Evolution of multinational strategy: Evidence from scottish manufacturing subsidiaries

Recent structural changes in the EC have focused attention on the process and natures of strategy formulation and evolution at the subsidiary level of multinational corporations. This paper reviews alternative conceptual approaches to subsidiary strategy, with particular attention to the integration/responsiveness grid developed by Prahalad and Doz. Using data obtained from a postal survey of 121 manufacturing multinationals located in Scotland, the validity of the grid is assessed and a mapping of subsidiary strategy and its evolution over time is proposed. The results are not wholly in line with Prahalad and Doz, yet yield interesting propositions for multinational firms and policy makers.