On the Implementation of a 'Global' Environmental Strategy: The Role of Absorptive Capacity

International Business Review, Spring 2010

52 Pages Posted: 27 Nov 2009

See all articles by Jonatan Pinkse

Jonatan Pinkse

The University of Manchester - Manchester Business School

Matthias Kuss

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Volker H. Hoffmann

ETH Zürich

Date Written: November 26, 2009

Abstract

This paper sheds light on factors influencing to what extent MNCs are able to implement a global environmental strategy. We apply the concept of absorptive capacity to analyze what role the uptake and integration of external knowledge playsin implementing an environmental strategy and propose to make a distinction between shared and unit-specific levels of absorptive capacity. Based on an in-depth investigation of the multinational chemical company BASF, we derive three propositions about the influence of absorptive capacity on the implementation of global environmental practices on the regional headquarters and subsidiary level. The main finding is that a shared level of absorptive capacity across subsidiaries facilitates a common understanding and use of environment-related knowledge, but, asenvironment-related knowledge often applies to a specific context only, there is also a need to build unit-specific absorptive capacity on a subsidiary level. By allowing subsidiaries to build their absorptive capacity, MNCs can more efficiently adapt global environmental practices and lower the cost of implementing a globalenvironmental standard.

Keywords: Sustainable development, environmental management, absorptive capacity, knowledge sharing, headquarters-subsidiary relationship

JEL Classification: F23, L65, M14, O31, O32

Suggested Citation

Pinkse, Jonatan and Kuss, Matthias and Hoffmann, Volker H., On the Implementation of a 'Global' Environmental Strategy: The Role of Absorptive Capacity (November 26, 2009). International Business Review, Spring 2010, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1513862

Jonatan Pinkse (Contact Author)

The University of Manchester - Manchester Business School ( email )

Booth Street West
Manchester, M15 6PB
United Kingdom

Matthias Kuss

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

Volker H. Hoffmann

ETH Zürich ( email )

Zürichbergstrasse 18
8092 Zurich, CH-1015
Switzerland

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
121
Abstract Views
1,259
Rank
417,019
PlumX Metrics