Developing a Successful Subsidiary Strategy: A Step-by-Step Toolkit for Managers

Business strategy books typically focus on the corporate level, but middle managers need to plan for their units' future and compete for resources within the internal market. This book provides practical perspectives and a toolkit for developing a successful subsidiary strategy, based on the authors' 30 years of experience and academic study.

Format: Hardback
Length: 220 pages
Publication date: 18 September 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Business strategy is a crucial aspect of any organization's success, and it is often approached from a corporate perspective. However, the reality is that most managers work in sub-units or subsidiaries of the business and are not directly involved in corporate strategy formulation. Their strategic concerns lie in the positioning and future trajectory of their own units within the complex internal ecosystem in which they exist. To ensure the survival and growth of these units, middle managers responsible for them must plan for their future, maximize their value-add, and compete for resources within the internal market of their corporations.

These internal markets are becoming increasingly volatile due to various factors, including general economic conditions, questioning of globalization, and increasing corporate concerns about the fragility of international supply chains. The COVID-19 crisis and the war in Ukraine have further highlighted these challenges.

This book aims to provide practical perspectives and a step-by-step toolkit for business unit managers to develop a successful subsidiary strategy that acknowledges these challenges while maximizing their contribution to corporate objectives. The author, with 30 years of experience as an executive in a complex multinational organization (IBM), has supplemented this knowledge with academic study at the Masters and PhD levels. The material covered in the book has been verified through workshops with the senior leadership teams of over 30 multinational subsidiaries operating from Ireland over a 3-year period.

The book begins by discussing the importance of business strategy and the need for managers to understand their role in shaping the future of their units. It then explores the challenges faced by business unit managers in developing and implementing subsidiary strategies, including the need to balance local and global perspectives, manage cultural differences, and navigate complex regulatory environments.

The book provides a comprehensive framework for developing subsidiary strategies that are tailored to the specific needs of each organization. It covers topics such as market analysis, competitive positioning, value chain management, and resource allocation. It also emphasizes the importance of collaboration and communication within the subsidiary and between the subsidiary and the parent company.

In addition, the book offers practical tips and techniques for managing subsidiary operations, including decision-making processes, risk management, and performance measurement. It also provides case studies and examples from real-world organizations to illustrate the application of the framework in practice.

Overall, this book is a valuable resource for business unit managers, executives, and anyone interested in understanding the challenges and opportunities of subsidiary management. It provides a comprehensive and practical approach to developing and implementing successful subsidiary strategies that contribute to corporate objectives and ensure the long-term viability of the organization.

Weight: 600g
Dimension: 254 x 178 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032545738