Enacting discretion in a low discretion environment: an interview with Carlos Ghosn

Haj Youssef, M ORCID: 0000-0002-6011-1605, Kleindienst, I, Khalife, D and Salameh-Ayanian, M (2025) Enacting discretion in a low discretion environment: an interview with Carlos Ghosn. Critical Perspectives on International Business. ISSN 1742-2043

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Abstract

Purpose – This study examines the leadership journey of Carlos Ghosn to explore how managerial discretion operates in culturally restrictive environments. This study aims to understand how high-discretion leadership strategies can navigate institutional and cultural constraints, with a focus on Japan’s corporate context during Ghosn‘s tenure at Nissan. Design/methodology/approach – The research employs a qualitative approach, drawing on an in-depth and lengthy interview with Carlos Ghosn. The paper is structured in a way where each thematic section is accompanied by a commentary offering theoretical insights and contextual analysis grounded in the literature on managerial discretion, cross cultural management and relevant theoretical discussions on CEOs. At the end, this paper presents a framework that shows managerial discretion in hybrid situations and discusses what this means. Findings – Key findings highlight the tensions between high-discretion leadership, organizational politics and cultural expectations, offering insights into the complexities of hybrid discretion contexts. Originality/value – This paper contributes to leadership and cross-cultural management literature by providing a nuanced understanding of managerial discretion in multinational settings. It offers practical insights for global business leaders navigating cultural and institutional challenges, particularly in hybrid discretion environments.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	1503 Business and Management; 1608 Sociology; Business & Management; 3505 Human resources and industrial relations; 3507 Strategy, management and organisational behaviour
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HF Commerce > HF5001 Business H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Divisions:	Liverpool Business School
Publisher:	Emerald
Date of acceptance:	16 September 2025
Date of first compliant Open Access:	17 September 2025
Date Deposited:	17 Sep 2025 16:09
Last Modified:	25 Nov 2025 14:10
DOI or ID number:	10.1108/cpoib-12-2024-0162
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/27174

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