Different roles for subsidiaries: The case of multinational corporations in spain

Abstract A framework is proposed to characterize the different roles that subsidiaries of multinational corporations (MNCs) can play within the firm's overall strategy. The framework is then applied to a sample of 50 Spanish subsidiaries of MNCs. These are found to be pursuing strategies consistent with the framework. At the same time, a strategic evolution is detected towards a closer integration of the subsidiaries with their parent group. It is hypothesized that changes in the Spanish sociopolitical context, especially the country's entry into the European Economic Community, are fueling that process of strategic change.