The Influence of Recipient Unit Spatial and Temporal Context on Transfer Effectiveness in the MNC

By means of an exploratory investigation of headquarters transfer of capabilities to subunits in multinational corporations, this paper shows how local subunit influences on transfer effectiveness may surface outside the anticipated transfer context as well as outside the transfer time frame. Utilizing a 100-interview, inductive multiple-case study of 18 transfers between headquarters and subunits in Europe, Asia, and North America of the same capability in a single multinational corporation, this paper highlights the importance of considering the roles of both time and space to understand influences on transfer effectiveness as arising over time, with important implications for future research.