Faculty Profile

Ulf Andersson

Adjunct Professor - Department of Strategy and Entrepreneurship

Biography

I am Professor of Business Administration at Mälardalen University, School of Business, Society and Engineering and Professor II at BI Norwegian Business School, Department of Strategy and Logistics. I have my doctorate from Uppsala University where I also was a Professor of International Business until 2008.

Before joining BI I was a Professor of Strategy and International Management at Copenhagen Business School. I am Area Editor of Journal of International Business Studies and I have been appointed visiting professor at Bocconi 2011, WU Wien 2007 – 2009, Johannes Keppler University 2011.

My research focuses on subsidiary development, knowledge governance and transfer, network theory, strategy and management of the MNE. Particularly I have utilized the Subsidiary External Embeddedness concept to understand subsidiary and MNE development and performance. Papers on these subjects and areas have been published by me and co-authors in e.g. Strategic Management Journal, Journal of International Business Studies, Organization Studies, Journal of World Business, Journal of Business Research, International Business Review, Management International Review.

Publications

Andersson, Ulf; Brewster, Chris, Minbaeva, Dana, Narula, Rajneesh & Wood, Geoffrey (2019)

The IB/ IHRM interface: Exploring the potential of intersectional theorizing

Journal of World Business, 54 Doi: 10.1016/j.jwb.2019.100998

Santangelo, Grazia D; Dellestrand, Henrik & Andersson, Ulf (2019)

Institutional antecedents of subsidiary external embeddedness: Coping with regulatory competitive constraints

Long range planning, 52(4) Doi: 10.1016/j.lrp.2018.10.001

Lunnan, Randi; Tomassen, Sverre, Andersson, Ulf & Benito, Gabriel R G (2019)

Dealing with headquarters in the multinational corporation: A subsidiary perspective on organizing costs

Journal of Organization Design, 8:12, s. 1- 24. Doi: 10.1186/s41469-019-0052-y - Full text in research archive

This study examines how subsidiaries in multinational corporations (MNCs) experience interactions with corporate headquarters. We conceptualize such interactions in terms of organizing costs, focusing on two key types of costs: bargaining costs and information costs. Specifically, we examine how distance, coordination mechanisms, and atmosphere influence the level of organizing costs in the headquarter-subsidiary relationship. Using survey data collected among 104 subsidiary managers in two MNCs, we show that relationship atmosphere significantly reduces both types of organizing costs, whereas distance increases bargaining costs. We also find that centralization and formalization reduce information costs, whereas social integration, contrary to our hypothesis, increases bargaining costs.

Gillmore, Edward; Andersson, Ulf & Memar, Noushan (2018)

How subsidiaries influence innovation in the MNE value chain

Transnational Corporations Journal, 25(1), s. 73- 100.

Najafi Tavani, Zhaleh; Robson, Mathew, Zefahrian, Ghasem, Andersson, Ulf & Yo, C (2018)

Building Subsidiary Local Responsiveness: (When) Does the Directionality of Intrafirm Knowledge Transfers Matter?

Journal of World Business, 53(4), s. 475- 492. Doi: 10.1016/j.jwb.2018.01.004

Ryan, Paul; Gibblin, Majella, Andersson, Ulf & Clancy, Johanna (2018)

Subsidiary knowledge creation in co-evolving contexts

International Business Review, 27(5), s. 915- 932. Doi: 10.1016/j.ibusrev.2018.02.003

O'Brien, Donal; Sharkey Scott, Pamela, Andersson, Ulf, Ambos, Tina C & Fu, Na (2018)

The microfoundations of subsidiary initiatives: How subsidiary manager activities unlock entrepreneurship

Global Strategy Journal Doi: 10.1002/gsj.1200

Andersson, Ulf; Athreye, Suma & Batsakis, Georgios (2016)

Complementarity and Substitution in the Knowledge Networks of R&D Subsidiaries

Ambos, Tina C; Ambos, Bjørn & Birkinshaw, Julian (red.). Perspectives on Headquarters – Subsidiary Relationships in the Contemporary MNC

Andersson, Ulf; Dasi, Ángels, Mudambi, Ram & Pedersen, Torben (2016)

Technology, innovation and knowledge: The importance of ideas and international connectivity

Journal of World Business, 51(1), s. 153- 162. Doi: 10.1016/j.jwb.2015.08.017

Cuervo-Cazurra, Alvaro; Andersson, Ulf, Brannen, Mary, Nielsen, Bo & Reuber, Rebecca (2016)

Can I trust your findings? Ruling out alternative explanations in international business research

Journal of International Business Studies, 47(8), s. 881- 897. Doi: 10.1057/s41267-016-0005-4

Najafi-TAvani, Z; Zaefarian, G., Henneberg, S.C., Naude, P., Giroud, A. & Andersson, Ulf (2015)

Subsidiary Knowledge Development in Knowledge Intensive Business Services: A Configuration Approach

Journal of International Marketing, 23(4), s. 22- 43. Doi: 10.1509/jim.14.0150

Andersson, Ulf; Ekman, Peter & Erixon, Cecilia (2015)

Internal MNC structures’ bearing on externally embedded subsidiaries’ organizational performance

Larimo, Jorma; Nummela, Niina & Mainela, Tuija (red.). Handbook on international alliance and network research

Andersson, Ulf; Gaur, Ajai, Mudambi, Ram & Persson, Magnus (2015)

Unpacking Inter-unit Knowledge Transfer in Multinational Enterprises

Global Strategy Journal, 5(3), s. 241- 255. Doi: 10.1002/gsj.1100

Andersson, Ulf; Buckley, Peter J. & Dellestrand, Henrik (2015)

In the right place at the right time!: The influence of knowledge governance tools on knowledge transfer and utilization in MNEs

Global Strategy Journal, 5(1), s. 27- 47. Doi: 10.1002/gsj.1088

Perri, Alessandra & Andersson, Ulf (2014)

Knowledge outflows from foreign subsidiaries and the tension between knowledge creation and knowledge protection: Evidence from the semiconductor industry

International Business Review, 23(1), s. 63- 75. Doi: 10.1016/j.ibusrev.2013.08.007

Lunnan, Randi; Tomassen, Sverre, Andersson, Ulf & Benito, Gabriel R G (2018)

The down side of social integration: A discussion of precarious HQ-subsidiary relations and knowledge transfer

[Academic lecture]. Academy of International Business Annual Meeting.

Tomassen, Sverre; Lunnan, Randi, Andersson, Ulf & Benito, Gabriel R G (2017)

The Dark Side of Social Integration: Knowledge Transfer, Bargaining, and Social Integration Mechanisms

[Academic lecture]. SMS Special Conference Banff.

Lunnan, Randi; Tomassen, Sverre, Benito, Gabriel R G & Andersson, Ulf (2017)

The Darker Side of Social Integration: A Discussion of Bargaining Costs and Knowledge Transfer

[Academic lecture]. EIBA Annual Conference.

Lunnan, Randi; Tomassen, Sverre, Andersson, Ulf & Benito, Gabriel R G (2016)

A Subsidiary Perspective on Organizing Costs in Multinational Corporations: The Roles of Distance, Coordination and Relationship

[Academic lecture]. Academy of International Business Annual Conference.

Lunnan, Randi; Tomassen, Sverre, Andersson, Ulf & Benito, Gabriel R G (2016)

Governance and the Roles of Distance, Coordination, and Relationship Atmosphere in the MNC: A View from the Periphery

[Academic lecture]. European International Business Academy Annual Conference.

Andersson, Ulf; Tomassen, Sverre & Benito, Gabriel R G (2015)

Management Costs Incurred by Headquarters Choice of Foreign Operation Method

[Academic lecture]. European International Business Academy Annual Conference.

Andersson, Ulf; Benito, Gabriel R G & Lunnan, Randi (2014)

Costs and Performance Implications from HQs Intervention in Subsidiaries’ Affairs

[Academic lecture]. Strategic Management Society Annual International Conference.

Academic Degrees
Year Academic Department Degree
1997 Uppsala University Ph.D Dr. Oecon.
1988 Uppsala University Bachelor
Work Experience
Year Employer Job Title
2013 - Present BI Norwegian Business School Adjunct professor
2011 - Present Johannes Kepler University Visiting Professor
2009 - Present Copenhagen Business School Professor
2008 - 2009 Copenhagen Business School Visiting Professor
2007 - 2009 Wirtschaft Universität Wien Visiting Professor
2004 - 2009 Uppsala University Professor
2001 - 2004 Uppsala University Associate Professor
2001 - 2003 Uppsala University Head of Department
2000 - 2001 Uppsala University Assistant Professor
1988 - 2000 Uppsala University Lecturer