Multinational corporations are forced by the increasing globalization to coordinate their various operations on the basis of an integrated network management. Roland Bottcher examines the literature on global network approaches. The importance of a pro-active management of informal relationships across national borders is shown by his empirical study. Verzeichnis: Roland Bottcher belegt die herausragende Bedeutung eines proaktiven Managements informeller Beziehungen im internationalen Steuerungskontext.