Final answer:
The type of company that delegates responsibility for research to operating subsidiaries but retains overall responsibility and control of research as a headquarters' function is a multinational company (option C).
Step-by-step explanation:
A multinational company is a corporate business entity that controls the production of goods and services in multiple countries. It has operating subsidiaries in different countries, but the overall responsibility and control of research remains with the headquarters.
For example, Ford Motor Company is a multinational company with subsidiaries around the globe that produce various products. The headquarters of the company retains control over research and development while delegating certain tasks to the subsidiary companies.