Part A: Whether MNEs are truly global is a much debated subject. By identifying the factors that can influence the degree of globalisation of an MNE, discuss whether emerging economy MNEs (EMNEs) tend to be less globalised than developed economy MNEs (DMNEs).

Part B: Based on a sample of 10 large MNEs (5 DMNEs and 5 EMNEs), critically examine your hypothesis in part A.

Notes on Essay 1 Trajectory of MNEs, starting as local firms and passing the stage of "internationalization" (i.e., having limited geographical spread and/or limited coordination) to become truly globalised (i.e., with a wide geographical spread and coordination of operations), has drawn enormous interest in the International Business Literature. Whether MNEs are truly global is a much debated subject. Many believe that MNEs often operate on a regional level, i.e. locate majority of their operations in their home region while some studies have shown that majority of MNEs are truly global, i.e. operate on a global level.

In this essay, first you need to identify/discuss various factors that can influence the degree of globalisation of an MNE. Based on these factors and examining the characteristics of DMNEs vs EMNEs, then you need to discuss/evaluate whether emerging economy MNEs (EMNEs) tend to be less globalised than developed economy MNEs (DMNEs).

For the second part of the essay, you need to select 10 large MNEs (5 DMNEs and 5 EMNEs) from the following lists published by UNCTAD:
http://unctad.org/en/pages/DIAE/World%20Investment%20Report/Annex-Tables.aspx Annex table 28 - The world's top 100 non-financial TNCs, ranked by foreign assets, 2013 a Annex table 29 - The top 100 non-financial TNCs from developing and transition economies, ranked by foreign assets, 2012 a

Based on your sample of MNEs, you need to critically examine your hypothesis in part A.