The size, structure, and performance of corporate headquarters
By: David Young, David Collis, Michael Goold
Contributors: Collis, David J.; Goold, Michael; Harvard Business School. Division of Research
Series: Working paper / Division of Research, Harvard Business School -- 03-096; Working paper (Harvard Business School. Division of Research) -- 03-096
Publisher: Division of Research, Harvard Business School
Published: 2003
Place of publication: Boston]
Language: eng
Number of pages: 69
Description: Corporate headquarters have not been extensively researched. This paper reports on a survey of the structure and staffing of over 600 corporate headquarters in Europe, USA, Japan and Chile and explores the extent to which they are contingent on corporate strategy (corporate portfolio, structure and policies), ownership and regulation, and country of origin. The results confirm that factors in each of these areas are important determinants of the size and structure of headquarters. The dependence of corporate performance upon the structure and staffing of headquarters is also explored. Although the results are capable of alternative interpretations, they provide no support for the view that 'lean and mean' leads to better performance.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references.