Multinationals as Flagship Firms: Regional Business Networks
Alan M. Rugman and Joseph R. D'Cruz
Abstract
The international dimension of business networks has remained relatively unexplored, mainly because international business writers focus upon multinational enterprises and network writers ignore international issues. This book bridges the literature on networks and multinationals by introducing the new concept of the flagship firm. In each business network strategic leadership is provided by the flagship firm, which is defined as a multinational enterprise. It has other partners: key suppliers; key customers; key competitors; and key partners in the non-business infrastructure. These business ... More
The international dimension of business networks has remained relatively unexplored, mainly because international business writers focus upon multinational enterprises and network writers ignore international issues. This book bridges the literature on networks and multinationals by introducing the new concept of the flagship firm. In each business network strategic leadership is provided by the flagship firm, which is defined as a multinational enterprise. It has other partners: key suppliers; key customers; key competitors; and key partners in the non-business infrastructure. These business networks are usually located in the ‘triad’ regions of the European Union, North America, and Japan. There are strong cross-border network linkages within these regions, but less globalisation than regional economic integration. The theory of the flagship firm/five-partners model is applied to the telecommunications, chemicals, automotive, and electronics sectors, amongst others, and the book reports on both empirical studies and field research of the international competitiveness of these sectors.
Keywords:
business networks,
international business,
multinational,
partners,
network writers,
flagship firm,
strategic leadership,
suppliers,
customers,
competitors
Bibliographic Information
| Print publication date: 2003 |
Print ISBN-13: 9780199258185 |
| Published to Oxford Scholarship Online: October 2011 |
DOI:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199258185.001.0001 |
Authors
Affiliations are at time of print publication.
Alan M. Rugman, author
L. Leslie Waters Chair of International Business, Indiana University; Fellow of Templeton College, University of Oxford
Author Webpage
Joseph R. D'Cruz, author
Professor of Strategic Management, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
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