The corporate parent – subsidiary relationship and the strategy of the subsidiary at barclays bank of Kenya

Abstract

The main aim of the study is to investigate on the Corporate-Parent subsidiary relationship and the choice of the subsidiary strategy at Barclays Bank of Kenya Ltd. Multinational entities have played a role in international trade for several centuries. Their operations can be traced back several centuries. These developments suggest that the relationship between national and firm competitiveness should be viewed from a different perspective. There is a set of subsidiary characteristics that enables a foreign subsidiary to contribute to the national competitiveness of its host country. Primary data was mainly used while secondary data was used in its support. The interview guide was designed in an unstructured form of questions mainly aimed at encouraging the respondent to give an in-depth response without raising a feeling of revealing too much information. Secondary data relating to the subsidiary strategic plan was obtained from Barclays Bank of Kenya Ltd. Primary data was gathered through face to face interviews. The study used content analysis for data presentation The study found out that in this research study, the parent company has a large influence on what the subsidiary company can do or not do. The study established that whilst there are disadvantages of being closely controlled by a parent company, there are also many benefits which come with being associated with a multinational company. The study concludes that the Corporate-Parent subsidiary relationship and the choice of the subsidiary strategy at Barclays Bank of Kenya Ltd has an effect on the strategy of the subsidiary