The circular relationship between geographical and product diversification in Spanish MNEs

Abstract

Diversification as a strategic response to global opportunities has become increasingly important for firms. Drawing on the Resource Based View of the Firm, this paper investigates these strategies by analysing a circular relationship between product and geographical diversification. The results, obtained from a sample of leading Spanish multinational firms, suggest that adaptation to a wide range of different countries hinders the necessary coordination of activities that related product diversification requires and vice-versa. In contrast, unrelated diversification strategies can provide financial synergies, experience and flexibility, which help the process of internationalisation. Simultaneously, greater geographical diversification allows each subsidiary to behave as an independent unit and to develop more efficient internal control systems and resource allocation.