The multidomestic strategy decentralizes the firm's strategic and operating decisions to business units in each country so that product characteristics can be tailored to local preference. Firms using this strategy try to isolate themselves from global competitive forces by establishing protected market positions or by competing in industry segments that are most affected by differences among local countries. The worldwide geographic area structure is used t implement this strategy. The worldwide geographic area structure emphasizes national interests and facilitates the firm's efforts to satisfy local differences (see Figure 11.8).