Difference between a global transnational international and multinational company

Both words international and multinational refer to including or involving several countries or nationalities. The main difference between international and multinational is that the word international is used in a general context while the word  multinational is mostly used in a business context.

International – Meaning and Usage

We use the word International when we are referring to more than one country. International law means a law agreed on by all or many countries. International trade is the exchange of goods carried between countries. An international team refers to a team made up of people of different countries. Olympics, where competitors from all over the world participate, is an international event. The examples below will give you a clear picture about  the word.

She studied international relations at Yale university.

An international treaty was established in 1898.

He worked in a large, international hotel.

Difference between a global transnational international and multinational company

Multinational – Meaning and Usage

Oxford Dictionary defines multinational as an adjective meaning “Including or involving several countries or individuals of several nationalities.” For instance, look at the sentence, “The UN has sent a multinational peace-keeping force.” Here the usage of multinational indicates that the peace-keeping force included people from several countries or of several nationalities.

However, the term Multinational is mainly used in corporate, business world. Multinational refers to a business that operates in several countries. In this context, Multinational can be used  as an adjective as well as a noun.

He is the CEO of a large multinational corporation.

Some multinationals are more powerful than governments.

Note that, the term Multinational companies refer to having investments in other countries but do not have coordinated product offerings in each country. They are more focused on adapting their products and service to each individual local market. Coca-ColaNike, McDonalds Corp., Google and Fedex are some examples of multinational companies. The term, International companies, refer to  importers and exporters, they have no investment outside of their home country.

Difference between a global transnational international and multinational company

Nike is an example for a multinational company.

Difference Between International and Multinational

Definition

International means Existing, occurring, or carried on between nations.

Multinational means Including or involving several countries or individuals of several nationalities.

Context

Internationalis used in many contexts.

Multinational is mostly used in a business context.

Company

An Internationalcompany does not have investment outside the home country.

A Multinationalcompany has investments in other countries.

Difference between a global transnational international and multinational company

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Global Company vs International Multinational Transnational

Difference between Global Company, International Company, Multinational Company, Transnational Company & Multidomestic Company

With the Globalization of trade between the countries, many companies across the world have come forward to sell their products and/or render services not only in their domestic country but also in different foreign countries. This has opened up whopping opportunities for these companies to go global, grow and diversify.

Difference between a global transnational international and multinational company

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GLOBAL COMPANY


Abbreviation / A.k.a.

: Do not have any abbreviation.

Operations & Trading: Any Company, which is having operations and trading in many countries across the world is called as a Global Company. Generally, the number of countries in these cases, would be quite high, let's say at least around 15-20+ countries.

Investment: Global companies mostly have foreign direct investment (FDI) in some or all of the foreign countries where they operate in.

Strategy: In most of the Global companies, the organization structure and key decision making functions have a "Centralized" approach i.e the major decisions on the organizational approaches /changes are taken from the headquarter of the company. These major decisions are like merger and amalgamation, new products launching, etc.

Products / R&D: Products development processes are generally initiated and completed by the Parent company and then distributed to the subsidiary companies in other countries for further trading. Subsidiary companies in other countries may be allowed to take part in product idea evolvement process, but the final development takes place at the headquarters of the Parent company's country.

Challenges: As these companies have investments in many countries, they face regulatory and legal issues in those countries often. Also, as these companies follow uniform product type across all countries, they miss the local touch in it and this sometimes lowers the demand in some countries.

Example: Lenovo, Kellogg, Shell, Coca-cola, Microsoft.


INTERNATIONAL COMPANY

Abbreviation / A.k.a.: Do not have any abbreviation.

Operations & Trading: International companies are the companies who sell its products in foreign countries by exporting it to those countries and they might also be involved in various importing activities. These companies do not have their own establishments in foreign countries.

Investment: International companies do not have any foreign direct investment (FDI) in the foreign countries where they export to or import from their products/services.

Strategy: As these companies do not have any foreign set up or branches, the key decision making functions is always taken from the domestic country of the company.

Products / R&D: Product development processes are accomplished in the domestic country.

Challenges: Legal, regulatory and customs issues are the key bottlenecks for these companies. Also, in cases where the taste of products in some of the countries does not match, these companies may run the risk of failures.

Example: Wal-Mart, Spencer.

    MULTINATIONAL COMPANY

    Abbreviation / A.k.a.

    : MNC, Multi-national Company, M.N.C.

    Operations & Trading: Any Company, which is having operations and trading in two or more countries across the globe is called as a Multinational Company. Generally, the number of countries in this cases, would be in the medium range - from two to ten.

    Investment: Multinational companies may have foreign direct investment (FDI) in very few of the foreign countries where they operate in.

    Strategy: Multinational companies, mostly, have a "Centralized" organization structure and key decision making functions.

    Products / R&D: Just like global companies, in the case of multinational companies the products development processes are generally taken up by the Parent company and then distributed to various subsidiary companies at foreign countries for further trading. 

    Challenges: In addition to the international legal issues, these companies also face various IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) issues like product ideas copying, etc.

    Example: General Motors, Intuit.

      TRANSNATIONAL COMPANY

      Abbreviation / A.k.a.

      : TNC, T.N.C.

      Operations & Trading: These types of companies can be considered as a mixture of global, multinational and international companies, as it combines many of the features of these 3 types of companies. Here, the structure of the company is a little complex type and also versatile - considering many aspects vital for global trade. These companies are pretty flexible companies in terms of operating across the globe by adopting the local cultures and consumer behaviors and the ultimate marketing strategy based on it.

      Investment: Transnational companies mostly have foreign direct investment (FDI) in many of the foreign countries where they operate in.

      Strategy: Transnational companies prefer to have a "Decentralized" organization structure and key decision making functions wherein each of their international establishments are responsible to take their own key decisions as suitable for the local region they are in.

      Products / R&D: Here, subsidiary companies in different countries are also given the rights to develop products on their own based on the local needs and demands, though the final approval for launching may come from Parent company's side. Products of these companies vary from country to country, as products are developed in line with the local taste and customs.

      Challenges: Due to varied organization structure and culture, transnational companies mainly face internal manpower issues, and organizational problems, etc.

      Example: BMW, Nokia, Ford Motor Company.

        MULTIDOMESTIC COMPANY


        Abbreviation / A.k.a.: MDC, M.D.C.

        Operations & Trading: These types of companies are almost similar to the Transnational companies. These companies have branches and establishments across many countries in the world.

        Investment: Multidomestic companies mostly have foreign direct investment (FDI) in some of the foreign countries where they operate in.

        Strategy: Multidomestic companies also prefer to have a "Decentralized" organization structure and key decision making functions wherein each of their international branches are responsible to take their own key decisions suitable to the respective domestic places.

        Products / R&D: Subsidiary companies in different countries are also given the rights to develop product as per the local taste and demands.

        Challenges: Same challenges as mentioned above for Transnational companies.

        Example: McDonald, KFC.

          COMMON PRACTICES ON USE OF TERMS

          Generally, it is a practice that many companies who have operations in different countries gets referred to as "International Company" or simply as "MNC".

          Also, it has been seen that some of the companies who have operations in different countries refer themselves (even in public) as any of the above said four category of company without going deep into various aspects which would really put them in the right category of company. Most of the time the confusion arises between global, multinational and international company.

          Though the meaning of all these companies are almost similar to Universal Company or Worldwide Company, but they are hardly referred to by these names. Hence, it is better not to refer by these names.



          What is the difference between international multinational transnational and global companies?

          Multinational companies have investment in other countries, but do not have coordinated product offerings in each country. More focused on adapting their products and service to each individual local market. Global companies have invested and are present in many countries.

          What is the difference between multinational company and global company?

          A multinational has more autonomy in each individual country, whereas a global model is still beholden to its central operating model. Multinationals adapt operations and products to fit within individual markets.

          What is the difference between a transnational and an international business?

          However, the transnational strategy is different from the international strategy mainly because the “control” is more about coordinating the activities of local-market operating units to achieve integrated and interdependent synergies among the operating units.

          What is a transnational or multinational company?

          multinational corporation (MNC), also called transnational corporation, any corporation that is registered and operates in more than one country at a time. Generally the corporation has its headquarters in one country and operates wholly or partially owned subsidiaries in other countries.