Варіант 7. The multinational corporate phenomenon (1)

THE MULTINATIONAL CORPORATE PHENOMENON (1)

1. Multinational entities have played a role in international trade for more than 300 years. The beginnings of these operations can be traced to the British and Dutch trading companies and, after their decline, to European overseas investments, mainly in the extractive industries. The phenomenon known today is the result of the lead taken by U.S.-based companies in the post-World War II period and later followed by western European and Japanese entities.

2. Similarly, there is an abundance of definitions. The United Nations defines multinational corporations as “enterprises that own or control production or service facilities outside the country they are based in.” Certain minimal criteria have been proposed that firms must satisfy to be regarded as multinational. The number of countries of operation is typically two, although the Harvard multinational enterprise project required subsidiaries in six or more nations. Another measure is the proportion of overall revenue generated from foreign operations. Although no agreement exists as to the exact percentage to be used, 25 to 30 percent is most often cited. One proposal is that the degree of involvement in foreign markets has to be substantial enough to make a difference in decision-making.

3. However, production abroad does not necessarily indicate a multinational corporation. The endeavour of the firm is the determining factor. If the firm is to be categorized as a multinational corporation, its management must consider it to be multinational and must act accordingly. In terms of management philosophies, firms can be categorized as ethnocentric (home-market oriented), polycentric (oriented toward individual foreign markets), or geocentric (oriented toward larger areas, even the global market­place). However, the term should be reserved for firms that view their domestic operation as a part of worldwide (or region wide) operations and direct an integrated business system. The definition excludes polycentric firms, which may be comparable to holding companies.

I. Знайдіть у тексті та випишіть еквіваленти таких слів та словосполучень:

занепад, іноземні інвестиції, явище, підприємство, велика кількість, кількість, філія,

доход, прийняття рішень, намагання/зусилля

Найдите в тексте и выпишите эквиваленты следующих слов и словосочетаний:

спад, иностранные инвестиции, явление, предприятие, множество, количество, филиал, доход, принятие решений, попытка/усилие

II. Перекладіть письмово абзац 2.

Переведите письменно абзац 2.

III. Випишіть з тексту приклади інфінітиву у Active Voice i Passive Voice. Перекладіть.

Выпишите из текста примеры инфинитива в Active Voice и Passive Voice. Переведите.

IV. Поставте 5 запитань до абзацу 3 та запишіть їх.

Поставьте 5 вопросов к абзацу 3 и запишите их.

V. Дайте письмові відповіді на запитання.

Письменно ответьте на вопросы.

1. How far historically can multinational entities be traced?

2. What criteria have been proposed for defining firms as multinational?