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The influence of language on relationships between subsidiaries and headquarters:
Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2013.
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| Other Authors: | |
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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University of Pretoria
2014
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| _version_ | 1867613692825174016 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Wocke, Albert |
| author_browse | Wocke, Albert |
| author_facet | Wocke, Albert |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 2014 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
| description | Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2013. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/41900 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:40:11.720Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2014 |
| publishDateRange | 2014 |
| publishDateSort | 2014 |
| publisher | University of Pretoria |
| publisherStr | University of Pretoria |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/41900 The influence of language on relationships between subsidiaries and headquarters: Wocke, Albert ichelp@gibs.co.za Brits, Natasha UCTD Corporations—Headquarters. Subsidiary corporations -- Management . Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2013. Effective communication is critical to enable the successful management of a multinational company. Without a shared language, effective communication is impossible. Previous research have not established what the role of language is in establishing strong relationships between subsidiaries and headquarters. It is argued that if effective communication is enabled through the use of a shared language and effective communication strengthens relationships between subsidiaries and headquarters, then a shared language should influence subsidiary headquarter relationships positively. A mixed method approach was used to reflect the perspective from both headquarters and subsidiaries. Questionnaires were distributed to subsidiaries and semi-structured interviews were conducted with executives from headquarters based on the results from the questionnaire. Language was found to have a profound influence on relationships between subsidiaries and headquarters but the extent of the influence varied depending on time, less hierarchical organisational structures and cultural background. Social identity theory suggested groups of ethnically similar people would cluster together and form strong personal relationships, language being one such an ethnic characteristic. The data collected challenged this theory by proving that a company identity can prove to be stronger and more influential over time, surpassing the impact of language and ethnicity. It was also found that a shared language promoted social networks and power within the organisation but that the influence is more prominent when the shared language is the official company language. The research contributed to literature by adding to the current understanding of what influences subsidiary headquarter relationships. The contribution to business is also important as attention is a scarce resource and inter unit relationships are critical to the success of any multinational company. zkgibs2014 Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) MBA Unrestricted 2014-09-02T12:56:10Z 2014-09-02T12:56:10Z 2014-04-30 2013 Mini Dissertation Brits, N 2013, The influence of language on relationships between subsidiaries and headquarters:, MBA Mini Dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd <http://hdl.handle.net/2263/41900> http://hdl.handle.net/2263/41900 en © 2014 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | UCTD Corporations—Headquarters. Subsidiary corporations -- Management . The influence of language on relationships between subsidiaries and headquarters: |
| title | The influence of language on relationships between subsidiaries and headquarters: |
| title_full | The influence of language on relationships between subsidiaries and headquarters: |
| title_fullStr | The influence of language on relationships between subsidiaries and headquarters: |
| title_full_unstemmed | The influence of language on relationships between subsidiaries and headquarters: |
| title_short | The influence of language on relationships between subsidiaries and headquarters: |
| title_sort | influence of language on relationships between subsidiaries and headquarters |
| topic | UCTD Corporations—Headquarters. Subsidiary corporations -- Management . |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/41900 |