What Factors Should A Company Review Before Deciding To Go Abroad?

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Chapter 21: Tapping Into Global Markets

1. What factors should a company review before deciding to go abroad?


A global firm is one that operates in more than one country and captures R&D, production,
logistical, marketing, and financial advantages in its costs and reputation that are not available to
purely domestic competitors.

Factors to Review

 Some international markets present higher profit opportunity than domestic markets
 Company needs a larger customer base to achieve economies of scale
 Company wants to reduce dependence on any one market
 Company decides to counterattack global competition in their home markets
 Customers are going abroad and require international service

Risks

 Company might not understand foreign preferences


 Company might not understand foreign business culture
 Company might underestimate foreign regulations
 Company might lack managers with international experience
 Foreign country might change its commercial laws, undergo economic or political crisis etc

Four Stages of Internationalization

 No regular export activities


 Export via independent agents
 Establish sales subsidiaries
 Establish production facilities abroad

2. How can companies evaluate and select specific foreign markets to


enter?
How many markets to enter: Waterfall (enter countries in a sequence) or sprinkler approach (enter
simultaneously)

Developed versus developing markets


Regional Free Trade Zones:
• European Union
• NAFTA: North American free trade agreement
• MERCOSUL: Links countries in Latin America
• APEC: Asia pacific economic cooperation forum
• ASEAN: association of South East Asian nations
• SAFTA: South Asian free trade area
Key Developing Markets: Brazil, Russia, China, India, South Africa

Desired Country Characteristics for Market Entry


• Rank high on market attractiveness
• Rank low in market risk
• Possess a competitive advantage

3. What are the major ways of entering a foreign market?

mitment, Risk, Control, Profit Potential

Indirect exporting: work through independent intermediaries

Direct Exporting Methods

• Domestic-based export department


• Overseas sales branch or subsidiary
• Traveling export sales representatives
• Foreign-based distributors or agents

Using a global web strategy

Licensing: Licensor issues a license to a foreign company to use a manufacturing process, trademark,
patent, trade secret or other item of value for a fee. Two ways: contract manufacturing & franchising

4. To what extent must the company adapt its products and marketing
program to each foreign country?
Review the following elements: product features, labeling, colours, materials, sales promotion,
advertising media, brand name, packaging, advertising execution, prices, ad themes

Advantages of global marketing: Economies of scale, Lower marketing costs, Power and scope,
Consistency in brand image, Ability to leverage good ideas quickly, Uniformity of marketing practices

Disadvantages: Differences in consumer needs, wants, usage patterns, Differences in consumer


response to marketing mix, Differences in brand development process, Differences in environment

Cultural Dimensions: Individualism vs. Collectivism, High vs. Low Power Distance, Masculine vs.
Feminine, Weak vs. Strong Uncertainty Avoidance

Commandments of Global Branding


• Understand similarities and differences in the global branding landscape
• Do not take shortcuts in brand building
• Establish a marketing infrastructure
• Embrace integrated marketing communications
• Establish brand partnerships
• Balance standardization and customization
• Balance global and local control
• Establish operable guidelines
• Implement a global brand-equity measurement system
• Leverage brand elements

International Product and Communication Strategies

Levels of Product Adaptation


• Production of regional product versions
• Production of country versions
• Production of city versions
• Production of retailer versions

Product invention can be backward (reintroduce an old product) or forward


Dual adaptation means adapting both product and communication.

Price Choices: Set a uniform price everywhere, Set a market-based price in each country, Set a cost-
based price in each country

A gray market consists of branded products diverted from normal or authorized distributions
channels in the country of product origin or cross international borders; dealers in lower priced
countries sell products in higher priced countries.

Distribution Channels

 Seller
 International headquarters
 Channels between nations
 Channel within nations
 Final buyers
5. How should the company manage and organize its international
activities?
Global Organization Strategies

 World as Single Market, Multinational, Glocal


 Export division, international division, global organization

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