International Management Studies

This research program focuses on the impact of globalization on the corporation, and especially on industrial companies. A common theme of mainstream globalization literature is that the number of transnational corporations increases, and that this process drives the emergence of a managerial “world class” or global elites. The global elites are supposed to push the neoliberal transformation of the world economy forward. This thesis culminates in the idea of a new spirit of capitalism. The IMS research program puts the thesis of a global economic elite to the test, by examining the empirical career patterns and action orientations of top managers, who lead the big industrial corporations of the world’s largest economies today.

The aim of this research program is to delineate the development of enterprises and economies through firsthand accounts. At the same time, we want to examine the social origin of top managers, their strategic orientations, and what differences they see between younger and older generations of executive leadership.

This multi-dimensional and comparative analysis generates insights into the form and extent that globalization impacts top managers. In particular we seek to identify those traditions, practices or particularities that prevail despite global trends and competition. We ask to what degree and in which ways did globalization have an impact on top management within the economically dominant world regions? What have been their respective particularities, and do these traditions prevail despite global trends and competition?

Research Projects

• Business and Governance in India: Top Managers’ Career Patterns and Action Orientation in a Changing Political Economy (2015-2016)
• Transculture of Capitalism Cluster of Excellence 2012-2016
• Ökonomische Eliten in Brasilien und Argentinien, DAAD 2013-2015
• Top Manager in East Asia,  DFG 2011-2013
• Economic Elites in Germany, DFG 2007-2009

International Conferences

• 2014: Max Weber and the New Spirit of Capitalism. Self Regulation and Corporate Governance in a Global Economy, 12.-14. Dezember
• 2013: „International and Global Management Studies“, Max-Weber Institute of Sociology, Heidelberg University, 9.-10. Dezember
• 2013: „Changing Values in the Korean Society – Attitudes and Collective Mindsets“, German-Korean Association of Sociology at Seoul, 12. Oktober
• 2010: “Economic Elites in the Course of Social Change – A Comparison of Management Research in Germany and Latin America”, Institute of Sociology, Heidelberg University, 21. September

International Partners