International Business
International Business
International Business
BUSINESS
RAKESH MOHAN JOSHI
Professor (International Business and International Marketing)
Indian Institute of Foreign Trade
New Delhi
With offices in
Argentina Austria Brazil Chile Czech Republic France Greece
Guatemala Hungary Italy Japan Poland Portugal Singapore
South Korea Switzerland Thailand Turkey Ukraine Vietnam
Published in India
by Oxford University Press
You must not circulate this book in any other binding or cover
and you must impose this same condition on any acquirer.
Contents
Globalization and
1 International Business
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Ø To outline the historical perspective of globalization of business
Ø To explain the concept of globalization
Ø To elucidate the factors influencing globalization
Ø To discuss the various techniques for measuring globalization
Ø To examine the reasons for support and criticism of globalization
Ø To discuss global business expansion strategy for emerging market companies
Ø To explicate the concept of international business
Ø To delineate the motives for international business expansion
Ø To expound the strategy for managing business in the globalization era
1.1 INTRODUCTION
The forces of globalization have hardly been as intense before as to be explicitly
evident as influencing our daily lives. The advents in information and communication
technology (ICT) and the rapid economic liberalization of trade and investment in
most countries have accelerated the process of globalization. Markets are getting
flooded with not only industrial goods but also with items of daily consumption. Each
day, an average person makes use of goods and services of multiple origins—for
instance, the Finnish mobile Nokia and the US toy-maker’s Barbie doll made in China
but used across the world; a software from the US-based Microsoft, developed by an
Indian software engineer based in Singapore, used in Japan; the Thailand-manufactured
US sports shoe Nike used by a Saudi consumer. The increased integration of markets—
goods and financial—the mobility of people with transnational travels for jobs and
vacations, and the global reach of satellite channels, the Internet, and the telephone
all have virtually transformed the world into a ‘global village’.
‘Globalization’, one of the most complex terms used in international business, has
wide connotations. Interestingly, ‘globalization’ is a term not only used and heard
frequently, but also as often misused and misinterpreted. Globalization is used to
40
36.6
35
32.5
30
28.0 28.8 27.3
25.8 25.1
24.4
25
24.3 22.5
23.5 21.7
22.9 20.7 20.5
22.1 20.1
20
17.0
16.6 17.4
15
14.8
14.2
10
5.4 6.0 5.4
5 4.5 4.6 4.7
2.8 3.5 3.3 3.0 2.9 3.3
2.8 2.1
1.3 1.4 2.0
0.7 0.9 1.1 2.0 2.5 1.0
0.3 0.3 2.0 1.4 0.9
0 0.5 0.5 0.3 0.2 1.0
1000 1500 1600 1700 1820 1910 1950 1970 2000 2006
Year
In the beginning of the Christian era, India was the most populated country with
75 million people constituting 32.5 per cent of the world population (Fig. 1.1), followed
by China (25.8%) with 59.6 million, Italy (3%) with 7 million, France (2.2%) with
5 million, Spain (1.9%) with 4.5 million, Germany (1.3%) and Japan (1.3%) each with
3 million people, whereas the UK (0.34%) and the US (0.29%) inhabited merely
0.8 million and 0.7 million people, respectively, out of the total world population of
230 million.
Moreover, during this period, India was the world’s largest economy with 32.9 per
cent share of the world’s GDP, followed by China (26.1%), the former USSR (1.5%),
and Japan (1.2%). It was only after AD 1500 that some western economies, such as
Italy, France, and Germany emerged with 4.7 per cent, 4.4 per cent, and 3.3 per cent
share, respectively, in the world GDP whereas the UK and the US merely contributed
1.1 per cent and 0.3 per cent, respectively, of the world GDP (see Fig. 1.2). India and
China continued to remain the two most dominant economies till the early nineteenth
century.1
1 The World Economy, Vol. 2: Historical Statistics, Development Centre Studies, OECD, Paris, 2006, pp. 636–38.
35
32.9
32.9
10 8.8
8.2 7.8 7.1
6.5 6.3
5.2 7.5 4.6 6.3
4.1 4.5
5 4.2 5.4
2.7 3.1 2.9 3.0 2.6
4.2 3.2
1.2 1.1 2.9 3.0 3.1 3.2
0.2 1.8 0.1 1.8
0.3
0
1000 1500 1600 1700 1820 1910 1950 1970 2000 2006
Year
Venice played a key role from AD 1000 to AD 1500 in opening up trade within
Europe and in the Mediterranean. It opened trade in Chinese products via caravan
routes in the region around the Black Sea and in Indian and other Asian products via
Syria and Alexandria. Trade was important in bringing high value spices and silks to
Europe and also helped transfer technology from Asia, Egypt, and Byzantium. Portugal
played the key role in opening up European trade, in navigation and settlement in the
Atlantic islands, and in developing trade routes around Africa, into the Indian Ocean,
and to China and Japan. Portugal became the major shipper of spices to Europe for
the whole of the sixteenth century, usurping this role from Venice.
Right up to the eighteenth century, the ‘Indian methods of production and of
industrial and commercial organization could stand in comparison with those in vogue
in any other part of the world’ as written by Vera Anstey.2 India was a highly developed
manufacturing country and exported her manufactured products to Europe and other
nations. Her banking system was efficient and well organized throughout the country,
and the bills of exchange (hundis) issued by the great business or financial houses were
2 Anstey, Vera, Economic Development of India, Longmans, Green and Co., 1929; Nehru, Jawahar Lal, Discovery of India, Penguin
honoured everywhere in India, as well as in Iran, Kabul, Herat, Tashkent, and other
places in Central Asia. Merchant capital had emerged and there was an elaborate
network of agents, jobbers, brokers, and middlemen. The ship-building industry was
flourishing and one of the flagships of an English admiral during the Napoleon wars
was built in India by an Indian firm. India was, in fact, as advanced industrially,
commercially, and financially as any country prior to the industrial revolution. No
such development could have taken place unless the country had enjoyed long periods
of stable and peaceful government and the highways been safe for traffic and trade.
Foreign adventurers originally came to India because of the excellence of her
manufacturers, who had a big market in Europe. The British East India Company
was started with the objective of carrying manufactured goods, textiles, etc., as well as
spices and the like from the East to Europe, where there was a great demand for these
articles. Such trading was highly profitable, yielding enormous dividends. So efficient
and highly organized were the Indian methods of production, and such were the
skills of India’s artisans and craftsmen, that India could compete successfully even with
the higher techniques of production that were being established in England. Even
when the big machine age began in England, Indian goods continued to pour in and
had to be stopped by very heavy duties and, in some cases, by outright prohibitions.3
By the middle of the eighteenth century, the main exports into Europe were textiles
and raw silk from India and tea from China. The purchases of European products
into India were financed mainly by the exports of bullion and raw cotton from Bengal,
whereas the purchases into China were financed by the exports of opium. Until the
eighteenth century, the British generally maintained peaceable relations with the Indian
Mughal empire, whose authority and military power were too great to be challenged
by the British.
It was only after the development of new industrial techniques that a new class of
industrial capitalists emerged in Britain and under their influence, the British
government began to take greater interest in the affairs of the East India Company.
The British government now adopted the strategy to close the British market for Indian
goods and get the Indian market opened for British manufacturers. To begin with,
Indian goods were excluded by legislation in Britain. Since the East India Company
had the monopoly in the Indian export business, the exclusion influenced other foreign
markets as well.
During the pre-World War I period from 1870 to 1914, there took place a rapid
integration of economies in terms of trade flows, movement of capital, and migration
of people. The pre-World War I period witnessed the growth of globalization, mainly
led by technological forces in the field of transport and communication.
However, between the first and second world wars, the pace of globalization
decelerated. Various barriers were erected to restrict free movement of goods and
services during the inter-war period. Under high protective walls, most economies
3 Nehru, Jawahar Lal, Discovery of India, Penguin Books, New Delhi, 2004, pp. 308–09.
perceived higher growths. It was resolved by all leading countries after World War II
that the earlier mistakes committed by them to isolate themselves should not be
repeated. Although, after 1945, there was a drive to increased integration, it took a
long time to reach pre-World War I levels. In terms of percentage of imports and
exports to total output, the US could reach the pre-World War level of 11 per cent
only around 1970. Most developing countries that gained independence from colonial
rule in the immediate post-World War II period followed imports substitution strategies
to promote local industrialization. The East European countries shielded themselves
from the process of global economic integration.
Multilateral organizations, especially the World Bank, the IMF, and the GATT,
set up in the post-war era contributed considerably to the economic integration of
countries. Setting up of the WTO in 1995 provided an effective institutional mechanism
for multilateral trade negotiations, integration of trade policies under the WTO
framework, and even the settlement of trade disputes among the member countries.
During the recent decades, most developing countries made a strategic shift from
their restrictive trade and investment policies to economic liberalization. The
transformation of the Indian economy from one following the import substitution
strategy with a highly complex system of licences and multiple procedures to an
economy open to globalization is summarized in Exhibit 1.1.
The breakthroughs in information, communication, and transportation technologies
and the growing economic liberalization have accelerated the process of global
Exhibit 1.1 India’s journey from the licence Raj (era) to globalization
4 Rangarajan, C., ‘Globalization and Its Impact’ in Indian Economy since Independence, edited by Uma Kapila, 15th edn, Academic
Governance in a Globalizing World, Brooking Institution Press, Washington DC, 2000, pp. 1–44, 86–108, 109–34.
6 McLuhan, Marshal, The Gutenberg Galaxy: Making of Typographic Man, University of Toronto Press, Toronto (1962); Wyndham,
Lewis, America and Cosmic Man, Nicholson & Watson, London, 1948, pp. 1–19.
7 Dreher, Axel, Noel Gaston, and Pim Marten, ‘Measuring Globalization and Its Consequences’, Globalization and the Labour
Contd
Source: Charles, Fishman, The Wal-Mart Effect: How the World’s Most Powerful Company Really Works and How It's Transforming
the American Economy, Penguin Press, 2005, pp. 1–13; French Historical Studies, 17(1) Spring (1919), pp. 96–116; Ritzer,
George, The McDonaldization of Society, Pine Forge Press, 2004, pp. 1–19; Koestler, Arthur, The Lotus and the Robot, Macmillan
Company, New York (1961), pp. 1–34; Kuisel, Richard F., ‘Coca Cola and the Cold War: The French Face Americanization’,
1948–53.
Economic Financial
globalization globalization
Globalization
Cultural Political
globalization globalization
The changes induced by the dynamics of trade, capital flows, and transfer of technol-
ogy have made markets and production in different countries increasingly interde-
pendent. The growing intensity of international competition has increased the need
for cross-border strategic interactions, necessitating business enterprises to organize
themselves into transnational networks. Globalization is characterized by the grow-
ing interdependence of various facets. For instance, foreign direct investment (FDI) is
accompanied by transfer of technology and know-how, along with the movement
of capital (equity, international loans, repatriation of profits, interest, royalties, etc.)
generating exports of goods and services from the investor countries.
The growth in global economic integration is evident from the increase in the
percentage share of world merchandise trade in the world GDP from 32.3 per cent in
1990 to 47.3 per cent in 2005, whereas trade in services grew from 7.8 per cent to
11 per cent during the same period. The gross private capital flows rapidly rose from
10.3 per cent of the world GDP in 1990 to 32.4 per cent in 2005. Here are some
definitions of economic globalization.
The increasing integration of national economic systems through growth in international trade,
investment and capital flows.
– Dictionary of Trade Policy Terms, WTO
A dynamic and multidimensional process of economic integration whereby national resources
become more and more internationally mobile while national economies become increasingly
interdependent .8
– OECD
Economic globalization constitutes integration of national economies into international economy
through trade, direct foreign investment (by corporations and multinationals), short-term capital
flows, international flows of workers and humanity generally, and flows of technology .9
– Jagdish Bhagwati
The activities of multinational enterprises engaged in foreign direct investment and the development
of business networks to create value across national borders.10
– Alan Rugman
For the purposes of this book, globalization is defined as ‘the increasing economic
integration and interdependence of national economies across the world through a
rapid increase in cross-border movement of goods, service, technology, and capital’.
markets has triggered a rapid growth in investment portfolio and a large movement
of short-term capital borrowers and investors interacting through an increasingly unified
market. The growing integration of financial markets has greatly influenced the conduct
of business and even the performance of the industrial sector. This has significantly
enhanced the vulnerability of stocks that were hitherto considered impervious.
A liquidity crunch in the US makes stock markets across the world go berserk.
Globalization of financial markets makes them inherently volatile with few options to
control left with the national governments.
In the sixteenth century, at a time when the North- Ramayana and the Mahabharata. At the site,
ern part of India was reeling under the waves of Cambodian guides earnestly explain the signifi-
conquests and cultural stagnation, people from cance of the symbols protecting the shrinethe
South India were exporting Indianness to South- naga, the shimha, and the garuda, correspond-
east Asia. It was an anonymous task carried out ing to the present-day navy, army, and air force.
not by warrior-heroes blazing across land bearing The marvel of the epic scale of the Hindu temple,
swords of conquest, but by individuals who had as impressive as the finest cathedral or mosque
come in peace, to trade, to teach, and to per- anywhere in the world, is also a marvel at the
suade. Their impact was profound. Even to this extraordinary reach of the Indian culture beyond
day, the kings of Thailand are only crowned in its own shores.
the presence of Brahmin priests; Muslims in Java Hinduism was brought to Cambodia by
still sport Sanskrit names, despite their conver- merchants and travellers more than a millennium
sion to Islam, a faith whose adherents normally ago, and has long since disappeared, supplanted
bear names originating in Arabia; Garuda is by a Buddhism that was also an Indian export.
Indonesias best-selling airline, and Ramayana But, at its peak, Hinduism influenced the culture,
its best-selling brand of clove cigars; and even music, dance, and mythology of the Cambodian
the Philippines has produced a pop-dance people.
ballet about Ramas quest for his kidnapped The Indian culture can be characterized by its
queen Sita. Right at the entrance of Thailands exceptional capability to imbibe align cultures,
Suwarnabhoomi International Airport in Bangkok and this feature distinguishes it from the rest of
is a fascinating sculpture depicting the Hindu the world. Indias present-day civilization draws
mythological story of the Churning of the heavily from Islam and Christianity, consequent
Oceans (samudra-manthan) between the de- to Muslim invasions and British colonial rules. A
mons and the gods (Fig. 1.4). Hindu bridegroom invariably puts on a sherwani
Angkor Wat, perhaps the greatest Hindu during the wedding ceremony, a practice that
temple ever built in the world, is in Cambodia, did not exist before the Muslim invasion of India.
not in India. The exquisite sculptures in the temple The once-alien cricket is Indias virtual national
recount tales from the great Indian epicsthe sport. In selecting the seven new wonders of the
Contd
Fig. 1.4 A grandiose sculpture at the entrance of Bangkok’s Suwarnabhoomi International Airport, depicting
the Hindu mythological story of the ‘Churning of the Oceans’ (samudra-manthan) between the
demons and the gods, evidences India’s deep-rooted cultural globalization.
world, Indians voted cynically for the Taj Mahal, Keeping its glorious cultural history in mind,
constructed by the Mughal king Shah Jahan India needs to invest more resources to gain from
and not for Angkor Wat, the most magnificent the globalization of its civilization by way of cul-
architect of the Hindu religion, a fact that testifies tural diplomacy rather than merely focussing all
to the uniqueness of the Indian culture. its efforts on economic and political diplomacy.
Source: Based on Tharoor, Shashi, ‘Let’s Promote the Great Indic Civilisation’, Times of India, New Delhi, 21 October 2007;
http://www.airportsuvarnabhumi.com.
has led to the development of global pop culture. Coca-Cola is sold in more countries
than the United Nations has as members. ‘Coke’ is claimed to be the second-most
universally understood word after OK. McDonald’s has more than 30,000 local
restaurants serving 52 million people everyday in more than 100 countries. Levi’s
jeans are sold in more than 110 countries. Ronald McDonald is second only to Santa
Claus in name recognition for most school children.
Globalization of production
The increased mobility of the factors of production, especially the movement of capital,
has changed countries’ traditional specialization roles significantly. Consequently, many
firms in developing countries seek to strengthen their competitive advantage by
Globalization Globalization
of of
production markets
Economic
globalization
Globalization
Globalization
of
of
corporations
competition
and industry
Globalization
of
technology
Globalization of markets
Marketing gurus in the last two decades have extensively argued over customized
marketing strategies in the globalization of markets. Theodore Levitt, in his path-
breaking paper ‘Globalization of Markets’,13 views the recent emergence of global
markets on a previously unimagined scale of magnitude. Technology as the most
powerful force has driven the world towards converging commonality. Technological
strides in telecommunication, transport, and travel have created new consumer
segments in the isolated places of the world. Kenichi Ohmae also advocates the concept
of a borderless world and the need for universal products for global markets.14
Standardized products are increasingly finding markets across the globe. Such
globalization of markets has on one hand increased the opportunity for marketing
internationally while on the other has increased the competitive intensity of global
brands in the market.
The simultaneous competition in markets between the numerous new competitors
across the world is intensifying. This offers tremendous challenge to the existing business
competitiveness of firms, compelling them to globalize and make rapid structural
changes.
Globalization of competition
This refers to the intensification of competition among business enterprises on a global
scale. Such globalization of competition has resulted in the emergence of new strategic
transnational alliances among companies across the world. Increasingly, more firms
need to compete with new players from around the globe in their own markets as well
13 Levitt, Theodore, ‘Globalization of Markets’, Harvard Business Review, May/June, 1983, pp. 92–102.
14 Ohmae, Kenichi, ‘Managing in the Borderless World’, Harvard Business Review, vol. 53, May/June 1989, pp. 152–62.
as foreign ones. To cope with global competition, firms need to simultaneously harness
their skills and generate synergy by a broad range of specialized skills, such as
technological, financial, industrial, commercial, cultural, and administrative skills,
located in different countries or even different continents.
Globalization of technology
The rapid pace of innovations with international networks and convergence of
standards across countries has contributed to the globalization of technology. This
rapid dissemination of technology internationally and the simultaneous shortening of
the cycles of production has led to the globalization of technology.
Countries with advanced technologies are best placed to innovate further. Moreover,
unlike in the past when inventions and innovations were considered breakthroughs,
today they are a regular occurrence. This implies that the transformation process is
continuous and thus has important consequences both for the overall organization
of firms and for policy making. Global firms rely on technological innovations to
enhance their capabilities. Thus, technology is both driven by and is a driver of
globalization. Moreover, it has led to the emergence of new ‘technologically driven
character’ of the global economy.15
15 Asian Development Bank, ‘Drivers of Change: Globalization, Technology and Competition’, Asian Development Outlook, Oxford
University Press, Hong Kong, 2003, p. 208.
Transportation Movers
Information and
communication
Manufacturing International Move towards
economic free marketing
Multilateral integration systems Rising R&D
institutions costs
Technological
breakthrough
Advents in
logistics
Economic management
liberalization
Emergence
of global
customer
segments
Globalization
Regulatory Management
controls myopia
Emerging Wars and
new trade civil disturbances
barriers
Cultural
Nationalism
factors
Restraining factors
non-tariff trade barriers. In the coming years, the tariffs are expected to decline
considerably further.
Technological breakthroughs
The breakthroughs in science and technology have transformed the world virtually
into a global village, especially manufacturing, transportation, and information and
communication technologies, as discussed here.
Manufacturing technology Technological advancements transformed manufac-
turing processes and made mass production possible, which led to the industrial
revolution. The production efficiency resulted in cost-effective production of uniform
goods on a large scale. In order to achieve the scale economies to sustain large-scale
production, markets beyond national boundaries need to be explored.
Transportation technology The advents in all means of transports by roads, rail-
ways, air, and sea have considerably increased the speed and brought down the costs
incurred. Air travel has become not only speedier but cheaper. This has boosted the
movement of people and goods across countries.
Information and communication technology The advent of information and
communication technology and the fast developments in the means of transport have
considerably undermined the significance of distance in country selection for expanding
business. There has been a considerable reduction in international telecommunica-
tion costs due to improved technology and increased competition. This has given rise
to new business models, such as the off-shore delivery of services to global locations
and electronic business transactions.
Multilateral institutions
A number of multilateral institutions under the UN framework, set up during the
post-World War II era, have facilitated exchanges among countries and became
prominent forces in present-day globalization. Multilateral organizations such as the
GATT and WTO contributed to the process of globalization and the opening up of
markets by consistently reducing tariffs and increasing market access through various
rounds of multilateral trade negotiations. The evolving multilateral framework under
the WTO regime, such as Trade-Related Investment Measures (TRIMS), Trade-Related
Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), General Agreement on Trade in
Services (GATS), dispute settlement mechanism, anti-dumping measures, etc., has
facilitated international trade and investment. Besides, the International Monetary
Fund has contributed to ensuring the smooth functioning of the international monetary
system.
However, the exceptions to free market systems are the autocratic countries, such as
North Korea and Cuba.
Cultural factors
Cultural factors can restrain the benefits of globalization. For instance, France’s
collective nationalism favours home-grown agriculture and the US fear of terrorism
has made foreign management of its ports difficult and restrained the entry of the
Dubai Port World.
Nationalism
The feeling of nationalism often aroused by local trade and industry, trade unions,
political parties, and other nationalistic interest groups exerts considerable pressure
against globalization. The increased availability of quality goods at comparatively
lower prices generally benefits the mass consumers in the importing country but hurts
the interests of the domestic industry.
On one hand, consumers in general are hardly organized to exert any influence on
policy making, while on the other, trade and industry have considerable clout through
their associations and unions to use pressure tactics on national governments against
economic liberalization.
Management myopia
A number of well-established business enterprises operating indigenously exhibit little
interest in expanding their business overseas. Besides, several other factors such as
resource availability, risks, and the attitude of top management play a significant role
in the internationalization of business activities.
Singapore 474
Malaysia 210
Netherlands 137
Switzerland 115
Saudi Arabia 98
China 76
Canada 68
South Africa 67
UK 56
France 54
Russian Federation 51
India 45
Australia 39
Japan 35
US 29
Brazil 26
Fig. 1.7 Cross-country comparison of trade openness, 2007 (percentage share of total trade to total GDP)
Source: World Development Indicators, 2008, World Bank.
Source: Dreher, Axel, Noel Gaston, and Pim Martens, 2008, ‘Measuring Globalization—Gauging Its Consequence’, New York,
Springer.
n.a.: Data not available.
22nd (76.76), China 43rd (64.56), India 81st (50.54), and Burundi and Saudi Arabia
rank the last.
hardly have an option other than to open up their economies and attract trade and
investment to be globally competitive.
17 Rugman, Alan, The End of Globalization, American Management Association, New York, 2001, pp. 1–18.
18 ‘2007 Global Powers of Retailing’, Deloitte, New York, 2007, pp. 9–12.
Major implications of global business require then design a regional strategy and structure,
firms to work out regional strategies, rather than rather than a global one.
global ones. A global strategy of economic inte- n Do not assume that a global strategy is either a
gration is viable only in a few sectors, such as necessary or significant condition for better
consumer electronics. For most other manufac- performance; staying in the home region may
turing, such as automobiles and for services, be the optimal strategy.
regional strategies are required. n Look into the nature of the activities of leading
Therefore, the firms need to reconsider their competitors; if they operate regionally rather
than globally, it sends a useful message to be
strategies as discussed below:
regional too.
n Analyse the regional sales data for the company n Access and understand fully the business
as a whole and for each business unit. implications of regional trade organizations such
n Find out if the company and/or business unit as the EU and NAFTA; look into the WTO as it
is global as defined. If it is, develop a global affects regional trade and investment, rather than
strategy and structure. global business.
n If the company and/or business unit is actually n Think regional, act local, forget global.
home-region based (which is much more likely),
Source: Adapted from Alan M. Rugman, ‘The Regional Multinationals: MNEs and “Global” Strategic Management’,
Cambridge University Press, 2005.
Developed countries seem to be losing their en- wary of immigration that accompanies the open-
thusiasm towards globalization, MNCs, and free ing up of the economy. People often feel threat-
markets, as revealed by a survey carried out by a ened by this as it could endanger their culture
Pew Global Attitudes Report covering 45,000 and environment, which need to be protected.
people across 47 countries. Countries like the US, The study reveals 64 per cent people in China
Britain, France, and Italy are not so supportive of and 73 per cent in India support foreign compa-
globalization any more, unlike their stand even nies (see Table 1.3), while in the West, where
five years ago, whereas people in China and economic growth has been relatively modest, the
India show much higher support for globaliza- figure is as low as 45 per cent in the US.
tion. While supporting capitalism, people are
Contd
Source: The Pew Global Attitude Project Report, Washington DC, 4 October 2007.
Developing countries are continually preached about on the need to reduce tariffs
by multilateral organizations. Ironically, the West and the European Union impose
such rigid non-tariff barriers that firms from developing countries hardly have any
chance to break into their markets. Global pharmaceutical companies often gang up
against drug companies from developing countries.
For most Europeans and Americans, globalization only means two types of fear:
fear of cheap Chinese goods and fear of Islamic immigrants. Business process
outsourcing (BPO) still remains a big political issue in the US.19 Getting ‘Bangalored’
is often used in a pejorative way in the US to refer to the loss of a job because it has
been exported to India.
19
Sanghvi, Vir, ‘Liberalisation vs Globalization’, Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 19 February 2006.
20Jaumotte, Florence, Subir Lall, Chris Papageorgiou, and Petia Tapalova, ‘Technology Widening Rich-Poor Gap’, IMF Survey
Magazine, 10 October 2007.
depress world prices for such agricultural commodities as cotton, peanuts, and poultry,
making it harder for farmers in developing nations to make a living.
Despite tall claims of welfare in the globalized era, more than a billion people in
the world still live on less than a dollar a day. To the policy makers of rich countries,
they are simply considered as forces of threats ranging from illegal immigration to
drug smuggling to crime and as vectors of diseases.
Economic failure in countries in the ‘non-integrating gap’ has resulted in a global
job crisis leading to migration problems. As the per capita GDP of the high-income
countries grows at a rate of about 66 times that of the low-income countries, the lure
of better-paid jobs has become stronger than ever. Tens of thousand of people from
the hopeless economies of sub-Saharan Africa make desperate attempts to enter
Europe. Unable to compete with cheaper imported grains, many Mexican farmers
have abandoned their rural occupations for a hazardous journey to the US as illegal
immigrants.21
Immigration laws in developed countries have been tightening against a rising tide
of poor migrants, and the planned erection of a 700-mile long fence along the US–
Mexican border has become a symbol of the anti-immigrant sentiment across the
Western world. ‘Globalization’ has become a dirty word in Latin America, the continent
described as ‘the most inequitable’ on the planet.
On an average, developed countries impose tariffs on developing countries four
times higher than those on developed ones. Rich countries have cost poor countries
three times more in trade restrictions than they give in development aid.22
21 Chanda, Nayan, ‘Disruptive Events Can Derail Globalization’, Business World, 16 July 2007, pp. 84–88.
22 Stiglitz, Joseph, ‘Globalization Is Creating Rich Countries with Rich People’, Business World, 16 October 2006.
23 ‘In the Steps of Adidas’, The Economist, 10 February 2007, p. 12.
skills. The process of cost-cutting has raised the share of capital in value addition.
Higher business profits are often attributed to exploitative efficiency rather than
increased opportunities.24 The bargaining power of trade unions has considerably
declined. In order to save the workers from job losses, trade unions are often forced to
accept cuts in wages and salaries, freezing of numerous monetary and non-monetary
benefits, increase in share of temporary workforce, and curbing of union activities
and even lay-offs.
Exhibit 1.6 Global reach of Titanic and Taliban affects tanzanite’s glitter
The consequences of globalization have both some terrorist outfits such as Al Qaeda. Tanzanite
desirable and undesirable influences on business is mined at only one place on earth, a thirteen
activities. The globalization of markets with an square kilometre catch of graphite rock in
emerging global customer segment leads to Mererani or Merelani hills in Tanzania. Tanzanite
worldwide boom of market demand, whereas the is known to be 1000 times rarer than diamond
global reach of terrorism is increasingly getting due to its rare occurrence. Although sapphire is a
capable of creating tremors in business operations comparatively costlier blue stone than tanzanite,
across the world. it is believed to carry Saturn effects with it whereas
The blue gem tanzanite swamped the West tanzanite is reported to be free from astrological
with the release of Titanic in 1997. The demand impacts. Thus, tanzanite is known purely for its
for tanzanite peaked in the global markets during aesthetic value. Besides, it is available at prices
this period as actress Kate Winslet hurls the ranging from US$2 per carat to US$500 per carat,
gem into the sea in the film (Fig. 1.8). However, its making it affordable even to the developing
sales came down drastically when the gemstone country consumers.
was regarded as a source of financial support for
Contd
24 Datta, Ruddar and K.P.M. Sundharam, Indian Economy, S. Chand Publications, 56th edn, New Delhi, 2007, p. 255.
Use of lead to paint toys by Chinese manufacturers evokes serious concerns among
consumers around the world, compelling children in several countries to abandon
their favourite toys, including the Barbie doll. Stock markets have become highly
interconnected to global happenings. Any plunge in the US stock market sends tremors
to shareholders across the world.
source of many of the ills of the contemporary world. Its citizens lose control of their
day-to-day lives.
1.9.1 Defender
In some industries, where the pressure to globalize is low and the local companies’
primary competitive strength lies in their deep understanding of the markets or their
25 Neilson, A.C., Global Consumer Opinion Survey, 2006; ‘Global Villagers’, Hindustan Times, 24 August 2006.
26 Dawar, N. and T. Frost, ‘Competing for Giants’, Harvard Business Review, March–April 1999.
Competitive assets
Customized to Transferable
Industry pressure home market abroad
competitive assets are customized to the local markets, companies should adopt a
defensive strategy that focuses on leveraging local assets in market segments where
multinationals are weak.
For instance, in order to successfully counter the multinational enterprise (MNE)
competition from fully automatic washing machines in India, Videocon developed
semi-automatic machines, targeting value-conscious Indian consumers by focusing
on this segment. Similarly, when Western cosmetic multinationals entered China, the
local cosmetic company Shanghai Jahwa did not compete with them head-on by
targeting global range products; rather it responded by developing products to suit
the local complexion and appeal to the local people. The Mexican food company
Bimbo responded to global competition by defending their deep penetrating
distribution system that reached far-off rural areas with 420,000 deliveries daily through
350,000 stores, thus creating a huge barrier to the entry of PepsiCo, whose reach was
largely big supermarkets in urban areas. Thus, under the defender strategy, local
firms concede some markets to multinationals while building strongholds on the other
market segments.
1.9.2 Extender
When industry pressure to globalize is low and companies possess competitive skills
and assets that can be transferred abroad, companies can focus on expanding to markets
similar to the home base, using competencies developed at home.
Faced with intense competition from Western fast food chains, such as McDonald’s
and Pizza Hut in the Indian market, the Indian foodmaker Haldiram focussed on
traditional Indian vegetarian food and expanded overseas primarily to cater to ethnic
Indians. Similarly, Jolibee foods, a Philippines fast food chain, countered McDonald’s
by developing spicier products better suited to the Filipino palate. The company then
followed the Filipino population across the world.
The Mexican media company Televisa globalized by marketing its Spanish language
products to Spanish-speaking populations across the world. Asian Paints developed
strong capability tailored to the unique Indian environment, characterized by the
extensive network of thousands of small retailers and numerous low income customers
whose primary requirement is confined to small quantities of paints that can be diluted
to save money. The aggressive business model of multinational paint companies that
largely focuses upon affluent customers in developed countries had a tough time
cracking the markets with low-income customers, whereas Asian Paints leveraged
such capabilities not only in India but also in other countries with similar requirements
for low-end products, such as Asia, Pacific, and Africa.
1.9.3 Dodger
To compete in industries with high globalization pressures is a highly difficult situation
for local companies. The situation becomes highly vulnerable when the competitive
assets based on the superior understanding of local markets are neither adequate to
face the competition from multinationals in the home country nor transferable overseas.
Under such circumstances, local companies have no other option but to dodge the
competition.
Such strategy may include cooperating through a joint venture with the MNE,
selling off to the MNE, or become a supplier or service provider to the MNE. For
instance, faced with MNC competition, Kwality, a dominant player in the Indian ice-
cream market, sold its manufacturing assets and brand to Unilever. This paved way
for Kwality Walls to become the market leader in the ice-cream market in India.
Consequent to the changes in the economic policies in Russia after the iron curtain
came down, Vist, the Russian manufacturer of personal computers, focussed itself on
distribution rather than on competing with American and Japanese multinationals.
As the distribution system in Russia was ridden with corruption and inefficiency, the
foreign companies faced formidable difficulties. As a result, Vist is a vital link in
supporting MNC distribution of personal computers in Russia. Skoda, the leading
state-owned automaker in the Czech Republic, was sold by the government to
Volkswagen much as the selling of government stake in Maruti-Suzuki to Suzuki by
the Indian Government.
In situations, when local firms find it difficult to compete head-on with the multina-
tionals, such co-operation becomes necessary. If you cannot beat them, join them.
1.9.4 Contender
Companies that have high pressure to globalize and competitive advantages that can
be leveraged overseas can aggressively compete in the global market by focusing on
upgrading their capabilities and resources in the niche segment to match multinationals
globally. A large number of Indian companies have achieved global competitiveness
in their niche segment. For instance, Bharat Forge, the second largest forging company
in the world, is a global supplier of specialized engine and chassis components for
trucks and passenger cars. One out of every two trucks in the US uses front axles
made by Bharat Forge. Similarly, Sundram Fasteners competes in niche auto
components, such as high tensile fasteners, radiator caps, precision forced differentiated
gears, etc., and supplies to leading auto manufactures across the world. The company
has also received a number of international quality recognitions, including the
prestigious TPM Excellence and Consistency Award from the Japan Institute of Plant
Maintenance. The Chinese company TCL not only rapidly caught up with global
cellular phone companies such as Nokia and Motorola, but also emerged as a significant
player in a number of consumer electronics.
Competition from multinationals in the home markets has driven a number of
local firms in the emerging markets to become globally competitive. Some of the
local firms, especially in India and China, have not only challenged supremacy of
giant multinationals in their home markets, but leveraged their competitive advantage
internationally. Indian companies’ global expansion, such as Tata’s buying Corus,
Birla’s buying Novelis, Ranbaxy acquiring Terapia, has not only affirmed their global
competitiveness but also earned them global respect. This has convinced a number of
Indian and Chinese companies of their global strengths in terms of quality, cutting-
edge technology, cost competitiveness, and human capital. As a result, these companies
are undoubtedly much better prepared and equipped to face competition in the global
arena.
International trade
It refers to exports and imports of goods and services by a firm to a foreign-based
buyer (importer) or from a seller (exporter).
International marketing
It focuses on the firm-level marketing practices across the border, including market
identification and targeting, entry mode selection, and marketing mix and strategic
decisions to compete in international markets.
27 Daniel,
John D., Lee H. Radebaugh, and Daniel P. Sullivan, International Business: Environments and Operations, Pearson Education
(Singapore) Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi, 2004, pp. 1–27.
International investments
It implies cross-border transfer of resources to carry out business activities. It may
either be portfolio investments with short-term objectives or capital investments with
long-term objectives.
International management
It refers to application of management concepts and techniques in a cross-country
environment and adaptation to different social-cultural, economic, legal, political,
and technological environment.
International business may be defined as all those business activities that involve
cross-border transactions of goods, services, and resources between two or more
nations. Transaction of economic resources include capital, skills, people, etc. for
international production of physical goods and services such as finance, banking,
insurance, construction, etc. An international transaction involves both international
trade and international investments.
Global business
Global business refers to the conduct of business activities in several countries, using
a highly co-ordinated and single strategy across the world.
As the differences in the terms ‘international business’ and ‘global business’ are
more semantic in nature, both the terms are generally used interchangeably in business
literature.
Market-seeking Economic
motives motives
Domestic
company
Strategic
motives
Himalayan herbs and medicinal plants from India and the value-added BPO services
and software development at competitive prices provide Indian firms an edge for
overseas expansion.
Risk spread
International expansion is also used as a risk mitigation strategy so as to offset the
economic upheavals in the home market. Operating in several countries reduces
dependence on any particular market and spreads the business risks.
country and the entry mode for foreign firms. With the process of gradual liberalization
in FDI policy and exchange regulations, the business environment around the world,
in general, has become friendlier to foreign investors. The economic conditions of a
country, such as the state of foreign exchange reserves and inflationary conditions
also affect the openness of a country’s trade policies. In recent years, economic
liberalization in developing countries, including India, has paved way for import and
distribution of consumer goods. However, it has exerted considerable pressure on the
domestic firms to compete with international brands.
The economic stability in the country of business operations facilitates an
international manager’s task. Economic uncertainties and hyper-inflation as
experienced in the CIS countries, Brazil, Argentina, and Zimbabwe pose severe
problems related to certainty of payment and call for specific strategies to manage
delayed payments under inflationary conditions. However, the situation becomes
graver in case the payment is to be received in the currency of the importing country.
Besides, the soundness of the financial institutional system in the target country is also
a pre-condition for the smooth flow of payments. In case of financial upheavals and
instability, an international firm needs to adopt innovative ways to manage foreign
exchange risks and exposures and payment modes.
1.12.5 Competition
A firm generally faces more severe competition in the international market as com-
pared to its domestic market. The competition in international markets comprises of
products imported from various parts of the world, those produced locally, and
competitors from the exporter’s own country. The products imported from other
competing countries have significantly different business environment that affect its
competitiveness. Besides, various trade barriers, both tariff and non-tariff, make busi-
ness decisions much more complex for operating internationally compared to solely
domestic operations.
1.12.6 Infrastructure
The development of physical, financial, human, and institutional infrastructure in a
country has a positive impact in facilitating firms to operate. Places like Singapore,
Hong Kong, and Dubai, which have got sound financial, institutional, and physical
1.12.7 Technology
There are vast variations in availability of technology between the developed and
emerging economies. This opens up opportunities for developing countries like India
and China to market their products at competitive prices in other developing and
least-developed countries. India’s indigenous technology is highly cost-effective and
finds easy access to the developing and least-developed countries. India has carried
out a number of turnkey projects and international management contracts in Africa,
Middle East, and Latin America, primarily due to its cost effectiveness in their niche
market segments.
Challenges
l Opening up of domestic market to foreign companies increases competition
even for the firms solely operating in domestic markets.
l Liberal investment regime facilitates international competitors in establishing
business operations, giving rise to increased competition to firms that have been
accustomed to operate in protected economies.
Opportunities
l Increased market access and reduced tariffs make foreign markets not only
accessible, but increases competitiveness as well.
l Liberalization of regulatory framework for investment in target countries enables
companies to invest and expand their business operations abroad.
l It offers opportunities for integration of business operations on a global scale.
l Provides increased opportunity to establish foreign collaborations and ownership.
l Facilitates consolidation of business operations in various countries and devel-
oping global capabilities.
Firms, whose output was previously significantly more limited by the size of the
domestic market, now have the chance to reap greater advantages from economies of
scale by ‘being global’. Global companies are differentiated by their strong global
position in terms of global assets, capabilities, brands, and their relative resilience to
shocks and even to the business cycles.28 The abilities to become globally competi-
tive and leverage global opportunities are what make a firm global. Global compa-
nies can attract stronger talent, can enable cross-learning across markets, have greater
opportunities to service and develop capabilities for global customers, and can invest
more in R&D that can be spread over larger markets. Further, global companies can
act in multiple markets to retaliate against increased competition from other large
companies in any given market. The global strategies adopted by business enterprises
may include
l Global conception of markets
l Multi-regional integration strategy
l Changes in external organization of multinational firms—Mergers and acquisi-
tions, rather than greenfield operations, strategic alliances, international subcon-
tracting, worldwide network structure, etc.
l Changes in internal organization—Just-in time inventories, global outsourcing,
reduced emphasis on hierarchical relationships, need for greater transparency
and for corporate governance regulations, etc.29
The book is conceptualized to facilitate both practitioners and beginners to develop
a thorough understanding of international business for effective decision making.
Although in precise theoretical terms, a company should follow a single business
strategy for its operations in various countries in ‘global business’, the strategy adopted
in ‘international business’ may vary to some extent. Since the differences in ‘global’
and ‘international’ business appear to be too semantic and obscure, the term ‘interna-
tional business’ is used throughout this book. Explicating the concept of globaliza-
tion, the book equips the readers to manage business in the globalization era.
SUMMARY
Globalization, one of the most widely-used terms world through a rapid increase in cross-border
in recent times, refers to free cross-border move- movement of goods, service, technology and capital.
ment of goods, services, capital, information, and Besides, a number of interesting terms such
ideas. Movement of goods, capital, and people was as Westernization, Americanization, Walmarti-
much less restricted prior to World War I. Global- zation, McDonaldization, Disneyfication, Coca-
ization has been defined as increasing economic Colanization, etc. have been coined to imply
interdependence of national economies across the globalization. A holistic approach to globalization
28 Tata, Ratan, ‘Driving Global Strategy’, Tata Review, vol. XXXIX, no. 1, January–March 2004, p. 8.
29 OECD Handbook on Economic Globalization Indicators, 2005, pp. 16–20.
includes economic, financial, cultural, and politi- enhancing trade, and increased cross-border
cal aspects. The various dimensions of economic capital movements. Developing and developed
globalization include globalization of production, countries are unequal players in the process of glo-
markets, competition, technology, and corpora- balization. Critics often accuse globalization for
tions and industries. widening the gap between the rich and the poor,
Economic liberalization, rise in R&D costs, of wiping out domestic industry, leading to unem-
multilateral institutions, international economic ployment and mass lay-offs, bringing in balance-
integration, the move towards free marketing of-payments problems, increasing volatility of
systems, breakthroughs in manufacturing, transpor- markets, diminishing power of nation states, lead-
tation, information and communication technolo- ing to loss of cultural identity, and causing a shift
gies, advents in logistics managements, and of power to multinationals. Response strategies for
emerging global customers’ segments have been globalization forces for emerging market compa-
the prime movers of globalization, whereas regu- nies include defender, extender, dodger, and con-
latory controls, emerging new trade barriers, tender.
cultural factors, nationalism, war and civil distur- International business refers to the conduct of
bances, and management myopia restrain global- business activities beyond national boundaries.
ization. Reasons for expanding business operations over-
The empirical methods to measure globaliza- seas include market-seeking, economic, and stra-
tion include trade openness, KOF index of global- tegic motives. International business varies from
ization, and the A.T. Kearney/Foreign Policy operating domestic, primarily because of environ-
globalization index. mental differences such as economic, socio-cultural,
legal, and political environment, besides competi-
Globalization is often supported on the
tion, infrastructure, and technology.
grounds of maximization of economic efficiencies,
KEY TERMS
Americanization A pejoratively used term for of financial services, led to a spurt in cross-border
the influence of the US on other cultures that leads capital flows.
to a phenomenon of substituting indigenous Global business Conduct of business activities
cultures with the US culture. in several countries, using a highly co-ordinated
Coca-colanization Implies invasion of Western, and single strategy across the world.
particularly American, cultural values considered Globalization Free cross-border movement of
as dangerous to indigenous culture. goods, services, capital, information, and people.
Cultural globalization Convergence of cultures International business All those business activi-
across the world may be termed as cultural global- ties that involve cross-border transactions of goods,
ization. services, resources between two or more nations.
Disneyfication A term used to describe and deni- Transaction of economic resources includes capi-
grate a society that has an increasing similarity to tal, skills, people, etc. for international production
the Disney theme parks. of physical goods and services, such as finance,
Economic globalization Increasing economic banking, insurance, construction, etc.
interdependence of national economies across the International investments Cross-border trans-
world through a rapid increase in cross-border fer of resources to carry out business activities.
movement of goods, service, technology, and International management Application of
capital. management concepts and techniques in a cross-
Financial globalization The liberalization of country environment and adaptation to different
capital movements and deregulations, especially
social-cultural, economic, legal, political, and tech- McDonaldization The principles of the fast
nological environment. food restaurant likely to dominate more and more
International marketing Firm-level marketing sectors of the American society as well as the rest
practices across the border including market of the world.
identification and targeting, entry mode selection, Walmartization Business practices followed
marketing mix, and strategic decisions to compete by Wal-Mart, which include optimization concepts
in international markets. from logistics, purchasing, finance, and stores
International trade Exports and imports of management.
goods and services by a firm to a foreign-based Westernization Influence of western culture on
buyer or from a seller. non-western society in terms of life style, value
system, language, technology, etc.
1. Briefly describe the historical perspective of 5. Explaining the concept of international busi-
globalization of business. ness, evaluate the distinguishing features
2. Explain the concept of globalization, using the vis-à-vis domestic business with suitable ex-
holistic approach. amples.
3. Critically evaluate various dimensions of eco- 6. Write short notes on
nomic globalization and their impact on busi- (a) Cultural globalization
ness enterprises. (b) Globalization of markets
4. Examine various factors influencing globaliza- (c) Globalization of production
tion.
(d) Trade openness
1. Carry out a comparison of trade openness 2. Select any five firms that have been affected
of your country with the major economies of by the globalization forces. Identify the busi-
the world. Also examine its changes over the ness strategies these firms adopted to respond.
last two decades. Explore the reasons for the Evaluate the strategy used for their effective-
same. ness with the help of the framework studied in
the chapter.
PROJECT ASSIGNMENTS
1. Has globalization done more harm than led for its overseas expansion and compare with
to benefits for your country? Put forward your those of similar companies.
arguments and discuss in class in the form of a 3. Visit a nearby company having operations in
debate. multiple countries. Explore the differences in
2. Select a company that has expanded its busi- its operations in various countries.
ness operations overseas. Find out the reasons