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1st discussion; 

Globalization entails businesses expanding their markets and new consumers and is made possible because of a technological breakthrough in transport and communication, giving more consideration for the business to expand (Twarowska & Kąkol, 2013). The business decision relies on the product mix, implementation of competitive strategies by either modifying to particular market condition or standardizing globally. Also, companies may consider the location of their production base depending on the cost and efficiency of operation or the ability to transfer the resources and capabilities to the foreign market (Arthur, Strickland and Gamble, 2012). Companies may maintain national production base and export the goods to international markets. Sometimes companies can offer licenses to foreign companies capable of using their technology to produce and distribute the products. Franchising is another strategy used when the enterprise may want to reduce the developmental cost and risks in the foreign market at the same time allow simultaneous expansion in different regions of the world. Direct Investment is whereby the company forms a wholly owned subsidiary in a foreign country. The strategy makes it possible for the company to implement strategies and have control over production and distribution of the product mix. There are high cost and risks involved as compared to franchising the business.  Strategic alliances are cooperative agreements with competing firms that have shared research and marketing objectives. Strategic partnerships are created to share technological exchange that some time might be difficult for a single firm to possess, necessary to conduct research and development for new products hence encouraging competition through innovation. For cost reduction, establishing foreign subsidiary will make the business objective. However, in my opinion, there may not be the best strategy to enter a market, all the mentioned can be possible because there are varying market and political condition in different countries in the world.  The company and the product offered to influence the decision to adopt a strategy. Every market has different consumer preference and taste, buying power and culture. The company's growth objectives and organizational culture may influence the implementation of the plan owing to the conflict of interest of the parties. Competition can be improved when the product has added value regarding the culture, cost, and legal requirement in the particular market. Differentiation in the market is also vital as it adds promotional incentives or encourages consumers to purchase an innovative and new product in the market at lower cost (Keegan & Green, 2015).  

Arthur A. Thompson, Strickland, A. J., & Gamble, J. (2012). Crafting and Executing Strategy: The Quest for Competitive Advantage: Concepts and Cases. McGraw-Hill/Irwin. 

Keegan, W. J., & Green, M. C. (2015). Global marketing. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. 

Twarowska, K., & Kąkol, M. (2013). International Business Strategy-reasons and forms of expansion into foreign markets. In Management, knowledge and learning International conference (pp. p1005-1011). 

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2nd discussion;

The five strategic options in order to enter and gain competitive advantage in a global market include, exporting in which you sell directly into the market you have chosen using in the first instance your own resources. Next is licensing in which a kind of agreement is made where a company hands over the rights to the use of a product or service to another firm. Next option is franchising resembles to licensing but it works better to repeatable processes like fast food outlets that can be easily transferred into other markets.  The fourth strategy is Joint ventures in a specific form of partnership that includes the making of a third independently accomplished company. Last strategy is a wholly owned subsidiary which is a firm that is fully owned by another firm. (Trade Start, 2017) I believe that selecting an entry strategy for a business in the global market totally depends on the nature of the business different kinds of products and the nature of the business as different business have different requirements for success and gaining competitive edge for example in the case of a fast food business chain franchising will be the best option possible as it has low development costs and risk in the new market because of the local management and employees better understand the needs and cultural requirements of the local residents. Other than that I believe for a business like mobiles and gadgets in order to achieve competitive advantage companies can start a joint venture with another local firm who has a better standing in the existing market and who understand the needs of their local customers combining it with the expertise and technology of the parent firm can create a good combination that might be successful in the global market.

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