| As main players in global economy, multinational companies are also significant forces for this globalization trend. Multinational companies manufacturing, operating, optimizing resources in many countries, accompany with capital, technology, managerial expertise and labor exchanges among all those countries, hence encourage the globalization course. In addition, the regional headquarters of these multinational companies have brought huge capital, technology, and managerial expertise and job opportunities, so how to attract them to establish regional headquarters is becoming first priority for local governments. All above is the basic context for this paper's research, which is location choice of regional headquarters for multinational companies.All the research in this paper is based on the theory of regional headquarters of MNC, City Economics, and World City. The purpose of this research is to establish one model for the location choice decision making of regional headquarters for MNCs, so the main focuses are as following:5. The relationship between regional strategies and regional headquarters and how the regional strategy will impact the location choice of MNCs?6. Whether the regional headquarters have the same life cycle as one company? If they have life cycle, then what the roles and responsibilities for regional headquarters at different stage of the life cycle? What influences will these different stages of life cycle have on the location choice for regional headquarters?7. The relationship between the location choice and its object, World City, and different choice of regional headquarter location caused by different point of view on the World City by specific MNCs.8. What are the key factors for regional headquarters decision making and the decision making model for these choices.This research is explained in eight chapters. The first chapter is the introduction, which includes background debrief, motivation for this research, research method, scope, framework and innovative point.Theory summary of regional headquarter is in the second chapter. In the literature summary of regional strategy for MNCs, we discuss the regional strategy under triad economy system, strategy of "Hub-and-Spoke", strategic structure of Asia Pacific and the relationship between regionalization and regional strategic model; in the summary of regional headquarters' life cycle, we present the theory of enterprise life cycle, product life cycle and regional headquarter life cycle; in the summary of regional headquarters' location choices, we explain the theory of FDI and location choice of regional headquarters.We elaborate the concept of regional headquarters and the regional strategy for MNCs in the third chapter. Globalization is one major trend in the market while reverse trend is also very important for some MNCs, at the same time, regional economy characterized by the triad economy system and multination city block are the main causes for those regional strategiesadopted by MNCs, regional headquarters' choice is one critical component for their regional strategies of MNCs.The fourth chapter is mainly focused on the research of regional headquarters' life cycle. Based on the theory of enterprise life cycle and product life cycle, this research presents the theory of regional headquarters' life cycle. Roles and responsibilities of regional headquarters at different stages of the life cycle are defined.In the fifth chapter, multi-dimensional research is based on the whole decision making process for the location choice of regional headquarters. Four sub-theories of location, division of labor among cities, sustainable development and international competitiveness for one world city are established based on the theory of city economics; also we use the world cities in Asia-Pacific such as Singapore as typical examples for further explanation.The theoretical model for regional headquarters' location decision making is put forward in the sixth chapter. World City, as an independent factor, is taken into consideration when MNCs decide the regional headquarters' location, in addition, synchronization effect among all the regional headquarter is also considered as one independent factor, which makes this theoretical model more pragmatic in the real business world.The seventh chapter is mainly comprised of the operational demonstration for this regional headquarters location decision making model. We have also evaluated the factors and sub-factors in the whole decision choice. Further more; we analyze the different location choices caused by different point of view for regional strategy, regional headquarters' life cycle and MNCs' views on world city.Conclusions are made in the eighth chapter, theoretical and pragmatic significance are put forward as well as follow-up research suggestions. Also, from the point of China, Shanghai, some suggestions are mentioned about how to attract MNCs to establish regional headquarters in China and Shanghai.Innovation contributions about this research paper are: 1. Successfully establish and demonstrate theoretical framework for decision making on regional headquarters' location under the guideline of City Economics, the theory of World City and RHQs of MNCs. 2. City and Synchronization Effects among RHQs are considered as independent factors when decisions are made about the location. 3. Develop the theory of regional strategy and regional headquarters' life cycle so that the strategy can fully incorporate into RHQs. 4. Empirical research methods are used in the location choice about regional headquarters, some constructive suggestions are made according to China's specific situations.
|
PDF Full Text Request