INTREPID

Employment Relations in Multinational Companies: Cross National Comparative Analysis

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'This proposed exchange programme seeks to develop a community of international scholars involved in closely linked studies on management practice in multinational companies (MNCs) across different national contexts. Despite the importance of MNCs to the global economy there is little by means of both comprehensive and representative studies of how MNCs organise and manage their employees in different contexts, and how the growing power of MNCs is impacting other social actors (e.g. trade union movement, national and local government). This lacuna goes right to the heart of this network’s objective i.e. to ensure an accurate, representative depiction of the activities of MNCs. This consortium involves scholars from three European Union (EU) and three third countries involving some 17 universities and business schools. International researcher exchanges represent a critical means of driving this research programme forward through facilitating more nuanced comparative insights that can only be gained through on-the-ground interactions between scholars from different countries and their involvement in empirical investigations outside of their own national context. The proposed research programme seeks to build on the embryonic synergies between the various partner countries to provide rich empirical data that can be used to both construct theoretical frameworks and inform policy. Exchanges have been identified and agreed between partner institutes and include both established scholars and newer researchers in the initial stages of their scholarly careers. We feel this is imperative for team renewal and to facilitate the growth and longevity of the research network going forward. A relatively equal distribution into and out of the European and third-country institutions (112 person months over 4 years) have been identified. This breaks down into 59 person months out of EU institutions and 53 person months from the ‘third’ country partners.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Multinational companies have a prime position of importance across different national contexts and in the global economy, yet there is little information on how they organise and manage their employees in different contexts. The INTREPID project was established to fill this knowledge gap.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

The 'Employment relations in multinational companies: Cross national comparative analysis' (INTREPID) project aimed to develop a community of international scholars involved in closely linked studies on management practices in multinational companies (MNCs) in different national contexts. The team also examined how the growing significance of MNCs is impacting other social actors: trade unions, and national and local governments.

Specifically, the project's main objective was to deliver an accurate and representative picture of the activities of MNCs, especially as these relate to work and employment practices. Comprising scholars from 4 EU countries and 1 associated and 3 third countries, the project involved some 17 universities and business schools. The programme centred on four specific research themes strongly linked to MNCs, globalisation and employment practices. Together, they address issues of great socioeconomic significance. The themes cover global value chains and MNCs, comparative employment practices in MNCs, convergence versus divergence, and the need to rethink collective representation.

INTREPID, through its exploratory research in these areas and targeted study aimed at offering comparative insights, provided a critical means of driving the research programme forward. Project members built on synergies between scholars in partner countries for access to rich empirical data that can be used to construct theoretical frameworks and also inform policy.

Although several exchange visits were either postponed or cancelled, the completed exchanges included both established scholars and newer or younger researchers in the initial stages of their careers.

Outcomes of INTREPID research activities will benefit personnel involved in foreign direct investment and MNCs, including policymakers, national and regional government officials, employer associations, trade unions, management practitioners and workplace representatives.