French multinational companies' HRM in China: strategic orientation and integration approaches

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this qualitative study is to identify strategic orientation and integration approaches of French companies in implementing the headquarters-based human resource management (HRM) practices in their Chinese subsidiaries. Through a study of 16 French multinationals’ HRM, our findings reveal that a majority of sample companies tend to standardize the HRM practices in their Chinese subsidiaries to a great extent. This strategic orientation is supported by a combination of specific integration approaches at the subsidiary level. The results add knowledge to international management theory and allow us to develop implications in managing employees in China.

KEYWORDS:

• China
• French multinational companies
• HRM practices
• integration approaches
• strategic orientation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. Hukou is a household registration to identify a person as a resident of an area.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Cuiling Jiang

Cuiling Jiang is an Assistant Professor at Kedge Business School, France. Her main research interests include international human resource management, French and Chinese business studies, and cross-cultural management in multinational, small and medium companies.

Dorra Yahiaoui

Dorra Yahiaoui is an Associate Professor at Kedge Business School, France, Head of Master Track ‘HR, Leadership & Change management’ and Head of the research group Human Resource Management at EuroMed Research Business Institute. Her research is mainly focused on HRM practices within international context, the transnational innovation and the Management in Middle Eastern, North African and Asian countries.