Subsidiary autonomy and subsidiary performance: A meta-analysis

摘要

Although research shows that subsidiary decision-making autonomy may improve subsidiary performance in some contexts, the conditions under which autonomy is beneficial to subsidiary performance remain unclear. Accordingly, we review the literature and develop an initial framework of possible contingencies to the autonomy-performance relationship. We then meta-analyze 94 studies encompassing 23,337 foreign subsidiaries and identify moderators of the performance outcomes of autonomy related to institutional and industry contexts and to the headquarters-subsidiary relationship. We discuss the implications of these moderation patterns for subsidiary management research and propose a theory-based roadmap for future research on the outcomes of subsidiary autonomy.