How Multinational Banks in India Gain Legitimacy: Organisational Practices and Resources Required for Implementation
通过研究法国跨国银行在印度的实践，揭示了子公司如何通过组织实践和资源来应对外来者劣势，提出了超越被动反应的主动合法性策略。
Liability of foreignness (LOF) refers to the difficulties and additional costs that multinational enterprises face when they operate in a foreign market. Rooted in institutional theory, extant literature has discussed isomorphism, transference, and sociopolitical activism as legitimation strategies to counteract LOF. This view relates to the macro level of firm and society, assumes passivity of subsidiaries, and neglects implementation of these strategies. Consequently, this paper aims at complementing this restrictive view through a qualitative study to explore how French multinational banks respond to LOF challenges in India, an adverse institutional environment typical of emerging markets but also unique due to strong economic nationalism and cultural traditions. As such, the present article contributes to the institutional research stream by (1) presenting an empirical investigation at the micro level of subsidiary organisational practices to operationalise legitimation strategies in managerial terms; (2) revealing rhetoric proactive strategies beyond the passive or reactive paths identified previously; and (3) discussing the internal implications of implementing legitimation strategies directed at external recipients within the intraorganisational network of multinational banks, using the resource-based view.