Foreign firms and managerial capabilities in Argentina: development and changes (1890c-1935c)

LLUCH ANDREA; LANCIOTTI NORMA

Frankfurt

Conferencia; First World Conference of Business History; 2014

This paper examines the staffing strategies of foreign multinationals and the creation of managerial talent in Argentina from the end of nineteen century until the mid-1930s. We are particularly interested in describing the trends of the development of US-based and British firms' corporate capabilities in the long term. We compare the profile, patterns of recruitment and professional development of foreign firms executives. We also analyse the role of networks in the recruitment of the managerial staff and local managers, and the division of labor between expatriate and local management over time. The paper seeks to compare the management styles of American and British foreign firms, and identify their influence on the development of the Argentine business community.