This paper examines coordination modes within multinational corporations (MNCs) in order to understand the nature of the relationships established between headquarters and subsidiaries. I realized interviews of both headquarters' and international subsidiaries' top managers in ten French MNCs. The findings of the study enable us to specify the informal mechanisms used in headquarters-subsidiaries relationships. I also propose a typology based on the combination of coordination modes and taking into consideration factors linked to the specific context of the subsidiaries and the group.
Les modes de coordination comme analyseurs des relations siège-filiales : une étude de dix firmes multinationales françaises