The Study On Nature And Management Mechanism Of Lateral Ties In Networked Parent-Subsidiary Company

The research object of the thesis is "Lateral Ties of Networked Parent-Subsidiary Company". Based on the Inter-organizational Network Theory, Resource-based View, Synergy Theory and Organizational Learning, The main content of the thesis include as follows: (1)the character of the networked parent-subsidiary company;(2)the relationship between the whole network's competitive advantage and lateral ties;(3)the revenue-cost mechanism of the lateral ties;(4)how to effectively "manage" the lateral ties. Also included is empirical study and case study.The thesis consists of seven chapters as follows:The first chapter is common introduction. We summarize the past research of the relevant fields and put forward the research object, research objective, the main structure of the thesis, and the breakthrough points.The second chapter is a fundamental part of theoretical reserech. First, based on the social network theory, and from the competitive environment and the parent-subsidiary company evolution, we point out the factors which drive the parent-subsidiary company networked. Furthermore, we give systematic study of the parent-subsidiary company network, form aspects such as interdependence, network structure, coordinating mechanism, etc. we propose that the networked parent-subsidiary company is a special type of inter-organizational network, with formal hierarchy structure and authority.The third and fourth chapters are the most important parts of the dissertation. We first identify two basic revenue types of later ties, and list and classify the concrete forms of later ties. We then study the source of networked parent-subsidiary company's competitive advantages, and find that its overall advantage more and more come from the later ties in the network. We also build a framework of networked parent-subsidiary company's competitive advantage. Furthermore, we try to find out important factors which influence the revenue and cost of the lateral ties. We propose that the parent-subsidiary company should put most emphasis on those lateral ties with important revenues and relatively low costs: that is called "strategic lateral ties". Here we enlarge and modify the concept of "transaction cost". Afterwards, we deeply analyze the dynamics of the revenue and cost of the lateral ties, from both the dynamics of the network and the management mechanism applied. We formulate the dynamic model of lateral ties, and put forward another important proposal: with the dynamic evolution of the network and the management mechanism, the lateral ties in the network will have more transaction value and face lower transaction cost, making lateral ties more valuable. And the main proposes are also forwarded in the two chapters.The fifth chapter is empirical study. We design questionnaire to testify the main proposals we make: (1) factor analysis of the drivers which make parent-subsidiary companys more networked; (2) the relation between lateral ties and the the subsidiary's performance and the overall performance of the whole network; (3) the relation between lateral ties and varies of influencing factors.The sixth chapter is mainly on the practical management mechanism of lateral ties. Using the findings of theoretical and empirical study, we give some instrumental advices as follows: the repositioning of parent company (headquarter); the optimization of network structure, the flexible and effective coordination system and incentive system; cultivation of social capital in the network. Also we support our analysis with case study.The last chapter is summery of the final conclusion of the thesis and the shortcomings also are pointed. We also give the potential prospective direction of future work.Overall, personally, there are three main contributions to the research of management of the parent-subsidiary company.First, we incorporate the inter-organizational network theory into the study of the parent-subsidiary company. Although the large transnational corporation is regarded as a network in the former study, systematic analysis of the character...