Unrelated differentiation is a diversification strategy where companies expand their operation into markets or products beyond current resources and capabilities. This strategy is also sometimes referred to as the conglomerate strategy.

The unrelated diversification seems to be applicable and meaningful in at least two cases:

Firstly, if the parent company is able to provide different businesses with managerial knowledge and expertise that strengthens the individual business, it will be very feasible to diverse into different markets that will potentially increase parent company profits.

Secondly, unrelated diversification might give a company the oppurtunity of increasing the strength of the economy of different markets, and to develop competencies that can be shared between different markets and products.