Björn Ambos

Björn Ambos is Professor of Strategic Management and Director of the Institute of Management & Strategy (IoMS) at the University of St. Gallen. Professor Ambos studied business administration at the University of Hamburg and Florida State University with a focus on international management and organization (degree in business administration, Dr. rer. pol.). In 2006 he received his habilitation from the Vienna University of Economics and Business. Prior to his appointment at the HSG, Prof. Ambos taught and researched i.a. at the University of Edinburgh, the University of Hamburg, Bocconi University, Queens Universiy, Florida International University and Vienna University of Economics and Business.

Prof. Ambos conducts research into the topics of strategy, organization and innovation in multinational companies. In 2014, he was appointed Senior Editor of the Journal of World Business, and in 2015 he also became Senior Consulting Editor of the Global Strategy Journal. He also works for the editorial boards of the Strategic Management Journal, the Journal of International Management, the Management International Review and the Journal of International Business Studies. In addition, Prof. Ambos was a member of the Board of the European International Business Academy (EIBA) and held various positions within the Strategic Management Society. For example, in 2012 and 2015 he was Program Chairman of annual and thematic conferences of the Strategic Management Society in Prague and St. Gallen. Finally, Prof. Ambos was a scientific advisor to the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and worked as an expert within the framework of the EFI Expert Group of the German Bundestag.

Professor Ambos has several years of experience working in industry in international management positions in Vietnam, Italy, Paris and New York. The list of his research and consulting partners includes i.a. Astellas, Airbus, Federal Court of Justice, Die Presse, Eli Lilly, Ford, France Telecom, Helvetia, Hutchison 3G, Honda, Jungheinrich, JP Morgan, Kia Motors, L’Oreal, Nike, ÖVP, Pfizer , Porsche, Puma, Roland Berger, Royal Dutch Shell, die Rewe Group, das Royal Scottish National Orchestra, SAP, Siemens, Solvay, Unilever, Telekom Austria, Volkswagen and Villeroy & Boch.

The results of his research work were been published in numerous international journals like the International Business Review, Journal of International Management, the Journal of World Business, Long Range Planning, Management International Review, as well as in Organizational Science, Research Policy and the Strategic Management Journal. In the past ten years he has presented his scientific work in the form of articles and lectures at more than sixty universities and conferences.

Education

• Habilitation WU (Vienna University of Economics and Business)
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) University of Hamburg (1998 — 2001)
• Dipl.-Kfm University of Hamburg (1992 — 1998)

Articles in scientific journals

• Ambos, B., Leicht-Deobald, U. & Leinemann, A. (2019). Understanding the formation of psychic distance perceptions: Are country-level or individual-level factors more important?. International Business Review, 28, 660-671.
• Ambos, B., Kunisch, S., Leicht-Deobald, U. & Schulte Steinberg, A. (2019). Unravelling Agency Relations inside the MNC: The Roles of Socialization, Goal Conflicts and Second Principals in Headquarters-Subsidiary Relationships. Journal of World Business, 54 (2), 67-81.
• Beugelsdijk, S., Ambos, B. & Nell, P. (2018). Conceptualizing and measuring distance in international business research: Recurring questions and best practice guidelines. Journal of International Business Studies, 49 (9), 1113-1137.
• Beugelsdijk, S., Nell, P. & Ambos, B. (2017). When do distance effects become empirically observable? An investigation in the context of headquarters value creation for subsidiaries.. Journal of International Management, 23 (3), 255-267.
• Ambos, B. (2016). Comment on ‘Regional Headquarters: The spearhead for Asia Pacific marketsʼ, Philippe Lasserre. Long Range Planning, Volume 29, Issue 1, February 1996, Pages 30–37. Long Range Planning, 1-3.
• Ambos, T., Ambos, B., Eich, K. & Puck, J. (2016). Imbalance and Isolation: How Team Configurations Affect Global Knowledge Sharing. Journal of International Management, 22 (4), 316-332.
• Håkanson, L., Ambos, B., Schuster, A. & Leicht-Deobald, U. (2016). The Psychology of Psychic Distance: Antecedents of Asymmetric Perceptions. Journal of World Business, 51 (2), 308-318.
• Kunisch, S., Menz, M. & Ambos, B. (2015). Changes at Corporate Headquarters: Review, Integration and Future Research. International Journal of Management Reviews, 17 (3), 356-381.
• Ambos, B. & Leinemann, A. (2015). Switzerland and Europe: Close Neighbours or Distant Relatives?. Die Unternehmung, 69 (2), 193-205.
• Kunisch, S., Schulte Steinberg, A. & Ambos, B. (2015). Corporate Parenting Reviews : Die Strategische Bedeutung der kritischen Überprüfung der Konzernzentrale. Zeitschrift Führung + Organisation (zfo), 84 (1), 25-31.
• Rogbeer, S., Almahendra, R. & Ambos, B. (2014). Open-Innovation Effectiveness: When does the Macro Design of Alliance Portfolios Matter?. Journal of International Management, 20 (4), 464-477.
• Ambos, B. & Håkanson, L. (2014). The Concept of Distance in International Management Research. Journal of International Management, 20 (1), 1-7.
• Hoenen, A., Nell, P. & Ambos, B. (2014). MNE Entrepreneurial Capabilities at Intermediate Levels: The Roles of External Embeddedness and Heterogeneous Environments. Long Range Planning, 47 (1-2), 76-86.
• Raab, K., Ambos, B. & Tallman, S. (2013). Strong or invisible hands? : Managerial involvement in the knowledge sharing process of globally dispersed knowledge groups. Journal of World Business, 49 (1), 32-41.
• Nell, P. & Ambos, B. (2013). Parenting Advantage in the MNC : An Embeddedness Perspective on the Value Added by Headuarters. Strategic Management Journal, 34 (9), 1086-1103.
• Brenner, B. & Ambos, B. (2013). A Question of Legitimacy? : A Dynamic Perspective on Multinational Firm Control. Organization Science, 24 (3), 773-795.
• Mahnke, V., Ambos, B., Nell, P. & Hobdari, B. (2012). How do Regional Headquarters influence corporate decisions in networked MNCs?. Journal of International Management, 18 (3), 293-301.
• Ambos, B., Asakawa, K. & Ambos, T. (2011). A Dynamic Perspective on Subsidiary Autonomy. Global Strategy Journal, 1 (3-4), 301-316.
• Nell, P., Ambos, B. & Schlegelmilch, B. (2011). The MNC as an externally embedded organization: An investigation of embeddedness overlap in local subsidiary networks. Journal of World Business, 46 (4), 497-505.
• Ambos, B. & Ambos, T. (2011). Meeting the challenge of offshoring R&D: an examination of firm- and location-specific factors. R&D Management, 41 (2), 107-119.
• Hakanson, L. & Ambos, B. (2010). The Antecedents of Psychic Distance. Journal of International Management., 16 (3), 195-210.
• Ambos, B. & Mahnke, V. (2010). How do MNC Headquarters Add Value?. Management International Review, 50 (4), 403-412.
• Tran, Y., Mahnke, V. & Ambos, B. (2010). The Effect of Quality, Quantity and Timing of Headquarters-Initiated Knowledge Flows on Subsidiary Performance. Management International Review, 50 (4), 493-511.
• Ambos, T., Schlegelmilch, B., Ambos, B. & Brenner, B. (2009). Evolution of Organisational Structure and Capabilities in Internationalising Banks: The CEE Operations of UniCredit’s Vienna Office. Long Range Planning, 42 (5-6), 633-653.
• Brenner, B. & Ambos, B. (2009). Dynamics in foreign markets — A study of strategic control in CEE. Marketing Review St. Gallen, 26 (3), 28-32.
• Ambos, T. & Ambos, B. (2009). The impact of distance on knowledge transfer effectiveness in multinational corporations. Journal of International Management, 15 (1), 1-14.
• Ambos, B. & Ambos, T. (2009). Location Choice, Management and Performance of International R&D Investments in Peripheral Economies. International Journal of Technology Management, 48 (1), 24-41.
• Ambos, B. & Schlegelmilch, B. (2008). Innovation in Multinational Firms: Does Cultural Fit Enhance Performance?. Management International Review, 48 (2), 189-206.
• Ambos, B. & Schlegelmilch, B. (2007). Innovation and control in the multinational firm : A comparison of political and contingency approaches. Strategic Management Journal, 28 (5), 473-486.
• Ambos, T., Ambos, B. & Schlegelmilch, B. (2006). Learning from Foreign Subsidiaries: An Empirical Investigation of Headquarters’ Benefits from Reverse Knowledge Transfers. International Business Review, 15 (3), 294-312.
• Ambos, B. (2005). Foreign Direct Investment in Industrial Research and Development: A Study of German MNCs. Research Policy, 34 (4), 395-410.
• Chini, T., Ambos, B. & Wehle, K. (2005). The Headquarters-Subsidiary Trench: Tracing Perception Gaps within the Multinational Corporation. European Management Journal, 23 (2), 145-153.
• Ambos, B. & Schlegelmilch, B. (2005). In Search for Global Advantage. European Business Forum (21), 23-24.
• Ambos, B. & Schlegelmilch, B. (2004). The Use of International R&D Teams – An Empirical Investigation of Selected Contingency Factors. Journal of World Business ; JWB, 39 (1), 37-48.
• Schlegelmilch, B. & Ambos, B. (2004). Multi-Utility: Strategic Option in deregulated markets? An Empirical Assessment Using Conjoint Measures. Journal of Strategic Marketing, 12 (1), 57-68.
• Ambos, B. & Reitsperger, W. (2004). Offshore Centers of Excellence: Social Control and Success. Management International Review, 44 (2), 51-65.
• Schlegelmilch, B., Ambos, B. & Chini, T. (2003). Are you ready to learn from your offshore affiliates?. European Business Forum (16), 50-54.
• Schlegelmilch, B., Chini, T. & Ambos, B. (2003). Mercati globali, ‘reverse knowledge’ e Corporate Governance. Symphonya, 2 (2), 1-7.
• Ambos, B., Brandl, K., Perri, A., Scalera, V. & Van Assche, A. . The nature of innovation in global value chains. Journal of World Business, 56 (4).

Books

• Ambos, B. & Schlegelmilch, B. (2010). The New Role of Regional Management. Palgrave MacMillan.
• Ambos, B. & Schlegelmilch, B. (2010). The New Role of Regional Management. Palgrave Macmillan UK.
• Ambos, B. (2002). Internationales Forschungs- und Entwicklungsmanagement : Strategische Mandate, Koordination und Erfolg ausländischer Tochtergesellschaften. Dt. Univ.-Verl..
• Book sections
• Zobel, N. & Ambos, B. (2018). European business research in perspective: The focus of regionalisation in the international business literature. In The Routledge Companion to European Business. (S. 29-40). Routledge.
• Nell, P., Andersson, U. & Ambos, B. (2013). Redundancies in External Relationships of Multinational Corporations – A Firm-Level Conceptual Model. In The Changing Geography of International Business. (S. 181-199). Palgrave MacMillan.
• Nell, P. & Ambos, B. (2011). Global Pharma – Das Ende eines Erfolgreichen Business Models?. In Fallstudien zum Internationalen Management. (S. 936-987). Gabler.
• Ambos, B., Ambos, T. & Schuster, A. (2011). Standortwahl, Management und Performance internationaler F&E-Investitionen in peripheren Volkswirtschaften. In Außenhandel im Wandel : Festschrift zum 60. Geburtstag von Reinhard Moser. (S. 217-237). Physica-Verlag HD.
• Nell, P., Ambos, B. & Schlegelmilch, B. (2011). The benefits of hierarchy? – Exploring the Effects of Regional Headquarters in Multinational Corporations. In Dynamics of globalization : location-specific advantages or liabilities of foreignness?. (S. 85-106). Emerald Group.
• Ambos, B., Ambos, T. & Raab, K. (2008). Auf der Suche nach Wissen: Eine Empirische Analyse von Ausländischen Direktinvestitionen in F&E. In Ausländische Direktinvestitionen : neuere Entwicklungen, Entscheidungsinstrumente und führungsrelevante Folgen. (S. 143-161). Gabler.
• Nell, P. & Ambos, B. (2008). Fallstudienlösung “Pfizer und die globale Pharmaindustrie”. In Fallstudien zum Internationalen Management. (3, S. X-X). Gabler Wiesbaden.
• Neil, P. & Ambos, B. (2008). Pfizer und die Globale Pharmaindustrie. In Fallstudien zum internationalen Management : Grundlagen - Praxiserfahrungen - Perspektiven. (3., überarb. u. erw. Aufl., S. 803-824). Gabler.
• Ambos, B. & Ambos, T. (2007). Organizing for Discontinuous Knowledge Flows: A New Perspective on the Management of Knowledge and Innovation in MNCs. In A new Generation in International Strategic Management. (S. 142-161). Elgar.
• Ambos, B. & Ambos, T. (2007). Outside the Triad: An Examination of International R&D Investments within Peripheral Economies. In Multinationals on the Periphery. (1st ed. 2007, S. 188-205). Palgrave Macmillan UK - Palgrave Macmillan.
• Chini, T. & Ambos, B. (2006). Knowledge Transfer Practices in Multinational Corporations : Enhancing the Speed of Knowledge Transfer. In Global, National and Local Practices in Multinational Companies. (1st ed., S. 146-163). Palgrave Macmillan.
• Ambos, B. (2000). Interkulturelle Kompetenz an Hamburger Hochschulen. In Hochschuldidaktische Arbeitspapiere. (S. 141-158). Interdisziplinäres Zentrum für Hochschuldidaktik der Univ. Hamburg (IZHD).
• Reitsperger, W., Buhk, P. & Ambos, B. (1998). Auswirkung der Anti-Diskriminierungsgesetzgebung in den USA auf die Personalbeschaffung und -auswahl. In Handbuch für Internationales Personalmanagement. (S. 335-372). Beck.
• Beugelsdijk, S., Ambos, B. & Nell, P. . Conceptualizing and measuring distance in international business research: Questions and best practice guidelines. In Research Methods in International Business.
• Beugelsdijk, S., Ambos, B. & Nell, P. . Conceptualizing and measuring distance in international business research: Recurring questions and best practice guidelines. In Research Methods in International Business. Palgrave/Springer.

Other publications

• Hettich, E., Rogenhofer, L. & Ambos, B. (2020). Bird, Lime, & Co: Conquering the Last Mile. The Case Center.
• Hauptmann, G. & Ambos, B. (2018). Reinforcing Threat Cycles: The Interrelation of Strategic Issue Categorization. 38th Strategic Management Society (SMS) Annual International Conference.
• Hauptmann, G., Ambos, B. & Ambos, T. (2018). Crying Wolf: The Impact of Strategic Issue Categorization Imbalances on Performance. 78th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management.
• Ambos, B., Leicht-Deobald, U. & Leinemann, A. (2018). Understanding the Formation of Psychic Distance Perceptions. Academy of Management Proceedings.
• Alpers, I. & Ambos, B. (2017). Daimler AG – The electric revolution of the automobile. The Case Centre.
• Hauptmann, G., Ambos, B. & Ambos, T. (2016). Strategic Decision Making Trajectory of Competitive Imitation – A Multi-Competitor Market Analysis. 36th Strategic Management Society (SMS) Annual International Conference.
• Schulte Steinberg, A., Kunisch, S. & Ambos, B. (2015). Organizational Practice Adoption in the MNC: The Role of Managers’ Core Self-Evaluations. 75th Academy of Management Annual Meeting (AOM) 2015 "Opening Governance".
• Leinemann, A. & Ambos, B. (2015). The forgotten middle: Cognitive firm capabilities and the multinationality performance relationship. 75th Academy of Management Annual Meeting (AOM) 2015 "Opening Governance".
• Schulte Steinberg, A., Kunisch, S. & Ambos, B. (2015). Organizational Control and Goal Conflicts in Headquarters-Subsidiary Relationships: An Agency Theory Perspective. 57th Academy of International Business (ABI) Annual Meeting.
• Leinemann, A. & Ambos, B. (2015). Understanding Psychic Distance: A Product of Individual Demographics or Collective Phenomenon?. Academy of International Business - Annual Meeting.
• Schulte Steinberg, A., Kunisch, S. & Ambos, B. (2015). Goal Conflicts and Corporate Control: Implications for Headquarters-Subsidiary Relationships of Multinational Corporations. 2015 SMS Strategic Management Society Special Conference.
• Schulte Steinberg, A., Kunisch, S. & Ambos, B. (2015). Principal-Agent Multiplicity in Headquarters-Subsidiary Relationships of Multinational Corporations. 2015 SMS Strategic Management Society Special Conference.
• Schulte Steinberg, A., Kunisch, S. & Ambos, B. (2015). Goal Conflicts in the Headquarters-Subsidiary Relationship: Corporate Control Effects and Implications. 2015 SMS Strategic Management Society Special Conference.
• Leinemann, A. & Ambos, B. (2014). Multinational Complexity and MNC Performance: A Strategic Schema Fit Model. 74th Academy of Management Annual Meeting (AOM) 2014 "The Power of Words".
• Schulte Steinberg, A., Ambos, B. & Kunisch, S. (2014). Towards the Micro-Foundations of Organizational Practice Adoption in the MNC: The Role of Core Self-Evaluation. 56th Academy of International Business (ABI) Annual Meeting.
• Schulte Steinberg, A., Ambos, B. & Kunisch, S. (2014). The Impact of Core Self-Evaluations on Organizational Practice Adoption in the Multinational Corporation. Strategic Management Society Special Conference 2013.
• Brenner, B., Schlegelmilch, B. & Ambos, B. (2013). Inside the Nike Matrix.
• Villanueva-Weinzierl, G., Schlegelmilch, B. & Ambos, B. (2013). Puma Prague – Learning from the Sports Shoe Industry.
• Schuster, A. & Ambos, B. (2012). Psychic Distance in 37 Years of IB Literature : Taking Stock and Setting the Course. Proceedings of the ... Annual Meeting of the Academy of International Business54th Academy of International Business (ABI) Annual Meeting, East Lansing, MI.
• Nell, P. & Ambos, B. (2011). Global Pharma – Das Ende eines erfolgreichen Business Models?. Gabler.
• Håkanson, L., Dow, D. & Ambos, B. (2010). A Mediating Model of Psychic Distance and FDI Market Selection. International Business Academy Conference.
• Nell, P. & Ambos, B. (2009). Pfizer and the Challenges of the Global Pharmaceutical Industry. ECCH.
• Kunisch, S., Laamanen, T., Schulte Steinberg, A. & Ambos, B. . Organizational Practice Adoption in the MNC: A Trait Activation Theory Approach. Academy of Management, Academy of Management Annual Meeting Proceedings.