How Russian MNEs navigate institutional complexity at home
International Journal of Emerging Markets
ISSN: 1746-8809
Article publication date: 23 December 2022
Abstract
Purpose
This paper examines how Russian multinational enterprises (MNEs) operating in the metallurgical industry strategise under the highly complex conditions of their home institutional environment.
Design/methodology/approach
The findings are based on a qualitative multiple-case study of eight Russian metallurgical MNEs that took place in 2014–2015. The authors conducted 34 semi-structured interviews, made observations and took reflexive field notes.
Findings
The analysis reveals that Russian MNEs utilise four different strategies–cooperation, persuasion, avoidance and adaptation–when dealing with federal and regional home governments. These MNEs simultaneously utilise multiple strategies while capitalising on their own organisational attributes.
Originality/value
Unlike many other studies, this paper examines institutional complexity within two distinct layers of the Russian Government, regional and federal, rather than considering the aggregate notion of “home government”. The paper also identifies and analyses MNEs’ specific strategies to navigate different layers of institutional complexity.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the reviewers and the handling editor for their helpful comments towards improving the manuscript.
Citation
Earl, A., Michailova, S. and Stringer, C. (2022), "How Russian MNEs navigate institutional complexity at home", International Journal of Emerging Markets, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOEM-01-2021-0140
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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