International Business

Running head: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

International Business

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International Business Issues

Introduction

International business refers to the commercial transactions between two or more nations usually done for profit, political reasons or other international requirements. Just as there are different types of businesses, there are different forms of international business such as franchises, joint ventures, partnerships among others. Companies, individuals or governments that try to penetrate the market of other nations through creating a capital base, license agreements, joint ventures, counter trade among others. They are faced with risks and uncertainties and require heavy financing for their products to meet international standards. This essay shall analyze such issues.

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International Business

Question 1

There are four basic strategies for competing effectively in the international market which are; global strategy, transnational strategy, international strategy and multidomestic strategy. Global strategy is usually effective where there are strong pressures to reduce costs accompanied by a low demand for local responses. International strategy is highly effective when a firm faces weak pressures to reduce costs and weak local responses. Transnational strategy works in conditions where a firm is aiming at cost reduction and a high level of pressure for local responses. Multidomestic strategy works well when a firm has a high cost structure and maximum local response.

An organization using this strategy aims at bringing a balance between pressures for global integration and pressure for local responses. Companies form alliances with their customers, suppliers and other business partners. These long term partnerships bring to the firm special competences, stable and reliable market outlets for further marketing of its products and services while enjoying stable and flexible supply. Several independent firms may collaborate to bring products and services to the market to save costs. This strategy helps develop valuable skills in the firm’s world wide operations. Transfer of knowledge occurs from a foreign subsidiary to the home country sector and to other foreign subsidiaries.

A firm that wants to use transnational strategy must have a strong structure to ensure its stability. The combination of mechanisms needed is contradictory. A firm needs to be centralized yet decentralized at the same time, formalized and unformalised and integrated and non integrated at the same time. These contradicting demands on the organization limit its effectiveness.

Reference: Bortlett, C and Ghoshal, S. (1998). Managing across borders, & transnational

solution. Boston: Harvard business school press

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Question 2

This is an agreement that permits a firm to produce or market the products or service of another company. This agreement grants a license at a fee usually called a royalty payment. Items licensed include patents, trademarks, designs, expertise among others. A licensing agreement allows a firm to penetrate the international markets by providing a middle way between direct exports and investment internationally. The licensee takes the risks involved and enjoys the goodwill created by the licensing firm and this makes investment easier as costs for penetrating an overseas market declines.

Licensing agreements are very risky deals which call for caution. The firm is likely to lose control over manufacture and marketing of its products or services in other countries. Being a mode of international expansion, it may be less profitable as profit has to be divided between the two parties. The is also the risk of selecting a foreign partner, language barriers and social cultural issues because the foreign company may sell a competitive product once the license expires making it hard to remain in business.

Reference: Dunning, J. (2009). Journal for international Business studies, 41(9)

Question 3:

It is a strategic deal between two or more parties mainly firms with the aim of forming a partnership to share markets, property, knowledge and profits made with no transfer of ownership. The outsider joint venture is the most common form of joint venture. Law firms are mainly joint ventures with lawyers, advocates and other experts.

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International Business

A joint venture firm gets access to overseas markets without paying tariffs and has close contacts with customers. They incorporate high levels of skills and knowledge getting a competitive edge over competitors relying on the element of trustworthiness as key for their success which can easily be compromised. Firms take a long time to implement and gain acceptance in the international market causing losses in the initial stages. Lack of experience and knowledge of the international market may lead to losses.

Reference: Pitts, R and Lei, D. (2000).Strategic management & sustaining a competitive

advantage. (2nd ed.), Cincinnati: South Western College publishing house

Question 4

This is a mechanism where goods, services or technology are paid for through reciprocated purchasing obligations in addition to or in the place of financial settlement. Barter is the simplest form of counter trade. It is used to settle debt or where money is not accepted as a form of exchange. Firms are reluctant to engage in counter trade due to the increases in costs, risks and uncertainties, time consumed in negotiations, added legal and brokerage costs. Difficulties in reselling products with concerns of price arise with customers becoming competitors. Firms avoid this form of trade because of these issues.

The main attraction to counter trade is its ability to increase exports and open new markets especially for developing countries. Firms in developing countries are most likely to engage in counter trade because of lack of enough foreign currency, limited access to trade finance facilities, international standards and requirements, depressed prices and increasing debts.

Reference: Hofstede, G. (2000). Culture’s consequences: values, behaviors, institutions and

organizations across nations. (4 Th Edition) New  York: Sage publications

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Question 5

A firm seeking entry into the international market needs to make sound investment, financial and money decisions. Feasibility studies have to be done to determine the viability of a market opportunity. Decisions made affect the performance of the firm in its home country. Care has to be taken in determining the best method of penetrating the overseas market to avoid losses or closure of business.

Capital budgeting is the evaluation and analysis of capital investment decisions. As far as the international market is concerned it is usually referred to as international capital budgeting. The return on investment and internal rate of return are used to ascertain the profitability of projects undertaken and to estimate the time value of money. Capital decisions for international markets are usually characterized by unexpected costs, sequential investment, trade offs and the foreign environment usually hinder capital budgeting. Inflation, risks and uncertainties of the markets and the foreign exchange rates complicate the process of international capital budgeting (Zaring, 1996).

REFERENCE:

Zaring, O. (1996).Capital budgeting for the unexpected, Sweden: Elsevier science ltd

Question 6

International trade though beneficial is faced with risks ranging from strategic, technological, political and economic etc. Political risks are the political actions, and instabilities that may

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hinder a firm to operate due to negative public image potrayed and the influence of individuals in top government positions on the firm (Okolo, 2008). A company seeking to penetrate foreign markets has to consider the political risks as a hostile government may expropriate foreign assets, restrict the operations of foreign firms and the subsidiaries in other countries and home country would be affected. The political history of the country needs to be analyzed.

Economic risk is the inability of a country to meet its financial obligations. The changing of the domestic fiscal and monetary policies, interest rates and exchange rates makes it difficult to do business. This affects all the decisions that the foreign company is expected to make. There is need to assess these as these changes affect the firm to ensure that there is protection from the state to avoid huge losses.

Reference: Okolo, S. (2008). Risks in International Business. Retrieved September 17, 2009,

from                              http://ezinearticles.com/?Risks-in-International-Business&id=1331702

Question 7

A floating exchange rate regime is where the currency is allowed to fluctuate according to the foreign exchange market. Since most developing countries cannot maintain a stable exchange rate they adopt a system where the rate is allowed to fluctuate or an equilibrium rate is set. This exchange rate does not hinder foreign trade. As the rate fluctuates, the country is able to adjust to shocks and foreign business cycles and avoid a balance of payment crisis (Calvo and R einhart, 2002).

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A dirty float system is a system of the floating system where the central government intervenes in some instances to change the direction of the value of the country’s currency. A free floating system raises foreign exchange volatility as there is no government interference in the system.

References:

Calvo, G and Reinhart, C. (2002). Fear of floating: journal of economics. 117, 379-408

Conclusion

The international market has many benefits. However the issues surrounding it such as the modes of entry, risks involved and the complex capital budgeting has to be done for a firm to remain internationally competitive.