The 6 categories describing support functions in the survey are :

- Distribution and logistics support functions ;

- Marketing, sales and after sales services including help desks and call centres ;

- Information and communications technology services ;

- Administrative and management functions including procurement service ;

- Research & Development, engineering and related technical services ;

- Other support functions.

The world (excluding France) is divided into eleven geographical areas in the survey :

- EU-15 except France: Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Spain, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Finland, Sweden, the United-Kingdom.

- EU-12 (new Member States): Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Lithuania, Latvia, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania.

- Russia.

- Other European countries : particularly Switzerland, Norway, Turkey, Belarus, Ukraine, the Balkans.

- China.

- India.

- Other countries of Asia and Oceania : particularly Japan, Korea, Middle-East and Far East, Australia, New-Zealand.

- USA and Canada. - Brazil.

- Other countries of America.

- Africa.

There are eight " fine type " categories in the survey :

- not belonging to a group ;

- subsidiary of a group settled only in France ;

- head of a group settled only in France ;

- head of a multinational group ;

- subsidiary belonging to a multinational group whose head is located in France and owning subsidiaries abroad ;

- subsidiary belonging to a multinational group whose head is located abroad and owning subsidiaries abroad ;

- subsidiary belonging to a multinational group whose head is located in France and not owning subsidiaries abroad ;

- subsidiary belonging to a multinational group whose head is located abroad and not owning subsidiaries abroad ;