Corporate Restructuring and New Forms of Organising: Evidence from Europe

摘要: Introduction Over the 1980s and 1990s, companies across globe have engaged in corporate restructuring activities. This raises question as to whether activities are similar national boundaries, or patterns of related institutional contexts. It also poses direction changes: towards new organisational forms, has been claimed by some management authors? The term is slightly problematic define. According Bowman Singh (1989), encompasses a significant rapid change along one more three dimensions: assets, capital structure management. A major problem defining concept that there 'a lack systematic academic theory evidence on consequences restructuring' (Singh 1993, p. 148). holds especially for third dimension dominant feature literature discussion shape 'new organisation'. persistent argument, we currently witnessing break from multidivisional form organisation seen past. Emerging referred alternatively 'N-forms' (Hedlund 1994), cellular forms (Miles/Snow/Mathews/Miles/Coleman 1997) individualised corporation (Ghoshal/Bartlett 1997), would be characterised particular less horizontal vertical differentiation, ad hoc internal linkages. However, beyond certain well-known examples (e.g. case ABB Bartlett/Ghoshal 1993), incidence international diffusion these modes organising yet established. Research usually focused country (cf. Liebeskind/Opler/Hatfield 1996, Geroski/Gregg cross-national research remained relatively scarce (exceptions include Whittington et al. 1999a, Frese/Teuvsen 1999, Buhner/Rasheed/Rosenstein 1997). may due e.g. access comparable data sets, uncertainties understanding foreign contexts, difficulties conducting Teagarden 1995, Kohn 1996). Exploiting ties with six European business schools, this paper assesses changes over 1992-1996 period, using results recent survey (Pettigrew/Whittington/Conyon 1995). We examine similarities contrasts restructuring, order assess emerging at different places, paces Europe. In doing so, shall address methodological problems associated research. following structure. Section two briefly reviews organising. discusses cross-country comparisons, measuring interpreting variation boundaries. four introduces sample characteristics. five presents cross-European findings, section provides summary our main conclusions. On Studying Corporate Restructuring New Forms Organising North American Western scholars, politicians managers long tended regard primarily temporary phenomenon. view was stage during which had adjust environmental such slower growth, higher input prices (such oil labour) competition Asian economies. Events late 1990s made untenable: ongoing economic monetary integration Union (EU), discussions further trade Americas Atlantic Area, crisis, it seems safe assume numerous will continue restructure coming years. …