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Title:
Globalisation of the Executive Search Industry in Europe, 1980-2007

Subject Categories:
Economic conditions and indicators - Economics
Economic systems and development - Economics
General - Employment and labour
Management and organisation - Industry and management
Elites and leadership - Social stratification and groupings

Depositor(s):
Beaverstock,J., University of Nottingham. School of Geography

Principal Investigator(s):
Beaverstock,J., University of Nottingham. School of Geography
Faulconbridge, J., Lancaster University. Department of Geography
Hall, S., University of Nottingham. Department of Geography

Sponsor(s):
Economic and Social Research Council

Grant Number:
RES-000-22-1498

Abstract:
Globalisation of the Executive Search Industry in Europe, 1980-2007 aimed to develop knowledge and understanding of the contemporary globalisation of the head-hunting industry in Europe and its implications for new forms and geographies of executive search and selection. Europe has become the most complex and sophisticated pan-regional market for executive search, fuelled by free labour mobility within the European Union (EU), thereby offering a unique environment in which to study the changing practices of the head-hunting industry.

Theoretically, the project, firstly, develops existing knowledge and understanding of the strategic and operational transnational capacities of knowledge-intensive professional services in a globally connected business environment; and secondly, explores the role of head-hunters as key ‘intermediaries’ in the reproduction and management of executive labour in Europe’s knowledge-based economy.

Quantitative time series data (1980-2005) of the office locations of executive search firms have been collected from the Executive Grapevine. These can be used to map the initial internationalisation and recent globalisation geographies in Europe. 51 case study interviews have been undertaken with the leading firms and professional bodies based in London and several European cities (also one association in New York). These provide original insights into and understanding of executive search firms' strategies and their intermediary role in Europe’s elite labour market. All research participants and their employing firms have been made anonymous and unidentifiable throughout the data. This includes removing their names, the firm names, references to particular projects and their career histories.

Further information is available from the ESRC Award web page and the Headhunters project web page.

Main Topics:
The globalisation of the executive search industry in Europe as understood by executive search consultants, researchers and associations.

Coverage:
Time Period Covered: January 1980-August 2007
Dates of Fieldwork: January 2006-August 2007
Country: Belgium; England; France; Germany (October 1990-); Netherlands; United States
Geography: Amsterdam; Brussels; London; New York; Paris; Frankfurt-on-Main
Spatial Units: Cities
Observation Units: Individuals; Institutions/organisations
Kind of Data: Textual data; Numeric data; Individual (micro) level

Universe Sampled:
Location of Units of Observation:Cross-national; Subnational
Population:Qualitative data: Executive search consultants, researchers and associations in London, Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Brussels and New York, 2007
Quantitative data: Global executive search firms, 1980-2005

Methodology:
Time Dimensions: Cross-sectional (one-time) study
Sampling Procedures: Purposive selection/case studies
Number of Units: 51 interviews
Method of Data Collection: Face-to-face interview; Compilation or synthesis of existing material
Weighting: Not applicable
Data Sources: The office locations of executive search firms were collected from the Executive Grapevine, The Directory of Executive Recruitment, published by The Executive Grapevine International Ltd. Editions consulted were 1980, 1985, 1990, 1994, 2000, 2005.
Copies are held at the British Library and the most recent edition is available for private purchase.

Language(s) of Written Materials:
Study Description: English
Study Documentation: English

Access:
Access Conditions: The depositor has specified that registration is required and standard conditions of use apply. The depositor may be informed about usage. See terms and conditions for further information.
Availability: ESDS Qualidata, UK Data Archive
Contact: Help desk: qualidata@esds.ac.uk

Date of Release:
First Edition: 30 April 2009

Copyright:
Copyright J.V. Beaverstock, S.J.E. Hall and J.R. Faulconbridge

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