions, three common

topics in the existing IHRM literature – namely ’standardization of HR policies and

practices’, ‘localization of HR policies and practices’ and ‘HR best practice’ – were

dwelt on extensively in conjunction with data analysis in the study. As a result, the

following themes and sub-themes, which the Researcher deems crucial for

understanding the workings of IHRM, were developed.

I Standardization of HR Policies and Practices as a vehicle for the workings of

IHRM

II Localization of HR Policies and Practices as a vehicle for the workings of IHRM

III HR best practice as a vehicle for the workings of IHRM

Underpinning the above themes are the following sub-themes:

Sub-themes of Theme (I)

 Consistency of Corporate Policies, Cultures and Identities in MNCs

 Staff Equity, Alignment in Administration and Leadership in MNCs

 Increased Standardization in the Course of Being Global on the part of MNCs

Sub-themes of Theme (II)

 Combined Standardization-Localization Approach in IHRM

 Standardization versus Localization: Viability versus Necessity for Adaptation

 Localization within Parameters of Standardization

 Interrelation between Organizational Hierarchy and Standardization/

Localization

170
Sub-themes of Theme (III)

 HR Best Practice as a Product of Organizational Learning and Localization

 HR Best Practice as Part of Cross-Border/Cross-Cultural IHRM ‘Shared Affairs’

 Interrelations between Organizational Hierarchy, Standardization/Localization

and HR Best Practice

 Interrelations between Organizational Hierarchy, Standardization/Localization,

HR Best Practice and Flexibility in the Overall Workings of IHRM.

6.3 Standardization of HR Policies and Practices

Consistency of Corporate Policies, Culture and Identity

MNC subsidiaries (MNC-S) generally adhere to HR policies and practices formulated

by their headquarters wherever possible, except in areas where localization is necessary

to accommodate the local or regional contexts. This is a finding derived from various

participants’ references to the HR approaches of their MNCs. Participant-E1 (MNC-S-

5) and Participant-F (MNC-S-6), for instance, related the following: ‘the guiding

principle is to align and standardize rather than to do something different in the

organization unless there is a need to do [the latter]’(Participant-E1); ‘generally the idea

is to have common policies and procedures throughout for consistency reasons’

(Participant-F). Participant-E1 even opined that it is the job of every MNC’s

international HRM team to ensure that HR policies and processes are the same across all

of the firm’s subsidiaries.

As gathered from various participants, standardizing HR policies and practices

(standardization) is one of the major measures taken by individual MNCs to ensure

consistency of their corporate policies. Indeed, interview data collected from the

171
participants suggest that the corporate policies are indispensable to every MNC and

upholding these policies through standardization is a key aspect of the MNC’s agenda.

The interview data also unveil that all participating MNC-S invariably adhere to their

corporate policies. A number of participants revealed implicitly and explicitly that,

while practices may vary from one MNC-S to another, the core policies are normally

consistent throughout the whole MNC. The following assertions of Participant-I (MNC-

S- 9) encapsulate all participants’ points regarding the roles of the corporate policies in

an MNC: ‘the corporate policies are necessary for the firm to claim to be an MNC or a

global firm; the corporate policies provide a consistent guide that helps the MNC

weather difficult times.’

Based on the above-mentioned interview data, it is clear that the corporate policies serve

as a ‘signpost’ that provides the MNC’s globally dispersed subsidiaries with a common,

clear direction; and this role of the corporate policies is effected through

standardization. In parallel with the corporate policies, the corporate identity and

corporate culture38 were recognized in this study to be of paramount importance to

MNCs as well. Again, the interview data point to standardization as the means by which

these three dimensions of MNCs are upheld. Participant-E1 quoted below is one of the

participants who alluded to this role of standardization.

You need a common set of company values; therefore you need a

common set of processes and tools to inculcate the company culture
and values. Whether […] you are in Australia or Nigeria or Kenya,
you have to or you would like to have people behaving the same way
within the organization [… …] It can only be so if there is a
standardized set of processes across the countries.

Each time ‘corporate culture’ is mentioned in this thesis, it is intended to mean the ‘corporate values’ as
38

well as the ‘norms and expected ways of behavior’ in the organization.

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 - Participant-E1, MNC-S-5

Participant-E1’s comments are part of the interview data that project the importance of

standardization to centralization, corporate control and global consistency in the

management of MNCs. As inferred from the interview data, when implemented across

an MNC’s globally dispersed subsidiaries, standardization enables the MNC to not only

uphold its corporate culture and identity, but also achieve centralization and corporate

control in its management.

Staff Equity, Alignment in Administration and Leadership

As gathered from Participant-A (MNC-S-1), Participant-G (MNC-S-7) and Participant-I

(MNC-S-9), the issues of ‘fairness’, ‘equality’, ‘trust’ and ‘coordination’ are of great

concern to MNCs’ global managers and specialist staff when they move from one

country to another on international assignments and/or overseas postings. In Participant-

I’s words, for example, ‘[employees] do appreciate that [whichever subsidiary of the

MNC] they work in, they will always [experience] consistency in the firm’s policies.’

On aggregate, the three participants point out that where HR policies and practices are

concerned, such consistency promotes equality among the MNC’s globally dispersed

staff. This gives employees peace of mind that they are treated with fairness and

transparency wherever they are posted within the MNC. Participant-A, for instance,

asserted the following to this effect:

You need to have a certain level of trust because we are not dealing
with a local situation; we are dealing with global situations, and
people have to trust that the company is going to be fair to them.

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 If you need employees to work in a global environment, [the
employees] need to understand that this company can be trusted
[and] has the same processes across the globe.
- Participant-A, MNC-S-1

What the above-mentioned participants collectively highlighted is, again, the need for

an MNC to have consistent corporate HR policies that are perpetuated through

standardization (cf. Section 6.3.1). On the whole, the interview data gathered from

various participants point to the role of standardization in bringing about ‘fairness’,

‘equality’ and ‘coordination’ among the MNC’s globally dispersed staff. Several

participants highlighted the need for standardization alongside fair and equitable

treatment of all the talent in the MNC’s talent pool. The participants highlighted this

especially when discussing the sharing and maintenance of the global talent pool within

individual MNCs. Using the term ‘alignment’ instead of ‘standardization’, Participant-

E1, for instance, stated that alignment in administration and policies enables an MNC’s

talent to move between countries – on international assignments or other kind of

overseas postings – without being subjected to different incentive schemes, performance

appraisal processes and talent monitoring systems. These facets of talent management

were also stressed by Participant-G:

There are things that work well when they are coordinated [… …]
When you talk about an international group of managers – for
example, for me, I have to know that I am going to be treated the
same when I move from UK to Denmark, Malaysia to Vietnam, to
Russia, to Eastern Europe, to Africa. […] – [Consistency] takes out a
lot of concerns when you move around. […] We have an
international graduate training scheme […] We will get one
[graduate trainee] from Copenhagen and [our sister company in
Copenhagen] will get one from Kuala Lumpur. There are actually 20

174
 of [these trainees] in the [talent] pool. All of these guys move
around. The administration and again, the treatment of these people
have to be in alignment. Otherwise you get 20 sets of administration.
[…] You can just do it once, and you have to be fair to people. To
have different systems and concepts will not work.
- Participant-G, MNC-S-7

As gathered from the 21 participants’ responses to various questions in the interviews,

the benefits that MNCs reap from standardization are not limited to those discussed

above. According to some participants, standard practices and procedures are helpful

‘tools’ for work processes in MNCs. In Participant-E2’s words, ‘you have to “think

tools” in certain processes’. For some other participants, to standardize and be

consistent in practices and procedures is to ‘harmonize’ the processes of doing things in

MNCs. As highlighted by Participant-A, individual MNCs need consistent processes

which can be rolled out very quickly across their subsidiaries in various parts of the

world.

A number of participants related directly and indirectly that where elements of

‘leadership’ and ‘senior talent’ are concerned, there is always strong or complete

standardization. Participant-C, for example, revealed that MNC-S-3 strictly adheres to

an MNC-wide standard leadership framework, on top of a standard set of corporate

management principles. There was also acknowledgement from the participants that

leadership training in individual MNCs is invariably ‘standardized’ or, in some of the

participants’ word, ‘global’.

As further gathered from the participants, there are various types of leadership training,

each with a different degree of standardization, for executives from different levels of

175
an MNC’s organizational hierarchy. The training may be held at the MNC’s

global/regional headquarters or subsidiaries, using the headquarters’ standard training

materials and approaches. In all these standardized leadership training programs, there

is always a strong focus on the MNC’s corporate value system. This reflects the

significance of the corporate value system and standardization through which it is

maintained in the management of an MNC. The central roles of standardization in

MNCs are summarized in TABLE 6.1 below.

TABLE 6.1
Benefits of Standardization of HR Policies/Practices

How MNCs Benefit fr om

Standardiz ation of HR Policies/Practices

 Main te n an ce o f c orp o ra te id en ti ty an d cu ltu r e

 Con s is t en t p ol ic ie s an d valu e s w h i ch gu id e th e fi r m i n i t s
op e rat ion s an d d u r in g it s d if f icu lt ti m e s
 Sa m en es s, fa irn e s s an d eq u al ity a mo n g a ll e mp l oy ee s a cr o ss a ll
su b s id ia ri e s
 E mp loy ee tru s t in th e o r gan i zat ion
 Con v en ien c e, cla rit y an d e f fi ci en cy in HR p r oc e s s es an d
p roc ed u r e s
 Coo rd in ati on a mo n g all sta f f in d i f f er en t s u b sid i ari e s
 Cla ri ty an d e ff ic i en cy in tal en t man ag e m e n t an d exp a tri a t e
man ag e m en t
 Lea d e r sh ip an d top ta l e n t th a t b l en d in w ith th e cor p or at e cu lt u r e
an d valu e sy s te m

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6.3.3 Increased Standardization in the Course of ‘Being Global’

As evidenced by the interview data presented in the preceding Section 6.3.1 and Section

6.3.2, MNCs generally standardize their HR policies and practices wherever possible. In

fact, several participating MNC-S were in the process of working towards more

standardization at the time of the interviews. MNC-14 was a case in point. After

working with a level of standardization which Participant-M (the Executive Director

and Country Manager of MNC-S-14) said might have been 30% or 50% five years

before that, MNC-S-14 had had its HR policies and practices standardized up to about

80% by the time of the interview. Participant-M further revealed that ‘[the corporate

headquarters is] moving very much into global standardization; so that percentage may

[still] increase’.

Besides MNC-S-14, MNC-S-10 was also on the trend of increasing standardization.

According to Participant-J2, MNC-10 had planned for its subsidiaries across the

region39 to gear up standardization of policies and practices in the following 12 to 18

months. In Participant-J2’s assessment, the firm could achieve more than before in

various aspects of its operations through increased standardization. MNC-7 was another

participating firm that tried to standardize a lot more of its internal operations. In

Participant-G’s (the Supply Chain General Manager of MNC-S-7) opinion,

‘standardization is better; the feeling is that standardization is the way to go'.

39
MNCs with extensive global presence are known to group their subsidiaries based on regions or
cultural clusters. Some of these MNCs have regional headquarters besides the global corporate
headquarters. Some standardization requirements are driven out of the regional headquarters for
subsidiaries in the regions concerned.

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The cases of MNC-S-14, MNC-S-10 and MNC-S-7, as related above, reflect a

phenomenon of 'increased standardization in the course of being global' on the part of

some MNCs. This adds to the general desire of MNCs to implement consistent HR

policies and practices across their respective subsidiaries (cf. Section 6.3.1). These two

phenomena are attributable to the benefits of standardization in IHRM (TABLE 6.1).

6.4 Localization of HR Policies and Practices

Combined Standardization-Localization Approach

Despite the benefits and central roles of standardization in IHRM, none of the 17

participating MNC-S apply full standardization in their HR policies and practices.

Neither do they apply full localization. All of them take a combined standardization-

localization approach.

TABLE 6.2
Absence of Full Standardization/Full Localization in MNC Subsidiaries

Approach Taken Number of MNC-S

(Relative to Parent Company’s (out of 17

HR Policies and Practices) participating MNC-S)

Full Standardization NIL

Full Localization NIL

Combination of 17
Standardization & (All of Participating MNC-S )
Localization

The above finding was derived from the participants’ responses to the following

interview questions:

In this organization do you adopt the same – meaning all – HR policies,

practices and procedures as those in the headquarters?

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All the participants except one, namely Participant-A of MNC-S-1, answered in the

negative to the above question. However, Participant-A was quick to add that

remuneration, compensation, employee benefits, as well as aspects of HRM affected by

the host countries’ national policies, are largely not standardized. By way of inference,

there is no full standardization of HR activities in MNC-S-1, just as in other

participating MNC-S.

The combined standardization-localization approach to HRM is pervasive in MNCs.

This is evident from the HR practices of participating MNC-S, as revealed by the

participants, and from the participants’ specific responses to the following two interview

questions.

What is the company’s rationale for taking [the combined

standardization- localization] approach to its HR activities?

What has been modified in the ‘localized’ HR activities?

The interview data unveiled the fact that, while MNC-S adhere to their respective parent

companies’ standard frameworks, they are confronted with the imperative to adapt

certain parts of the standard frameworks to the host countries’ local contexts. To cite

some of the participants, local contexts include ‘local legal requirements‘, ‘local

practices’, ‘local culture’, ‘local market’, ‘local socio-economic conditions’ and ‘local

business environment’, among others. This finding about localization suggests that the

purposes and benefits of standardization (cf. Section 6.3) must be understood in

conjunction with the many circumstances necessitating localization.

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It is notable that the word ‘adaptation’ was commonly mentioned by the participants

when they highlighted the course of action required of MNCs in different host countries

where they operate. For instance, Participant-G described MNC-S-7’s HR approach as

‘some adoption of headquarters’ version, some adaptation, and some full local

versions’. This description encapsulates what the majority of participants indicated to

be their respective MNCs’ approaches to HRM and other managerial functions.

Standardization versus Localization: Viability versus Necessity

for Adaptation

As gathered from various participants in this study, in between standardization and

localization of HR policies and practices in MNC-S, there is a question of ‘viability’

versus ‘necessity for adaptation’. To quote Participant-E1 (MNC-S-5), MNC-S should

‘standardize wherever is possible and relevant, localize wherever is necessary’.

Congruent with this statement is Participant-K3’s (MNC-S-12) following response to

the interview40 question on whether MNC-S-12 adopted the same HR policies, practices

and procedures as those in its headquarters:

In principle, yes, there is some drive [from the headquarters] towards

standardization, but not on the practical level. Of course everyone
wants to standardize everything: let everyone have SAP, let everyone
have the same HR policies. But in practice it doesn’t work; you have to
adapt.
- Participant-K3, MNC-S-12

40
The question was under the section ‘Standardization versus Localization of HR Practices and Other
Departmental Functions’ in the interview schedule. The question reads as follows: ‘In this organization,
do you adopt the same HR policies, practices and procedures as those in the headquarters? I mean all
the policies, practices and procedures.’

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The above assertions of Participant-E1 (MNC-S-5) and Particpant-K3 (MNC-S-12) are

anecdotal evidence that while MNC-S are inclined towards standardization, such

inclination is limited by the need for local adaptation in certain aspects of their HR

policies and practices. The following statements of Participant-D attest to the same:

Because there are different laws in different countries […] you have
different statutory requirements. So with different policies and
procedures there needs to be [a combination of standardization and
localization]. You have local policies as opposed to global policies,
but wherever possible – if it is possible – we follow the global
policies [and dispense with formulation of local policies].
- Participant-D, MNC-S-4

Drawing specifically on the above interview data collected from Participant-K3,

Participant-E1 and Participant-D, and generally on interview data presented so far in

this section (Section 6.4), it is clear that IHRM entails a dichotomy between

standardization and localization. On one side of the dichotomy is standardization that

fulfils the corporate-level needs and requirements of the MNC; on the other is

localization that fulfils the local-level needs of the MNC’s subsidiaries (MNC-S). At the

MNC-S level, the requirement to accommodate certain local contexts makes it

necessary to localize rather than to standardize in certain aspects of HRM. Where the

combination of these contexts and HRM aspects are concerned, standardization is not

applied because it is not viable to do so. Ultimately, the dichotomy between

standardization and localization in IHRM is an issue of viability versus necessity for

adaptation. This is a salient point with respect of standardization/localization in IHRM.

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 Localization within Parameters of Standardization

While the interview data presented in the preceding Section 6.4.2 point to the fact that

standardization and localization are each influenced by the local contexts, overall

interview data in the study reflect a pervasive phenomenon where localized HR policies

and practices are almost always governed by a certain degree of standardization, hence

control from the headquarters. This phenomenon is termed as ‘localization within

parameters of standardization’ in this thesis. It exists in the HR system of every

participating MNC-S and pervades all HR activities that were identified in this study to

be commonly localized (cf. Section 6.4.5). This finding is especially evident from the

interview data presented in TABLE 6.3 and TABLE 6.4 below. The data were drawn

from various participants’ explicit or implicit revelations about their firms’ HR policies

and practices.

TABLE 6.3
Localization within Parameters of Standardization (1)

MNC-S Relatively High Level of Localization Standardized Elements in

Local Measures
3 Headquarters provides small Development of local HR policies
framework of HR principles without based on corporate HR principles
stringent HR policies;
HR policies further developed locally

Relatively high degree of local

adaptation in HR activities
8 Estimated 90% decentralization on Corporate values and missions strictly
the part of headquarters followed
(Percentage given by Participant-H)

Given much autonomy to (i)

streamline HR practices/processes;
(ii) initiate HR related changes &
innovations; (iii) share HR ‘best
practices’ with sister companies

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 TABLE 6.4
Localization within Parameters of Standardization (2)

Participant MNC-S Standardized Elements within Localization

B 2 Headquarters flexible where localization necessary; but standards

for technical aspects of business strictly adhered to

Managers of subsidiary generally trained locally; but training

programs based on headquarters’ training materials
C 3 Localization of HR practices always effected within MNC-3’s global
framework
E1 5 Localization effected after consultation with HR Director at
headquarters
E2 5 Subsidiary given flexibility to localize for efficiency, effectiveness
and business goals; but such flexibility exercised within MNC-5’s
global framework
F 6 Locally created posts must first be approved by headquarters; job
design of such posts jointly created by local and corporate HR
practitioners
I 9 Guidelines for recruitment of non-managerial staff can be
formulated locally as and when convenient; but guidelines must
not violate MNC-9’s corporate policies

Appraisal system based on local contexts but draws on standard

concepts formulated in headquarters
J1 10 Subsidiary adopts policies/practices appropriate for local contexts;
but policies/practices always aligned with corporate value system
J2 10 Headquarters endeavors to adapt to cultures and norms in
different societies but stipulates some degree of standardization
L 13 Country Manager given liberty to initiate localization but required
to follow headquarters’ guidelines and inform headquarters of
localization details
N 15 Greater localization where production workers are concerned; but
corporate core values not compromised in localized processes

TABLE 6.3 shows that, although MNC-S-3 and MNC-S-8 localize their HR policies

and practices to a relatively large extent, they are bound within some corporate-level

standardization. In parallel to TABLE 6.3, TABLE 6.4 demonstrates that where HR

policies and practices are concerned, there is always a certain degree of control from the

183
MNCs’ headquarters through the means of standardization: every localized HR policy

or practice has a dimension of standardization. In the final analysis, localization cannot

be appreciated fully without an awareness of its close interrelation with standardization.

Organizational Hierarchy and Localization41

Based on all the participants’ responses to interview questions concerning localization,

this study found that the nature and organizational level of the job have a bearing on the

degree of localization. There are generally more local elements in non-managerial, non-

leadership jobs (at the lower level of the organizational hierarchy) than in managerial

and other leadership jobs (at the higher levels of the organizational hierarchy).

Accordingly, the former are subject to less direct headquarters monitoring and less

standardized requirements compared to the latter. Based on anecdotal evidence found in

the participants’ words, such differentiation between standardization and localization

with respect to the type and organizational level of the job is especially prominent

where commonly localized HR activities are concerned.

As inferred from the anecdotal evidence, localization of some HR practices is inevitable

in every MNC-S due to the disparities between the MNC-S’ local contexts and those of

the MNC-S’ home country. However, these disparities do not affect different HR

activities to the same degree and in the same manner at different levels of the

organizational hierarchy. The more towards the top level of the organizational

hierarchy, the more localization is replaced with standardization. This interrelation

between the organizational hierarchy and standardization/localization is depicted in

41
As a reiteration, ‘localization’ and ‘standardization’ in this thesis refer to ‘localization of HR
policies/practices’ and ‘standardization of HR policies/practices’ respectively.

184
TABLE 6.5 below. By way of reiteration, this interrelation pertains to the type of job as

well as the type of HR activity concerned.

TABLE 6.5
Interrelation between Organizational Hierarchy and Standardization/Localization

Organizational Degree/Probability Degree /Probability

Hierarchy of of
Standardization Localization
 Higher  Increase  Decrease
 Lower  Decrease  Increase

Commonly Localized HR Activities

In connection with the above findings, there is also anecdotal evidence from the

interview data that different HR activities, by nature, witness different degrees of

inclination towards localization. More precisely, some HR activities are more

commonly localized or localized to a greater extent than other activities in the same HR

department. These commonly localized HR activities are listed in TABLE 6.6 below.

(The table also lists activities in other departments that were found in this study to be

commonly localized.)

TABLE 6.6
Commonly Localized Activities in MNCs

Commonly Localized Activities

HR Department Other Departments
▪ Remuneration, Compensation & ▪ Sales activities
Benefits ▪ Marketing activities
▪ Recruitment & Selection (brand policies are governed by
▪ Training & Development headquarters)
▪ Performance Appraisal ▪ Operations Management activities

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Recruitment and Selection

As gathered from the interview data, much of the staff recruitment and selection activity

is localized in order to conform to local employment related laws and statutory

requirements. These local demands were commonly highlighted by the participants as a

major deciding factor for localization of the recruitment and selection activity in HRM

in MNCs. In addition, according to some participants, their MNC-S acquire talent

through networking with people in other organizations – and even through poaching of

talent – in the local talent market. This is arguably another form of localization of the

recruitment and selection activity.

As gathered from various participants, where posts at the top and middle management

levels are concerned, the recruitment and selection activity is either not localized at all

or not localized fully. This is particularly true in terms of the recruitment and selection

method and process, the selection criteria and the job interview format and content. For

non-managerial posts, all these aspects of recruitment and selection are fully or almost

fully localized, in keeping with the local requirements and norms. All this information

suggests that localization of the recruitment and selection activity hinges on the nature

and level of the job.

Compensation and Benefits

Most participants highlighted that the HR activity of compensation and benefits is not,

and cannot be, standardized in their respective MNCs. Information gathered from the

participants all points to the fact that, just like recruitment and selection, compensation

and benefits is a HR activity that is always governed by local legal requirements.

However, as pointed out by Participant E-1 (MNC-S-5), these HR rewards are also

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determined by several other local factors, including the local economic, social and

political environments; measures taken by competitor companies at the local scene; size

and financial performance of the MNC-S itself; and the condition of the local talent

market. Within the local talent market, these HR rewards are invariably influenced by

the level of competition for talent, as well as the rates of compensation and benefits

offered by the competitor companies. This is the reason why the participating MNC-S

determine their HR reward packages based on the local going rates.

Training and Development

As gathered from various participants, much of the training and development activity in

IHRM is commonly localized for three main reasons, namely to accommodate the local

contexts; to cater to the needs of local talent; and to be cost effective. The last reason is

particularly notable. Participant-C (MNC-S-3) and Participant-D (MNC-S-4) explained

that it is more cost effective to engage local training providers and partners to conduct

training locally. Apart from taking this measure, MNCs also localize the training and

development activity by having senior managers at their MNC-S act as trainers to the

local staff. Participant-B (MNC-S-2) was one of the participants who revealed this.

According to Participant-B, first-time managers in MNC-S-2 are trained locally by the

HR manager as well as senior managers from various departments of the subsidiary; all

these senior managers have, however, received prior training at the corporate

headquarters.

Overall, the interview data reflect a trend between the training programs in MNCs and

the organizational roles for which the programs are designed: the lower the

organizational role for which a training program is designed, the more elements of

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competency in local contexts outweigh elements of standardized leadership in the

program. Simply, between training programs for staff undertaking lower organizational

roles and training programs for staff undertaking higher organizational roles, there is

more localization in the former. This finding is most evidenced by the practices of

MNC-S-7 and MNC-S-8, as revealed by Participant-G and Participant-H respectively.

In MNC-S-7, local training programs are designed mainly for skill development of staff

in lower organizational roles; for long-term career development and leadership

competency of senior managers and top executives, the training programs are designed

and conducted at the headquarters instead. In the case of MNC-S-8, clear differentiation

is made between directorial level training and managerial level training: centrally

designed programs for the former and locally designed programs for the latter.

Performance Appraisal

As evidenced by the interview data in the study, performance appraisal in MNC-S is

differentiated with respect to the organizational hierarchy, similar to the way training

and development is differentiated. While performance appraisal in non-global firms is

also differentiated with respect to the same, in MNC-S such differentiation is slightly

different in that it is integrated with the element of localization and influenced by the

interrelation between the organizational hierarchy and standardization/localization.

MNC-S distinctly localize more when appraising staff holding non-managerial and

lower organizational responsibilities but standardize more when appraising staff

undertaking managerial and higher organizational responsibilities. Despite being a

commonly localized HR activity, performance appraisal is only localized as far as the

nature and organizational level of the job allow. Ultimately, this is part of the larger

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‘localization within parameters of standardization’ phenomenon that prevails in all

IHRM activities.

Based on several participants’ comments and revelations, it is clear that the

phenomenon of ‘localization within parameters of standardization’ manifests itself in

more than one way in performance appraisal. Other than through the interrelation

between the organizational hierarchy and standardization/localization, this phenomenon

also manifests itself in the way localized performance appraisal is managed. The way

MNC-S-6 manages performance appraisal is a case in point. According to Participant-F,

although MNC-S-6 as an MNC subsidiary has its own performance appraisal process,

any review of the process must be carried out in consultation with the HR head at the

corporate headquarters. The corporate HR head is fully involved in the review and

formulation of the key performance indicators (KPI) for MNC-S-6.

6.5 HR Best Practice42

Throughout the series of one-hour interviews conducted in this study, only 4 out of 21

(19%) participants mentioned ‘HR best practice’. This was probably because ‘HR best

practice’, which superficially suggests a sense of universality, is not a notion recognized

by some international managers and HR practitioners. This notwithstanding, the four

participants who mentioned HR best practice did provide pertinent insights into what

HR best practice is all about in MNCs generally, and in HRM in MNCs particularly.

These participants’ comments especially unveiled the significance of HR best practice

in the workings of HRM in MNCs. One salient point about these insights into HR best

42
The term ‘HR best practice’ in this chapter and the rest of the thesis refers to a single HR best practice
or several HR best practices collectively. The plural form of the term is however used whenever
necessary for clarity of meaning.

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practice is that they do not at all entail any sense of ‘universality’. These insights will be

further deliberated in Section 6.5.1 through Section 6.5.4 below.

Organizational Learning, Localization and HR Best Practice

Based on some participants’ revelations and comments, it was inferred in this study that

organizational learning constitutes one of the main factors that lead to a high degree of

decentralization from an MNC’s headquarters, and hence a high degree of localization

at the MNC’s subsidiaries. As revealed by Participant-H (MNC-S-8), MNC-8 as a

whole used to be very centralized; but the firm’s headquarters learned that this approach

had resulted in a lack of local contexts, as well as a lack of local initiatives and

innovation, in the operations of the firm’s subsidiaries. The firm’s headquarters then

took the measure to increasingly decentralize its managerial functions, including HRM.

Through a high-level of decentralization later on (cf. TABLE 6.3), the HR department

of its subsidiary, MNC-S-8, has been able to autonomously localize its HR practices

where necessary, introducing locally relevant changes and innovative approaches along

the way. Over time, this has brought about not only very cordial relationships among the

staff, but also a learning environment that promotes creative performance in MNC-S-8.

With the autonomy it enjoys, the HR department of MNC-S-8 has further been able to

learn from and share HR ‘best practice’ with the HR departments of other subsidiaries

of MNC-8.

In the opinion of Participant-H (the HR Director of MNC-S-8 who related the above

organizational learning experience), too much centralization and standardization

deprives the managerial staff of the ‘value of the job’. Considering what Participant-H’s

HR department has been able to achieve following much decentralization, ‘value of the

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job’ as worded by Participant-H can be inferred to mean three things, namely (i) the

capacity for learning; (ii) HR innovation43; and (iii) creative performance that all come

about through adequate autonomy following decentralization.

Judging by the above information related by Participant-H, the ‘HR best practice’

spoken of by the same participant obviously refers to HR practices that are best suited to

the local contexts of both MNC-S-8 and its sister companies sharing them. This implies

that the HR best practice is specific only to MNC-S-8 and the sister companies

concerned. This line of thinking is especially plausible considering the following

perspective conveyed by Participant-H: ‘[HR best practices] do not have to be the same

in all countries.’

All in all, the case of MNC-8/MNC-S-8 related above suggests three notions of HR best

practice. First, HR best practice can be a product of localization and organizational

learning; it is not necessarily a pre-defined formula handed down by an MNC’s

headquarters or a form of MNC-wide HR best practice. It is certainly not a standard

formula for a group of MNCs or all MNCs. Second, HR best practice is deemed ‘best’

practice simply because it is best suited to the local contexts of several MNC

subsidiaries (within an individual MNC) sharing it or to the overall context of an

individual MNC as a whole. Third, HR best practice can be specific to several MNC

subsidiaries sharing it (subsidiary level HR best practice); it is not necessary that all

subsidiaries of the MNC concerned share the same HR best practice (MNC-wide HR

best practice).

43
‘HR innovation’ means innovations in HR strategies and practices. It is essential if the HR system is to
make a worthwhile contribution to individual employees and to organizational performance. It requires
effective management of employees, employees’ knowledge and the work systems (De Cieri, Kramar,
Noe, Hollenbeck, Gerhart and Wright, 2008).

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 Cross-Border/Cross-Cultural IHRM ‘Shared Affair’ and
HR Best Practice

All participants in this study mentioned ‘international assignments’ or ‘overseas

postings’ when discussing staff development in their respective MNCs. The

participants’ revelations and viewpoints point to the crucial importance of international

assignments in IHRM: international assignments are the means by which MNCs’ HR

departments develop their present and future global managers. Serving as a form of

development program in IHRM, international assignments enable MNCs’ global

managers to learn not only about the job per se, but also about different cultures coupled

with the intricacies of managing across cultures and national borders.

What Participant-N (MNC-S-15) revealed about international assignments is

particularly noteworthy. In MNC-15, managers must have worked in several countries

and cultures, or at least in more than one country, before they are entrusted with

regional and global responsibilities in the firm. According to Participant-N, by engaging

managers who are familiar with different cultures and countries in these capacities, the

firm enjoys 'cross-fertilization' of cultures, knowledge and experiences that forms the

basis of HR best practice. Participant-N further said: 'I am taking a lot of people around

the world at certain levels in the organization to do this kind of “cross fertilization”

culturally, knowledge or experience wise. We call it sharing of best practices.’ It is clear

from Participant-N’s revelation that international experiences of global managers are

essential for the development of HR best practice within an MNC.

Based on the above anecdotal evidence, a further notion of HR best practice – in

addition to those mentioned in the preceding Section 6.5.1 – were derived in this study:

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HR best practice of an MNC evolves through mutual, cross-cultural/cross-border

learning among talent from different subsidiaries of the MNC. This means that HR best

practice of an MNC is an outcome of the sharing and integration of cultures, knowledge,

experiences and practices among the MNC’s subsidiaries in several countries. In short,

HR best practice is a form of 'shared affair’ – IHRM shared affairs – among an MNC’s

subsidiaries collaborating in a cross-cultural/cross-border setting.

The above notion of HR best practice is underscored by several factors, namely

networking; mutual support; cross-cultural integration; and mutual learning. These

factors are all evident in the following statements of Participant-C (MNC-S-3). The

participant made these statements in response to the interview question44 concerning the

most crucial factor that differentiates HRM across country borders from HRM at the

local level.

One [is] the network that I mentioned we had among the HR

[departments] of the various [sister] companies. [This is] where we
are able to share, […] to do the benchmarking, […] the best
practices. [Also], we are able to draw various supports in whichever
area that we need from each other. So it is a networking […] to
share and benchmark […] best practices.
- Participant-C, MNC-S-3

Simply, the above statements of MNC-S-3 manifest the roles of networking, cross-

cultural integration and organizational learning in the development of HR best practice

in IHRM.

44
The question reads as follows: ‘In your opinion, what is the most crucial factor that makes
management of human resources across country borders different from HRM at the local level?’

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 Organizational Hierarchy, Standardization/Localization and
MNC-Wide HR Best Practice

In addition to what has been featured in Section 6.5.1 and Section 6.5.2 above, the study

derived further insights into HR best practice from the following revelation of

Participant-N (MNC-S-15):

The higher you rise in the organization hierarchy, so to speak, the

more standardization [and] globalization of best practices in HRM
play a role. Definitely, [for] people reporting to me, for example; for
them, standardization is 95%.
- Participant-N, MNC-S-15

The phrase ‘globalization of HR best practices’ mentioned by Participant-N was

interpreted in two parts in this study. First, the word ‘globalization’ was interpreted to

mean ‘standardization’ implemented across an individual MNC’s subsidiaries at

different parts of the world. Second, the term ‘HR best practices’ was interpreted to

mean HR practices that have been identified by an MNC to be those that best fit its

overall context (MNC-Wide HR Best Practice). In aggregate, the phrase ‘globalization

of HR best practices’ was interpreted to mean implementation of MNC-Wide HR Best

Practice at all subsidiaries of an MNC. This interpretation ties in with the understanding

gathered in Section 6.5.1 and Section 6.5.2 earlier: that HR best practice is identified

and developed within individual MNCs, either at the subsidiary level or the corporate

level; it is shared intra-firm among subsidiaries of individual MNCs and not universally

among different MNCs.

In conjunction with all the above-mentioned perspectives of HR best practice – and with

special reference to Participant-N’s comments in the above transcription extract – a

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further perspective of HR best practice was derived. This perspective pertains to the

interrelations between the organizational hierarchy, standardization/localization and the

probability of MNC-wide HR best practice:

The higher level it is in the organizational hierarchy, the higher is

the degree of standardization and the higher the probability of
MNC-wide HR best practice.

The lower it is in the organizational hierarchy, the higher is the

degree of localization and the lower the probability of MNC-wide
HR best practice.

TABLE 6.7 and TABLE 6.8 below depict the above-mentioned interrelations:

TABLE 6.7
Interrelation between Organizational Hierarchy and
Probability of MNC-Wide HR Best Practice

Organizational Probability of
Hierarchy MNC-Wide
HR Best Practice
 Higher  Increase
 Lower  Decrease

TABLE 6.8
Interrelations between Organizational Hierarchy, Standardization/Localization
and Probability of MNC-Wide HR Best Practice

Organizational Degree Degree Probability of

Hierarchy of of MNC-Wide
Standardization Localization HR Best Practice
 Higher  Increase  Decrease  Increase
 Lower  Decrease  Increase  Decrease

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 Organizational Hierarchy, Standardization/Localization, MNC-Wide
HR Best Practice and Flexibility in the Workings of IHRM

It is clear from the above findings that MNC-wide HR best practice in an MNC are

implemented through variable and discretionary standardization processes – and such

variability and discretion are particularly prominent in the lower levels of the

organizational hierarchy. This points to not only flexibility in the implementation of

MNC-wide HR best practice, but also flexibility in the workings of IHRM. This

perspective can be substantiated by Participant-O1’s assertion that IHRM ‘should be

more about facilitating and enabling HR best practice rather than driving policies [...]’.

This assertion is part of Participant-O1’s response to the interview question45 that

sought to identify the most crucial factor differentiating IHRM from HRM.

There is a sort of best practice sharing in terms of policies and

procedures […] There is a sort of international alignment as well.
[… …] So, international HRM should be more about facilitating and
enabling best practice, rather than specifically driving policies into
international organizations. And that is very different [from] other
functions. […] From a marketing perspective […] there are
international brand owners with international standards, […] which
we participate in. […] They have ways of working which we have to
follow to the letter. […] In HR it’s more about guidance rather than
about our actual instructions.
- Participant-O1, MNC-S-16

The notions of ‘flexibility in the implementation of MNC-wide HR best practice’ and

‘flexibility in the workings of IHRM’ (flexibility factor in IHRM) is in effect apparent

in much of the interview data pertaining to localization. The flexibility factor in IHRM

45
The question reads as follows: ‘In your opinion, what is the most crucial factor that makes
management of human resources across country borders different from HRM at the local level?’

196
is especially perceptible when viewed in the context of the interrelations between the

organizational hierarchy, standardization/localization and probability of MNC-wide HR

best practice. As depicted in Table 6.9 below, the lower the position in the

organizational hierarchy, the higher is the flexibility factor in IHRM.

TABLE 6.9
Interrelations between Organizational Hierarchy, Standardization/Localization,
Probability of MNC-Wide HR Best Practice and Flexibility Factor in IHRM

Organizational Degree Degree Probability of Flexibility

Hierarchy of of MNC-Wide Factor
Standardization Localization HR Best Practice in IHRM
 Higher  Increase  Decrease  Increase  Decrease
 Lower  Decrease  Increase  Decrease  Increase

The importance of flexibility in the overall effectiveness of IHRM is evident in much of

the interview data pertaining to standardization and localization in this study. The

following assertions of Participant-F (MNC-S-6), Participant-K3 (MNC-S-12) and

Participant-E2 (MNC-S-5) are anecdotal evidence to this effect. Equally important,

these assertions are anecdotal evidence that the factor of flexibility in the overall

workings of IHRM is imperative to MNCs’ operations and is provided for by MNCs'

central management.

It is necessary for the corporate headquarters of MNCs to draw a

balance between requirement for compliance with standards and
encouragement for exceeding the standards and thinking out of the
box.
- Participant-F, MNC-S-6

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 While being confined to rules, MNC subsidiaries need sufficient
latitude to do something differently, something that they think is right
for the contexts of the local businesses.
- Participant-K3, MNC-S-12

The company has a management framework at the global level, but

within the framework each subsidiary has the flexibility to localize
based on efficiency, effectiveness and business goals. Certain things
must be localized and the decisions made at the local level.
- Participant-E2, MNC-S-5

Based on the findings presented in Section 6.5.1 through this section (Section 6.5.4),

this study concluded that HR best practice is effectively a major aspect of IHRM. There

are three facets to this view of HR best practice. First, HR best practice is intertwined

with two major process vehicles of IHRM, namely standardization and localization.

Second, different HR best practices serve different IHRM purposes and different

contextual needs at different levels of an MNC – at the subsidiary level, there is either

HR best practice within a single subsidiary or HR best practice shared among several

subsidiaries; at the corporate level, there is MNC-wide HR best practice. Third, HR best

practice is a major outcome of IHRM processes, involving cross-border/cross-cultural

organizational learning, talent sharing and localization.

6.6 Concluding Remarks

In unravelling the various facets and implications of standardization, localization and

HR best practice in MNCs, this chapter has unfolded the pivotal roles of these three

aspects of IHRM in the workings of IHRM. Such importance of standardization,

localization and HR best practice resides in the fact that these aspects of IHRM support

198
and mediate various HR processes, as well as framing the ways various HR tools are

utilized, in IHRM. In addition, while serving these roles they address the cross-

cultural/cross-border contexts and global orientation of IHRM.

Given their instrumental roles in IHRM, standardization, localization and HR best

practice should be recognized as three of the essentials of IHRM. Accordingly, they

should be included as part of any fundamental definition or pictorial representation of

IHRM. As their roles are those of supporting, mediating and framing HR processes and

tools within IHRM, it is apt that they are identified as the major vehicles in the

workings of IHRM and termed ‘process structures of IHRM’ in this thesis.

In serving as the essential vehicles in the workings of IHRM, standardization,

localization and HR best practice effectively serve as the key mediums in the ‘HR

network of shared connections’ (cf. Section 5.3.3) and ‘cross-border/cross-cultural

shared affairs’ (cf. Section 6.5.2) in IHRM, and in MNC for that matter. At the core of

this linkage is the intricate interaction between these three essential vehicles of IHRM.

It is through such interaction that IHRM facilitates networking, mutual support, cross-

cultural integration and mutual learning among the subsidiaries of an MNC. It is also

through such interaction that an MNC as a whole and its subsidiaries discover and

benefit from MNC-wide HR best practice and subsidiary-level HR best practice

respectively. In conclusion, the interaction between standardization, localization and HR

best practice at the core of the workings of IHRM is essential for the operations of

MNCs.

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 CHAPTER 7
DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

7.1 Introduction

The main contents of this chapter are divided into six sections. Each section discusses

an area of the findings in the study: ‘IHRM as the Extended Version of HRM’ (Section

7.2); ‘Relationship Management as a Core Component of IHRM’ (Section 7.3);

‘Diversity Management as a Core Component of IHRM’ (Section 7.4); ‘Talent

Management as a Core Component of IHRM’ (Section 7.5); ‘Standardization and

Localization as the Process Structures of IHRM’ (Section 7.6); and ‘HR Best Practice

as the Process Structure of IHRM’ (Section 7.7).

While Chapter 5 and Chapter 6 present the findings of the study and clarify the findings

with some preliminary discussions, this chapter discusses the findings in greater detail.

The discussions pertain to the larger contexts of IHRM, and in relation to other IHRM

researchers’ perspectives and findings. Besides eliciting deep insights into IHRM topic

areas that pertain to the findings of this study, the discussions serve to find the

intersections between the perspectives of this study and those of other IHRM research

studies. Ultimately, this chapter places the findings of the study in a clear framework to

fulfil the objective of the study, which is modelling of IHRM.

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7.2 IHRM as the Extended Version of HRM / HRM as the
Foundation of IHRM

7.2.1 Inseparability of HRM and IHRM

In arriving at the notion of ‘IHRM as the extended version of HRM’/’HRM as the

foundation of IHRM’ (Section 5.3), this thesis in effect highlights the ‘inseparability of

HRM and IHRM’. These three notions unveiled in the study are consistent with some

authors’ descriptions of the link between HRM and IHRM. According to Dowling et al,

(2008, 2013) and Dowling and Welch (2004), in broad terms IHRM involves the same

activities as domestic HRM, except for some modifications required due to diversity of

workforce in the multinational context. In Briscoe and Schuler’s (2004, 2012) assertion,

IHRM is essentially HRM, except that it is HRM of international nature and

implications. In Scullion’s (2005, p.4) definition, ‘IHRM is the HRM issues and

problems arising from the internationalisation of business, and the HRM strategies,

policies and practices which firms pursue in response to internationalisation of

business’.

In this study, the notion of ‘IHRM as the extended version of HRM’/’HRM as the

foundation of IHRM’ was derived from two sources, namely (i) the findings on the

global and strategic outlook, cross-cultural pertinence and the ‘sharing’ phenomenon of

IHRM (Section 5.3.1 – Section 5.3.3) and (ii) the understanding of the link between

‘IHRM’, ‘internationalization of business’ and ‘internationalization of HRM’. As

regards the latter, it was discernible from the findings that IHRM emerged due to

internationalization of HRM which – in conjunction with internationalization of other

business disciplines such as finance and marketing – is a consequence of

internationalization of business and expansion of the global economy (Briscoe and

201
Schuler, 2004). In short, the notion of ‘IHRM as the extended version of HRM’, as

brought to the fore in this study, is underpinned by the understanding that IHRM is the

outcome of internationalization of HRM which, in turn, is the outcome of

internationalization of business.

Dwelling further on IHRM in the context of internationalization of business and

internationalization of HRM, it is clear that internationalization of business creates a

mutually inclusive link between HRM and IHRM. This link between HRM and IHRM

is such that HR managers in all forms of domestic organizations are faced with aspects

of IHRM (Briscoe and Schuler, 2004, 2012); and that ‘increasingly, domestic HRM is

taking on some of the flavour of IHRM as it deals more and more with a multicultural

workforce’ (Dowling et al., 2008, p.3). In this connection, the Researcher agrees with

Briscoe and Schuler (2004) that ‘there is no place to hide’ for HR Managers: all HR

managers in all forms of organizations must understand IHRM issues and

internationally focussed HR competencies.

7.2.2 Global and Strategic Outlook of IHRM

This study identified ‘global processes’, ‘heightened strategic concerns’ and ‘complex

cross-cultural circumstances’ as major factors shaping the larger and more complex

phenomena in IHRM compared to HRM (cf. Section 5.3). In identifying these factors,

this study brought to the fore not only the global, strategic and cross-cultural outlook of

IHRM, but also the fact that such outlook is at the core of the difference between HRM

and IHRM. This outcome of the study provides some idea as to how the following

concern raised by Dowling et al. (2008, p.2) can be addressed:

202
 Before we can offer a definition of international HRM, we should first
define the general field of HRM. Typically, HRM refers to those
activities46 undertaken by an organization to effectively utilize its human
resources […]. The question is of course which activities change when
HRM goes international.

Given the global, strategic and cross-cultural outlook of IHRM, as well as the mutually

inclusive link between HRM and IHRM, it can be asserted that when HRM turns

international to become IHRM, HR activities ‘change’ in that they are ‘modified’ and

‘expanded’ to cater for the challenges arising from globalization and internationalization

of business. In this change process, HRM takes on a more global, heightened strategic

and heightened cross-cultural orientation: it strategically deploys diverse people from

across cultures, harnessing the strengths of these people across international borders.

As further elaboration of the above-mentioned change process drawing on the findings

of this study, IHRM policies and practices are strategically oriented, driven by the

strategic goals and activities of the MNC; conversely, such strategic orientation of

IHRM has a major bearing on the fulfilment of the goals of the MNC. In this sense,

IHRM can be viewed as an integral part of strategic IHRM (SIHRM) (cf. Schuler et al.,

1993)47. Added to the plausibility of this view is the fact that SIHRM and IHRM are

identified as interrelated fields of research (cf. Chew and Horwitz, 2004). Meanwhile,

the growing emphasis on research into SIHRM (De Cieri and Dowling, 1997) can be

noted as a testament to the significance of the strategic orientation of IHRM.

46
According to Dowling, Festing and Engle (2008, 2013), these activities include at least the following:
human resource planning; staffing (recruitment, selection & placement); performance management;
training and development; compensation (remuneration) and benefits; and industrial relations.

47
SIHRM is ‘human resource management issues, functions, and policies and practices that result from
the strategic activities of multinational enterprises and that impact the international concerns and goals of
those enterprises’ (Schuler, Dowling and De Cieri, 1993, p.422).

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7.2.3 Cross-cultural Pertinence of IHRM

As evidenced by the findings of this study, the overall orientation of IHRM is one that

combines not only global and strategic focuses but also cross-cultural focus. The

strategic and global focuses of IHRM in deploying culturally diverse people, and

harnessing the strengths of these people across international borders, will not be

complete without an integral cross-cultural focus. Drawing on the findings of the study,

it is clear that an integral cross-cultural focus in IHRM entails the imperative to

promote, facilitate and manage cross-cultural competency and adaptability across

international borders. In a broader vein, this also entails the imperative to manage cross-

cultural circumstances in relation to diversity and human relationships in the MNC

concerned. On balance, the findings of this study point to the fact that cross-cultural

pertinence of IHRM is not limited to addressing cross-cultural circumstances using

appropriate HR tools and processes; it also entails effectual integration of cross-cultural

management, diversity management and relationship management.

In identifying ‘cross-cultural pertinence of IHRM’ (cf. Section 5.3.2.) as one of the

major themes associated with the notion of ‘IHRM as the extended version of HRM’,

the Researcher was cognizant of two points. The first is the major cross-cultural role of

IHRM in managing people across international borders against the smaller cross-

cultural role of HRM in managing people within a single organization, in a single

country. The second point revolves around HRM as an American invention with

underlying North American cultural influences (for example, influences from North

American social, political and economic factors). Given that IHRM operates across

cultures and international borders, it is certainly of a cultural orientation that includes

but beyond that of HRM.

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7.2.4 HR Network of Shared Connections in IHRM

As derived in this study (cf. Section 5.3.3), shared HR elements and activities – termed

individually as ‘shared HR factors’ and collectively as a ‘HR network of shared

connections’ in this thesis – are at the centre of the workings of IHRM. In precise terms,

the ‘HR network of shared connections’ is identified in this study as a fundamental of

IHRM as well as a crucial instrument for the global operations of MNCs. This

understanding can be appreciated in relation to Bartlett and Ghoshal’s (1998) assertion

that an MNC’s globally dispersed units48 (subsidiaries) need to be coordinated or

integrated in some form and to some degree. It is palpable that, in order to be

coordinated or integrated, an MNC’s subsidiaries are necessarily connected, especially

through shared HR elements and activities. In other words, the subsidiaries of the MNC

necessarily operate within a HR network of shared connections, in order to collaborate

with one another, and to be administered under the umbrella business setup of the MNC.

The above-mentioned state of affairs is where the HR network of shared connections

serves as a medium that harnesses the strengths of the MNC’s human resources across

cultures and national borders. It is through this network that the MNC builds and

maintains a set of interconnected HR instruments, thereby capitalizing on its human

resources as a bundle of assets and a source of sustained competitive advantage in its

target markets. These processes of IHRM are in line with the resource-based view of

HRM (cf. Boxall and Purcell, 2003; Sheehan, Holland and De Cieri, 2006) but effected

across cultures and national borders. Ultimately, it is arguable that without the HR

network of shared connections, HRM cannot be extended to assume an international

role as IHRM.

48
While subsidiaries of MNCs are often referred to as MNC ‘branches’, Bartlett and Goshal (1998) and
some other authors refer to them as MNC ‘units’.

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As evidenced by the deliberations in the preceding paragraph, the HR network of shared

connections is a collective IHRM instrument that is of great strategic significance to

MNCs. This point is also discernible from some authors’ mention of ‘linkages’ between

MNC subsidiaries in their discussion of SIHRM. Schuler et al. (1993), for example,

highlight in their discussion of SIHRM that one of the major strategic concerns of

MNCs is whether MNCs can, and how they can, create linkages between their globally-

dispersed subsidiaries through human resource policies and practices. Meanwhile,

according to Phatak (1992) and Hennart (1982), ‘interunit linkages’ (hereafter called

‘inter-subsidiary linkages’) are one of the two major strategic components of MNCs that

give rise to and influence SIHRM (the other component being the internal operations of

the MNCs).

In their discussion of SIHRM, Schuler et al. (1993) highlight that ‘inter-subsidiary

linkages’ have been a traditional focal point for discussion of IHRM (cf. Bartlett and

Ghoshal, 1998; Phatak, 1992; Pucik, 1988; Pucik and Katz, 1986). ‘Inter-subsidiary

linkages’ as discussed by the authors is comparable to the ’HR network of shared

connections’ identified in this study. While unveiling the pivotal roles of the corporate

value system, corporate culture and corporate policies in bonding individual MNCs’

subsidiaries (cf. Section 6.3.1), findings in this study suggest that these bonding

structures underpin and are in turn facilitated by the HR network of shared connections

in IHRM. In this connection, Schuler et al. (1993) are notable for their discussion that

links ‘human resource philosophy’, ‘HR policies’ and ‘specific SIHRM practices’ with

‘inter-subsidiary linkages’.

According to Schuler et al. (1993), human resource philosophy – which basically shapes

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the corporate value system and corporate culture – has a top-down impact on an MNC’s

HR policies and practices. As further gathered from the authors, an MNC will always

develop common HR policies coupled with specific SIHRM practices that tie in with

these common policies, all guided by the MNC’s human resource philosophy. Through

the development of these common HR policies and specific practices, the MNC

establishes inter-subsidiary linkages among its subsidiaries. The key objective of these

inter-subsidiary linkages, in the words of Schuler et al. (1993, p.429), ‘appears to be

balancing the needs of variety (diversity), coordination, and control for purposes of

global competitiveness, flexibility and organizational learning’. What can be generally

inferred from the assertions of Schuler et al. is this: IHRM with its HR network of

shared connections is a strategic management function with a top-down bearing on an

MNC’s operations.

Deliberations in the preceding paragraphs reaffirm the plausibility of the concept of ‘HR

network of shared connections’ formed in this study. Identified and presented in this

thesis as one of the features that make up the ‘extension’ between HRM and IHRM (cf.

Section 5.3.3), the HR network of shared connections provides the human resource

linkages between the subsidiaries of an MNC; without this network there would be no

way for the MNC to manage its human resources across cultures and national borders.

This notion concerning the inter-subsidiary linkages is not new, considering that these

linkages have previously been highlighted by some authors as a strategic component of

the operations of an MNC, and as a traditional focal point for discussion of IHRM (cf.

the three preceding paragraphs). However, by conceptualizing these linkages as a

network consisting of shared HR elements and activities, this thesis has effectively

introduced a framework by which to better appreciate the pivotal role of these linkages

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in the workings of IHRM.

In addition to reaffirming the plausibility of the concept of ‘HR network of shared

connections’ in IHRM, deliberations in the earlier paragraphs have brought to the fore

deeper meanings of this concept. Placed in the larger scheme of things, and based on the

various findings presented in Chapter 5 and Chapter 6, the pertinence of the concept is

beyond both a framework for appreciating the fundamental workings of IHRM and

conceptualization of IHRM. The concept is also pertinent in terms of how inter-

subsidiary HR linkages enable IHRM to effect crucial organizational outcomes for an

MNC. Firstly, the inter-subsidiary HR linkages enable IHRM to bring together diversity

and talent from across cultures and national borders for global competitiveness of the

MNC concerned, managing relationships of diverse people in the process (cf. Section

5.4; Section 5.5 and Section 5.6). Secondly, the inter-subsidiary HR linkages enable

IHRM to strike a balance between standardization (for control and coordination) and

localization (for adaptation to local cultural and institutional contexts), for effective

operations of the MNC across cultures and national borders (cf. Section 6.4.1; Section

6.4.2 and Section 6.4.3). Thirdly, the inter-subsidiary HR linkages enable IHRM to

facilitate inter-subsidiary organizational learning, thereby identifying HR best practice

that befits individual subsidiaries of the MNC (cf. Section 6.5.1).

In conclusion, the concept of ‘HR network of shared connections’ in IHRM entails two

levels of understanding and is necessarily appreciated as such. The first level of

understanding concerns the fact that the major activities of IHRM take place within the

linkages of various HR elements and processes (HR linkages). The second level of

understanding concerns how the major activities of IHRM take place within the HR

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linkages and the strategic implications of these IHRM activities to the MNC concerned.

7.3 Relationship Management as a Core Component of IHRM

As reflected in the findings presented in Section 5.4 of this thesis, human relationships

are at the centre of life and operations of MNCs. In more elaborate terms, the findings

show that MNCs are perpetually confronted with issues pertaining to human

relationships; and these issues are inextricably linked to issues pertaining to diversity

and cultural differences. This phenomenon emanates from the complex nexus of human

relationships among people from diverse cultures and backgrounds in MNCs. The

inevitability of this phenomenon in MNCs, as evidenced by the findings of this study,

indicate the central importance of managing human relationships in IHRM. It is on this

basis that the Researcher identifies relationship management as a core component of

IHRM. The Researcher would further substantiate this notion by stressing that good

human relationships are a precursor to good coordination and cooperation among people

in any organization, more so in MNCs with all the diversity confronting them. Simply,

as Lengnick-Hall and Lengnick-Hall (2003a) put it, ‘work gets done through

relationships’.

In identifying relationship management as a core component of IHRM, the Researcher

is cognizant of the fact that relationships among diverse people in MNCs have been

directly and indirectly managed by the management of MNCs all along. As highlighted

as part of the findings in Section 5.4.2, international managers of MNCs endeavour to

be open-minded, as well as cross-culturally receptive and adaptable, when dealing with

diverse people; they also engage in two-way communication and adopt flexible

leadership styles when dealing with different people. At the organization level, MNCs

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create organizational cultures that promote openness, trust, fairness and equity in order

to foster good relationships among their employees. These approaches on the part of the

international managers and central management of MNCs are essentially endeavours to

manage human relationships in the MNCs.

Nevertheless, based on the interview data of this study, the above-mentioned

endeavours appear to be narrowly conceived on two counts. Firstly, as pointed out by

the participating managers, leadership styles are individual matters. Secondly,

relationship management appears to be carried out in isolated and random manners in

the participating MNCs; there was no evidence of a well-structured relationship

management framework in any of the participating MNCs. It is thus the proposition of

this thesis that the efforts of managing human relationships be consolidated and clearly

integrated into MNCs’ HRM domain (IHRM).

Furthermore, given the interconnectedness of human relationships and diversity in

MNCs as unveiled in this study – where the latter encompasses at least diversity of

ethnicity, culture, religion and national origin – it is maintained in this thesis that

relationship management in IHRM is necessarily administered in conjunction with

diversity management. This is about directing the diversity and nexus of human

relationships within an individual MNC towards the firm’s competitive advantage and

business sustainability. This is also about managing the rare, valuable, inimitable and

non-substitutable attributes of the individual firm’s human resources (cf. resource-based

view of HRM) as ingrained within the nexus of diverse human relationships in the firm.

Lengnick-Hall and Lengnick-Hall (2006) would lend support to the above assertion on

the interconnectedness between diversity management and relationship management.

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The authors argue that success of international business operations depends on how the

organizations apply as well as direct their diversity and social capital, the latter of which

refers to the actual and potential resources that are embedded within and available

through the network of relationships in organizations (cf. Nahapiet and Ghoshal, 1998).

Vance and Paik (2006) can also be cited here for making connections between human

relationships and diversity in MNCs. The authors assert that MNCs’ global leaders must

be able to cultivate quality relationships so as to take advantage of the diversity in their

organizations. The authors are also notable for identifying relationship management as

one of the three competency clusters – besides business acumen and personal

effectiveness – required of effective global leaders in MNCs.

The pivotal role of relationship management in IHRM is also implicit in Lengnick-Hall

and Lengnick-Hall’s (2003a, 2006) assertions. According to Lengnick-Hall and

Lengnick-Hall (2006, p.486), ‘effective international human resource management must

be as concerned with creating and directing a firm’s social capital as it is with creating

and guiding its human capital’. Lengnick-Hall and Lengnick-Hall (2003a) note that

reorienting the role of IHRM toward relationship building and formation of social

capital enables human resources to contribute directly to an MNC’s competitive

advantage. On the whole, Lengnick-Hall and Lengnick-Hall (2003a) note the role of

IHRM in harnessing social capital as the shared resource by which an MNC fulfils its

operational needs and derives various organizational benefits.

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In identifying relationship management as a core component of IHRM, the Researcher

in effect draws attention to some simple ideas about behavioural management and

organizational theory, particularly the concept of ‘organizations as social systems’.

According to Hodgetts (1980), modern behavioural management is believed to have

originated from the Hawthorne Studies. These studies were carried out as scientific

management experiments in the early 1920s following a period of scientific

management movement. The outcome of the studies led management researchers to

conclude that organizations are social systems. As Hodgetts (1980, p. 15) explains:

[…] organizations [are] not just formal structures in which

subordinates [report] to superiors; they [are] social networks in which
people [interact], [seek] acceptance from and [give] approval to fellow
workers, and [find] enjoyment not only in the work but also in the social
exchange that [occurs] while doing the work. […] [In] the second phase
of the Hawthorne studies […] the increases in [production output] were
achieved not by scientific management practices […] but by socio-
psychological phenomenon (the structuring of social networks in which
the [workers] became friendly with one another).

The notion of ‘relationship management as a core component IHRM’ can also be

appreciated in terms of the pertinence of relationship management to the overall

management of a firm. As asserted by Hugh-Jones (1958, p.x), operationally, any theory

of management must seek not only to relieve tensions and reconcile interests between

people, but also to ‘harmonize goals and thus provide the maximum of self-realization

both for individuals and for groups’ in the organization. Furthermore, according to

Hugh-Jones, the level of success in achieving a sound pattern of relations within

management is ‘the ultimate test of management and, even, the condition of its material

success’ (p.x).

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The pertinence of relationship management to HRM has been directly highlighted by

Lengnick-Hall and Lengnick-Hall (2003a). The authors note that traditionally HRM has

had responsibility in managing relationships, except that this responsibility has been

narrowly conceived and often implicit rather than explicit. While in reference to HRM,

this assertion by implication applies to IHRM as well. As evidenced by the interview

data in this study, IHRM has the role of managing relationships among diverse people

in MNCs; however, there is no evidence from the interview data that this role is well

conceived and clearly spelt out. Within this reality, the findings of this study suggest

that the importance of well-structured relationship management in IHRM cannot be

over-emphasized.

As gathered from the interview data of this study, relationship management in IHRM is

closely interconnected with diversity management and talent management. In this

regard, Beechler and Woodward (2009) are notable for their emphasis of ‘extensive

relationship management’ in their discussion of talent management. According to the

authors, in facing up to the increasingly challenging demands in the complex business

environment – especially knowledge-driven industry transformations and cultural

changes within businesses and in individuals – there is a need to put in place ‘extensive’

relationship management; and this is to be effected alongside new HR development,

new career processes, extensive leadership skills and higher cognitive capabilities.

Adding to this assertion, Beechler and Woodward (2009, p.282) stress: ‘There is a much

wider diversity in culture, gender, working generations and modes of employment than

ever before. These can be sources of advantage to be leveraged or conflict to be

managed.’ These assertions of Beechler and Woodward are food for thought in making

connections between relationship management, diversity management and talent

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management in IHRM.

7.4 Diversity Management as a Core Component of IHRM

The findings presented in Section 5.5 of this thesis reflect workforce diversity

(diversity) as a major theme in MNCs, hence a significant aspect of IHRM. The

significance of diversity in IHRM is evident from two facets of the findings, namely (i)

the scale and inevitability of diversity in MNCs; and (ii) the serious attention and

importance MNCs give to diversity of their human resource pool. First, as much as

MNCs define ‘diversity’ broadly, they are factually confronted with very diverse people

– people of all sorts of background and orientation from across cultures and national

borders. There is no way for MNCs to avoid dealing with diversity of such a spectrum.

Second, MNCs put in place corporate value systems as well as carefully-structured HR

tools and processes that promote inclusiveness, equality and cohesion among their

diverse employees. Moreover, they incorporate diversity policies and initiatives in their

corporate strategic plans. All these aspects of the findings are indicative of the central

importance of diversity management in IHRM.

The scale and inevitability of diversity in the human resource pools of individual MNCs

is a phenomenon emanated from the contemporary global business environment. Hence

the significance of diversity management in IHRM is necessarily appreciated in the

context of this environment. The global business environment has witnessed a dramatic

increase in the scale of workforce diversity as a result of the following factors:

globalization; rapid internationalization of business activities; liberalization of

international commerce; development of information technologies; and increased

mobility of people, especially those with education and skills that are essential in

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today’s global economy (cf. Briscoe, Schuler and Claus, 2009; Mor Barak, 2005). The

workforce in today’s global economy consists of not only people from all racial, ethnic

and national origins (Friedman, 2005) but also groups that in the past were not active in

the labour market (Briscoe et al., 2009). There are also many different categories of

international employees, as well as many different international staffing options49 that

MNCs employ to address several problems50 associated with the employment of

expatriates (Briscoe et al., 2009). Generally, as Shen, Chandra, D’Netto and Monga

(2009) put it, diversity has increasingly become a ‘hot button’ issue in the corporate

arena; and hence there is every reason to stress the significance of diversity

management in HRM, more so in IHRM.

The significance of diversity management in IHRM can also be appreciated in terms of

how MNCs benefit from diversity. As gathered from the findings of this study, diversity

in an MNC brings together not only the talent, skills, capabilities and various other

strengths of diverse people, but also the diverse ideas and perspectives of these people.

If managed appropriately, these elements of diversity will bring innovations and various

other productive inputs into the MNC’s business. This in turn will translate into

competitive advantage and sustainability for the business. These perspectives from the

findings of the study are in line with those in the following statement of the Society for

Human Resource Management (2002): ‘[E]mployees from varied backgrounds can

bring different perspectives, ideas and solutions, as well as devise new products and

49
Briscoe, Schuler and Claus (2009) list the following as international staffing options: domestic
internationalists; international commuters; permanent cadre or globalists; stealth assignees; boomerangs;
just-in-time expatriates; outsourced employees; virtual international expatriaes; reward or punishment
assignees, etc.
50
Some of the problems with employment of expatriates are as follows: (i) mistakes in the choice of
international assignees (IA); (ii) high cost of international assignments; (iii) difficulty in providing
adequate training and support for IA and their families; (iv) problems with adjustment to foreign
situations on the part of IA and their families; (v) too frequent failure of international assignments; (vi)
problems with managing repatriates; (vii) local countries’ desire for hiring local employees/managers;
and (viii) growing suspicion that local hires may perform better (Briscoe, Schuler and Claus, 2009).

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services, challenge accepted views and generate a dynamic synergy that may yield new

niches for business opportunity.’ The Researcher therefore concurs conclusively with

Thompson (1997) that the premise of managing diversity is the recognition of diversity

and differences among employees as positive attributes of an organisation, rather than

as problems to be solved. Overall, it is conclusive from the findings of the study that the

appropriate and well-structured diversity management in IHRM yields positive

outcomes51 for MNCs.

Further to the above conclusion, significance of diversity management in IHRM can

also be appreciated in terms of the process by which diversity is managed in MNCs and

the challenges entailed in this process. As evidenced by the findings presented in

Section 5.5.3 of this thesis, instituting standards and structures for the fulfilment of

diversity principles is one thing; the actual process of dealing with diversity in

situational and local contexts is another thing. The findings indicate the latter to be

highly complex and challenging; and that ‘the key to diversity does not lie so much in

its existence, but rather in knowing how to manage it’, as Mor Barak (2005, p. 121) puts

it. This is especially true given that the process of managing diversity is confronted with

challenges not only at the organization level, but also at the level of individual

managers.

At the level of individual managers, the findings of this study unveil the imperative for

international managers to deploy cross-cultural skills and flexible leadership styles in

51
Some of the positive outcomes of effective diversity management for MNCs are as follows: (i)
improved managerial decisions; (ii) innovative ideas; (iii) improved solutions to organizational problems;
(iv) improved outcomes of brainstorming tasks; (v) more cooperative behavior among employees; (vi)
better utilization of employees’ skills and potential; (vii) easier access to changing, increasingly diverse
markets; and (viii) improved corporate image (cf. Canas and Sondak, 2008; De Anca and Vazauez, 2007;
De Cieri, Kramar, Noe, Hollenbeck, Gerhart and Wright, 2008).

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addressing the challenges concerned. At the organization level, the findings are in

accord with Thomas’ (1990) assertion that corporate competence is of paramount

importance to managing diversity. Furthermore, it is evident from the findings that

diversity ‘becomes an exciting business opportunity [for an MNC] only when it is

managed effectively at all levels of the organization’ (Canas and Sondak’s, 2008, p.4).

The overall understanding derived from the findings, therefore, is that in order to reap

the benefits of diversity, an MNC necessarily manages diversity organization-wide,

through strategic means that are integrated with a well-structured diversity management

framework – and this framework is necessarily governed by the larger people

management function of IHRM.

Diversity management in IHRM is clearly a highly strategic managerial activity that

aims at macro, bottom-line organizational outcome for MNCs. There are two important

views to appreciating this strategic position of diversity management in IHRM. First,

while human resources as a source of competitive advantage for an organization can be

built and maintained through a set of connected HR policies/practices that are

substantiated with organizational commitment (resource-based view of HRM), in IHRM

practiced within an MNC, such HR policies and practices should in turn be linked – at

the global level – with the MNC’s other managerial and organizational processes,

including those pertaining to managing diversity across cultures and national borders.

Simply, where diversity management in IHRM (HRM in MNCs) is concerned, it is

essential to employ a set of mutually inclusive diversity and HR imperatives that

interlink, at the global level, with other managerial and organizational processes of the

MNC concerned. This is vital for diversity within the MNC to be effectively driven

towards achieving the anticipated organizational performance outcome. The second

217
important view to appreciating the strategic position of diversity management in IHRM

is that, given the pivotal roles of diversity and diversity management in MNCs, diversity

policies and initiatives in IHRM should be treated like any other aspects of business

investment in MNCs (cf. Harvey and Allard, 2005).

The above deliberations point to the plausibility of the notion of ‘diversity management

as a core component of IHRM’ presented in this thesis. However, reaffirmation of this

notion will not be complete without a mention of ‘intra-subsidiary diversity

management’ and ‘inter-subsidiary diversity management’. This study unfolded the

inextricable link between these two levels of diversity management and relationship

management in MNCs. In particular, it unfolded the fact that management of human

relationships in MNCs entails different demands of managing diversity. Generally,

between intra-subsidiary diversity management and inter-subsidiary diversity

management, the former entails more direct handling of human relationship issues,

while the latter macro solutions and strategies pertaining to these issues.

In the final analysis, while diversity management in IHRM is a highly strategic

managerial activity aimed at macro, bottom-line organizational outcome for an MNC,

at the micro level, the roles and outcome of this activity are closely intertwined with the

management of human relationships. On the whole, diversity, differences due to

diversity, and the complex human relationship issues arising from these differences, are

inextricably linked matters that are addressed concurrently in diversity management in

IHRM. In this connection, there is every reason for this thesis to reiterate the

interconnectedness between diversity management and relationship management in

IHRM.

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7.5 Talent Management as a Core Component of IHRM

Talent management generally emerged within global firms only in the past 10 years or

so, as a strategic response to shortage of international managerial talent (Scullion and

Collings, 2006; Thorne and Pellant, 2007). Against this backdrop, the findings of this

study (cf. Section 5.6) unveil the fact that activities relating to management of talent

now constitute the bulk of activities in MNCs. Moreover, the findings suggest that such

activities are an indispensable facet of every MNC’s business hence the workings of

IHRM.

While there is varied understanding among researchers about what constitutes talent

management (McDonnell, Lamare, Gunningle and Lavelle, 2009), this thesis adopts the

following definitions of talent management: (i) ‘a matter of anticipating the need for

human capital and then setting out a plan to meet it’ (Cappelli, 2008); and (ii)

‘additional management processes and opportunities that are made available to people

in the organization who are considered talent’ (Blass, 2007). Based on the findings of

this study, the Researcher would add that talent management is ‘all HR strategies,

initiatives and practices that are administered in an integrated manner to attract, develop

and retain the best people for the right jobs, at the right time, and at the right places in

the organization, in relation to the global business environment’. This definition places

talent management in the global context as well as the specific context of managing

talent in MNCs. In this definition, the ‘best people’ refers to ‘the best talent that is

accessible to any MNC in the global talent market’; while ‘the right places’ refers to

‘the right departments and right subsidiaries of the MNC’.

Intrinsic to the Researcher’s definition of talent management is the general

219
understanding of ‘talent’ derived in this study: that talent is ‘the best people that an

MNC is able to attract, select, develop and retain against the keen competition for talent

at the global level’. This understanding of ‘talent’ was largely derived from the

participants’ emphasis that MNCs need to attract, select, develop and retain the best

people amid a global ‘war for talent’. Further understanding of ‘talent’ in the study was

based on the phenomena of ‘talent sharing’ and ‘HR best practice as a product of

organizational learning’ unfolded in the study – where the former phenomenon refers to

‘sharing of expertise, knowledge, views and experiences among talent from various

subsidiaries of the MNC’; and the latter phenomenon ‘evolvement of HR best practice

through mutual cross-cultural, cross-border learning among talent from different

subsidiaries of the MNC’.

Based on the two phenomena mentioned above, the meaning of ‘talent’ in an MNC was

taken in this study to include ‘specialist functional staffs that are instrumental in the

firm’s organizational learning and core competence’ (cf. Heinen and O’Neill, 2004;

McDonnel et al., 2009). Taking into consideration findings of this study pertaining to

‘global succession planning’ and the ‘maintenance of global talent pool’ in MNCs, the

above meaning of ‘talent’ in an MNC can be further expanded to include ‘high-potential

and high-performing employees whom the firm considers as its next generation of

leaders’ (cf. Collings and Mellahi, 2009; McDonnel et al., 2009).

Apart from clarifying the meanings of talent and talent management in the context of

MNCs, discussions in the two preceding paragraphs affirm the significance as well as

the strategic and instrumental roles of talent management in MNCs. This in turn

reaffirms the plausibility of the notion of ‘talent management as a core component of

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IHRM’ conceptualized in this study. This notion can be further appreciated in the

context of ‘global talent management’ (GTM).

Global talent management has emerged as a challenge – as well as a key strategic issue

– confronting the top management of MNCs, amid MNCs’ increasing efforts to

coordinate their talent pipelines on a global basis (cf. Farndale, Scullion and Sparrow,

2009; Scullion, Caligiuri and Collings, 2008). In Collings and Scullion’s (2008, p. 102)

definition, GTM is ‘the strategic integration of resourcing and development at the

international level which involves the proactive identification and development and

strategic deployment of high-performing and high-potential strategic employees on a

global scale’. Based on the findings of this study, the Researcher would add ‘retention

of talent’ and ‘talent sharing across cultures and national borders’ as further dimensions

to Collings and Scullion’s definition of GTM. The essence of such understanding of

GTM is evident from the talent management activities in the participating MNCs of this

study.

The notion of ‘talent management as the core component of IHRM’ can also be

appreciated in the context of the ‘talent sharing’ phenomenon within every MNC. As

derived in this study, talent sharing is a major facet of every MNC’s operations hence

IHRM. Indeed, talent sharing is a major facet of IHRM – transpired, manifested and

managed through HR activities in the MNC. Without maintaining a shared talent pool

among its globally dispersed subsidiaries, the MNC arguably cannot manage its talent

across the subsidiaries, let alone reaping the best benefits from the talent.

International assignments, which featured prominently in the participants’ discussions

221
of IHRM, were unveiled in this study as a major vehicle for mutual knowledge sharing

between talent from different subsidiaries of individual MNCs. By extension,

international assignments were identified in this study as a major vehicle for mutual

talent sharing and organizational learning between the subsidiaries of every MNC.

However, this is only one facet of the crucial role of international assignments in

MNCs. The findings in this study indicate that, in being a major vehicle for talent

sharing in an MNC, international assignments also serve as a vehicle for global

leadership development (cf. Brewster et al., 2005; Mendenhall, Black, Jensen and

Gregesen, 2003) in the MNC concerned. This understanding derived in the study is in

line with the outcome of some other studies where international assignments have been

found to be global firms’ single most powerful means to develop their global leaders

(cf., Jensen and Gregesen, 2003).

The role of international assignments as a major vehicle for developing global leaders in

MNCs is underscored by two facts. First, global leadership competencies are achievable

only through real global experiences (Mendenhall et al., 2003). It takes the global talent

who have acquired – through international assignments – global mindset, cross-cultural

competencies and global experiences to lead the way in developing and implementing

MNCs’ global strategies for business success. Second, there is a talent development

imperative in MNCs that stems from scarcity of talent. It is imperative for MNCs to

develop their respective global talent, as scarcity of global talent in the talent market

often constraints their implementation of global strategies (Evans, Pucik and Barsoux,

2002; Farndale et al., 2009; Scullion and Collings, 2006).

As gathered from the findings of this study, MNCs use international assignments

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coupled with various other training and development programs to establish and maintain

their individual talent pools. The findings show that the talent pool is of central

importance to every MNC as it serves three major purposes in the MNC: (i) it is a

reservoir that supplies the necessary talent to the MNC’s headquarters and subsidiaries;

(ii) it is the medium for talent sharing among the MNC’s globally dispersed

subsidiaries; and (iii) it is the conduit through which the MNC harnesses the capacities

and strengths of its talent across cultures and national borders. Therefore, the imperative

for every MNC to establish and maintain a talent pool for its global business success

cannot be over-emphasized. This imperative has been highlighted by some authors.

Collings and Mellahi (2009), for example, assert that firms must develop high-potential

and high-performing people to fill up key positions that are significant to their

sustainable competitive advantages.

When an MNC develops its talent pool and deploys incumbents from the pool to fill up

key positions in the organization, it is not merely capitalizing on its talent for

competitive advantage and business sustainability; it is also providing these employees

opportunities for skill development and prospects for career advancement. The latter is

effectively an effort within the MNC’s HRM function (IHRM) to retain talent while

continuing to attract talent in the global ‘war for talent’. As highlighted by participants

in this study, both the opportunities for skill development and prospects for career

advancement are as important as lucrative compensation and benefit packages in

attracting and retaining talent.

Findings presented in Section 5.6.2 of this thesis unfold the fact that talent retention is

addressed in tandem with talent development in the management of talent in MNCs. As

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evidenced by the findings, talent retention caters for not only talent succession, but also

contingency needs for talent in MNCs. Equally important, talent retention caters for

MNCs’ need ‘to have the right talent at the right place, and at the right time’, a

condition Tarique and Schuler (2009) term as ‘talent positioning’52. It is palpable that

without maintaining a pool of retained talent, all efforts of succession planning,

contingency planning and talent positioning in an MNC will not bear the anticipated

outcome; and the impact of scarcity of talent on the MNC will be immense. In sum, the

efforts to retain talent are just as pivotal as the efforts to attract and develop talent in

every MNC’s ongoing global ‘war’ for talent. Indeed, all findings concerning talent

management within IHRM in this study suggest that every MNC’s ‘war’ for talent

hinges on the integration of all processes of attracting, developing and retaining talent.

Intended for having the right talent at the right place and at the right time within the

MNC, the integrated processes of attracting, developing and retaining talent are

arguably a contextually based and innovative task. This line of understanding is

plausible considering the following assertion of Tarique and Schuler (2009, p. 6):

Due in part to the existence of many drivers of the […] challenges for
GTM, there are many possible IHRM activities that MNEs
[(multinational enterprises)] can consider as actions or tools to address
the many challenges. Matching the possible action with an accurate
diagnosis of an MNE’s talent management situation is a first step in
gaining and sustaining a global competitive advantage that may result
from the successful implementation of the correct action.

52
Tarique and Schuler (2009, p.7) use the term ‘talent positioning’ to refer to ‘having the right talent at
the right place at the right time with the needed competencies and motivation at all levels and all locations
of the [MNCs]’. According to Guthridge et al. (2008) and Lane and pollner (2008), fulfilling these
conditions of talent positioning is one of the outcomes of successful global talent management.

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Drawing on the above deliberations, it is clear that talent management in IHRM entails

more than instruments and processes for attracting, developing and retaining talent. It is

imperative that these talent management instruments and processes be integrated with

other HR strategies and approaches that befit the specific organizational and contextual

needs of the MNC concerned. In addition, the HR strategies and approaches employed

are necessarily those that create global-level competitive advantage and sustainability

for the MNC. Such strategic orientation of talent management with respect to the

MNC’s business success is clearly in line with that of relationship management and

diversity management as deliberated in Section 7.3 and Section 7.4 respectively. At this

juncture, it is pertinent to stress that talent management, relationship management and

diversity management jointly serve the strategic operations of IHRM and hence the

strategic objectives of an MNC, as evidenced by the findings of this study. The crux of

the matter is that the talent, relationships and diversity of people in an MNC are

inextricably-linked elements; and so they are necessarily managed as integrated parts in

IHRM for the benefit of the MNC.

7.6 Standardization and Localization53 as Process Structures of

IHRM

The notion of ‘standardization and localization as process structures of IHRM’ revolves

around two crucial roles of standardization and localization in IHRM unfolded in the

study. Firstly, standardization and localization are the support and bridge between

various HR processes, as well as the determinants of various HR tools in IHRM.

Secondly, standardization and localization are crucial vehicles for cross-cultural, cross-

border or, simply, global workings of IHRM. Without standardization and localization –

As a reiteration, ‘standardization’/‘localization’ in this thesis refers to standardization/localization of

53

HR policies and practices.

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between an MNC’s subsidiaries as well as between these subsidiaries and the MNC’s

headquarters – there is virtually no ‘shared HRM’ within the MNC that makes up

IHRM.

As unfolded in this study, MNCs adopt standardization for consistency of their

respective corporate identities, cultures and policies. Consistency in these regards in

turn enables MNCs to achieve the following conditions between their respective

subsidiaries: coordination, alignment, clarity and efficiency in HR processes; equitable

treatment of employees from diverse backgrounds (which leads to employees’ trust in

the firm); and leadership that is in line with the corporate culture and value system.

These dimensions of the findings expand the view of standardization beyond the most

commonly highlighted view, which posits that standardization is a means for MNCs’

headquarters to exert control over their overseas subsidiaries, and to have coordination

with and between these subsidiaries (cf. Bartlett and Ghoshal, 1998; Martinez and

Jarrilo, 1989; Rosenzweig, 2006). It is for all the benefits of standardization that the

following information is noteworthy:

With companies becoming more global, two thirds of multinational

companies have adopted a HR strategy that is consistent across
offices worldwide […]. A recent Watson Wyatt survey found that more
than half (56 per cent) plan to shift to a more centralized structure
over the next two years, up from 42 per cent in 2004 [… …].
Additionally, 80 per cent of companies are developing clear global
policies, and 64 per cent are implementing consistent global tools,
processes and technology to strengthen governance procedures for
total rewards design and administration around the world.

(De Cieri et al., 2008, p. 27)

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Despite the benefits of standardization to MNCs, the combined standardization-

localization approach was found in this study to be inevitable in IHRM. Anecdotal

evidence in this study points to the fact that, while maintaining and standardizing as far

as possible HR policies and practices of the parent company, an MNC’s subsidiaries

cannot avoid responding to a variety of local institutional and cultural factors in the host

countries: they do have to localize some of their parent company’s HR policies and

practices in the host countries. Then again, anecdotal evidence in the study also shows

that within this combined standardization-localization approach in IHRM, there is a

phenomenon of ‘localization within parameters of standardization’.

In connection with what is mentioned in the preceding paragraph, this study in effect

unfolded a persistent dichotomy within HRM in MNCs (IHRM). On the one hand,

HRM is viewed by MNCs as the binding force of their globally dispersed subsidiaries

amid globalization (Pudelko and Harzing, 2007); on the other hand, transfer of HR

practices from the headquarters to the subsidiaries of MNCs is limited by the national

cultures and institutional characteristics of the host countries. Again, on the one hand,

HRM is often seen as one of the management functions the practices of which are least

likely to converge (to be standardized) across countries and most likely to diverge (to be

localized) (Pudelko and Harzing, 2007; Rosenzweig, 2006); on the other hand, the

localization process entailed in HRM in MNCs is always bound within the parameters

of standardization.

The above-mentioned dichotomy represents an ongoing ‘standardization versus

localization’ issue in IHRM. There is a strong demand for standardization in IHRM, as

the corporate headquarters of an MNC normally seeks to uphold the corporate culture,

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central control and organization-wide consistency across the firm’s subsidiaries through

HR means. However, this demand is contradicted by the demand for localization in

IHRM as, among other means, the firm’s subsidiaries necessarily adapt to the local

contexts of host countries through HR means. Meanwhile, globalization persistently

adds to the demand for standardization and heightens the opposing force to the demand

for localization. As alluded to by the participants in this study and highlighted before by

some authors (e.g. Bae and Rowley, 2001; De Cieri et al., 2008), globalization has

generally influenced MNCs to orientate towards global integration and converge in

terms of their management policies and practices.

Summing up the deliberations in the preceding paragraphs, it is clear that the

contradictory demand between standardization and localization is a major challenge

confronting IHRM, exacerbated by the impact of globalization. Nevertheless, alongside

this ‘standardization versus localization’ issue, a combined standardization-localization

framework is crucial for practical IHRM and, as Rosenzweig (2006) points out, highly

useful for theoretical understanding of IHRM. In theoretical sense, this framework

entails conceptualizing HR strategies and practices through considering ‘how far to

behave like the headquarters and/or follow any available international standards and

norms’ against ‘how far to behave like the local firms and fulfil the local conditions’.

Administering IHRM within a combined standardization-localization framework is in

tandem with some authors’ suggestion that HR policies and practices in MNCs should

be conceptualized based on a global integration-local responsiveness framework (cf.

Lindholm et al., 1999). In taking the combined standardization-localization approach,

IHRM practitioners essentially work on balancing out the competing demands between

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global integration and local responsiveness in facing up to the challenges of

globalization (cf. De Cieri et al., 2008). In other words, in taking the combined

standardization-localization approach, IHRM practitioners work towards a dynamic

balance between globalization and localization, in line with the transnational status of

the MNCs (cf. Bartlett and Ghoshal, 1998). The imperative for IHRM practitioners in

MNCs to fulfil this role has been highlighted by Mendenhall et al. (2003). The authors

assert that the ability to balance global integration and local responsiveness is one of the

most critical capabilities required of leaders of global corporations.

The question of ‘standardization versus localization’ – and by implication the issue of

‘balance between standardization and localization’ – in IHRM is essentially part of the

larger ‘integration-responsiveness’ framework around which MNCs formulate their

strategies (cf. Schuler et al., 1993). This whole ‘standardization versus localization’

matter is even one of the major concerns54 of prospective MNCs when they first decide

on their global strategies (cf. Briscoe et al., 2009). Basically, the combined

standardization-localization framework is significant not only to the workings of IHRM,

but also to the operations of international business in MNCs.

This study did not include specific assessment of the degrees of standardization and

localization in the participating MNCs. However, it uncovered three variables – namely

‘organizational hierarchy of the job’, ‘type/nature of the job’ and ‘the HR activity

concerned’ – which generally determine the inclination of different HR practices to each

of standardization and localization. This finding on differential inclination of different

HR practices to standardization/localization parallel some authors’ assertions. Bartlett

54
Aside from the ‘standardization and local adaptation’ concern, other necessary concerns pinpointed by
Briscoe, Schuler and Claus (2009) pertain to the following: country selection; global staffing; recruitment
and selection; and compensation.

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and Ghoshal (1998), Myloni et al. (2004) and Rosenzweig (2006) in aggregate, for

example, highlight that of the different HR practices in MNCs, some are more inclined

to localization as they are more susceptible than others to pressure for local adaptation.

With regard to ‘organizational hierarchy’ as one of the variables determining the

differential inclination of different HR practices to local adaptation in particular, it is

pertinent to note Rosenzweig’s (2006, p.41) assertion: that ‘[…] from a normative

standpoint, forging policies that take into account organizational level may be wise’.

7.7 HR Best Practice as Process Structure of IHRM

One salient finding of this study, to borrow one participant’s words, is that ‘HR best

practices do not have to be the same in all countries’. There are two dimensions to this

finding. First, for any HR activity within an individual MNC, it is not necessary that all

subsidiaries of the MNC converge on a way that may be considered the ‘best’ at the

headquarters or some of the subsidiaries. In other words, for any particular HR activity,

MNC-wide HR best practice is not an invariable occurrence. Second, ‘universal HR best

practice’ may not exist and is a questionable concept. Indeed, all the findings in this

study (especially those presented in Section 6.5 of this thesis) do not indicate any notion

of ‘one best way’ for any particular HR activity, whether it is at the level of individual

MNCs or universally.

Without evidence of ‘one best way’, the findings in this study do not support the ‘best

practice’ model, which posits that all global firms face similar challenges in the global

marketplace and must therefore adopt identical best practices to improve performance 55

55
The assumption of the ‘best practice model’ is that, under globalization, internationalization and
universalism, all global firms face similar challenges in the marketplaces; and they must thus adopt
similar solutions to their problems. With HRM being increasingly linked to firm performance over the

230
(cf. Paauwe and Farndale, 2006; Stahl and Bjorkman, 2006). Instead, the findings

suggest that any deliberation of HR best practice necessarily includes an evaluation of

the plausibility of the ‘universal HR best practice’ notion. This is in line with the

assertion of Von Glinow et al. (2002) that in dwelling on whether there are universal

best practices or purely context-specific practices, it is imperative to consider a number

of contextual, cultural and organizational variables (collectively referred to as

‘contextual factors’ hereafter).

As witnessed in the findings of this study, sharing of HR best practice between several

sister companies is different from sharing of so-called ‘universal HR best practice’, if

any. Unlike the latter which is said to be ‘universal’, the former is ‘intra-MNC’ and

‘firm-specific’. This means that in sharing of HR best practice between several sister

companies, HR best practice is identified from within a particular MNC and is specific

to the MNC’s subsidiaries sharing it. This notion of ‘intra-MNC’ and ‘firm-specific’ HR

best practice, and what it entails, is explicable through the following assertion of Taylor

et al. (1996): within individual MNCs, there is not only ‘internal exportation’ of HR

policies and practices, but also identification and subsequent transfer of ‘the best’ HR

policies and practices. Referring to this as ‘integrative approach to internal transfer of

HR policies and practices’ within individual MNCs, Taylor et al. stress that HR best

practice transfer can take place between subsidiaries of the MNC or between the MNC’s

corporate headquarters and subsidiaries. These two levels of ‘intra-MNC’ and ‘firm-

specific’ HR best practice identified by the authors are comparable with ‘HR best

practice shared between an MNC’s subsidiaries’ and ‘MNC-wide HR best practice’

identified in this study.

past decade or so, some proponents of the ‘HR best practice model’ posit that there is one best way to
conduct certain HR processes to achieve maximum firm performance (cf. Paauwe and Farndale, 2006;
Stahl and Bjorkman, 2006).

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As derived in this study, HR best practice shared between an MNC’s subsidiaries (intra-

MNC HR best practice) is both a product of organizational learning and a product of

localization. Intra-MNC HR best practice as a product of organizational learning comes

about through the sharing and integration of cultures, knowledge and experiences

among the subsidiaries of the MNC concerned. Meanwhile, intra-MNC HR best

practice as a product of localization comes about when the subsidiaries concerned adapt

the headquarters’ HR practice(s) for the host countries’ contexts, in a manner that best

fits these local contexts. In this case, the subsidiaries concerned have some shared

contexts, that is, their host countries share some similarities culturally, socially and/or

economically.

HR best practice as a product of organizational learning is practically a product of intra-

MNC knowledge sharing and knowledge transfer. Intra-MNC knowledge sharing is a

critical driver of the MNC’s performance (cf. Bartlett and Ghoshal, 1998; Moore and

Birkinshaw, 1998). Intra-MNC knowledge transfer, which is an integral part of intra-

MNC knowledge sharing, enables the MNC to create global solutions (Lagerstrom and

Anderson, 2003), to economically translate the firm’s existing body of knowledge or

memory (Cross and Baird, 2000) and to upgrade the firm’s subsidiaries (Kogut and

Zander, 1993). Nevertheless, knowledge sharing and knowledge transfer do not take

place in a vacuum but within cultures and contexts. By extension, the same is true of

organizational learning, and hence of HR best practice as a product of organizational

learning. The latter is evidenced by the findings of this study that suggest that HR best

practice can only be context-specific: it is context-specific in that it can be identified as

well as applicable only within specific contexts.

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The findings on the contextual specificity of HR best practice can be further appreciated

through the following perspective given by Dinur et al. (2009): contextual factors have

a substantial bearing on the development and utilization of knowledge, hence on best

practice transfer, in MNCs. In a research study into critical factors influencing the

success of intra-firm, cross-border knowledge transfer, the authors obtained findings

that suggest that critical contextual dissimilarity inhibits best practice transfer. Based on

these findings, the authors argue that best practices as a subset of organizational

knowledge are embedded within contextual elements. This argument of the authors is

underpinned by the notion that ‘every organizational practice, routine or piece of

information is embedded within [the organization’s] unique context’ (Dinur et al., 2009,

p. 432).

Contextual factors have a strong bearing not only on HR best practice shared between

the subsidiaries of an MNC, but also on the MNC-wide HR best practice. As evidenced

by the findings of this study, viable MNC-wide HR best practice is effectuated through

a variable and discretionary standardization process; and this across-the-board

standardization process is substantially determined by contextual factors, aside from the

organizational hierarchy. For HR activities where local contextual factors necessitate

localization, however, MNC-wide HR best practice is non-existent. On the whole,

contextual factors have a strong bearing on standardization and localization of HR

policies and practices; and this in turn translates into a strong bearing on the probability

of MNC-wider HR best practice.

As unfolded in the findings of this study, besides contextual factors, organizational

hierarchy also has a strong bearing on the probability of MNC-wide HR best practice.

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The lower it is in the organizational hierarchy of the MNC, the lower the probability of

MNC-wide HR best practice; and the higher the flexibility in the implementation of

standardization (that is, the higher the leeway for not implementing standardization).

The reverse is true for ascending levels of the organizational hierarchy: the higher it is

in the organizational hierarchy of the MNC, the higher the probability of MNC-wide

HR best practice, and the lower the flexibility in the implementation of standardization

(that is, the lower the leeway for not implementing standardization). It can therefore be

concluded that MNC-wide HR best practice is largely a phenomenon at the upper levels

of the organizational hierarchy of an MNC.

All in all, the findings of this study indicate that standardization, localization and HR

best practice are closely interrelated in serving as the major vehicles in the workings of

IHRM. Within these links, HR best practice is shaped by the interplay of

standardization, localization, numerous contextual factors and the organizational

hierarchy. As such, an examination of the interrelations and interactions between these

few elements are arguably necessary in any deliberation of HR best practice in IHRM.

The overall conclusion of this study concerning HR best practice in IHRM is in accord

with the assertion of Von Glinow et al. (2002): that there is simply no universal best

practice but context-specific best practice. This is especially plausible given that various

aspects of IHRM are highly responsive to cultural and contextual factors, as evidenced

by the findings of this study and as pointed out by Tayeb (2006), for example. Based on

this overall conclusion coupled with the deliberations underpinning the conclusion, it is

only appropriate that the understanding of HR best practice in IHRM be placed within a

‘context-specific’ view rather than the view of the ‘universalistic model’. This requires

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that HR best practice be understood from the perspectives of ‘individual MNCs’ and

‘individual MNC subsidiaries’ rather than the perspective of MNCs in general.

A context-specific view of HR best practice in IHRM is in tandem with ‘contextually

based human resource framework for multinational organizations’ suggested by Paauwe

and Farndale (2006). Paauwe and Farndale argue that when constructing the link

between HRM and firm performance in multinational organizations, a contingency

framework based on contextual considerations is more convincing than a universalistic

framework. The authors stress as follows:

Contexts are so varied that it is difficult to see how multinational

organizations are able to, and want to, implement exactly the same
HRM processes in exactly the same way in all their subsidiaries around
the world, hoping to generate the same kind of firm performance gains.

(Paauwe and Farndale, 2006, p. 102)

Alluding to the pivotal role of HRM in firm performance, Paauwe and Farndale (2006)

further argue that, in order to optimize the link between HRM and firm performance,

multinational organizations must determine their individual ‘best fit’ models. The

findings of this study on HR best practice as both a product of organizational learning

and a product of localization are in agreement with the above argument of Paauwe and

Farndale. So are the findings on the strong bearing that contextual factors have on HR

best practice. This perceived parallel between the findings and Paauwe and Farndale’s

argument on ‘best fit’ model resides with the following understanding derived from the

study: veritable HR best practice is HR practice that best fits a specific firm (the MNC

as a whole or a MNC subsidiary) concerned; this is because it is identified through

organizational learning and/or localization, substantiated by ample consideration of the

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contextual factors confronting the firm. Ultimately, it is conclusive that in identifying

HR best practice for an MNC, IHRM practitioners are essentially identifying HR

practice that best fits the MNC.

7.8 Concluding Remarks

Based on the discussions in this chapter, two conclusions can be made of the findings of

the study and the various IHRM notions derived from the findings. First, a large part of

these findings and notions are consistent with the perspectives of IHRM conveyed by

existing researchers in the field. Second, these findings and notions cover considerable

ground and aspects of IHRM. These two conclusions point to the depth and substance of

the findings. By extension, the findings and the various IHRM notions derived from the

findings are adequate and viable for the purposes of modelling IHRM.

Besides the reflection of the findings of the study, another significant dimension of this

chapter is the approach to the discussions coupled with the emphases and considerations

underscoring the discussions. A holistic and open approach was employed to discussing

the findings and IHRM notions derived from the findings. This approach was chosen

based on two intertwined reasons namely (i) the objective of the study to formulate a

generic, holistic, comprehensive and practice-relevant conceptual model of IHRM; and

(ii) the lesson obtained from the literature review that theory building in IHRM should

be based on multiple perspectives, with a view towards comprehensiveness and

practice-relevance (cf. Section 2.3.4). In conjunction with this holistic and open

approach, equal emphases were given to micro-level and macro-level IHRM

phenomena in the discussions. In addition, the strategic focus and context-dependence

nature of IHRM were given major consideration. Amid these emphases and

236
considerations, the discussions in the entire chapter were placed within the context of

globalization and various globalization phenomena. On the whole, the discussions in

this chapter cover the essential topic areas and key concerns pertaining to IHRM theory

building (as identified in Section 2.3.4). The understanding of IHRM inherent in the

discussions constitutes a good foundation for the development of a conceptual model of

IHRM.

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 CHAPTER 8
CONCLUSION

8.1 Introduction

This chapter generally consists of two parts. The first part (Section 8.2) presents a three-

dimensional IHRM conceptual model derived from the findings of the study. The

second part (Section 8.3, Section 8.4 and Section 8.5) presents the salient points as

well as concluding thoughts about the study and the thesis as a whole. Specifically,

Section 8.3 features contributions of the study and significant aspects of the thesis.

Section 8.4 is about limitations of the study. The last section of the chapter, Section 8.5,

looks at implications of the outcome of the study for future research in IHRM.

8.2 Ultimate Outcome of the Study: Conceptual Model of IHRM

8.2.1 Overall Attributes of the Model

Drawing on the findings56 presented in Chapter 5 and Chapter 6 coupled with

deliberation of the findings in Chapter 7, the study arrived at the IHRM conceptual

model as shown in FIGURE 8.1A and FIGURE 8.1B. This model features what was

derived in this study to be the fundamentals, core components and major process

structures of IHRM. In terms of attributes, this model is integrative, generic, holistic and

practice-relevant.

The model is integrative on three counts. Firstly, it integrates theoretical perspectives

with practical perspectives, embodying both the conceptual and functional dimensions

of IHRM. Secondly, it integrates micro perspectives with macro perspectives, taking

56
In this chapter the word ‘findings’ refers to the findings in the study coupled with further insights
derived from the findings.

238
account of micro-level as well as macro-level variables and phenomena. Thirdly, it

integrates local perspectives with global perspectives, placing IHRM in the contexts of

individual MNC subsidiaries as well as the context of an MNC as a whole and as a

global firm.

The model is generic as it addresses IHRM comprehensively without confining its view

to any particular IHRM research strand. As the outcome of an interdisciplinary and

inclusive approach to researching IHRM, the model is holistic. It is holistic in that it

addresses the entirety and the overall workings rather than isolated issues or topic areas

of IHRM. In this regard, the model takes cognizance of the invariable influence of a

spectrum of internal and external environmental factors on the activities and orientation

of IHRM. The model is also practice-relevant. Its practice-relevance emanates from the

following sources: (i) the model is based on the findings of field research into IHRM in

real-life contexts; (ii) all components of the model revolve around practical contexts of

IHRM; and (iii) the model embodies what was concluded in the study as the crucial

ingredients and process structures of IHRM.

239
 FIGURE 8.1A
A Three-Dimensional Conceptual Model of IHRM:
Horizontal Dimensions of IHRM

240
 FIGURE 8.1B
A Three-Dimensional Conceptual Model of IHRM:
Horizontal and Vertical Dimensions of IHRM

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8.2.2 Major Features and Concepts of the Model

Within an integrative, generic and holistic framework, this IHRM model is generally

characterized by three features, namely (i) continuum and interconnectedness; (ii)

infinite number of variables and variations; and (iii) three-dimensional view.

Continuum and Interconnectedness

The model depicts all parts of IHRM as a continuum. The continuum denotes

interconnectedness of all parts of IHRM – including the ‘HR network of shared

connections’ with its shared HR factors that is conceptualized in this thesis. ‘Shared HR

factors’ in this thesis refer to any shared HR tools, policies, practices, processes and

procedures between the subsidiaries of an MNC. The ‘HR network of shared

connections’ is the medium through which an MNC manages and harnesses the

strengths of its human resources across cultures and national borders. Without the HR

network of shared connections – bonded mainly by the MNC’s corporate policies and

value system – subsidiaries of the MNC are unable to have commonalities and a shared

identity. Again, without the HR network of shared connections, HRM cannot assume its

international role and operate as IHRM in the MNC’s multinational setting. The HR

network of shared connections is therefore the footing of the global outlook of IHRM.

There are no boundaries between ‘relationship management’, ‘diversity management’

and ‘talent management’ in the model. This denotes interconnectedness between these

three core components of IHRM and all other HR components and activities in between.

It is appreciated in this thesis that every MNC is shaped by the diversity of its

workforce. As such, it is propounded in this thesis that diversity management must be

placed at the centre of IHRM, together with and be integrated with relationship

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management and talent management. This is to ensure that the talent and relationships

of the diverse people, who make up the human resource pool, are managed towards

competitive advantage, sustainability and ultimate business growth of the MNC.

HRM is depicted in the model to be contained within IHRM. There is also no distinct

boundary that rigidly separates HRM from IHRM in the model. These two features of

the model denote the notions of ‘HRM as the foundation of IHRM’, ‘IHRM as the

extended version of HRM’ and ‘inseparability of HRM and IHRM’ brought to the fore

in the study. As the foundation of IHRM, HRM is an integral part of IHRM that

invariably takes on aspects of IHRM: HRM is confronted with and must address, to a

certain extent, the same volatile global business environment and globalization

phenomena as IHRM does. On the other hand, as the extended version of HRM, IHRM

deals with more extensive diversity, more complex human relationships, larger pool of

talent, larger phenomena, as well as more demanding global-level strategic concerns,

compared to HRM. IHRM also entails a host of shared HR factors in cross-cultural,

cross-national border circumstances.

Infinite Number of Variables and Variations

The external environment engulfing IHRM is denoted by numerous dots in the model.

The numerous dots represent two facets of IHRM, namely (i) an infinite number of

variables in the external environment that are influential in IHRM; and (ii) an infinite

number of ways IHRM is influenced by the infinite number of variables in the external

environment. These external environment variables comprise those at the global,

regional and country (home country and host country) levels. In parallel with economic,

financial and political variables at the global, regional and country levels, there are

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institutional, social and cultural variables at the country level that pose even more

immediate influence on IHRM.

In concise terms, IHRM is faced with an infinite number and a random combination of

external variables at the global, regional and country levels. In conjunction with these

external variables, internal variables from the internal environment of an MNC

(variables at the organization level) are equally, if not more, influential in IHRM. All

the external and internal variables contribute to variations in IHRM policies and

practices – including variations in the manner and extent these policies and practices are

standardized and localized, hence the ways standardization and localization are

combined in IHRM.

As derived in this study, where standardization and localization of HR policies and

practices are concerned in IHRM, there are three particularly influential variables at the

organization level, namely (i) organizational hierarchy of the job; (ii) type/nature of the

job; and (iii) the HR activity concerned. Besides standardization and localization, HR

‘best practice’ is another aspect of IHRM that is strongly influenced by these three

organization-level variables. As concluded in the study, HR best practice is firm-

specific and highly context-dependent. In addition, it is simultaneously or separately a

product of localization and a product of organizational learning. All these intertwined

elements of organizational variables, standardization and localization jointly lead to an

infinite number of variations in HR best practice.

HR best practice is a ‘product of localization’ as MNC subsidiaries adapt the parent

company’s HR practices to best fit the cultures and contexts of their respective host

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countries. In this sense, HR best practice is ‘HR best practice for an individual MNC

subsidiary’ or ‘HR best practice shared between several MNC subsidiaries’. The same

HR best practice is also a ‘product of organizational learning’: it is a product of

organizational learning for an individual MNC as a whole, an individual MNC

subsidiary or several MNC subsidiaries sharing the HR practice concerned. For an

individual MNC or an individual MNC subsidiary, HR best practice comes about

through the firm’s individual learning endeavours and experiences. In the case involving

several MNC subsidiaries, HR best practice comes about through sharing and

integration of cultures, knowledge and experiences among the MNC subsidiaries

concerned. On the whole, HR best practice is part of the learning process of individual

MNCs and individual MNC subsidiaries.

Where the strategic roles of HRM in MNCs are concerned, HR ‘best practice’ is

identified more precisely as HR ‘best fit’ in this thesis. It is ‘best fit’ in that it is best

suited to the external and internal contexts, as well as the strategic objectives, of a

particular MNC as a whole or a particular MNC subsidiary. HR best fit is recognized in

this thesis as part of the strategic solutions to issues pertaining to competitive

advantages and overall performance of the firm concerned.

To arrive at the HR best fit for a particular firm, consideration of the external context –

consisting of global-, regional- and country-level variables – is necessarily balanced

with consideration of the internal context consisting of organization-level variables.

There should also be a balance between standardization and localization of HR policies

and practices. An infinite number of external and internal variables are therefore

influential in this process of identifying the HR best fit. Accordingly, there are infinite

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variations in the HR policies and practices that potentially make up the HR best fit for a

particular MNC or MNC subsidiary.

Three-Dimensional View

Given the multi-faceted nature and complexity of IHRM, the Researcher believes an

adequate IHRM conceptual model should at least be three-dimensional in form. In

addition to two horizontal dimensions, a vertical dimension is at least useful to

demonstrate the relationship between the organizational hierarchy and aspects of IHRM.

In the IHRM model advanced in this thesis (FIGURE 8.1, Section 8.2.1), the horizontal

dimensions feature the fundamentals and core components of IHRM, as well as the

internal and external environments engulfing IHRM. The vertical dimension features

the process structures of IHRM comprising standardization, localization and HR best

practice.

As explicated in the earlier chapters of this thesis, the process structures are the vehicles

that enable the workings of IHRM. They support and mediate various HR processes, as

well as determine the ways various HR tools are utilized. They serve as the bridge

between an MNC’s headquarters and subsidiaries, and between the subsidiaries. They

are effectively the link between the cross-border, cross-cultural contexts in which IHRM

operates.

The process structures of IHRM are denoted by cones and inverted cones in the vertical

dimension of the model. They closely interrelate with the organizational hierarchy and

accordingly, the types and nature of the jobs along the hierarchy of the organization.

There are one cone and three inverted cones denoting localization, standardization and

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two different dimensions of HR best practice: (i) inverted Cone-A denotes

standardization; (ii) Cone-B denotes localization; (iii) inverted Cone-C denotes

probability of MNC-wide HR best practice; (iv) Cone-D denotes flexibility in the

implementation of MNC-wide HR best practice (that is, leeway for not implementing

MNC-wide standardization). These cones and inverted cones encapsulate the

interrelations between the organizational hierarchy and standardization/localization/HR

best practice as shown in TABLE 8.1.

TABLE 8.1
Interrelations between Organizational Hierarchy and
Standardization/Localization, Probability of MNC-Wide HR Best Practice and
Flexibility in the Implementation of MNC-Wide HR Best Practice

Flexibility in
Degree/ Degree/ Probability of
Implementation
Organizational Probability Probability MNC-wide
of MNC-wide
Hierarchy of of HR Best
HR Best
Standardization Localization Practice
Practice
   
 Higher
Increase Decrease Increase Decrease

   
 Lower
Decrease Increase Decrease Increase

8.3 Contributions of the Study and Highlights of the Thesis

8.3.1 Theory Building in IHRM

Amid the growing importance of IHRM as a scholarly field and the lack of a clear

definition of IHRM, theory building in IHRM would benefit from a generic, holistic,

comprehensive and integrative conceptual model of IHRM. Where conceptualization of

IHRM is concerned, so far the approach57 of IHRM researchers has been to verbally

57
This is as far as the concept or definition of IHRM as both a professional practice and a field of
scholarly enquiry is concerned.

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describe, scientifically define, and rigidly deliberate within specific IHRM research

strands and topic areas. This study took an alternative approach. It extensively explored

the fundamentals of IHRM and conceptually denoted IHRM through a three-

dimensional model.

The model cannot claim to be a full representation of IHRM. However, it presents a

fundamental and holistic view of IHRM from which further perspectives of this

managerial function can be developed. The model also sets the footing for the

development of three-dimensional conceptual models of IHRM. In general, through the

model this study advocates innovative approach to understanding and defining IHRM. It

also highlights the need for and viability of conceptualizing IHRM using a generic and

holistic approach.

While this study drew on data concerning ‘HRM in MNCs’ (one of the IHRM research

strands), the findings suggest that any studies of HRM in MNCs cannot be exempted

from examining issues pertaining to ‘cross-cultural management’ (another IHRM

research strand). More precisely, the findings suggest that prevalence of cross-cultural

issues in the organizational life of MNCs is such that ‘HRM in MNCs’ is inseparable

from ‘cross-cultural management’. The findings of this study thus reflect the value of

the existing endeavours (which started in recent years) within the ‘HRM in MNCs’

research strand to define IHRM beyond a narrow context (Keating and Thompson,

2004; Tayeb, 2005). Such endeavours indicate the need for holistic view and practice-

relevance in any plausible IHRM definition. After all, defining IHRM is part of IHRM

theory building; and ‘theories of HRM in MNCs [are intended] to comprehensively

understand how MNCs organize the HR function and manage their worldwide

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workforce [in practice] in order to achieve their organizational goals and objectives’

(Keating and Thompson, 2004, p.597).

8.3.2 IHRM in Practice

The IHRM model advanced in this thesis58 was not designed to provide solutions to

complex problems facing practical IHRM (and IHRM practitioners for that matter).

Nevertheless, the model directly pertains to practical IHRM on three counts. Firstly,

the model was produced based on the reality of HRM in MNCs: it drew on data

collected from field research into HRM in MNCs. Secondly, the model embodies the

functional mechanism of IHRM: the vertical dimension of the model depicts the major

process vehicles of IHRM. Thirdly, the model describes the processes and practicalities

of IHRM: it depicts the interrelations and interactions between various practical aspects

of IHRM. In essence, the model presents IHRM not merely as a functional system but

also as a process. This indicates the practice-relevance of the model. However, the

practice-relevance of the model is to be appreciated in conjunction with the propositions

and assertions underpinning the development of the model in this thesis.

In identifying relationship management, diversity management and talent management

as the three major components of IHRM, this thesis essentially pinpoints these three

managerial activities as the umbrella HR activities around which all other IHRM

activities and processes should revolve. Equally important, this thesis recognizes these

three managerial activities as interrelated HR activities with major joint effects on

IHRM. Accordingly, it is proposed in this thesis that these three managerial activities be

administered as integrated components in IHRM.

58
This is also referred to in this chapter as the ‘integrative IHRM schema’ advanced in the thesis.

249
The above-mentioned idea is effectively a proposition for human relationships, diversity

and talent in MNCs to be centrally, strategically and jointly addressed in IHRM. This

proposition is underpinned by two lines of understanding. Firstly, human relationships,

diversity and talent are at the centre of life and operations of every MNC, given that an

MNC is a very complex social network, shaped by very diverse people who collectively

make up the firm’s talent pool. Secondly, the social capital (the actual and potential

resources that are embedded within and available through the network of human

relationships), diversity and talent constitute an MNC’s unique sources of competitive

advantage that must be leveraged through IHRM. Overall, in integrating relationship

management, diversity management and talent management, the integrative IHRM

schema presented in this thesis advances two main points, namely (i) IHRM is to

achieve competitive advantage and business sustainability for an MNC through

harnessing the social capital, diversity and talent available in the MNC; and (ii) IHRM

is to have relationship management, diversity management and talent management

consolidated and administered within a defined and systematic framework.

With an established role within a defined framework, relationship management would

be better conceived in IHRM than is currently the case. IHRM can thus be envisaged to

be purposefully oriented towards building people relationships and social capital within

individual MNCs. Management of social capital would thereby be given equal emphasis

as management of human capital in IHRM. With this orientation, an MNC would be

viewed not merely as a work system for fulfilling business objectives, but largely as a

social system where the relationships and socio-psychological dimensions of people are

fundamental to fulfilling the business objectives.

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While diversity management and talent management are generally better conceived than

relationship management in MNCs, the integrative IHRM schema propounded in this

thesis advances the imperative to have these two managerial activities strategically

positioned within IHRM, in conjunction with talent management. This means, first of

all, giving diversity initiatives and talent retention initiatives equal importance as other

aspects of business investments. This also means managing diversity and talent closely

in tandem with the challenges emanating from increasing workforce diversity and talent

scarcity in the global business environment. Under this integrative IHRM schema, there

would be close collaborative efforts between the HR department and the central

management of the MNC. These efforts would place the MNC’s corporate policies,

value system and HR tools in line with the latest global trends in relation to workforce

and human capital. The MNC’s HR department would be motivated to ensure that all

processes of attracting, developing and retaining talent from diverse backgrounds are

well integrated into the talent management and diversity management activities within

IHRM – and that the ‘war’ for talent is made an ongoing IHRM process throughout the

career of the talent with the firm.

Within the integrative IHRM schema, relationship management, diversity management

and talent management serve not only to address HR issues pertaining to human

relationships, diversity and talent, but also as decidedly strategic HR activities within

IHRM. All the measures taken in these three managerial processes should be strategic

enough to create bottom-line, positive organizational outcomes. In specific terms, the

following overall outcomes are anticipated: (i) relationship management that is geared

towards achieving harmonious working relationships hence good coordination and close

co-operations among staff at all levels of the firm; (ii) diversity management that is

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geared towards internalizing multiculturalism in the fabric of the firm; and (iii) talent

management that is geared towards effective maintenance and sharing of the talent pool

of the firm across cultures and national borders.

In general, the IHRM schema propounded in this thesis is a pointer to not only the

structure but also the process of IHRM. It draws attention to the dissimilarity between

putting in place HR standards and implementing these standards in real-life contexts of

MNCs. As regards the latter, the schema emphasizes three points, namely (i) the

considerable effects of the global, local, organizational and situational contexts on

IHRM processes; (ii) IHRM processes as learning processes for individual MNCs,

IHRM practitioners as well as all talent in MNCs; and (iii) the irrelevance and non-

existence of universal HR best practice. Point (iii) is effectively the epitome of points (i)

and (ii). It represents the fact that any HR best practice is necessarily firm-specific: it is

specific to an individual MNC as a whole, to an individual MNC subsidiary or to

several MNC subsidiaries with some shared contexts. Being firm-specific, HR best

practice entails a combination of contextual considerations and organizational learning

outcomes that best fit the firm concerned.

In conjunction with the three points highlighted in the preceding paragraph, the IHRM

schema propounded in this thesis identifies standardization and localization of HR

policies and practices (standardization and localization) as imperative vehicles in the

workings of IHRM. Standardization is imperative in IHRM for the following reasons:

consistency in the corporate identity, culture and policies; coordination and alignment in

administration between the corporate headquarters and the subsidiaries as well as

between the subsidiaries; clarity and efficiency in administrative and managerial

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processes; equitable treatment of employees across the board; and leadership that is

congruent with the corporate culture and value system. Localization is as crucial as

standardization in the workings of IHRM. This imperative in IHRM stems from the fact

that it is crucial for MNCs to respond to a variety of local institutional and cultural

factors at their subsidiaries. Without localization, the local contexts affecting human

resources in MNC subsidiaries cannot be effectively addressed in IHRM. In sum,

standardization and localization play different but equally pivotal roles in the cross-

border, cross-cultural workings of IHRM.

While highlighting standardization and localization as equally essential vehicles in the

processes of IHRM, the IHRM schema propounded in this study brings to the fore a

dichotomy of demand on every MNC that is addressed through IHRM. On the one

hand, there is a demand for the MNC’s headquarters to uphold the corporate culture,

corporate central control and MNC-wide consistency through standardization. On the

other hand, there is a demand for the MNC’s subsidiaries to respond positively to local

contexts through localization. In addressing this dichotomy, IHRM necessarily

maintains a dynamic balance between global integration/standardization and local

responsiveness/localization. This is a major challenge confronting IHRM practitioners

and other global leaders of MNCs.

On the whole, the IHRM schema propounded in this thesis – coupled with the

propositions and elaborations underpinning the schema – highlights the practice of

IHRM as highly complex, challenging and context-dependent. It points to contextual

relevance as an imperative condition in the workings of the major process vehicles of

IHRM. In turn, this means that the processes in IHRM necessarily befit the various

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contextual realities facing the MNC concerned. In essence, the IHRM model advanced

in this thesis conceptualizes IHRM as a process of identifying ‘HR best fit’. The latter

refers to the best fit between the ‘HR policies and practices shaping IHRM practiced

within an MNC’ and the ‘unique contexts of the MNC’. The model effectively equates

HR ‘best practice’ in IHRM to HR ‘best fit’; it contains no notion whatsoever of ‘best

HR standards’ or ‘universal HR best practices’.

8.4 Limitations of the Study

8.4.1 Limitations in the Final Outcome of the Study

Revolving around the intent of contributing to conceptual understanding of IHRM, this

study could however only endeavour to be as holistic and practice-relevant as possible

in the IHRM conceptual model it produced. The model cannot claim to be depicting and

representing all aspects of IHRM. Neither can the model claim to be projecting all

IHRM issues that have been discussed in this thesis.

While it was not part of the objective of the study to provide an absolute definition of

IHRM, the above-mentioned limitation of the model is generally inevitable. This

limitation inevitably stems from the following factors: (i) limitations of the study in

terms of the samples and data obtained (Section 8.4.2) and the research design (Section

8.4.3); (ii) the multifarious facets and intricacies of IHRM (which have been repeatedly

highlighted in the earlier chapters of this thesis); (iii) the infinite number of variables in

the internal and external environments of MNCs that must be addressed in IHRM; and

(iv) the volatility, complexity and interactions of the variables in the global business

environment that influence IHRM.

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8.4.2 Limitations in the Samples and Data Obtained

There were limitations in this study in terms of representativeness of the samples and

breadth of the data obtained. These limitations are attributable to two aspects of the data

collection in the study: (i) the data collection was carried out in only one country; and

(ii) the data were collected using self-selection sampling. As data collection was carried

out in only one country, the MNC-participant sample obtained consisted of MNC

subsidiaries based in one country only. With self-selection sampling meanwhile, the

Researcher had no control over the composition of both the MNC-participant sample

and executive-participant sample: it was not possible for the Researcher to ensure that

the samples complied perfectly with the sampling criteria and statistical plan set out in

the design of the study (cf. TABLE 4.1 and TABLE 4.3, Section 4.2). Basically,

representativeness of the samples and breadth of the data hinged on the composition and

number of the willing participants.

Despite the fact that subjects in qualitative research are not intended to be

representatives of a population (Bryman and Bell, 2007), ‘representativeness’ was

recognized in this qualitative study as a research criterion pertaining to the samples and

limitation of the samples. The consideration in recognizing this research criterion was

that the more representative the sample, the better the sample catered to the exploratory

nature and explanatory purpose of this study. This consideration parallels the ‘law of

large numbers’59 in quantitative research (cf. Saunders et al., 2009). Also part of this

consideration was that a sample with good representativeness would provide for breadth

of data, thereby complementing depth of data and depth of data analysis that are

59
According to this law, ‘samples of larger absolute size are more likely to be representative of the
population from which they are drawn than smaller samples and, in particular, the mean (average)
calculated for the samples is more likely to equal the mean for the population, providing the samples are
not biased’ (Sauders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2009, p.594).

255
generally inherent in qualitative approach to research. This would in turn result in richer

contents, more contextual examples and clearer data patterns in the findings. In the case

of this study specifically, this would have translated into even more theoretical themes

and even better representation of the reality of IHRM in the final research outcome.

One facet of the above-mentioned limitations in the samples and data obtained is that

concerning ‘balance of perspectives’ – that is, a balance of perspectives between the two

groups of executive-participants, namely ‘top HR managers’ and ‘other top managers’.

As a result of self-selection sampling, the executive-participant sample obtained in the

study consisted of a random mix of top HR managers60 and other top managers – that is,

a total of 10 top HR managers against 11 other top managers – from 17 MNC-

participants. Nevertheless, considering the balance between the number ratio of 10:11

between the top HR Managers and other top managers, it can be said that this study

generally attained a balance of perspectives between these two groups of executive-

participants.

‘Balance of perspectives’ between the two groups of executive-participants can be

assessed more closely, within each MNC-participant. Based on the statistical plan for

sampling set out in the research design (cf. TABLE 4.3, Section 4.2), the executive-

participant sample was to consist of at least one top HR manager and one other top

manager from each MNC-participant. This is in order to obtain from each MNC-

participant a balance of perspectives between these two groups of managers. As the

study procured 17 MNC-participants, the ideal composition of the executive-participant

sample was thus 17 top HR managers and 17 other top managers. This desired

60
The term ‘managers’ was used in the study, and is used in this thesis, in reference to managerial roles
rather than the actual job titles.

256
executive-participant sample would have contributed, to the overall data of the study, an

enhanced balance of perspectives between the two groups of participating top managers.

In addition, this may have also resulted in an enhanced balance of perspectives between

the HR department and central management of each participating MNC.

The better the data in this study provided a balance between the perspectives of top HR

managers and those of other top managers, the more this study would have minimized

interviewee bias. The same can be said of the balance between the perspectives of

expatriate managers and the perspectives of local managers. Balance of perspectives

between these two groups of managers can be assessed in the contexts of the ‘overall

executive-participant sample’ and the ‘executive-participant sample from an individual

MNC-participant’. Given the number ratio of 12:9 between the expatriate managers and

local managers in the ‘overall executive-participant sample’, and considering the

constraints inherent in the research design (cf. Section 8.4.3), this study can be deemed

to have attained an overall balance between the perspectives of expatriate managers and

those of local managers. In the context of the ‘executive-participant sample from an

individual MNC-participant’, on the other hand, the issue of balance of perspectives

between the expatriate managers and local managers does not arise. The general

inadequacies of self-selection sampling used in the study aside, this perceived non-issue

is in view of the fact that the expatriate manager/local manager make-up of an

individual MNC-participant is beyond the control of this study.

Measures Taken to Address the Limitations

Potential limitations in the samples and data were taken into consideration during the

formulation of the research design and prior to the data collection (interviews). To

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minimize the effects of the limitations, careful choices were made and appropriate

measures were taken prior to the data collection, during the data collection and during

the data analysis process. First, semi-structured interviews were chosen as the data

collection method, considering that this method allows for probing and is suitable for

exploratory and explanatory studies (Saunders et al., 2009). This is where the research

design was shaped by consideration as regards the breadth and depth of data, alongside

the sampling criteria and statistical plan for sampling.

Prior to the interviews, every endeavour was made to procure as many participants as

possible according to the sampling criteria and statistical plan for sampling. During the

interviews participants were probed, whenever possible and necessary, for further

details of their responses. The purpose of the probing was to give the data as much

breadth and depth as possible. Furthermore, as a supplement to audio recording of the

interview contents, on-the-spot written notes were taken of relevant contextual details,

special expressions of the participants, non-verbal cues given by the participants and

salient matters mentioned by the participants. This note-taking measure ensured that

there were plenty of cues and highlighted information to support the data analysis.

During the data analysis process, special care was taken to check subjectivities on the

part of the Researcher, namely interviewer bias. This measure was underpinned by the

following thinking: ‘[A]analysis of words needs to come from the perspective and

reality of the researched, and not the researcher’ (O’Leary, 2010, p.33); and

‘[researchers] must participate in the mind of another human being (in sociological

terms, “take the role of the other”) to acquire social knowledge’ (Lofland and Lofland,

199, p.16). Special care was also taken to account for interviewee bias. Apart from

258
knowledge about HRM in MNCs and operations of MNCs gathered through literature

review, background knowledge about each of the executive-participants and MNC-

participants was also drawn on during the data analysis process. The Researcher

acquired such background knowledge prior to and after the interviews, from printed

publications and websites of the MNC-participants as well as from the executive-

participants. Such background knowledge enabled the Researcher to check to a certain

extent interviewee bias in the data. Such knowledge also helped enhance the

Researcher’s understanding of the data collected from individual MNC-participants and

executive- participants.

On the whole, multiple interpretations were explored in both the data analysis and the

subsequent deliberation of the findings. In the first place, the interpretivist research

framework which emphasizes ‘interpreting’, ‘understanding’ and ‘explaining’ was

appropriately employed in the study. As explicated in Chapter 3 (Methodology), where

management research is concerned, an interpretivist research framework emphasizes

and delves into the deeper meanings attached to organization life. This is the context

within which multiple interpretations were explored in the data analysis of the study.

The interpretivist research framework with its multiple interpretation approach was

suited to the study, not only for addressing the anticipated research limitations coupled

with any interviewee and/or interviewer bias, but also for fulfilling the overall purpose

of the study.

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8.4.3 Limitations in the Research Method and
Overall Research Design

As evidenced by the findings presented in Chapter 6 (Findings: Process Structures of

IHRM), a major part of the processes in IHRM entail relational phenomena between

standardization, localization and HR best practice. In particular, the relational

phenomena concerned are (i) interrelations between standardization, localization and

HR best practice; and (ii) interrelations between the organizational hierarchy and

standardization/localization/HR best practice. These relational phenomena were

uncovered in this study from rich qualitative data, and through in-depth data analysis

underpinned by substantive reasoning. Although due consideration was given to

interviewer/interviewee bias, two of the possible threats to reliability of research

findings (Robson, 2002) during the data analysis process, the perceived relational

phenomena between standardization, localization and HR best practice lack definitive

correlation forms or, in other words, structured and clear correlation patterns. This is

where difficulty in replicating qualitative research studies – one of the more common

areas of critiques of qualitative research (Bryman and Bell, 2007) – is apparent in this

study. This is also where questions can be raised concerning ‘validity’61 and

‘generalizability’62 of the findings and the resultant theoretical inferences of the study.

To address the above-mentioned research criteria of ‘replication’, ‘validity’ and

‘generalizability’, a follow-up phase of the study employing a quantitative approach

may be desirable. The highly structured nature of quantitative research methods can

61
Guba and Lincoln (1994) substitute ‘validity’ in quantitative research with ‘credibility’ and
‘transferability’ for assessment of qualitative research.
62
‘Generalizability’ is assessed in this context with respect to theory and not populations. This is in line
with Bryman and Bell’s (2007) assertion concerning this concept in the context of qualitative research.
According to the authors, it is the quality of theoretical inferences made out of the qualitative data, rather
than statistical criteria, which is decisive in the assessment of generalizability of qualitative research
findings.

260
serve to examine with precise focus the relational phenomena unveiled in this study (cf.

Bryman and Bell, 2007). In more precise terms, ‘hard and reliable data’ of the follow-up

quantitative study can supplement the ‘rich and deep data’ of this qualitative study in

the following sense: while the initial qualitative data led to development of concepts and

theoretical inferences concerning certain relational phenomena, the follow-up

quantitative data inject precision as well as vigour into these concepts and theoretical

inferences (cf. Bryman and Bell, 2007).

The hypothetical research approach outlined above is one that entails a mix of

qualitative and quantitative methods. Such mixed-method research was not

implemented in this study due to time and financial constraints. As gathered from the

literature review in Section 2.5.4, mixed methods can be used to fulfil different purposes

of different IHRM research studies. In the hypothetical research approach outlined

above, qualitative research precedes quantitative research in a two-phase research study.

Firstly, the qualitative findings in the former are used to inform the latter. Thereafter,

the quantitative findings in the latter complement the qualitative findings in the former.

Mixed-method research studies can potentially produce rigorous IHRM research

outcome or, in Chan’s (2008, p.74) words, ‘convergent validity in substantive

inferences in IHRM research’.

The above-mentioned limitation in the research method became apparent during the

research process of this study. It became apparent upon the emergence, from the

qualitative data, of the relational phenomena of standardization/localization/HR best

practice and the interrelations of relationship management, diversity management and

talent management. Meanwhile, a limitation in the research design was identifiable

261
during the planning stage of the study. This limitation concerns the source of data.

Ideally, data in this study should be procured from both the managers and the rank-and-

file employees in the participating MNCs. This would provide an added dimension to

the representativeness and breadth of the data in the study. The rank-and-file employees

were not included as a source of data in the research design due to time and financial

constraints inherent in the study.

Another ideal element excluded from the research design was the testing of the IHRM

conceptual model derived in the study. Quantitative methods are most suitable for the

testing, given the capacity of these methods to provide precision and transparency in the

testing process. Selective and variable quantitative methods can be employed to

separately test the concepts, theoretical inferences, interaction structures and relational

concepts encapsulated in the model. For instance, to test the non-linear interaction

structures and effects of the relational concepts in the model, the most suitable

quantitative testing methods include structural equation modelling and recursive

regression modelling.

8.5 Implications for Future Research in IHRM

Through its findings, conclusions and the resultant IHRM conceptual model, this study

has stretched the boundaries of how IHRM can be described, conceptualized and

defined. The implications of these outcomes for future research in IHRM can be broadly

grouped under the following themes: (i) conceptual frameworks of IHRM; (ii) IHRM in

practice; and (iii) IHRM as a scholarly field of enquiry.

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8.5.1 Research Concerning Conceptual Frameworks of IHRM

Based on the outcomes of this study, any future IHRM research aimed at contributing a

conceptual framework to the field can be anticipated to address IHRM as both a system

and a process. The former concerns the ‘what’ while the latter concerns the ‘why’ and

‘how’ of IHRM. Exclusion of any one of them will render the research concerned

incomplete – incomplete in that it addresses only one facet of the intricacies of IHRM.

In respect of IHRM as a system, future research can be anticipated to expand on the

outcomes of this study and further examine the fundamentals, the core components and

the process vehicles of IHRM. In respect of IHRM as a process, future research can be

anticipated to further examine why and how various contextual variables greatly

influence the workings of IHRM, as well as how IHRM addresses these variables. A

host of IHRM issues and phenomena emanating from diversity, cross-cultural

intricacies and globalization should be taken into consideration in the research.

Future research into IHRM as a process should, in the first place, identify the specific

contextual variables that are most influential in the workings of IHRM. Hierarchical

level of analysis can be used for this purpose. Such analysis would unravel variables at

different levels in the internal and external environments of the global firms that

confront IHRM. These specific variables were not identified in this study.

This thesis has advanced an integrative IHRM conceptual model that presents some

overall, fundamental ideas of IHRM. Any future research expanding on this model is

anticipated to adapt the integrative schema underpinning this model and enhance the

generic conceptual understanding of IHRM. Such research would augment the initiative

263
taken in this thesis to conceptualize IHRM generically through an integrative and three-

dimensional model. In the larger scheme of things, such research represents a further

step in confronting the existing inadequacies in the descriptive, narrow and academic

definition of IHRM.

8.5.2 Research Concerning IHRM in Practice

One of the most pertinent areas to be researched as regards IHRM in practice is that

concerning standardization, localization63 and the combined standardization-localization

approach in MNCs. Among others, the following broadly-termed topics could expand

on the findings of this study on these three facets of IHRM:

i. the impacts of standardization on various departments in MNC subsidiaries and

their managerial and non-managerial staff;

ii. the impacts of localization on MNCs’ corporate planning and global strategies,

and on their increased tendency towards MNC-wide standardization (as

pointed out to be the case by some participants in this study and by authors

such as De Cieri et al., 2008);

iii. the means and manner by which localization is implemented in various

departments in MNC subsidiaries;

iv. specific strategies and measures employed by MNCs, if any, to juggle

standardization with localization and to strike a balance between the two;

v. quantified correlations between standardization, localization and the

organizational hierarchy, if any.

Studies based on topic (iv) examine the combined standardization-localization approach

As an reiteration, throughout this thesis, ‘standardization’ and ‘localization’ refer to ‘standardization of

63

HR policies and practices’ and ‘localization of HR policies and practices’ respectively.

264
that is invariably adopted by MNCs. Among others, there should be an emphasis in

these studies as to why and how a simple typology of full standardization or full

localization does not address issues inherent in cross-border, cross cultural HRM

(IHRM). Quantitative studies based on topic (v) serve to complement this qualitative

study in examining the interrelationships between standardization, localization and the

organizational hierarchy. A combination of qualitative and quantitative research

outcomes would provide further insights into these interrelationships unravelled in this

study. In examining all the above-listed topics concerning standardization and

localization, it is important to account for centralization/decentralization in international

business. This would elicit more profound perspectives of standardization/localization

in relation to globalization.

HR ‘best practice’ as an ambiguous concept among IHRM practitioners and authors is

another topic area that warrants substantial further studies. Such studies are warranted to

further define the concept, roles and implications of HR ‘best practice’ in IHRM.

Among others, these studies can be anticipated to further examine and clarify the

following notions derived in this study: (i) HR ‘best practice’ as HR ‘best fit’; (ii) HR

best practice as a product of organizational learning. Further examining these notions

would enhance the understanding of IHRM as a process. In specific terms, it is pertinent

to orientate the studies concerned towards expanding the findings of this study on the

following: (i) why and how HR best practice is not universal but firm-specific – in

respect of an individual MNC as a whole, an individual MNC subsidiary or several

MNC subsidiaries sharing some contextual similarities; (ii) why and how HR best

practice is not a pre-defined HR formula but an outcome of organizational learning –

where the learning experience is on the part of both the MNC and its staff engaged in

265
cross-border talent sharing.

Future research in IHRM can also be anticipated to augment the findings of this study

on the pivotal and interconnected roles of relationship management, diversity

management and talent management in IHRM. It is anticipated that IHRM Researchers

embark on studies that identify means and strategies to integrate these three

management activities in IHRM. Building on the outcomes of this study, these future

studies are anticipated to further clarify the centrality of talent and diversity in the

operations of MNCs – hence the imperative to manage the talent and relationships of the

diverse people in these organizations as an integrated whole in IHRM. The ultimate,

overall outcome of such research endeavours as regard IHRM in practice can be

anticipated to be twofold: (i) a more systematic and strategic approach to managing

relationships, diversity and talent in IHRM; (ii) a more centralized and practical system

to administer relationship management, diversity management and talent management

as essential and interconnected managerial activities in IHRM.

8.5.3 Research Concerning IHRM as a Scholarly Field of Enquiry

One of the core emphases of this thesis is that HRM in MNCs is inseparable from cross-

cultural management. The thesis repeatedly highlights the imperative to professionally

manage cross-cultural elements in HRM in MNCs, given the prevalence and major

influence of these elements in MNCs. However, the implications of the inseparability of

HRM in MNCs and cross-cultural management are not limited to the practical front of

IHRM. On the theoretical front, particularly in the development of IHRM as a scholarly

field of enquiry, the overall implication is that research in IHRM should not be

constrained by any subject boundaries. As discernible from the findings of this study,

266
any IHRM research that is constrained within any subject domain can at best look at

limited facets and furnish limited perspectives of IHRM. Such research orientation is

inadequate for theory building in IHRM, let alone making a contribution to the

development of the field of IHRM.

The ‘interconnectedness’ and ‘sharing’ phenomena in IHRM, as unveiled in this study,

are significant to future research in IHRM. The ‘interconnectedness’ phenomenon

occurs between all structures, processes and elements of IHRM. The ‘sharing’

phenomenon occurs invariably in all IHRM processes between an MNC’s subsidiaries

in different countries. This invariable phenomenon across national borders indicates the

need to include aspects of comparative HRM in research into HRM in MNCs. In

conjunction with cross-cultural management highlighted in the preceding paragraph,

comparative HRM is profoundly significant in IHRM research. The overall implication

therefore is the importance of merging ‘HRM in MNCs’, ‘cross-cultural management’

and ‘comparative HRM’ in IHRM research. By merging these three existent IHRM

research strands, taking into account the ‘interconnectedness’ and ‘sharing’ phenomena

in practical IHRM, IHRM research can be substantively augmented to generate holistic

and comprehensive understanding of IHRM.

As highlighted in Section 2.3.2, there is discipline-based introspection within and across

each of the three existent IHRM research strands; and that discipline-based sectarianism

is a shortcoming in the methodological design of IHRM research (Keating and

Thompson, 2004). Accordingly, merging the three strands in IHRM research would

contribute substantively to overcoming the shortcoming. Through the merging, IHRM

research would address the overlaps and gaps between the three strands and very

267
importantly, effect what Keating and Thompson (2004) term ‘interdisciplinary

collaboration’ and ‘cross-fertilization of ideas’ between them. Such research orientation

would in turn lead to more comprehensive, holistic and practice-relevant research

outcomes on IHRM. There is every reason for future research in IHRM to heed the

following assertions of Keating and Thompson (2004, p.606):

[…] [T]here is a need to begin the design and development of an

overarching theory to integrate the three strands of IHRM into a
framework embracing the related disciplinary approaches. The
fertilization of ideas and methodologies between strands will result in
an enrichment of research across the field and facilitate the
construction of an inclusive approach to theory building which
embraces all related disciplinary areas [… …] Only by overcoming
disciplinary sectarianism can the field of IHRM advance and produce
(practice) relevant theory.

This study has indeed contributed a step in the direction anticipated by Keating and

Thompson (2004). Not only has this study probed into and discussed cross-cultural

issues in IHRM, it has also emphasized the need to address these issues in specific

IHRM processes. Arguably, this study into ‘HRM in MNCs’ has encompassed aspects

of ‘cross-cultural management’, and has to a certain extent integrated the two strands in

researching IHRM.

Numerous further steps in the same direction are necessary before the existent

sectarianism in IHRM research can be fully overcome, and an inclusive framework of

theory building in IHRM fully established. As a matter of fact, the journey towards this

end of IHRM theory building has barely begun. Whatever research studies undertaken

along this path henceforth are important steps towards holistic theoretical advancement

268
of the field. Such research endeavours must, nonetheless, be in tandem with the volatile

global business environment, taking cognizance of the ever changing trends of

globalization and technological innovations. To conclude in succinct terms,

advancement of IHRM as a relatively new scholarly field of enquiry hinges on IHRM

researchers taking an inclusive, integrative and ‘world-savvy’ approach to theory

building.

269
APPENDICES

270
APPENDICES
FOR
CHAPTER 2

271
 APPENDIX 2-1

Two Logics Approach of IHRM

(Evans and Lorange, 1989)

272
 APPENDIX 2-2

Integrative Framework of Strategic IHRM in Multinational Enterprises

(Schuler, Dowling and De Cieri, 1993)

273
 APPENDIX 2-3

European (Contextual) Model of HRM

(Brewster, 1995)

274
 APPENDIX 2-4

Two Dimensions of IHRM

(Paauwe and Dewe, 1995)

275
 APPENDIX 2-5

Model of Strategic IHRM

(Taylor, Beechler and Napier, 1996)

276
 APPENDIX 2-6

Model of Strategic HRM in Multinational Enterprises

(Dowling, 1999)

277
 APPENDIX 2-7

Thematic Framework of IHRM in MNEs: 2007 Update and Extension

(Schuler and Tarique, 2007)

278
APPENDICES
FOR
CHAPTER 3

279
 APPENDIX 3-1
Interview Schedule

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

This interview should take not more than one (1) hour of the interviewee’s time.

Section A: Biography and Organization Related Questions:

Section B: Project Themes Related Questions

Section A
Questions Relating to Biography and Organization:

Question 1 is for expatriates.

Question 1A is for non-expatriate.

1. May I know whether you are from <country of origin of the company> or another
country?
How long have you been here in Malaysia for this position?

Have you worked in Malaysia before either in this type of role or another role?

1A May I know how long you have been in this position?

2. May I know whether you are on contract or permanent basis for this position?

3. You are the <job title> here. Could you give me a clearer idea of your role in this
portfolio?

4. For the managing role that you have held so far, which would you say is more
important, experience or education and training?

5. How big is this organization? (i.e. in terms of the number of employees)

How many employees do you manage in your department? [for HR Department]

6. What is the makeup of the employees in this organization? (i.e. who they are,
where they come from, the approximate ratio of locals to expatriates)

7. Could you give me some ideas about your organizational structure? (i.e. the
departments, their interrelations, their respective job functions and the people that
work in these departments)

280
Section B
Questions Relating to Project Themes

Concepts of HRM and IHRM

This part of the interview asks for your opinions about the concepts of Human Resource
Management (HRM) and International Human Resource Management (IHRM).

1. How would you best describe the function of HRM?

2. In your opinion, what is the most crucial factor that makes management of human
resources across country borders different from HRM at the local level?
2.1 What should the management do to address this factor?

3. In very simple and superficial terms, here I define International Human Resource
Management (IHRM) as managing across national borders.

What do you think is the best way to further describe IHRM?

Globalization, IHRM & Strategic HRM

In simple terms, ‘globalization’ could perhaps be described as the uprising of open

global markets for internationalization of businesses, ideas and technologies.
Globalization has brought about not only increased level of international business, but
also greater cross-cultural understanding, communication and exchange. It has certainly
also heightened the level of competition between global companies.

1. In your assessment, what has been or will be the impact of globalization on the
ways human resources are managed in a global company like yours?
(For example in terms of recruitment, job design, training and development,
expatriate management, etc.)

2. Amid the increased level of international business and global business

competition that comes with globalization, how can HRM play a strategic role in
international business?
(For example, in terms of the company’s competitive advantage, comparative
advantage, etc.)

281
Standardization Versus Localization of HR Policies, Practices and Procedures

1. In this organization, do you adopt the same HR policies, practices and procedures
as those in the headquarters?
(I mean all the policies, practices and procedures)

1(i) [If ‘Yes’ to the above question]

I would call what your organization does as ‘standardization’ of HR activities.

Is it the headquarters’ decision or policy to do so?

What is the company’s rationale for standardization of its HR activities?

Is such ‘standardization’ of HR activities done selectively only in certain countries

or in all countries where the company has an alliance or subsidiary?

And why?

1(ii) [If ‘No’ to Question 1: ‘No’ for almost all HR policies, procedures and
practices]

We would call what your organization does as ‘localization’ of HR activities.

Is it the headquarters’ decision or policy to do so?

What is the company’s rationale for ‘localization’ of its HR activities?

Is such ‘localization’ of HR activities done selectively only in certain countries or

in all countries where the company has an alliance or subsidiary?

And why?

What has been modified in the HR activities?

(i.e. Compared to the headquarters’ version, what is different, for example, in

recruitment, job design, performance appraisal, training and development etc.?)

1(iii) [If combination of ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ to Question 1]

We would call what your organization does as a ‘combination of standardization

and localization’ of HR activities.

Is it the headquarters’ decision or policy to do so?

What is the company’s rationale for taking this approach to its HR activities?

What has been modified in the ‘localized’ HR activities?

282
 (i.e. Compared to the headquarters’ version, what is different, for example, in
recruitment, job design, performance appraisal, training and development etc? )

Why is <HR activity> treated differently from <HR activity>?

And what about <HR activity>?

[Based on interviewee’s earlier answers]

Does the headquarters apply the same approach in every country where it has an
alliance or subsidiary?

2. Is the same approach of standardization/localization /combining standardization

and localization applied to all other departments’ activities?

2(i) [If ‘No’ to the above question]

So which departments’ activities are standardized and localized respectively?

Why is <department name> given a different treatment from the HR Department?

What about <department name>?

[Based on interviewee’s earlier answers]

Environmental Factors in IHRM/Managing Local (Malaysian) Employees

1. What specific environmental factor or factors (i.e. social, political, economic,

cultural factors) in this country (Malaysia) do you see demand special attention in
managing the Malaysian workforce?

And how do you cater for this factor(s) in the management of your organization
[for head of organization]/your HR Department [for head of HR department]?

2. Malaysia is an Asian, Eastern country. HRM, as we know it in management

school and MBA courses, originated in America and on the whole is a Western
concept.

What environmental factor or factors in Malaysia contrast Malaysia with Western

countries in such a way that makes adoption of some Western HRM practices here
at least slightly complicated?

Managing Diversity

1. What do you consider the biggest challenge in managing a multi-cultural

workforce in general?

What about in Malaysia specifically?

283
2. As a multinational company, what is the company’s general approach or specific
policy, if any, to managing diversity of its workforce worldwide?

Leadership in Managing Human Resources

Question 1 is for expatriates.

Question 1A is for non-expatriates.

1. As an expatriate managing this organization as a whole/the HR department, you

are in the best position to enlighten me about your position under expatriation
arrangement here. What is the headquarters’ rationale for appointing an expatriate
to this role?

1A. As a local managing the organization as a whole/the HR department, you

are in the best position to enlighten me about your position here. What is the
headquarters’ rationale for appointing a local to this role?

2. You are playing a leadership role here. Is your leadership style here the same as
that in the headquarters for this specific portfolio that you hold?

2.1 How would you assess this leadership style for your organization as a
whole/for your HR department?
(e.g. What is good or not so good about this leadership style etc.)

Managing Across cultures and national borders

1. What do you like best and least about your job?

Question 2 is for expatriates.

Question 2A is for non-expatriates.

2. What advice would you give to someone who will assume the responsibilities of
managing human resources across cultures and national borders?

2A. What advice would you give to someone who will assume the
responsibilities of managing human resources for a multinational company?

THANK YOU
- END OF INTERVIEW -

284
 APPENDIX 3-2

[SAMPLE]
Data Display in ‘Matrix’ Format (Summary Matrices)

Topic of Sample:
Standardization vs. Localization (Partial Matrix only)
MNC-Participant MNC-S-1 MNC-S-2
Country of Origin Netherlands New Zealand

Executive-Participant A B
Designation CEO HR Manager
(Expat/Local) (E) (L)
ALL of HQ’s policies, YES, (almost 100%)
practices & procedures?
Except:
Pay, compensation &
employee benefits
&
Other matters involving
national policies of the host
countries e.g. retirement
age
If YES VERY HIGH
- HQ’s decision for all or STANDARDIZATION
high standardization?
HQ’s decision & policies
- Rationale
Sameness &
- Only in certain standardization instil
countries or all countries? employee trust in a global
Why? company

Rationale
Employees need to know
the global company they
work for can be trusted

Not a global company if

practices and processes
differ from one country to
another

Company needs processes

that can be rolled out very
quickly across the globe

285
MNC-Participant MNC-S-1 MNC-S-2
Country of Origin Netherlands New Zealand

Executive-Participant A B
Designation CEO HR Manager
(Expat/Local) (E) (L)
YES & NO COMBINATION
COMBINATION
STANDARDIZATION
- HQ’ s decision?
Recruitment policies
- Rationale e.g. equal opportunities for
both genders and for all
- What has been ethnic groups
modified? But
variation (localization) in
- Only in certain recruitment & selection
countries or all countries? based on job nature
e.g. jobs involving heavy
lifting, exactness, patience,
ethnic specific business
dealings, ethnic relations.

HQ standards on health and

safety to be followed
strictly.

But HQ flexible on
necessary localization

COMBINATION

Training and Development:

Training for senior

managerial roles:
‘Leadership Development
Program’ & ‘Legacy
Leadership Program’
– training held in main HQ
or regional HQ
(Standardized training)

‘Foundation of Leadership
Program’ for first-time
managers/young executives
-- one line manager and the
HR manager (current
senior managers) from each
operating company

286
MNC-Participant MNC-S-1 MNC-S-2
Country of Origin Netherlands New Zealand

Executive-Participant A B
Designation CEO HR Manager
(Expat/Local) (E) (L)
(subsidiary) sent to be
trained as trainers at the
HQ; then they return to
train first-time mangers.
But the program at the
local level is customized
(localized based on local
situations).

Leadership Development
Program for senior
managers and second layer
mangers standardized;
conducted at HQ

Legacy Leadership
Program for prospective
general managers
standardized; conducted at
HQ

LOCALIZATION

Locally structured
‘competency based
interview’ training
conducted annually for all
managers for performance
management &
development purposes;
a certain pre-designed
structure for assessor
managers to ask assessment
interview questions

Customized, locally
structured training but
training contents are based
on HQ training materials.

A lot of competency
training: functional
competencies & leadership
competencies

287
MNC-Participant MNC-S-1 MNC-S-2
Country of Origin Netherlands New Zealand

Executive-Participant A B
Designation CEO HR Manager
(Expat/Local) (E) (L)
The higher level the role,
the more requirement of
leadership competencies
outweigh functional
competencies

Localized job designs: Job

descriptions shared among
sister companies in
Southeast Asia via a job
bank based in regional HQ.
Local managers free to
acquire and adopt or adapt

Variation in recruitment &

selection:
based on job nature e.g.
jobs involving heavy
lifting, exactness, patience,
ethnic specific business
dealings, ethnic relations

Same approach to other STANDARDIZATION COMBINATION

departments?
Finance & Accounting HR & Finance
Departments where
activities are Legal aspects LOCALIZATION
standardized and/or
localized Sales & Marketing Sales & Marketing

Operations Management

Localized programs in
various departments are
done in conjunction with
the HR dept. & still based
on some guidelines from
the HQ & in consultation
with the HQ

288
MNC-Participant MNC-S-3 MNC-S-4
Country of Origin Switzerland USA

Executive-Participant C D
Designation HR Director HR Director
(Expat/Local) (L) (L)
ALL of HQ’s policies, NO NO
practices & procedures?
HQ provides the
fundamental, philosophical
framework as the
governing guideline for all
subsidiaries
But
The framework must be
adapted to the local
operating environment &
practices
If YES
- HQ’s decision for all or
high standardization ?

- Rationale

- Only in certain
countries or all countries?
Why?
YES & NO COMBINATION COMBINATION
COMBINATION
HIGH LOCALIZATION Localization is necessary
- HQ’ s decision? for certain policies and
More localization than procedures due to local
- Rationale standardization laws and statutory
requirements
- What has been HQ does not provide thick But
modified? HR policies but a thin As far as possible the
framework on HR company’s global policies
- Only in certain principles instead are adhered to
countries or all countries?
The HQ policy is modified LOCALIZATION
locally, governed by the
HQ principles Recruitment is very much
local; no global
High localization and recruitment party
adaptation in HR activities
Any global job description
is adhered to as far as
possible.
But
Sometimes the job

289
MNC-Participant MNC-S-3 MNC-S-4
Country of Origin Switzerland USA

Executive-Participant C D
Designation HR Director HR Director
(Expat/Local) (L) (L)
STANDARDIZATION description needs to be
modified for local work
MNC-3’s global requirements
competencies framework --
Leadership Framework For every job function
(must be adopted) there is a localized
competency model
MNC-3’s management specifically for Singapore
principles -- for attributes & Malaysian combined
of good managers (not following the rest in
(must be adopted) MNC-4 globally).
No globally standardized
But competency model
must consider current local
context when training staff COMBINATION
to comply with HQ
frameworks and principles Local & global training and
development programs
Rationale:
to be relevant to where it Local programs -- because
operates cheaper to engage local
training partners
LOCALIZATION But
Leadership raining is global
Practiced in all countries
where MNC-3 is present

Localization of HR
practices within MNC-3
framework

Training & development:

Localized with locally
engaged training provider
to cater for the specific
needs of talent in local
markets

Recruitment:
Localized in terms of
executive search process &
method

290
MNC-Participant MNC-S-3 MNC-S-4
Country of Origin Switzerland USA

Executive-Participant C D
Designation HR Director HR Director
(Expat/Local) (L) (L)

Job design:
Localized based on jobs
created

Performance appraisal:
Managerial jobs –
standardized for easy
information/guide for talent
worldwide
Non-managerial jobs –
fully localized
Same approach to other COMBINATION COMBINATION
departmental functions?
Marketing :
Departments where Brand policies are standard
activities are in all subsidiaries;
standardized and/ or governed by HQ
localized But
Localized in terms of
product variation

LOCALIZATION

Sales:
Differing structures from
country to country;
So different ways of rolling
out ‘route-to-market’
strategies & different ways
of dealing with sales force
operations

Diversity of population
means diversity of
consumers. So there must
be diverse ways & diverse
staff to deal with
consumers

Local staff make-up should

as far as possible reflect the
population of the country

291
 APPENDIX 3-3

[SAMPLE]
Summary Matrices with Categorized Meaning Labels

Topic of Sample:
Factors Defining HRM & IHRM (Partial Matrix only)

HRM IHRM

Career development SD Capitalizing on the ‘shared mind’ of talent

for company’s knowledge database, hence
Talent development SD for the work of its global team, and the
company’s higher goal SR/TM
Standardized performance /competency
evaluation DC/PM Multi-cultural workforce & environment D

Identification & development of leaders Open-mindedness & flexibility in

SD /TM management:
- Open to feedbacks and change
Acquisition, development, motivation & (Change an inevitable and important part
retention of talent SD/TM of IHRM) OF

Human capital management Talent management across country borders

- through retention, resourcing and talent TM/B/SR
management policies SCA/TM Shared best practices
- through the processes of identifying,
Strategic business partner SBPS adopting & adapting SR/LA

Business support SBPS Standardized & clearly established policies

SC
Most efficient use of human resources Optimization of human capital and
based on company’s values BU strengths BU/SR

To bring out the best, most efficient and Having all HR elements and factors put in
most effective employees in line with the light of multi-cultural and international
market conditions BU context D/GO

Employee engagement through HR tools, Significance of diversity and multi-cultural

techniques and processes EE conditions D

Talent monitoring through attractive Talent recruitment from within and outside
remuneration and compensation programs the Group TM/B
TM
Embedded and globally common
Talent monitoring & attractive processes SC
remuneration/compensation program to

292
 HRM IHRM
procure employee engagement TM/EE Managing human relationships among
people from diverse backgrounds MR/D
Talent Management made important due to
scarcity of experienced and competent Managing and monitoring human factors
people SCA i.e. employee issues and needs SCA

Fair and professional treatment of To have the right people with the right
employees a key issue SCA skills at the right places BU

HRM with short and long terms Importance of long term (5-10 years) and
objectives: strategic views: SBPS
**Short Term - Get right people
- Best use of available human resources - Plan for future HR needs and develop
BU people
- Overseas postings/assignments for
- Performance management PM international exposure & cross-cultural
understanding; for job learning; as
- Management of work climate WCE contingency plan SD/GO/ SBPS

**Long Term Managing people everywhere from

- Right people for the business going everywhere B
forward BU
Needs change in and management of
Mitigation of business risks DC thinking process
- think global in decision making
Nurturing of harmonious working
environment for company growth - openness, transparency and justification
WCE /SBPS in decision making LA/GO/OTE

Execution of strategies to achieve Consciousness – managing across cultures

company goals SBPS and not within culture GO/D

Work with people while leading and Mutual learning across borders - as a
providing directions PE/DC result of sharing of strengths, including
HR strengths across borders LA /SR
Four HR roles:
Admin expert SBPS, change agent DC, A strategic issue:
employee champion SCA & strategic - People management (where, when, how
business partner SBPS in relation to people) BU
- People in relation to company growth
Ensure alignment between strategic roles SBPS
and HR roles SBPS An international issue
HR strategies for people movement within
Enhance organization’s capabilities by the Group B
harnessing human resources BU /SBPS
Standardization of processes SC
Ensure growth of organization and its
people by harnessing human resources Management and relocation of resources

293
 HRM IHRM
SBPS/SD across national borders and make the fit
SR /B
(i.e. Harnessing human resources to ensure
growth of both company and its people) Outsourcing using IT facilities a common
substitute for physical relocation of human
Source, attract, retain and develop talent resources SR/B
TM
No borders for people B
Manage ‘employer-employee’ and
‘employee-employee’ relationships to Open mindset and open culture in people
meet the organization’s objectives MR management OF

People management function lies with Cultural awareness & issues relating to
General Manager and Unit/Department culture differences part and parcel of
managers; actual functions of HR: IHRM CAS
benchmarking of practices, checks and
balances on other departments/ business Adaptation & sensitivity to local
units regarding market trends, statistics populations’ cultures necessary
etc. DC/SBPS CAS/LA

HRM as strategic business partner SBPS To take a balanced approach between

adapting too much and no adaptation
HRM as solution provider for the business LA
SBPS/DC
Expatriate managers to take ‘direct by
Recognition and management of people as consensus’ style of management
capital and assets SCA OTE/LA

Acquisition and retention of staff through Expatriate managers to share mutual

various means and remuneration packages strengths with the locals while keeping
highly important EE own identities SR/LA

Guide for HRM: good people, then good Challenges to develop HR practices that
organization SCA are consistently applicable in multiple
environments SC/D
Proper training of people SD
IHRM mandate:
Obtain the best out of people’s knowledge To develop appropriate HR policies and
and experience BU practices, taking into consideration
differences between places and
Identify, develop and put people in organizations D
appropriate roles SD /BU
To deal with core, common values that
Encourage and empower people to make an organization a global organization
perform through recognition and good SC
employee welfare PE
To have core philosophies as a guide for
Recognize employees as an asset for practising HRM across the globe SC

294
 HRM IHRM
business profit & give human touch to this
asset SCA Core philosophies as a HRM guide
underscore clear policies on treatment of
HRM is simply ‘people management’ as it employees OTE
is all about people
Sharing of best practice SC
Create HR policies and processes that in
turn create motivating work environment Established, common policies and
and work processes DC procedures SC

Develop rather than manage human Ensure continued survival of individual

resources SD markets of the Group SBPS
- staff always trained at start, then go
through career development plan High emphases on people potential, high
performance & succession planning across
HRM actually a consultancy function; borders SCA/SR
staff development and actual dealing with
staff lie with line managers DC Local conditions and contexts influential
on practices adopted
Two sides to HRM: - best practice to be tested against the local
(i) Admin settings LA
(ii) Environment
Admin side: related to cost of doing Important to comply with differing labour
business laws in different countries & yet ensure
Environment side: value-added side of fairness and equal staff security across the
HR (emotional & cultural aspects; board LA/OTE
training & development etc.) WCE
A learning process
Strategic partner with the rest of the - requires timing, individual operating
management team – in all aspects companies’ readiness & comparison with
concerning performance & decision other sister companies LA
making SCA
Full awareness & understanding of host
Attract, retain, reward and develop people country conditions LA

To manage host country conditions with

corporate policies, making necessary
adaptation in the process LA/SC

295
 Legends
Best Use of Human Resources BU

Borderless B

Cultural Awareness & Sensitivity CAS

Directions & Consultancy DC

Diversity D

Employee Engagement EE

Global Outlook GO

Learning & Adaptation LA

Management of Relationships MR

Management of Work Climate/Environment WCE

Open-mindedness & Flexibility OF

Openness, Transparency & Equality OTE

Performance Management PM

Standardization & Commonality SC

Staff Empowerment PE

Staff Development SD

Staff as Capital and Asset SCA

Strategic Business Partner & Support SBPS

Talent Management TM

296
 APPENDIX 3-4
[SAMPLE] Data Display in ‘Network’ Format
A network diagram presenting partial research outcome in the form of conceptual propositions

Larger Phenomena beyond

HRM/IHRM Commonality
IHRM as an
Extension of HRM
Global and Strategic Outlook
of IHRM
IHRM as a Network
of Shared Connections
A Host of Shared Factors
in IHRM
IHRM as a Network
of Shared Connections
Prevalence of the ‘Sharing’
Phenomenon at the Core of the
IHRM as a Network
Workings of IHRM
of Shared Connections

IHRM as a Globalized/Cross-border Function is Underpinned

by Cross-cultural and Diverse Relationships, Multi-cultural
Partnerships, Diversity Leverage and Talent Sharing
RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT, DIVERSITY
MANAGEMENT & TALENT MANAGEMENT AS
Major Themes/Features/Activities/Concerns in IHRM CORE COMPONENT OF IHRM
Entail ‘Human Relationships’, ‘Diversity’ and ‘Talent’

297
 APPENDIX 4-1

Working Tables for Procurement of Representative Samples

(Representative MNCs & Representative Top Managers)

(A) Working Tables for Procuring a Cross-section of MNCs That Can

Represent MNCs Worldwide

Number of Individual MNC-

Continent MNC-Participants Participants’ Countries of
Target Procured Origin
Europe 5
America 2
Australasia 2
Asia 3

(B) Working Tables for Procuring a Cross-section of MNC Top Managers

Who Can Convey the Reality of HRM in MNCs

MNC- Number of Exec-Participants

Participant HR Top Manager Other Top Manager
Local Expatriate Local Expatriate

MNC-S-1

MNC-S-2

MNC-S-3 Etc…

298
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