International investments mean investments beyond borders. International investments refer to investments by entities of a nation in nations other than their own. Foreign investments involve export of capital. The opportunity for International investments is directly emanating from economic reformist policies adopted by most of the countries of the world including centrally planned and command economies. Liberalization, Privatization and Globalization (LPG) are vigorously pursued by the countries giving an up-thrust on investment opportunities. Broadly there are two types of foreign investment, namely, foreign direct investment (FDI) and foreign portfolio investment (FPI). FDI refers to investment in a foreign country where the investor retains control over the investment. It typically takes the form of starting a subsidiary, acquiring a stake in an existing firm or starting a joint venture in the foreign country. Direct investment and management of the firms concerned normally go together. If the investor has only a sort of Continue reading
International Business Basics
Managing an International Workforce
Whenever an organization expands its operations to other countries, it tends to become multicultural and will then face the challenge of blending various cultures together. The managerial personnel entering another nation need to adjust their leadership styles, communication patterns and other practices to fit their host country. Their role is to provide fusion of cultures in which employees from both countries adjust to the new situation seeking a greater productivity for the benefit of both the organization and the people of the country in which it operates. Read More: Human Resource Management from an International Perspective Managing Workforce Diversity Managing International HR Activities Selection Criteria for International Assignments Barriers to Cultural Adaptation Managers and other employees who come into a host country tend to exhibit different behaviors and somewhat, see situation around them from their own Continue reading
Global Market Models and Concept Analysis
Managers must be conscious that markets, supplies, investors, locations, partners, and competitors can be anywhere in the world. Successful businesses will take advantage of opportunities wherever they are and will be prepared for downfalls. Evidently, successful managers, in this environment, need to understand the similarities and differences across national boundaries, in order to utilize the opportunities and deal with the potential downfalls. In developing appropriate global strategies, managers need to take the benefits and drawbacks of globalization into account. A global strategy must be in the context of events around the globe, as well as those at home. International strategy is the continuous and comprehensive management technique designed to help companies operate and compete effectively across national boundaries. While companies’ top managers typically develop global strategies, they rely on all levels of management in order to implement these strategies successfully. The methods companies use to accomplish the goals of these Continue reading
Negotiations Between Host Governments and MNEs
Home and host countries evaluate business propositions of Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) from their points of view. The evaluation relates to size, place, product, price, process, people and partnership related issues. Negotiations are take place between MNEs and host government whenever consensus is not reached on major issues. Here comes the importance of business-government relationships. The business negotiations and diplomacy between companies and governments determine the terms of international business operations. MNEs attitude to Governmental Stipulations Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) attitude to Governmental Stipulations may be one of complying. This is highly positive. In a hierarchical view of governmental authority, companies accept regulations as ‘givens’, and MNEs comply with. Occasionally they try to circumvent, avoid or repudiate operating because of the regulations. MNEs comply with Government regulations when the regulations don’t unduly constrain their desired mode of operations, when benefits are sufficiently attractive in spite of regulations, and when they cannot practically Continue reading
Transport Documents used in International Trade
In international trade, the goods move from the warehouse of the exporter to the warehouse of the importer. The goods may move by land water or air or a combination of one or more of these modes. In international trade, such transport documents are more in number and it is very important to know the significance of each type of document and its nomenclature, etc. One of the important aspects to be remembered with regard to any transport document is that it must show the name of the carrier. 1. Bill of Lading This is a transport document, which represents the movement of goods by water. A Bill of Lading is a formal receipt given by a ship owner or their authorized agents stating that the goods mentioned therein (quantity, quality, description etc.) are shipped on a specified date and vessel and are deliverable to the person mentioned therein or Continue reading
Price Component of the Global Marketing Mix
In any country, three basic factors determine the boundaries within which market prices should be set. The first is product cost, which establishes a price floor, or minimum price. While it is certainly possible to price a product below the cost boundary, few firms can afford to do this for extended periods of time. Second, competitive prices for comparable products create a price ceiling or upper boundary. International competition almost always puts pressure on the prices of domestic companies. A widespread effect of international trade is to lower prices. Indeed, one of the major arguments favoring international business is the favorable impact of international competition upon national price levels and, in turn, upon a country’s rate of inflation. Between the lower and upper boundaries for every product there is an optimum price, which is a function of the demand for the product as determined by the willingness and ability of Continue reading