Firms enter foreign markets for many reasons. Successful entry depends on matching the firm's strategy and competencies to the right kind of market conditions. Choosing which foreign markets to enter will have long-term implications for the success of any business. Firms have three basic decisions to make: which markets to enter, when to enter those markets, and on what scale they should enter the market. There is no single, correct answer for all firms. Each firm must decide the best approach based on its strategic approaches and the realities of the market.
Read the overview below and complete the activities that follow.
A number of factors must be considered when a firm chooses to enter a foreign market. These elements are interrelated, but separate analyses and decisions must be made. Once these elements become clear, an integrated approach will emerge. Answer the following questions, and then confirm that you've developed a good approach.
Your firm is at a major turning point. You've just sold off a successful division, and you have a substantial amount of cash you can invest back into the firm. You've also decided additional growth for your personal care products will come from outside the country, not domestically. You've had some limited experience doing business internationally, and you're building the competencies you'll need. Your product is innovative though there are competitive products already in the market. It will appeal to a large market, and you and your senior management are willing to take risks to capture a significant market advantage.
1. While the present wealth of customers in a national market is an important factor, the firm must also consider living standards and .
Choose a response. economic growth, total population, current exchange and interest rates
2. The benefit–cost–risk trade-off is likely to be least favorable in developing nations that operate with a mixed or command economy or where .
Choose a response. private sector debt has not kept pace with expansion, inflation is not a significant factor, speculative financial bubbles have led to excess borrowing
3. One is the ability to preempt rivals and capture demand by establishing a strong brand name.
Choose a response. pioneering benefit, entry-timing asset, first-mover advantage
4. Strategic commitments, like , can have an important influence on the nature of competition
Choose a response. having a number of significant contingency plans, rapid large-scale market entry, scenario planning
5. Small-scale entry gives the firm time to collect information, but it may make it more difficult for the firm to .
Choose a response. change its strategic direction in enough time if the entry does not go well, build market share or captur first-mover advantages, capitalize on pioneering costs