INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS REPORT (2500 words)
International Business: Actions
Entry mode (I)
Business College
School of Management
Aims of the Session:
- To understand different forms of internationalisation and market entry.
- To consider the benefits and problems of firm internationalisation from different perspectives.
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Key Questions
- How do organisations internationalise?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of various types of market entry?
Recap
- We examined the key IB theories last week.
- In this week, we will look at foreign market entry modes and the advantages and disadvantages associated with them.
Modes of Entry
- Organisations contemplating foreign expansion must consider the following:
Which foreign market(s) to enter
Timing of entry
What form of entry to use
What scale of entry to establish
Which mode of entry to adopt
Entry Decision Making Under Uncertainty: Trade-off Between Flexibility and Commitment
- Timing: When is a good time to enter?
Potential gain from waiting
Cost of delay
- Scale of entry
Small scale: Establish a foothold to learn
Large scale: Acquire first mover advantage
- Speed of expansion: How fast to grow?
Value of learning
Preemption of competitors
Constraints of internal resources
- Mode
Some modes have more flexibility embedded
Some modes reduce resource requirements
Which Foreign Markets
- The choice must be based on an assessment of a country’s degree of alignment with firm strategy and likely contribution to revenue and profit
- The attractiveness of a country depends upon balancing the various associated benefits, costs, and risks
- These relate to: customer identification, production capabilities, or financial opportunities
- Benefits may relate to: market expansion, production flexibility, investment opportunity, etc.
- Risks may be competitive, political, financial, etc.
Timing the Entry
- ‘First-mover advantages’ that may be derived from entering a market early:
Preempting rivals and capturing demand
Establishing a strong brand name
Building sales volume
Creating ‘switching costs’ for customers and clients
- ‘First-mover disadvantages’ may derive from:
Pioneering costs that early entrant incurs
Unanticipated political, legal, regulatory etc. risks
Additional costs of entry that may not be recouped before competition increases and profit margins decline
Scale of Entry
- Large scale entry:
Involves ‘strategic commitment’ - a decision with long-term impact that is difficult to reverse
May lead rivals to rethink market entry
May prompt competitive response from existing players
- Small scale entry:
Requires limited financial and other resource commitment
Provides time to learn about market
Reduces exposure to risk
Activity 1: International Market Choice
- Considering concept of Timing/Scale/Speed, please return to the case of e-retail market in China and discuss potential success or failure of Walmart e-retail in China. Why China?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VThkcxEqa7I
Choice of Market Entry Mode
Modes? Markets? Art? Science?
Complementarity of Resources
Local Firm’s Resources
- Imitating capabilities
- Older technology and know-how
- Country-specific marketing expertise
- Country specific organization skills
MNC’s Resources
- Innovative capabilities
- Advanced technology and know-how
- Industry-specific marketing expertise
- Organization structure and systems
Going it Alone: Export
Export of Goods
MNC
Revenues
Customers
Going it Alone: Export
Advantages
- Low initial investment
- Reach customers quickly
- Complete control over production
- Benefit of learning for future expansion
Disadvantages
- Potential costs of trade barriers
Transportation cost
Tariffs and quotas
- Foregoes potential location economies
- Difficult to respond to customer needs well
When Is Export Appropriate?
- Low trade barriers
- Home location has cost advantage
- Customization not crucial
Licensing Agreement
Local Firm
HOME COUNTRY
HOST COUNTRY
MNC
Licensing Agreement
Advantages
- Low initial investment
- Avoids trade barriers
- Potential for utilizing location economies
- Access to local knowledge
- Easier to respond to customer needs
Disadvantages
- Lack of control over operations
- Difficulty in transferring tacit knowledge
Negotiation of a transfer price
Monitoring transfer outcome
- Potential for creating a competitor
When Is Licensing Appropriate?
- Well codified knowledge
- Strong property rights regime
- Location advantage
Activity 2: Licensing Case Discussion
- You and your team are the assistant to the CEO of a small textile firm that manufactures quality, premium-priced, stylish clothing (Italian Brand). The Italian CEO has decided to see what the opportunities are for exporting or licensing and has asked you and your team for advice as to the steps the company should take. What advice would you give the CEO?
Foreign Acquisition
Local Firm
HOME COUNTRY
HOST COUNTRY
MNE
Foreign Acquisition
Advantages
- Access to target’s local knowledge
- Control over foreign operations
- Control over own technology
Disadvantages
- Uncertainty about target’s value
- Difficulty in “absorbing” acquired assets
- Infeasible if local market for corporate control is underdeveloped
When Is Acquisition Appropriate?
- Developed market for corporate control
- Acquirer has high “absorptive” capacity
- High synergy
Compensation Trade
HOME COUNTRY
HOST COUNTRY
MNE
Local Firm
- Common reason: Local firm’s lack money to buy equipment
- Economic benefits
Enhanced incentives for MNE to make sure that equipment works
MNE’s skills in marketing the products in its home country
Activity 3: Merger and Acquisition
- Please watch this clip on international merger and acquisition http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKArEQ_8xFM
- Then, list factors affecting the success of international merger and acquisitions.
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