EXTENDING THEORY BY ANALYZING DEVELOPING COUNTRY MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES: SOLVING THE GOLDILOCKS DEBATE

I analyze how the study of developing country multinational companies (DMNCs) can help extend theory. The renewed interest in DMNCs has generated a 'Goldilocks' debate, with one camp arguing that the analysis of DMNCs is 'hot' and requires new theory, another camp arguing that it is 'cold' and no new theory is required, and a third camp arguing that it is 'just right' and it can be used to extend theory. I follow this third camp and argue that the unique conditions of developing countries influence the internationalization of DMNCs, creating a laboratory for extending theory. I illustrate this idea by reviewing some of the key theories and models of the multinational company and explaining how they can be extended with the study of DMNCs. Copyright (C) 2012 Strategic Management Society.