BA5301- INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

V.K.AJAY
UNIT I INTRODUCTION
International Business –Definition – Internationalizing business-Advantages –factors causing
globalization of business- international business environment – country attractiveness –Political,
economic and cultural environment – Protection Vs liberalization of global business environment.
UNIT II INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INVESTMENT
Promotion of global business – the role of GATT/WTO – multilateral trade negotiation and
agreements – VIII & IX, round discussions and agreements – Challenges for global business –
global trade and investment – theories of international trade and theories of international
investment – Need for global competitiveness – Regional trade block – Types – Advantages and
disadvantages – RTBs across the globe – brief history.
UNIT III INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT
Strategic compulsions-Standardization Vs Differentiation – Strategic options – Global portfolio
management- global entry strategy – different forms of international business – advantages -
organizational issues of international business – organizational structures – controlling of
international business – approaches to control – performance of global business- performance
evaluation system.
UNIT IV PRODUCTION, MARKETING, FINANCIAL AND HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT OF
GLOBAL BUSINESS
Global production –Location –scale of operations- cost of production – Make or Buy decisions –
global supply chain issues – Quality considerations- Globalization of markets, marketing strategy – Challenges in
product development , pricing, production and channel management- Investment
decisions – economic- Political risk – sources of fund- exchange –rate risk and management –
strategic orientation – selection of expatriate managers- Training and development –
compensation.
UNIT V CONFLICT MANAGEMENT AND ETHICS IN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
Disadvantages of international business – Conflict in international business- Sources and types of
conflict – Conflict resolutions – Negotiation – the role of international agencies –Ethical issues in
What is International Business?
• International business is defined as “any commercial transaction-
taking place across the boundary lines of a sovereign entity”. It
may take place either between countries or companies or both.
Private companies involve themselves in such transactions for
revenue, profit and prosperity. If governments are involved, they
need to maintain their image, dependency and economic growth.
Sometimes economic ties are strengthened through such
transactions. These transactions include investments, physical
movements of goods and services, transfer of technology and
manufacturing. Today every company, whether small or large,
single entity or partnership, joint stock or government owned, is
determined to expand internationally. Earlier the slogan “export or
perish” has now become “internationalize or perish”.
•
Internationalization of Business
• There are five major reasons why a business may want to go global:
• First mover Advantage : It refers to getting into a new market and
enjoy the advantages of being first. It is easy to quickly start doing
business and get early adopters by being first.
• Opportunity for Growth : Potential for growth is a very common
reason of internationalization.Your market may saturate in your home
country and therefore you may set out on exploring new markets.
• Small Local Markets: Start-ups in Finland and Nordics have always
looked at internationalization as a major strategy from the very beginning
because their local market is small.
• Increase of Customers: If customers are in short supply, it may hit a
company’s potential for growth. In such a case, companies may look for
internationalization.
• Discourage Local Competitors: Acquiring a new market may mean
discouraging other players from getting into the same business-space as
one company is in.
FOLLOWING ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS:

1. Earning valuable foreign currency: A country is able to earn valuable foreign currency by
exporting its goods to other countries.
2. Division of labor: International business leads to specialization in the production of goods.
Thus, quality goods for which it has maximum advantage.
3. Optimum utilization of available resources: International business reduces waste of
national resources. It helps each country to make optimum use of its natural resources.
Every country produces those goods for which it has maximum advantage.
4. Increase in the standard of living of people: Sale of surplus production of one country to
another country leads to increase in the incomes and savings of the people of the former
country. This raises the standard of living of the people of the exporting country.
5. Benefits to consumers: Consumers are also benefited from international business. A
variety of goods of better quality is available to them at reasonable prices. Hence,
consumers of importing countries are benefited as they have a good scope of choice of
products.
6. Encouragement to industrialization: Exchange of technological know-how enables
underdeveloped and developing countries to establish new industries with the assistance of
foreign aid. Thus, international business helps in the development of industry.
7. International peace and harmony: International business removes rivalry between
different countries and promotes international peace and harmony. It creates dependence
on each other, improves mutual confidence and good faith.
8. Cultural development: International business fosters exchange of culture and ideas
between countries having greater diversities. A better way of life,
FOLLOWING ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS:

1. Economies of large-scale production: International business leads to production on a

large scale because of extensive demand. All the countries of the world can obtain the
advantages of large-scale production.
2. Stability in prices of products: International business irons out wide fluctuations in the
prices of products. It leads to stabilization of prices of products throughout the world.
3. Widening the market for products: International business widens the market for products
all over the world. With the increase in the scale of operation, the profit of the business
increases.
4. Advantageous in emergencies: International business enables us to face emergencies. In
case of natural calamity, goods can be imported to meet necessaries.
5. Creating employment opportunities: International business boosts employment
opportunities in an export-oriented market. It raises the standard of living of the countries
dealing international business.
6. Increase in Government revenue: The Government imposes import and export duties for
this trade. Thus, Government is able to earn a great deal of revenue from international
business.
7. Other advantages:
Effective business education
Improvement in production systems.
Elimination of monopolies, etc.
•
DISADVANTAGES OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

• Adverse effects on economy: One country affects the economy of another

country through international business. Moreover, large-scale exports
discourage the industrial development of importing country. Consequently, the
economy of the importing country suffers.
• Competition with developed countries: Developing countries are unable to
compete with developed countries. It hampers the growth and development of
developing countries, unless international business is controlled.
• Rivalry among nations: Intense competition and eagerness to export more
commodities may lead rivalry among nations. As a consequence, international
peace may be hampered.
• Colonization: Sometimes, the importing country is reduced to a colony due to
economic and political dependence and industrial backwardness.
• Exploitation: International business leads to exploitation of developing
countries the developed countries. The prosperous and dominant countries
regulate the economy poor nations.
• Legal problems: Varied laws regulations and customs formalities followed
different countries, have a direct b earring on their export and import trade.
DISADVANTAGES OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

• Legal problems: Varied laws regulations and customs formalities followed different
countries, have a direct b earring on their export and import trade.
• Publicity of undesirable fashions: Cultural values and heritages are not identical in all
the countries. There are many aspects, which may not be suitable for our atmosphere,
culture, tradition, etc. This, indecency is often found to be created in the name of cultural
exchange.
• Language problems: Different languages in different countries create barriers to
establish trade relations between various countries.
• Dumping policy: Developed countries often sell their products to developing countries
below the cost of production. As a result, industries in developing countries of the close
down.
• Complicated technical procedure: International business in highly technical and it has
complicated procedure. It involves various uses of important documents. It required expert
services to cope with complicate procedures at different stages.
• Shortage of goods in the exporting country: Sometimes, traders prefer to sell their
goods to other countries instate of in their own country in order to earn more profits. This
results in the shortage of goods within the home country.
• Adverse effects on home industry: International business poses a threat to the survival
of infant and nascent industries. Due to foreign competition and unrestricted imports
upcoming industries in the home country may collapse.
REASONS TO ENTER INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

• 1. From an individual company’s angle.

• 2. From the government angle.

• FROM AN INDIVIDUAL COMPANY’S ANGLE

• 1. Managing the product life cycle:
• 2. Geographic expansion as a growth strategy:
• 3. The adventurous spirit of the younger generation
• 4. Corporate ambition:
• 5. Technology advantage:
• 6. Building a corporate image
• 7. Incentives and business impact
• 8. Labour advantage
• 9. New business opportunities
• 10. Emergence of SEZ’S, EOU’S, AEZ
•
• FROM A GOVERNMENT ANGLE
• 1. Earning valuable foreign exchange
• 2. Interdependency of nations
• 3. Trade theories and their impact
• 4. Diplomatic relations
• 5. Core competency of nations
• 6. Investment for infrastructure
• 7. National image
• 8. Foreign trade policy and targets
• 9. National targets
• 10. WTO and international agencies
Globalization
• Although globalization and internationalization are used in the same
context, there are some major differences.
•  Globalization is a much larger process and often includes the
assimilation of the markets as a whole. Moreover, when we talk about
globalization, we take up the cultural context as well.
•  Globalization is an intensified process of internationalizing a
business. In general terms, global companies are larger and more
widespread than the low-lying international business organizations.
•  Globalization means the intensification of cross-country political,
cultural, social, economic, and technological interactions that result in
the formation of transnational business organization. It also refers to
the assimilation of economic, political, and social initiatives on a
global scale.
•  Globalization also refers to the costless cross - border transition of
goods and services, capital, knowledge, and labor.
Factors Causing Globalization of Businesses

• The Reduction and Removal of Trade Barriers

• Trade Negotiations
• Transport Costs
• Growth of the Internet
• Growth of Multinational Corporations
• The Development of Trading Blocs
International business environment
The International business environment includes various factors like social, political, regulatory,
cultural, legal and technological factors that surround a business entity in various sovereign
nations.

There are exogenous factors relative to the home environment of the organization in the
international environment. These factors influence the decision-making process on the use of
resources and capabilities.

They also make a nation either more or less attractive to an international business firm.

Firms do not have any control over the external business environment. Therefore, the
success of an international company depends upon its ability to adapt to the overall
environment.

Its success also depends on the ability to adjust and manage the company’s internal variables to
leverage on the opportunities of the external environment. Moreover, the company’s capability
to control various threats produced by the same environment, also determines its success.

A term called ‘country attractiveness’ is often discussed in the international business

fraternity. It is important to consider attractiveness before we move on to discuss
environmental factors
Country Attractiveness
• Country attractiveness is a measure of a country’s attractiveness to the
international investors. In international business, investment in foreign
countries is the most important aspect and hence firms want to
determine how suitable a country is in terms of its external business
environments.
• International business firms judge the risks and profitability of doing
business in a particular country before investing and starting a business
there.This judgment includes studying the environmental factors to arrive
at a decision.
• It is pretty clear that businesses prefer a country that is less costly, more
profitable, and has fewer risks. Cost considerations are related with
investment. Profitability is dependent on resources. Risks are associated
with the environment and hence it is of prime concern.
• Risks may be of various types. However, the general consensus is that a
country that is more stable in terms of political, social, legal, and
economic conditions is more attractive for starting a business
Business Environments

• ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT:
• The economic environment can be classified into three categories:
• a) Economy in the home country
• b) Economy in the host country
• c) Economy at a global level.

• a) Home country Economy

• Since 1940, hundreds of MNCs from the USA have ventured abroad, with the support of their home country. After
1990, many Indian companies started venturing into sub-Saharan Africa, South East Asia and Latin America due to the
liberal policies adopted in India. In order to encourage the business community to venture overseas, it is necessary for
a country to have liberal economic and trade policies.
• 1. Economic policies
• The country’s economic policies are formulated and the targets are fixed looking at business opportunities in other
countries. It is made simpler for businessmen to invest or set up units abroad.
• 2. Trade and commercial policies:
• The trade policy is announced by the ministry of commerce and industry and the target for national foreign trade is
fixed. All the promotional bodies are geared to achieve the target. Many incentives are held out to overseas
companies, so that they set up operations in the home country through local partners, Indonesia, Thailand and Brazil
extend all facilities in their home country to promote their nationals.
• 3. Promotion and regulatory measures:
• The home country should take the opportunity to do business abroad. It can do this by being proactive, encouraging
persons to take risks and extending fiscal and promotional support. If restrictions are imposed and bureaucratic
hurdles are encountered at all stages the business community will not think of taking any risks. By removing exchange
control restrictions and draconian codes of business and providing an environment conductive to foreign trade,
• small countries like Malta, Cyprus and Mauritius have today transformed themselves into foreign trade economies.
Business Environments
• b) Host Country Economy.
• When a firm from one country enters any other country, the following major criteria are taken into account:
• 1. Size of the market
• Many multinational firms are thinking of entering India, China, Brazil and Indonesia, because of their large potential markets.
Coca cola, Pepsi, Hewlett Packard and Samsung are looking to India as a future destination keeping in mind the size of
population which represents the size of the market.
• 2. Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
• GDP is an indicator of the health of the economy; it also determines per capita income. A country with a high GDP is an
attractive destination for any international businessman. If a constant growth rate is maintained, such a country would always be
a magnet for investors.
• Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia were attractive during the 1990’s due to a very high growth rate in GDP, until the currency
crisis affected their economies.
• 3. Industrialization
• Many firms in the developing world were interested in entering into Europe or the USA. The recent trend amongst companies in
India is towards Latin America specially, Brazil, Argentina, Chile. This is due to the industrialization program, which is taking
place in these
• countries. It is obvious that industrialization brings about prosperity and affluence.
• 4. Banking
• Banking is the only channel through which remittances take place, and hence is a major infrastructure for international
business. European, American and far East economies have highly effective banking systems. Sub –Saharan Africa and
commonwealth
• Independent states (CIS) are not able to provide good banking services to the international business community. Thus, a firm
which enters Africa or the CIS countries has to necessarily depend on other countries for banking services.
• 5. Purchasing Power
• Another major determining factor for any international business unit is whether the people can afford to buy for a product is low.
In other countries like Saudi Arabia, both the income and willingness to pay for the product are high. In the Scandinavian
countries the per capita
• income is very high and they are ready to pay a premium price for highly sophisticated items. However, the low population is a
limiting
• factor.
Business Environments

• 6. Foreign Exchange
• Another determining factor in international business is whether the foreign exchange facilities are available transactions. Although more than
70% of the countries in the world do not have foreign exchange reserves, the majority of them are becoming liberal in transacting foreign
exchange as a long term strategy for their future economic development. Against this, some countries with surplus foreign exchange reserves
do not permit free movement of the currencies. Such countries that have restrictions in repatriation of foreign exchange will not be attractive
to international business firms. Therefore, countries with sufficient foreign exchange reserves, a
• liberal policy on repatriation and which have a demand for the products and services are an ideal destination for any company to do
international business.
• 7. Income Levels
• Economies are classified into low income and high income economies. Industrialized nations are high income economies and enjoy a high
per capita income. Companies manufacturing or marketing premium quality or high technology products have an easy entry into such
advanced countries with the proper strategies. Developing countries, which are the low income economies, are price sensitive. Many of them
are under pressure from high population, unemployment and lack the vision to industrialize fast. Still they need only primary goods and rated
one amongst less developed countries. Differences in the income levels may limit the involvement and
• investments. Sometimes, in a densely populated country, a small percentage of the population can afford to buy premium products. Since this
does not represent the purchasing power of the whole country, the revenue is minimum.
• 8. Economic diversity
• In the same country, a few urban centers may offer outstanding business opportunities, while in remaining areas there is no demand at all.
Nairobi I Kenya, Lusaka in Zambia, Johannesburg in South Africa, Sao Paulo in Brazil and Casablanca in Morocco are cities with the highest
purchasing power and demand for refrigerators, air conditioners, TV sets etc. However in other parts of the country, there is hardly any
opportunity to do business. In Madagascar, despite the fact that it is a highly resourceful country, one can not get even the basic item for
survival, exept in two cities, Tamatave and Antamarino.
• c) ECONOMY AT A GOBAL LEVEL
• Besides the home country and the Host country, there are certain other factors, which can influence the pattern of international business.
Organizations such as the World Trade Organization, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Asian development bank and the
organization of petroleum Exporting countries (OPEC) can affect international business. The preferential treatment given to the members of
NAFTA, ASEAN, the European Union and COMESA can have a negative impact on the trade between outside cartels and non-members.
When shipments move from one destination to another, there are transit ports which charge huge sums as surcharge or
• transit charges.
•
Business Environments
• SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT
• The social environment encompassing religious aspects, language,customs, traditions and beliefs, influences buying consumption habits. Many companies face failure in foreign
countries, due to their inability to understand the socio cultural environment. For example whenever any
• company establishes business in some African countries, the local population expects that many jobs will open up for them. Very few countries perceive tat they may be exploited.
Due to the entry of foreign firms the economic and hence the social environment of an area can completely change. An example is southern China, which has completely changed
to an affluent society due to the fact that almost 2000 companies get their products manufactured in coastal south China.
• 1. National Taste
• In Thailand, People prefer black shampoo; Nestle brews different varieties of instant coffee because people in those countries have different tastes, uncommon in other countries.
• Green is the favorite color of all the Arab countries; Red is still widely used in Russia, in banners, posters, and hoardings although communism is in no way relevant to modern
Russia.
• 2. Language
• Cross culture and cross border operations call for necessary language skills, e.g. South Koreans have learnt Indian languages to operate in India. One can see this in Hyundai or
LG factories in India. Companies also have to change their brand names and slogans in different countries. In Japan, General Motor’s slogan “body by fisher” means “corpse by
fisher”, and Pepsi Cola
• slogan “come alive” means come out of the grave. Prior to promoting the brand, one has to take into account the sociocultural background of a specific nation and different
interpretations of a name in the local language.
• 3. Values and beliefs
• It is also important for companies to understand the significance of different designs and colors in different countries. For example, blue is perceived as feminine in Holland and
masculine in widen. Green is favorite color in the Muslim world, but is associated with illness in Malaysia although it is a Muslim country. White indicated death in china and Korea
but it is the color of bridal dresses in Europe. Red is associated with danger in many countries but it is a favorite in Russia.
• Another example is ‘swastika’, which is considered sacred in India, but has completely different connotations in the west.
• 4. Demography
• A number of demographic factors such as age, sex ratio, family size and occupation influence the business of many companies. Different companies concentrate on different
segments. For example, Barbie generates huge revenues through the children’s segment of affluent countries.
• 5. Literacy rate
• Countries with a high literacy rate experience a better standard of living. Here the need is for standardizes goods, supported by technical services. For a country with an educated
population, the amount of training required for the staff will be far less than in the case of the country which has a low literacy rate. This is an important factor, as it influences the
cost incurred. The ame
• argument holds in the case of educating the consumer about the products manufactured.
• 6. Female Workforce
• The most spectacular change that has taken place in the current era is the empowerment of women throughout the world. In China, Indonesia, Russia and Thailand, women are
major contributors to the GDP. With economic independency, women no longer have to depend on men to make decisions about what to buy; they can make their own decisions
about whether to purchase any consumer product or durable. Delux, a well known brand of paint in Europe was promoted through campaigns directed at women, because it was felt
that women have an aesthetic taste for colors in the household paint segment. The performance of the i-pod of Apple hit the roof in
• terms of revenue generation due to female customers. The female work force is very strong in various sectors in many countries. Examples are: Indian women in IT enabled
services and handicrafts, Chinese women in the soft toys and ceramics and Indonesian women in garments and paper work, who have brought great success to their countries.
• 7. Double Income Families
• As the household income increases, the demand for the number of products increases proportionately. This is specially true for packaged food items, electronic gadgets, household
appliances, health equipment, Japanese entertainment electronics and French perfumes dominate in the whole of Europe and North America. Pizza Express, McDonald and
Kentucky Fried
• Chicken invariably rule the households of double income families throughout the world.
• 8. Impulse buying
• Benefit oriented buying is taking place everywhere. Preplanned shopping and scheduled purchases are gradually going away. Throughout the world, people need instant items.
They see, ask and buy. It is a major challenge to international businessmen to provide benefits to lure impulse buying.
•
•
Business Environments
• POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT.
• The political environment in international business operates in different dimensions:
• 1. The home country political environment;
• 2. The host country political environment, and
• 3. The global political environment.
• 1. Home Country Political Environment
• In an ideal world, one would not normally expect domestic policies to affect the firm’s international activities. Some
countries like the USA encourage their organization to establish activities abroad, especially in their core competency
fields. Japan encouraged their electronics
• and auto companies to spread their activities outside Japan. Domestic firms that continue to invest and manufacture
abroad while ignoring their home country are often accused of creating domestic unemployment problems and may be
subject to political pressure, from the government. Indian government encourages business houses to go and perform
outside in steel, healthcare, mining, textile and automobile.
• 2. Host Country Political Environment
• If the actual benefits of foreign firms are shared in terms of employment, taxes and social security with the locals, political
atmosphere tends to be hospitable. If it is felt that the foreign firms contribute nothing to the well being of the nation, it
may produce a hostile reaction from the business community and labor organization, which in turn puts pressure on the
government. In extreme cases, this may lead to either political turmoil or the appropriation of the assets of the foreign
firm. Mc Donald had to face a change in the ruling party, in Israel. When the National Religious Party (NRP) came into the
power it demanded that McDonald should change its practices or be shut down.
• 3. Global Political Environment
• This may be describes as the combined politics of the home country, the host country and the other countries in the world.
Multilateral agreements between international organizations, such as GAAT, the UNO and the Commonwealth, may
constitute an impediment to free trade as well as to the nature and scope of the operation of international firms.
Embargos, Cartels, free trade pacts
• and customs’ unions allow a few nations to enjoy competitive advantages, whilst others lose their business prospects.
However, there may also be advantages, e.g., the commonwealth generalizes Systems of Preferences (CWGSP) offers
good opportunities to all commonwealth countries to supply and receive goods and services at concessional rates, which
ultimately give them a competitive edge over non-commonwealth nations. Global politics can influence business in vastly
varying ways. For example the economic embargo on Iraq by the Security Council of the United Nations in 1991 meant
that conducting trade with that country was illegal for all international firma. Another example is China Ordering Microsoft
to stop selling. “Windows 95” as it contained politically offensive material including phrases like “communist bandits”.
Business Environments
• CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT
• The cultural environment for international business refers to the set of factors which shape the
material and psychological development of a nation and represents the primary influence on
individual lifestyle, attitude, pre-deposition and behavior as consumers in the market. The most
important task of international business is to identify relevant similarities and differences among
countries, and means and methods to match the organization’s culture with that of the country of
its operation. For example, when Toshiba gained 100 percent ownership of Rank-Toshiba in the
Plymouth all the managers in charge learnt the British Style of working. Working it is the operation
of a business or dealing with customers one cannot overlook cultural elements. The performance
of a company in the international arena partly depends on how well the strategic elements fit into
the culture of the host country. Culture may be described as the totality of
• the complex and learned behavior of members of a given society. Elements of culture include
beliefs, art, morale, code of conduct and customs. Culture has the following three characteristics:
• - It is learned: acquired by people over time through their membership in a group that transmits
culture from generation to generation.
• - It is interrelated: i.e. one aspect of the culture is connected with another part, e.g. religion and
marriage, or business and social status.
• - It is shared: i.e. tenets of a culture extend to other members of the group. Culture is perhaps one
of the most important determinants of human behavior. Food habits, social class, the family
system, community units and other cultural and sub-cultural elements influence the process of
decision making in day to day dealings and the buying habits of customers. Thus, there is a need
for cross-cultural understanding because of the significant differences in attitude, belief,
• motivation, perception and life styles between nations. For example, branded products will move
fast in Europe and America, but Africans perceive branded products as being very expensive.
Business Environments
• TECHNOLOGY ENVIRONMENT
• Technology and its applications are key factors in determining the international competitiveness
of a firm in conducting international business. Multimedia using Pentium 4 is common in
advanced countries whereas it will take at least another five years to introduce such products in
Africa.
• Leadership in technology is achieved and maintained through a consistent program of intensive
research and development, which can be very expensive. Only those companies that are able
to maintain their technological activities will remain competitive. A Company may invest millions
of dollars in R&D, despite the fact that the projected revenue in the home country would be
very low. However other countries will generate huge revenues over a period of time. The
Hoffkins, Bio Rad, Genen technology and Pfizer are examples of institutions and firms, who are
investing huge sums of money in R&D, because they are sure of their returns on their
investments over a period of time. In the late 20th century, Asian tigers, Japan, South Korea,
Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan achieved a miraculous success due to their investment and
implementation of the technology policies in specific sectors. Few countries, such as Japan for
electronic equipment, Germany for medical equipment, and the USA for pharmaceuticals have
remained leaders in their fields for decades. Other countries have remained behind them. The
time between the innovation and its adoption and its adoption may vary from country to country.
Innovating countries are few. Following countries are many. Technology leaders encash on
skimming pricing strategies, wherein the margins are huge. Eriksson, Nokia, Motorola and LG
have been successful since they manufactured cell phones. Currently, the business
opportunities exist in every country in the world. The people around the world are adaptable to
the technology too. While technology innovation is adaptable to the masses, the companies
involved in such business prosper.
• Today Hewlett Packard, Fujitsn, Apple, Samsung and Lenova compete against each other by
educating the workers on using their laptops and launch their new versions everywhere.
Business Environments
• LEGAL ENVIRONMENT :
• This relates to the laws and regulations governing the conduct of business activities in the country. Before entering any
country, firms avail of the services of local legal firms to understand business interpretations pertaining to labor legislations,
taxes, environment, pollution, investment, distribution, contracts, logistics etc. The international legal environment has
three aspects:
• a) Home country laws
• b) Host country laws
• c) International laws.
• a) Home Country Laws
• These deal with two important issues:
• i) Conduct of the firm in the domestic territory.
• ii) Trade with the other countries
• For international operators, the home country laws are not stringent. They are more of facilitating or regulating in nature,
but not controlling in normal practice.
• b) Host country laws
• These include investment regulations, tariffs and duties, anti-dumping regulations and protection of local industries from
unfair competition from industrialized countries. Tariffs and duties are used to discourage imports of non-essential products
in order to conserve foreign exchange
• and maintain a favorable balance of trade and to generate revenue. Seven advanced countries impose laws against
developing countries. Super 301 against Indian nylon skirts imposed by USA as inflammable fabric and ban on Indian sea
food by Europe are the examples.
• c) International Laws
• These comprise treaties, conventions and agreement between nations, and have basically the same standing as laws.
They are particularly in areas relating to patents and trademark protection and privacy laws.One has to understand the
broad provisions of UN resolutions, and
• multilateral trade agreements such as the WTO. Disputes are solved by different means. Food and drug administration,
health regulation, registration formalities are judiciously implemented in international business operations. Investment
restrictions in some sector, promotion
• in others and the role of regulatory authorities are part of legal environment. For example, Nigerian government
nationalized the assets of British petroleum, when it was revealed that the company as selling Nigerian crude oil to South
Africa, despite an embargo.
PROTECTION VS LIBERALIZATION
• Liberalization:
• In general, Liberalization refers to relaxation(s) of government restrictions, usually in
• areas of social or economic policy. In some contexts this process or concept is often,
but not
• always, referred to as deregulation. Most often, the term is used to refer to economic
• liberalization, especially trade liberalization or capital market liberalization. Although
economic
• liberalization is often associated with privatization, the two can be quite separate
processes. The
• economic liberalization in India refers to ongoing economic reforms in India that
started on 24
• July 1991.Saturday, December 08, 2012 Dr. S. Jain 10
• Privatization:
• Privatization means transfer of ownership and/or management of an enterprise from
the public
• sector to the private sector. It also means the withdrawal of the State from an
industry or sector,
• partially or fully. Another dimension of privatization is opening up of an industry that
has been
• reserved for the public sector to the private sector. Saturday, December 08, 2012 Dr.
S. Jain 11