Mitigating the Isomorphic Conflicts Faced by EMNEs in Southern EuropeThe Case of Chinese Subsidiaries in Spain

  1. Barahona Márquez, Felix 1
  2. Achcaoucaou, Fariza 1
  3. Miravitlles, Paloma
  1. 1 Universitat de Barcelona
    info

    Universitat de Barcelona

    Barcelona, España

    ROR https://ror.org/021018s57

Zeitschrift:
Journal of evolutionary studies in business

ISSN: 2385-7137

Datum der Publikation: 2016

Titel der Ausgabe: Special Issue International Business in Southern Europe in a Long-Term Perspective

Ausgabe: 1

Nummer: 2

Seiten: 201-234

Art: Artikel

DOI: 10.1344/JESB2016.2.J017 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openOpen Access editor

Andere Publikationen in: Journal of evolutionary studies in business

Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung

Zusammenfassung

Emerging market multinational enterprises (EMNEs) are rapidly increasing their foreign direct investment around the world and, in particular, in the countries of Southern Europe. Although, international business scholars have been quick to put the spotlight on this new phenomenon, the cultural adaptation of EMNE subsidiaries to host-country environments, especially those of Europe, has remained largely unexamined. This question acquires particular relevance owing to the considerable cultural distance between emerging and developed economies and the isomorphic conflicts that can arise at the subsidiary level. Here, we examine this situation by reporting two case studies of Chinese subsidiaries operating in Spain. Our findings suggest that guanxi – the deep-rooted system of personal relations and social connections founded on mutual interests – plays a major role in the search for legitimacy undertaken by Chinese subsidiaries located in Southern Europe. The adoption and adaptation of Chinese cultural values and practices to the local environment allow the subsidiary to align itself with the culture of the parent organization at the same time as it embeds itself in the host environment, thus resolving any isomorphic conflicts.

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