Headquarters’ Control Capacity and the Choice of R&D Organizational Forms Abroad

2013

International audience; Recently, regarding globalization, the decentralization of R&D activities abroad by multinational companies (MNCs) has become important in developed countries. However, academic research has not given this topic sufficient attention. This paper explains how the efficiency of control and incentive mechanisms may affect the choice of organizational forms by MNCs that decentralize their R&D activities abroad. We identify five main organizational forms: wholly owned green-field subsidiary, wholly owned acquired subsidiary, joint venture, cross-licensing agreements, and unilateral licensing agreements. A questionnaire addressed to the R&D managers of American and European…