Professional Documents
Culture Documents
International Business Environment
International Business Environment
An Introduction to International
Business
Contents
Understanding Globalization
MNC -Concept, need & role.
Multinationals as global Intermediaries,
International Business –
Basics: Definition, Concepts, Various forms of International
Business
Similarities and differences between International and Domestic
Business
Essentials for companies entering in International Business.
Theories of International Business and their implication
and relevance.
Global world has a long history of –
Trade,
Migration,
People in search of work and
Movement of capital.
Silk Routes Link the World
•Financial Globalization
•Cultural Globalization
(Language, religion, customs, values etc.)
•Political Globalization
(Political stability of the nation and monetary regulations)
Dimensions of Economic Globalization
Dimensions of Economic Globalization
•Globalization of production
•Globalization of markets
•Globalization of competition
•Globalization of technology
•Globalization of industries
Factors Influencing Globalization
Movers of Globalization
Economic liberalization
Technological breakthrough
Cultural factors
Nationalism
Management myopia
Criticism of Globalization
•Developed versus Developing Countries: Unequal Players in
Globalization
•Widening Gap between the Rich and the Poor
•Wipes out Domestic Industry
•Leads to Unemployment and Mass Lay-offs
•Brings in Balance of Payments Problems
•Increased Volatility of Markets
•Diminishing Power of Nation States
•Loss of Cultural Identity
•Shift of Power to Multinationals
International Business
The exchange of goods and services among
individuals and businesses in multiple countries.
The national border are crossed by the enterprises
to expand their business activities like
manufacturing, mining, construction, agriculture,
banking, insurance, health, education, transportation,
communication etc.
Concepts of International Business
1. International Trade: Exports of goods and services
by a firm to a foreign-based buyer (importer)
Difference in Currencies
Mobility of Factors of Production(specially
labor and capital)
Sovereign Political Entities
Imposition of tariffs and customs duties on imports and
exports;
Quantitative restrictions like quotas;
Exchange control;
Imposition of more local taxes etc.
Contd…
Difference In market characteristics (Demand,
Channel of Distribution, promotion etc.)
Difference in documentation
Difference in monetary system(different rate in
transactions)
Different Legal Systems
Difference in Natural and Geographical
Conditions
Importance of IBE
Helps in expansion: Geographic expansion may be used as a
business strategy. Even though companies may expand their
business at home.
Helps in managing product life cycle: Every product has to pass
through different stages of product life cycle-when the product
reaches the last stages of life cycle in present market, it may get
proper response at other markets.
Technology advantages: Some companies have outstanding
technology advantages through which they enjoy core competency.
This technology helps the company in capturing other markets.
Contd…
New business opportunities: Business opportunities in overseas
markets help in expansion of many companies. They might have
reached a saturation point in domestic market.
Proper use of resources: Sometimes industrial resources like
labor, minerals etc. are available in a country but are not
productively utilized.
Availability of quality products: When markets are open, better
quality goods will be available every where. Foreign companies will
market latest products at reasonable prices. Good product will be
available in the markets.
Contd…
Ethnocentric firms
The headquarters of the parent company, located in the
home country, exert high level of control over the
subsidiaries through centralized decision-making
Polycentric firms
Highly oriented to overseas markets wherein subsidiaries
have autonomy in decision-making.
Contd..
Regiocentric firms(Decision making based on regions
and their requirement)
Foreign affiliates consolidate their decision-making and
organization on regional basis and the level of
integration is high within the regions.
Geocentric firms(same approach in Decision Making
between HO and Subsidies)
Organization of geocentric firms is relatively more
complex and inter-dependent than that of the other
types.
The firm follows a collaborative approach to decision-
making between headquarters and subsidiaries.
Goals of an MNC
Transfer of technology
Promote competition
Benefit customers
•Defender
•Extender
•Dodger
•Contender
Theories of International Trade
• To understand the traditional arguments of how and
why international trade improves the welfare of all
countries
• To review the history and compare the implications of
trade theory from the original work of Adam Smith to
the contemporary theories of Michael Porter
• To examine the criticisms of classical trade theory and
examine alternative viewpoints of which business and
economic forces determine trade patterns between
countries
Evolution of Trade Theories
Mercantilism
Factor Endowments
Absolute advantage (Classical)
Comparative advantage
International Product Cycle
New Trade Theory
National competitive advantage
Mercantilism: mid-16th century
Theory of Mercantilism
Measures the wealth of a nation by its accumulated reserves.
Nation should aim at creating trade surplus.
Limitations:
International trade is a zero sum game.
Its only a short run possibility..
Results in restrictive International trade environment.
Theory of Absolute Advantage
Adam Smith: Wealth of Nations(1776)
Wealth of a nation is measured by level of improvement in quality of
life.
Emphasis on productivity and free trade to increase global efficiency
through specialization:
Labor becomes more skilled through repeated task.
Long production runs provide incentive for efficient work methods
Theory of comparitive
advantage
David Ricardo(1817):
A country benefits from trade even if it is less efficient than other nations in
production of two commodities.
Should focus on production and export of commodities with relative
advantage.
Limitations of theories of
Specialization