Complex Configurations of Multiple Headquarters-Subsidiary Relations

We analyse multiple headquarters interventions in subsidiary activities in terms of allocation and re-allocation of subsidiary Ru0026D mandates. This allows for highlighting challenges and consequences related to the complexity of managing nested and overlapping hierarchical relationships across headquarters- subsidiary configurations and interventions. Our inductive case study suggests that complex headquarters configurations may result in parenting disadvantages due to the ignorance of other headquarters’ actions when intervening in subsidiary operations. Moreover, multiple headquarters interventions place the subsidiary between a rock and a hard place in terms of it being subject to conflicting hierarchical demands. We contribute to an increased understanding about nested and overlapping configurations of headquarters and elucidate a potentially darker side of headquarters activities within multinational corporations that can be traced back to multiple parenting.