It is almost commonplace today to find businesses venturing into international markets. Thanks to advancements in communication and information technology, this trend will most certainly persist for the predictable future. The most domestic organization’s when considering expansion will usually look outside their geographical location. This usually means looking at opportunities in international markets. It is believed that managing and running a domestic business is less complex than undertaking international business for a number of reasons. Nation-states typically have unique laws governing trade and investment, variations in business ethics and culture, different political systems, monetary policies, currencies, and so on. And these are all possible factors that could make international business more complicated and therefore, riskier than doing business at home.
In discussing the differences between international business and domestic business, it will make sense to discuss issues involved in doing business internationally that will not otherwise be present or prove as complicated as when doing business at home.
An international business could range from the smallest of firms with the smallest possible activities with just a single country to a much larger worldwide organization with more interconnected operations and strategic alliances all over the globe. Comparisons are frequently made within this range, alongside other forms of international business, and these differentiations make it easier to comprehend an organization’s strategy, structure, and decision-making processes. A notable comparison is that between nation-wide operations, and standalone subsidiary companies which act basically as domestic organizations, and global organizations, with subsidiaries that are tightly integrated and interconnected; like double ends of a band, with multiple openings in the middle. However, it will be less likely that you will find organizations at any one end of the band because, nowadays, companies frequently mix elements of domestic activities with those of global operations.
International versus Domestic Business
All enterprises, whether domestic or international and in all sectors, have the same business aims; which is to be successful in their functions in order to be able to stay operational. In what ways, can we say that international business is distinguishable from the domestic business? One can say loosely that the difference is mainly about location; domestic businesses exist and do business within a nation while international businesses exist and do business beyond those national boundaries. Typically, most countries have unique systems of government, laws, monetary policies, cultural differences, etc. For example, someone traveling to a new place on a visit will be required to be in possession of the right travel documents, have the appropriate foreign currency, some basic understanding of the local language (or device a way to interact with people), etc. Similarly, an individual or organization going to do business in a different land will be faced with many such issues, making it potentially more difficult if he was to stay domestic. I am going to spend the next few sections of this essay comparatively discussing some of these issues which make doing business internationally different from doing it domestically.
International Trade and Investment Theories
A good place to start painting a picture of international business is to have a general conception of why business takes place beyond national borders. We can examine trade and investment as an expression of the comparative advantage of nations. That is, to suggest that every nation will usually be exceptionally excellent at producing some sort of goods or services or both. This is what is known as a country’s comparative advantage and it is based on a nation’s ample factors of production, such as land, labor, and capital. A country will therefore export such products and services that draw more on its rich factors of production. Take, for example, labor and capital, two factors of production, and two countries, A and B. Country A may have a wealth of human resources, and country B, a comparative richness in the capital. It will therefore make sense for country A to export products or services that draw on labor intensively. Country B on the other hand could export products or services that require a lot of capital.
This is a rather one-dimensional way of looking at it. Many factors of production abound and in varying amounts and will usually have more impact on trade. However, this is an ideal point to start to get a clearer picture of what countries need in exchange for what they might, in turn, be able to supply to other countries. The flow of investment, one of the most versatile and mobile of all factors of production, can also be better explained by this comparative advantage concept. So, a country rich in capital but not enough labor force may want to invest in another country with an abundance of labor but less capital to take advantage of that country’s richness in labor.
Differences in the Business Environment
When a business takes its operations outside its national borders, the business environment changes. Clearly, an organization will have inside-out knowledge of its domestic environment, but this will rarely be the case when it decides to go international. Understanding the business environment of a foreign country is crucial to the successful launch of an international firm. Therefore, organizations must commit to a greater extent, time, and resources in order to understand the new environment. Below are some of the business environments that may affect international business, their complexity is the main distinction between international and domestic operations.
Economic Environment
The economic environment changes as you move from one country to another. There are generally three main categories of world economies; the developed nations, developing or third-world nations, and emerging economies. These classifications are usually based on the gross domestic product per capital (GDP) income of the nations. Within these economies exist huge gaps in the standard of living, educational standards, health care provision (from excellent health care system in a developed country, for example, to a complete lack of such facilities in a developing or poor country), trade standards, and culture.
Additionally, one could also classify nation-states by such activities as:
- Free-market economies; those markets where it is very little or no interference from the central government and demand and supply determine what’s produced and sold for what price.
- Centrally planned economies; where the government controls production and price. or
- Mixed market economies; where some activities are determined by market forces and some controlled by the government.
Since the last part of the 20th century, we have seen a significant move to free-market economies globally. However, countries like China, Russia, and a few other communist inclined societies, have maintained mostly centrally projected economies, with most business activities remaining under the direct influence of the government.
The level of government control of the market, available infrastructure, political climate, etc, impacts the business environment, and organizations venturing into the international market will need to be aware of this to be effective.
Political Environment
Different types of government, the relationship between government and business, and the political hazard in a country all impact the environment in which people do business. Organizations doing business internationally will have to deal with different types of political authority, one that may be radically different from its home country, with varied legislation and different degrees of risk.
The political system of one country may be different from that of another; unilateral states, multi-party republics, monarchies, dictatorships, etc exist in various forms from place to place. There are also differences in the way power changes among countries worldwide. Some happen through some sort of democratic election process, military coups, regime change through war, and so on. The relationship between government and businesses also varies from country to country. Some countries favor capitalism, and business may be seen as a positive catalyst for development. It may also have a negative outlook in some places where it may be seen as exploitative particularly when firms from rich countries take advantage of cheap labor in disadvantaged countries.
The biggest issue that international business needs to grapple with in terms of the political environment is the level of political risk. Some countries have unstable governments, uncertain legislation, occasional or frequent social unrest, high levels of corruption, acts of terrorism, war, etc, which could make doing business very difficult and dangerous. However, some organizations may particularly find it more attractive to do business in high-risk zones as the financial rewards will usually be exceptionally high. For example, a firm supplying security personnel may see a country at war as an opportunity despite the high risk. An international organization, therefore, needs to be aware of the political environment in the foreign country in order to function successfully.
Cultural Environment
Culture is one crucial and complex part of the international business environment. The complexity of culture lies in its abstract nature. Culture can be conceptualized as a body of general beliefs, values shared by a group of people. Common beliefs and values shared by a people are usually as a result of common history, religious beliefs, educational background, geography, etc. International businesses therefore will seek to understand these elements that make up people’s beliefs and values in a foreign location.
Some scholars have proposed various models of culture. Hofstede (1980), developed one of such models. He posited four-dimensional cultural values which included masculinity, power distance, avoidance of uncertainty, and individualism. According to Hofstede, masculinity refers to the extent to which a country consents to traditional male or female values. Power distance means the extent to which society acknowledges differences in power. Avoidance of uncertainty is the extent to which society shows a willingness to acknowledge and handle uncertainty. And individualism refers to the level to which a country respects and promotes individual action. The application of this model by Hofstede has been extensive in its use as it makes available data for a range of countries. It has also proved popular among academics and managers who find it useful in researching management styles that may be suitable in a number of cultures.
Competitive Environment
The cultural, political, and economic environment affects in part the changes in the competitive environment from one nation to another. One can say that the environmental elements collectively determine to a large extent the level of competition that exists within a nation or internationally
Competition may have different roots. It could come from small or large companies, operating in both private and public sectors, domestic or global, and so on. Organizations may find it easier to understand their competition when operating domestically as opposed to when operating in foreign territory. In the UK for instance, most businesses are owned privately and competition is usually among companies in this sector. Countries like china on the other hand have mostly state-owned companies. Therefore, a UK company doing business in China may end up with competition from state-owned organizations which could lead to tremendous change in the competitive environment.
Types of competition faced by businesses will change according to location. Some countries may encourage competition or discourage it in order to favor some sort of cooperation, state legislation in some societies may allow or forbid certain competitive activities. International firms will, therefore, need to grasp these issues that can affect the business competitive environment.
Technological advancement and innovation have helped create more competitive advantage in today’s business, as a result, companies are increasingly vying for access to the latest technological development. The internet has made it easier for businesses of all sizes to gain global exposure and expand their market. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that some countries are more receptive than others when it comes to technological innovations.
Differences in Modes of Entry
There are different ways that organizations can do business internationally. It could be through exports, outsourcing, joint ventures, franchising, and so on. Exports are probably the most common form of entry option for organizations considering international business. Outsourcing on the other hand has also become very popular in the last couple of decades particularly in the technology sector. Effective outsourcing requires careful consideration and a concise definition of the terms of the contract. For example, both parties to the outsourcing agreement need to be clear as to what is expected of them right from the onset.
Outsourcing is used frequently by organizations that provide specialized services, such as management, technical knowledge, engineering, information technology, education, and so on, usually for a contractual period of time and fee. Outsourcing contracts are particularly appealing for firms as it allows the opportunity to provided services utilizing talents that they would otherwise not have. Contracts may be long-term or short-term, leaving room for flexibility and because the cost of the contract is usually fixed, income forecasts are easier to make. One shortcoming, however, is that, due to the short-term nature of the contracts, organizations utilizing outsourcing will constantly need to be involved in new business negotiation which is usually many month processes and often requires more money and specialist negotiation skill.
Another issue international businesses need to consider is that of licensing. Different countries have different rules governing such things as patents, copyrights, trademarks, etc. Organizations need to be aware of the various licensing laws in the country they operate in.
Franchising involves selling or buying whole business operational rights. What makes a franchise valuable is typically the name, product, and perhaps a tradition. Most franchisees will usually have set requirements, terms, and conditions for granting a franchise license. This could be a very complicated process when been considered outside national borders.
Joint ventures are about partnerships. It enables a firm to invest in another country with only a share of the responsibility. The amount of responsibility will usually depend on the level of investment. For instance, there could more organizations involved in a single venture where they are all partners. The level of responsibility will be determined by their stake. Deciding on whom to go into partnership with is very crucial. The agreement needs to be struck at the onset on such issues as what the objectives of the venture will be and how conflicts will be resolved. Joint ventures can be a great entry choice for international business if done properly.
Conclusion
Doing business is a lot more complex when in a foreign land than when at home as we can see from the discussions above. There is no doubt that entry into international business has become easier for organizations due to a more widespread liberalization and relaxation of trade laws, and of course, immense advancement in high tech. However, an organization desirous of entering into international business has more environmental issues to contend with in addition to issues of actually running the business. Treading into the international market is very delicate and organizations will need to take into consideration virtually all issues in their desired location. In other words, no stone can be left unturned or ignored as doing so will jeopardize their chances of success.