Multinational Business Service Firms Development of Multinational Organization Structures in the UK Business Service Sector

First published in 1998, this influential volume entered the debate on Foreign Direct Investment in the UK and focuses on the role of Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) in the service rather than manufacturing and primary sectors. While the significance of the service industry had been recognised (exceeding 60% of total GDP in some countries at the time of original publication), the role of FDIs has not. Joanne Roberts thus contributed to a woefully under researched field, covering areas including international trade, the organisational theory of the firm and the UK business sector.

1. Introduction. 2. Internationalisation of Services: Conceptual Issues and Evidence. 3. International Trade and Foreign Direct Investment Theories: Application to Services. 4. Organisational Theory of the Firm and the International Structure and Strategy of Service Firms. 5. The International Business Service Firm: the Evolution of an Internationalisation Framework. 6. Internationalisation of Business Services: an Overview of Advertising, Accountancy and Computer Services. 7. The UK Business Services Sector: Survey Framework. 8. The Internationalisation of the UK Business Services Sector: Survey Results. 9. Multinational Structures and Strategies in the Business Services Sector. 10. A Model for Business Service Firm Multinationalisation.