The Emergence and Impact of MNC Centres of Excellence

This study explores an important element in the development of the multinational corporation. Whilst previously the parent company was seen as the centre, and the foreign subsidiaries as the periphery, today, it is recognized that different subsidiaries have different roles, and are linked to each other in a complicated pattern. One crucial aspect of this is that some subsidiaries become "Centres of Excellence" (COE) controlling resources on which other parts of the corporation depend for their operations. This work investigates the existence of COEs in different countries, examining why they emerge and analysing their impact on corporate strategy.