NEW CORPORATE STRUCTURES, REGIONAL OFFICES AND SINGAPORE'S NEW ECONOMIC DIRECTIONS

The adoption of new organisational structures and methods for controlling subsidiaries is affecting the role and characteristics of regional offices. Since 1986 Singapore's economic strategy has given priority to the attraction of regional offices as part of a wider search for new economic directions. This shift coincided with the emergence of a new Southeast Asian division of labour associated with the adoption of a regional focus in multinational investment and the integration of subsidiary investment. A survey of regional offices awarded “operational headquarters” (OHQ) status by the government shows how changes in corporate structures and the formation of the regional division of labour are influencing regional office activity and organisation. This analysis identifies four types of regional office, of which the largest function as centres of logistics and service support, Barriers to the adoption of corporate control functions amongst Singapore OHQs are explained.