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Language strategy and knowledge transfer in MNCs: Studies on Japanese MNCs

Research Project

Project/Area Number 17K03917
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeMulti-year Fund
Section一般
Research Field Management
Research InstitutionTohoku University

Principal Investigator

Kim Heejin  東北大学, 経済学研究科, 准教授 (40634530)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) 板垣 博  武蔵大学, 公私立大学の部局等, 研究員 (20125884)
Project Period (FY) 2017-04-01 – 2022-03-31
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2021)
Budget Amount *help
¥4,420,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,020,000)
Fiscal Year 2019: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000)
Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,690,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥390,000)
Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000)
Keywords海外子会社の言語選択 / 日本企業の言語政策 / 言語戦略 / 知識移転 / 国際経営 / 多国籍企業と言語 / 多国籍企業の言語政策
Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this research project, we have collected and analyzed data about cause and effect of different language choices in subsidiaries of Japanese Multinational Companies(MNCs). We have presented the analysis results in several domestic and international academic conferences, and published papers.
As non-English native countries MNCs that operate large numbers of their subsidiaries in Asia with high language diversity, Japanese MNCs face unique challenges compared to their counterparts from Europe and America. Thus, the question of why Japanese MNC subsidiaries choose different language and how the language choice affect their management are critical questions to be studied.
Under COVID19, we could not conduct fieldworks as we had planned. However, we reorganized our existing data and tried various approach to analyze them, through which we made several findings. Also, we believe that finding several research gap and questions to be studied is a valuable accomplishment of this project.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本科研の学術的意義としては、まず、海外子会社の言語選択と知識移転を繋げることで、知識移転に関する既存研究に言語の重要性を提示したことが挙げられる。それから、英語圏の欧米企業を中心に発展してきた多国籍企業の言語選択に関する研究に、非英語圏国である日本企業が抱える課題や海外子会社が異なる言語を選択する合理性に関する理解を提供したことにも学術的意義がある。
社会的・実務的な意義としては、「海外子会社の経営の際にどのような言語を選択すれば良いのか」といった実務家が抱える悩みに対して、90社以上のデータを用いた分析より一定のパターンを提示することができた。

Report

(6 results)
  • 2021 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report ( PDF )
  • 2020 Research-status Report
  • 2019 Research-status Report
  • 2018 Research-status Report
  • 2017 Research-status Report
  • Research Products

    (10 results)

All 2021 2020 2019 2018

All Journal Article (1 results) Presentation (9 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 7 results)

  • [Journal Article] 日本企業の海外子会社における言語選択2021

    • Author(s)
      金熙珍・板垣博・関口倫紀
    • Journal Title

      一橋ビジネスレビュー

      Volume: 69(1) Pages: 32-42

    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Language strategy from the ground up: How foreign subsidiaries of Japanese MNCs choose and develop language resources in Asia2021

    • Author(s)
      Heejin Kim, Tomoki Sekiguchi, Hiroshi Itagaki
    • Organizer
      Association of Japanese Business Studies
    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Language strategy from the groun up: How overseas subsidiaries select, develop, and compose language resources2020

    • Author(s)
      Heejin Kim, Hiroshi Itagaki
    • Organizer
      Academy of Management
    • Related Report
      2020 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] A right language for differentiated missions: language choice of Asia-based subsidiaries of Japanese MNCs2019

    • Author(s)
      Heejin KIM, Hiroshi Itagaki
    • Organizer
      AIB-UKI Conference 2019
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] A right language for differentiated missions : Language choice of Asia-based subsidiaries of Japanese MNCs2019

    • Author(s)
      Heejin KIM, Hiroshi Itagaki
    • Organizer
      AIB Annual Conference 2019
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Language as Coordinating Mechanism : How strategic diversity affect language selection in overseas subsidiaries?2019

    • Author(s)
      Heejin KIM, Hiroshi Itagaki
    • Organizer
      EAMSA Annual Conference
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] JMNCs speak English? : Functional language choice of JMNCs2018

    • Author(s)
      HEEJIN KIM
    • Organizer
      多国籍企業学会 東部5月定例会
    • Related Report
      2018 Research-status Report
  • [Presentation] JMNCs speak Japanese?: Functional language choice of JMNCs2018

    • Author(s)
      HEEJIN KIM and HIROSHI ITAGAKI
    • Organizer
      12th GEM&L International Conference on Management & Language
    • Related Report
      2018 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] 海外子会社の言語選択と知識移転:アジアにおける日本企業の言語選択2018

    • Author(s)
      金熙珍、板垣博
    • Organizer
      国際ビジネス学会 全国大会
    • Related Report
      2018 Research-status Report
  • [Presentation] Functional language of Japanese MNCs: A predetermined construct or a product of deliberate selection?2018

    • Author(s)
      Heejin KIM, Hiroshi Itagaki
    • Organizer
      GEM&L 2018 Conference
    • Related Report
      2017 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research

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Published: 2017-04-28   Modified: 2023-01-30  

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