The increasing role of subsidiary boards in MNCs: An empirical study
研究了跨国企业中子公司董事会的作用，发现其正从被动转向主动，在不同地区总部眼中价值各异，可用于战略咨询和治理，但非万能药。
Abstract Little research has been done to date on the role of subsidiary boards (SBs) in MNCs. A two‐phase survey research design has yielded responses from 90 subsidiaries in 36 MNCs based in Europe, North America, and Japan. The sample provides evidence that: (1) SBs are perceived to be in transition from lesser to greater proactivity, and (2) MNCs with parent headquarters in North America, Europe, and Japan perceive the usefulness of these boards in different ways. The results indicate an increasingly active use of these boards in selective advisory and strategic roles. Some recommendations are presented for CEOs, chairmen, and subsidiary directors who are interested in designing their SBs to take better advantage of already legally mandated, but often underutilized, structures. SBs are not a panacea for resolving tensions between parents and subsidiaries and for monitoring changes in host country environments; however, they can provide added strategic governance for subsidiaries.