Managing interdependence in multi-business organizations is a profound challenge for the design and use of management control systems. Results of a case study of a leading multinational telecommunications provider suggest that the composition of control systems varies significantly with the type of interdependence. This is further substantiated by six qualitative sub-cases of the case study firm. Specifically, we find that management control systems are significantly more complex in cases of cooperative forms of interdependence than in cases of transactional forms. Contrary to expectations, this also applies to pooled interdependence which occurs when separate units share some common resources.
Managing interdependence in multi-business organizations is a profound challenge for the design and use of management control systems. Results of a case study of a leading multinational telecommunications provider suggest that the composition of control systems varies significantly with the type of interdependence. This is further substantiated by six qualitative sub-cases of the case study firm. Specifically, we find that management control systems are significantly more complex in cases of cooperative forms of interdependence than in cases of transactional forms. Contrary to expectations, this also applies to pooled interdependence which occurs when separate units share some common resources.