What is meant by transnational strategy?

What is Transnational Strategy?

Transnational strategy is a combination of the global strategy, the multinational strategy and the international strategy where the control is at a central level but delivery and operations are handled at local level.

In this strategy there might be a common branding and product features across countries but local adaptation and variation might be seen at local and domestic level.

Importance of Transnational Strategy

The world is growing and connecting fast. In the era of technology and connectivity, companies are able to reach to customers across globe and with improved distribution, companies can deliver goods and services locally and control the data and other aspects of business centrally. In international marketing, there is no simple way of success, transnational strategy combines global and local strategies producing synergy in multiple markets.

It helps the company grow and take the products and services across globe but at the same time making sure that the products are not only reaching the customers but are made and positioned in a way local customer expects it.

A customer would see value in a global product but at the same time expect local adjustments pertaining to expectations and local preferences.

Components of Transnational Strategy

Each of the above mentioned strategies allow organizations to conduct businesses at offshore locations and have unique features such as:

Global

This is focused on central control through the headquarter or location which lead to common decisions across markets on product portfolio, operations etc.

Features:

1. Strong central control
2. Economies of scale through global manufacturing
3. Standardization

Local

This is the aspect which works at a local level may be at a country or city level and works on local adaptation of the company's vision and products.

Features:

1. Local decisions taken by local subsidiaries
2. Allocations of resources done by parent company

Regional

Many times multinational companies also combine many local markets into geographical regions for better control and management e.g. APAC, NA, EU combining multiple countries into one unit.

Features

1. Better Management and visibility into company's performance in a region

2. Quick transfer of knowledge and resources across similar and closely located markets.

The transnational strategy combines the above mentioned strategies to in order to facilitate a firm’s global business activities through coordination, cooperation and interdependence. The transnational strategy relies on the coordination of the center, the operation units and the local subsidiaries for efficient and effective reach. The transnational strategy captures the benefits of central coordination of the global strategy along with the local responsiveness of the multinational and international strategy.

Transnational Strategy Example

HUL and HCCB are subsidiaries of their parent companies Unilever and Coca Cola company which follow a transnational strategy. The operations are locally controlled but centrally coordinated and interdependence among other subsidiaries is also present.

Companies like McDonald's and Burger King though have similar models across the world where they have common offerings of burgers, fries and drinks across globe but they have adapted to local tastes and cuisines.

Hence, this concludes the definition of Transnational Strategy along with its overview.

This article has been researched & authored by the Business Concepts Team. It has been reviewed & published by the MBA Skool Team. The content on MBA Skool has been created for educational & academic purpose only.

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In simple terms, transnational businesses carry out commerce across international boundaries. The transnational model is invested in foreign assets and operations, making them effectively tied to each nation in which they do business. They are, however, distinct from international, multinational and global business models.

Global, International and Multinational Business Models

The international model focuses on import and export markets, but the company is solely based in its own country. Companies arrange the movement of goods in and out of their home country based on global supply and demand. A multinational company invests in other countries but is focused on creating offerings specific to those markets.

An example is a fast food chain that focuses on burgers in the United States. A global company has consistent products delivered to multiple countries.

Dissecting a Transnational Business

Transnational businesses are typically extensive and vested in numerous countries. In many cases, they are tied to natural resources and play a complex role in the operations of governments and extraction-based industries. Transnational models also include consumables like those from Nestle.

Although the transnational has a central corporate office, each country has its own central location where specific operations take place. These individualized operations work within the bigger picture, making the company powerful in each location but also nimble as the footprint is spread across numerous locations.

Transnational Business Strategies

Transnationals have a major advantage over local businesses. They are large, well resourced, and can enter markets efficiently and effectively. One strategy employed is assessing the demand for specific products within a market and simply out-competing local vendors by using efficiencies created over time.

Production, supply chain advantages and marketing dollars make transnationals more effective than local business with limited operating capital. The ability to sell a similar product at a lower price is a commonly employed strategy. Transnationals in the extraction industries are skilled and can use advanced technology and processes to operate more efficiently than localized mining and drilling operations. In some cases, the transnationals expand the local economy by using their advanced methods, but they may also exploit labor and local resources to supply a global market.

An Unfair Advantage

The argument for an unfair advantage among transnational companies is common. They are effective and have incredible power. Although a central corporate office controls the arms of business, the transnational is really stateless and can shift power throughout the different arms for political purposes.

What is transnational strategy example?

Transnational Strategy Such a firm tries to balance the desire for efficiency with the need to adjust to local preferences within various countries. For example, large fast-food chains such as McDonald's and KFC rely on the same brand names and the same core menu items around the world.

Why is transnational strategy important?

The primary advantage of a transnational business strategy is that it is less costly than a multi-domestic strategy, as it prioritizes global standardization and efficiency. Transnational businesses centralize as many resources as possible, therefore cutting costs.

When would you use a transnational strategy?

For companies that want to operate internationally, a transnational strategy can allow them to enter a local market more effectively and create a customer base quickly. A big reason for this is that local employees should know how to interact with others in their culture better than an outsider might.

What is an example of transnational?

Transnational corporations (TNCs) or multinational corporations (MNCs) are companies that operate in more than one country. Unilever, McDonalds and Apple are all examples of TNCs. TNCs tend to have offices and headquarters located in the developed world.