Diversified Business Groups and Refocusing in Emerging Economies Robert E. Hoskisson
Distinguishing Business Groups from Networks
Samsung Group Central Office Strategic Planning Human Resources Public Relation Financial Controls Electronics subgroup Samsung Electronics Samsung Electron Devices Samsung Electronic Mechanics Machinery subgroup Samsung Heavy Industry Samsung Aerospace Samsung Motor Samsung Watch Independent Businesses subgroup Hotel Shilla Korea First Advertising Cheil Wool Textile JoongAng Daily News Financial subgroup Samsung Life Insurance Samsung Marine Insurance Samsung Securities Samsung Credit Card Chemical subgroup Samsung Petrochemical Samsung General Chemicals Samsung Specialty Chemical Shinsegae Department Store Samsung Corporation Cheil Sugar Samsung Engineering Everland
Business Groups: Costs and Diversification Costs Diversification Transaction Costs Organization Costs
Business Groups: Reduced Overall Transaction Costs Costs Diversification Transaction Costs Organization Costs
Issues that Influence Refocusing External shocks such as a currency crisis More active takeover market Mass privatization policies Business groups may be protected from competition because of market power in key industries Business groups operating within countries which emphasize relational norms Business groups exhibiting poor performance Business groups with higher top management team turnover Business groups that exhibit lower levels of affiliate firm trust
Mismatch between diversification strategy and structure Diversification Headquarters Influence unrelated related decentralizedcentralized Unrelated Firm Chaebols Related Firm Korean Chaebols
Relationship between Divisions and Organization Costs
Organization Costs and Diversification Costs Diversification Transaction Costs Organization Costs
Ownership Type Related Restructuring Unrelated Restructuring Family Other Financial Institutions Foreign Bank Government Ownership Incentives for Refocusing Toward More Related Versus Unrelated Diversification
Business Group Configurations
How will Business Groups Evolve? Will groups move toward horizontally connected networks? Will groups move toward centrally controlled multidivisional structures (M-forms)? What will be the trade offs in regard to corporate entrepreneurship? With whom will they be competing? –Developed economy firms –Other emerging economy firms
Refocusing and Internationalization As groups reduce diversification, will they substitute product diversification for international diversification? Group sharing of resources –Group membership may facilitate economies of capital sharing in pursuing international diversification due to internal market operations Group knowledge sharing –Benefit from the experience of other group members compared to independent firms Group-affiliated firms in the same foreign region are natural candidates for foreign business alliances that may be necessary for critical mass
Model of Institutional Change
15 The Effect of Business Group Affiliation Governance on International Diversification and Market to Book Value Kim, Kim & Hoskisson 2010 JIBS