International Business

When a fledgling entrepreneur considers venturing into an
international business opportunity and decides to research
the available opportunities, perhaps using Google or one of
the popular search engines, very little information is to
be found. In fact the term "business opportunity" yields
approximately 250 thousand search results, "home business
opportunity" yields approximately seventy thousand search
results, "network marketing business opportunity" yields
slightly over one thousand results and "international
business opportunity" is just about equal to "network
marketing" in terms of search results.

It's obvious that
there are hundreds of thousands of individuals interested
in a "business opportunity"; however, by far the majority
limit themselves to considering more conventional or
perhaps "vague" opportunities. This article will propose a
broader look at available opportunities and in fact will
consider a unique, if not compelling look at an
international business opportunity and more specifically a
generalized network marketing international business
opportunity.

Before delving into international business opportunity
specifics, let's take a look at the cultural and
technological developments that have come about in the past
15 to 20 years that make it possible, and perhaps even
desirable, to consider a more global view when approaching
a new business opportunity. Tremendous strides in
communications technology brought about in a large measure
by the development and astronomical growth of the Internet
have made instantaneous communications with a prospect,
client or business associate not only simple but very
inexpensive. The advent of email, audio/video conferencing,
and VOIP (voice over internet protocol) phones have made it
as easy to contact the person next door, as the one down
the block, in the next state or on the next continent .

Indeed because of these strides in technology it is
possible to combine the "business opportunity", the "home
business opportunity", the "network marketing business
opportunity", and an the "international business
opportunity" into one all encompassing global business that
is operated out of a home office with a computer and broad
band internet connection with little else needed. To be
entirely correct, there are already a small number of
leading edge companies that are operating in just this
manner with all of the tools in place to operate
nationally, internationally or globally.

While it is not the intent of this article to make specific
international business opportunity recommendations,
consider as an example a business using a model of
operation commonly referred to as a Funded Proposal or a
Generic Funded Sponsoring Franchise System. The Funded
Proposal, in a pure sense, consists of three parts: the
Funded Proposal, secondary sales, and a primary business
for long term wealth generation. Many businesses using this
model, market an information product such as an ebook,
course, or seminar that they sell to first qualify
prospects and to generate income to fund their future
advertising in building their business.

The secondary sales, sometimes referred to as back-end
sales, can be products, services, or tools that are an
integral and fundamental part of the operation of the
business as well as to further enhance the income generated
by the business. It's possible that a break-even or
slightly profitable position can be achieved via the
secondary or back-end sales.

Obviously, the primary business is the most crucial part of
the international business opportunity and must be selected
with great care. There a number of factors that must be
considered carefully. These include: 1. The Company must
have unique products that serve multiple different market
categories and appeal to the masses. 2. The company must be
stable, must have been in business for a minimum of 15 to
20 years, and have the ability to generate long-term sales
and income. 3. It must have a system that is simple and
duplicatable for product marketing and delivery. 4. The
Company management must have been successful business
leaders and have a vision for future growth. 5. The Company
must be global. 6. It must payout at least 50% of sales,
offer unlimited depth within the compensation plan and must
offer meaningful Fast Start Bonuses. 7. They must give back
globally and have a vision of making an impact on the world
in a positive manner.

In conclusion, given the correct business model along with
a well thought though plan or vision for success, the
extraordinary tools that are available today and with
plenty of hard work, it is entirely possible to start a
successful business with a minimal investment. That is not
to say that there will not be obstacles and disappointments
along the way, but regardless of the choice, whether it be
restricted to one's home town, whether it be a network
marketing business opportunity, a home business
opportunity, or an international business opportunity
there's little doubt that one exists which will fit your
desires and expertise, but make sure that you do your
research and that your selection is based on a sound
business model and well thought out plan.

Arbonne International has become a contender in the competitive cosmetic industry. This business review will give an unbiased look at the company.

Arbonne's Beginning

Most people would think that a cosmetics company was created by a woman. That is not the case with Arbonne. A gentleman by the name of Petter Mørck collaborated with a group of expert chemists, biologists, and herbalists back in 1970's.

When Petter met with these experts, he shared his vision of creating quality skin care products not matched by anyone else. The product line began in Switzerland and arrived in the United States in the early 1980's.

Compensation Structure

Arbonne International cosmetics and skin care products are now distributed globally. The Arbonne comp plan is that of an MLM setup. The products are distributed by a network of Independent Consultants.

You can become an Arbonne International distributor (consultant) by purchasing a starter kit. There are two options available: Basic Starter kit for $29 and the Super kit for $65. Your "residual income" comes in the form of network marketing.

As with other MLM opportunities, you earn commissions by sharing or selling the products with family & friends. The passive income comes from sponsoring new consultants and earning off of their efforts.

What You Should Know

Arbonne's products are unique, specially formulated natural products. Most people who try the products thoroughly enjoy them. However, the product line is quite pricey. Although they are very good, a lot of people will not be able to afford them on a monthly basis.

The other truth is that while some people are earning a significant income with Arbonne, or any other MLM program, the majority of distributors aren't. The facts are that 97% of people who give MLM a try will ultimately fail in the end. So why is this? Well for starters, it takes awhile before you will see a lot of income. Many want to be success stories give up within the first 6 months of signing up. It is not until after those first 6 months that most distributors will begin to see a profit.

Some people will try to tell you that the comp plan is that of a get rich quick scheme. It is definitely not that, but it is also not for the faint of heart either.

The vast majority of people do not succeed because of unattainable goals, but because they quit too soon.

If you are interested in selling quality cosmetics, Arbonne International is a good option. However, there are several other business opportunities available if you are in the market for an online opportunity.

Building up a business from scratch needs great amount of patience apart from a good financial back up. Though every business has its own specific cash requirements throughout the various stages of development, most businesses go through almost similar set up costs.

o Every business has its own nature of start up costs; it is wise to keep aside an additional expense account, for unforeseen expenditure especially in case of international business.

Some of the startup costs for international business of course will be one-time, for example the fee for incorporating your business and the expenditure of putting up a sign on your building. There are other expenses of course, which are a part of the ongoing process, such as the cost of utilities, inventory, insurance fees, etc.

o An effective way of calculating your startup costs is to use a worksheet that lists all the various categories of costs, which are needed to be understood before starting your business.
o Many entrepreneurs today prefer setting up business abroad keeping in mind the large profit margins.
A general survey will tell us that prices in most parts of Europe and some of the south east Asian countries would be equally or at times even more expensive than in North America, while it is easier and less expensive to do your business in most countries around the rest of the world.
o Expanding your business abroad, especially in some of the developing nations is a great idea.
o The business opportunities are tremendous but the cost of setting it up is much less as compared to developed European nations.
o One must of course counter local problems and politics and involve more of local administration in order to be successful.

The presence of a large number of unskilled labor, contributes to the low startup costs for international business. This is in fact one of the many reasons why these days there are so many multinational companies, which have opened up factories in developing countries like Indonesia, India and China. The cost of daily wages per laborer is incredibly low. Also production facilities are much cheaper than what it might have cost you for a local set up.

o Even a posh locality in an underdeveloped country would be much cheaper than an average location nearer home.
o Basic infrastructure development is easier and much cheaper as a result one can afford the best equipment and top grade man power for running operations.

An international business in some of these countries would mean saving on a lot of money in basic raw materials. This would be very important for you if you were thinking of manufacturing or importing the basic materials.

Cheap transportation is another reason why setting up your business abroad could mean better business sense from every angle. Apart from that, expenses incurred on day to day living and personal expenditure are much lower, resulting in overall growth in profit percentage.

o Apart for the basic start up costs that are to be incurred in most international business one might have to keep aside funds for local rehabilitation and stabilizing of the local political factors.
o Commuting from the base at home, might be costly an done could make a cut in such costs by incorporating more of locals for overall running of the business instead of a long distance management team.

A word of caution though, that though the overall cost of living in these countries may be lower than in the States, the possibility of hidden startup costs for international business could loom large on you.

The 21st century global marketplace offers many opportunities for international business expansion. The global market means that many companies now have officers, affiliates, supplies, staff and customers in a wide range of countries and cultures, thus it is unavoidable for business people to communicate with people from different cultures. However, the differences in language, food, dress, attitude toward time, work habit, social behavior from different culture can cause many of our business to be frustrating or even unsuccessful.

Culture is the deposit of knowledge, experience, beliefs, rules, actions, attitudes, meetings, hierarchies, religion, nations of time, roles spatial relation, concepts of the universe, and artifacts acquired by a group of people in the course of generations through individual and group striving. Culture and communications are linked: communication makes culture a continuous process, for once cultural habits, principles, valves attitudes and the like and formulated.

People always believe that their culture is the only true culture. They will discriminate people whose cultural norms are different from their own values and behaviors. When we communicate with members of our own culture, we have internalized the cultural rules that govern the behavior and we are able to communicate without giving much thought to these rules. If we communicate with people from different cultural backgrounds according to our own cultural rules, we always encounter a variety of misunderstandings. This is a phenomenon caused by cultural conflict which is becoming universal and unavoidable. Actually, cultural conflict is very common in multinational companies.

Company H is a large company and its products are among the best of the same line in China. They have already extended their business into several regions overseas; however, the Middle East remains blank, as they have no experience in doing business with Arabs.

So the problems come as they do not pay enough attention and also misunderstanding comes also. This also cause the big lose for their business and also set some difficulties for the international business development for them. This example told us we should pay attention to promote the cross-cultural business communication and get enough preparation before take international business negotiation to solve the cultural and continental differences of different people with different nations.

The premier (Article I -in this series) left off with an example from my Russia experiences and observations of how not educating yourself in history, cultures and manners could and will get you expelled from a country! The two salesmen in the first story were real senior level people, oblivious of any international business education and responsibility for their failure. Their company hopefully learned from the Russian expulsion and quickly instituted a change that would better prepare their management and employees for international business. Remember one simple thing; "if it were easy...everyone would be doing it right!". You can not successfully perform International Business (IB) without cultural preparation, readiness education and practice...before...you go! All of the stories presented in the six part series come from my direct observations and experiences while working on multi-company programs or significant business negotiations in each country.

Our next example comes from South Africa where a multi-company program was responsible for surveying land to build an operations center, establish support services and assure security measures. So what went wrong in this seemingly simple task? Simply --untrained, un-managed youth! More specifically, young employees sent away for possibly the first time in their lives, to a foreign country, without any senior management, or corporate training, nor cultural education or strict observances corporate policies. The issue -was not only intoxicated in public- but causing a car accident while driving in the same condition which sent one of the local people to a hospital with a serious injury!

This accident should have never happened. Police were called and once again certain US workers were expelled from a country, heavy fines, restitution and allowances were paid upfront and now qualified replacements had to be made to continue the project. The cost was over $600,000 to fix! The three expelled employees action had a continuing effect on the firm and the mature business responsibilities, between legal and binding parties, than the young technicians fully appreciated. If the incident would have caused a death or permanent handicap, the entire company would have been expelled after massive sums of money and restitution deemed appropriate was paid and jointly closed. If you think about it, for smaller companies this would have immediately shut down the firm or caused a bankruptcy. The eventual newspaper article reference worldwide alone would have caused priceless long term damage.

So, as you will come to learn over the final next 4 installments, International Business (IB) is a serious matter, not to be taken lightly nor without the right education and assurances in place, and in practice, to make all your experiences a growing and rewarding calling. It is always worth it to do things right!

Development of technologies and the ability to quickly move from place to place has created many business opportunities for companies around the world. More and more businesses are becoming global, and therefore an MBA in International Business can be a smart move for further career growth.

Careers in global business requires the ability to maneuver in complex business situations. In the MBA program in International Business you will learn about international finance, accounting, management, business policy and marketing strategies. Getting the MBA makes you more competitive in the labor market and provides opportunities for growth.

This MBA program prepares students for the business climate around the world. Some of such programs can be completed in just a few months, if you select the format of online learning. You'll be ready to work on the international business arena, focusing on the difficulties faced by international and global markets.

You will study subjects such as analysis of international trade and finance, global marketing strategies, management practices in international markets - all of it is okay to prepare you for future career, because apart from this, you will learn a lot about international sales, global distribution, international management and international trade. The main thing is to choose the school with a good reputation.

Global businesses are very important for the success and stability of many companies around the world. It is therefore very important that these companies have worked with professional experience and knowledge of the subject. Employment opportunity after receiving a degree is very high, because the interaction between international companies continues to grow.

If you possess excellent communication skills, love to get acquainted with other cultures, to understand the business, then think - maybe an MBA in International Business is just what you need?

Internet has become a lifeline for most of us. We communicate, shop, study and even date on internet, these days. It has connected people all over the world with each other. A person sitting in China can contact a complete stranger in Hawaii. This is some that couldn't have been possible in pre-internet era.

This is the main reason that millions of people around the world have made internet their source of income. Internet is being seen as a lucrative area to sell products and services worldwide. Entrepreneurs who are planning to expand their business are venturing into internet business world. But can internet really help every business to go international?

Many web designers and search engine consultants believe that internet has become an international market and anybody can find customers on it. They present internet as a golden opportunity that should not be missed.

They may be right but not entirely. Though, internet is helpful in a number of businesses, but you cannot take it for granted. A business can only work on the internet if it is run by a big company that has the capability of spending huge amounts on advertising. Internet has millions of websites selling tons of stuff. If you want to make your website popular then you will need to market it on large scale.

Plus, the product sold by the company must also have a global appeal. If the product is not useful for people around the world, then it can't be sold internationally. For example, if you are selling a technology or gadget that has been introduced in only few countries in the world, then you won't be able to make a huge mark on international basis. The same thing goes with jewellery and garments. Every country has its own style in garments and jewellery which is quite relative.

Another important factor in this is culture. There are many products which cannot be sold globally due to cultural and religious restrictions. For example, some conservative countries do not permit products like lingerie, revealing swim suits or other such products. Most Muslim countries don't buy pork or pork related products.

The same problem comes with the laws and restrictions in various countries. Different countries may have different laws about the same things. For example, countries like England and South Africa permit betting on sports but many countries consider it illegal.

Thus, the saying that internet business can sell everything worldwide is not completely true. But at the same time, some businesses may flourish on international basis. Some products and services have the international appeal to attract global buyers.

Entrepreneur must do extensive research about countries where he or she wants to sell his product. They should also choose the countries in which they want to market their products in. They must start from selling locally and slowly expand their horizons to other international markets.

Finally, we can say that the statement "internet is an international market" is not entirely a myth but we cannot even take it as the absolute truth.

Have you ever noticed that when the space shuttle is landing they often cannot land because of weather at Cape Canaveral, Houston, or in the desert in California? Well, what happens if you are flying in a private space enterprise spacecraft, and the weather in several locations will not let you land. You are going to have to come down eventually and chances are the private spacecraft/aircraft are not going to be large like the space shuttle and they will have limited resources and supplies.

You're only to have so much oxygen. This means you will have to find a time to come down and you are going to need to come down and land. But you may not be able to land in the country from which you took off. This is why it is important that all private enterprise spaceflight enterprises work together, as an international consortium, allowing other spacecraft to land at their facility, as a neutral zone.

Almost like the way we have set up international airport in the world. Spacecraft will need to work about the same way, and we must remember many of the spacecraft will be gliding in without power. They will rely on the skill of the pilot, and the computerized controls to guide them in. They will be dead sticking these spacecraft wherever they land.

So things are very critical, and in the interest of space flight safety, and in the interest of the industry that's just starting out, it only makes sense that everyone works together. One major tragic crash could hit the world media and severely hurt all private spacecraft enterprises. Please consider all this.

To assist you in your research efforts pertaining to this company, this Reliv International review will be providing you with the information that you will need to make an informed and educated decision as to whether Reliv is a good fit as your home based business. Lets begin my Reliv International review.

Reliv International was founded in 1988 by Robert L. and Sandy Montgomery when they became extremely interested in nutritional products due to losing two of their parents in a very short time period. They began their quest for products to maintain good health, and this led to the foundation of Reliv International.

Reliv offers two primary product lines to begin one's journey towards better health. These include Essential Nutrition Formulas, and Weight Loss. Once the foundation of better health has been laid, they offer products that focus around Targeted Solutions to provide additional nutrition support to meet your own individual health needs. Reliv Classic, Reliv Now, Slimplicity Weight Loss System, FibRestore, GlucAffect, ProVantage, SoySentials, Arthaffect, and CardioSentials are many of the products that Reliv International is well-known for.

Reliv offers these products through more than 65,000 Distributors in 15 countries. Distributors are provided with 5 ways to earn income as they are building their Reliv International business. These include:

Retail Profit - Difference between wholesale and retail prices.
Wholesale Profits - Earn compensation on the purchases of personally sponsored Distributors in your business.
Overrides - Earn compensation on the teams of those who you assist in becoming leaders within Reliv International.
Cash Bonuses & Trips - Qualify for travel, merchandise rewards, and cash bonuses as you reach qualifying levels in your business.
Ambassador Program - Earn additional cash bonuses and paid travel when you help others succeed.

In my opinion, Reliv International is a very legitimate company. Reliv has been growing at tremendous rates for over 20 years, proving that they are a solid company that is here to stay. They offer consumable products, giving you the ability to build a substantial residual income from repeat business from loyal customers. It is important to remember that the methods of prospecting amongst your friends and family will still apply in building this business. With that being said, Reliv International offers great potential and rewards for your success.

As always, I wish you success in your search for a home based business for you and your family.

One lesson I learned from the group project was that when one is working in a group with a decent number of people problems will arise. In our case this came in the form of a group member not doing the work that was assigned to them. This was very frustrating to the rest of the group because his shoddy work reflected poorly on the whole group and several times we were stuck with rewriting his portion of the project. Having a member not do their share of the work was new to be and I had to struggle with the rest of the group on how to approach the situation as Christians. By working with the same group for a full semester we got to know each others strengths and weaknesses and then we could appropriately assign tasks to each member. The other main point I learned from the group project was that it takes a lot of work to take a company into another country. This became apparent as the different sections of the project became due. When we had finished all of the information needed for the group project I looked back on all we had done and I was amazed at the work we had put into the project and how it really showed by the amount of data we had gathered. Even though we did not use most of the information in our presentation, we did use all of the information to come to the conclusions that we presented.

I believe was had success in multiple areas of our group project but we had particular success in our financial information. Since it was our goal to come up with an investment opportunity that would make a lot of money we decided that it would take a large investment to generate a large return. We asked the investors for 141 million dollars and we would have been able to pay them back in 2 years with a 12% interest rate. Simply having the financial information fairly realistic and workable I believe was a great success for our team.

There is always room for improvement in a group project and our project was no exception. Our biggest problem was that we did not rehearse the presentation completely as a group, some of our members did meet and review the basics of our presentation but we were never able to get everyone together in time to properly rehearse our sales pitch. This resulted in a bit of confusion during the presentation which took away much of our professional feel. Aside from not practicing together I think that many members of my group did not practice enough on their own, my self included, and our presentation suffered when we rambled in front of the class because they had not gotten their information into a practiced succinct pitch.

Overall I thought our presentation was very professional but we could have taken it to the next level if we had practiced as a group several times and our individual members had taken more time to rehearse their own points. If I were to start this project all over I would make sure that my group had clear communication of what was expected of each member including quality of work and time at which the work should be turned in. Throughout the project I would like to see better communication between my team to make sure that everybody is on the same page. Lastly I would begin to prepare for the presentation in advance so that there would be plenty of time to rehearse as a group and perfect the presentation.

Throughout this class we learned many international business lessons and one of the earliest lessons was that the four Ps, product, price, place, and promotion must also be used at the international level. We also learned that knowing the culture is key to the success of business that are going international, and by giving us examples such as Disneyland in Japan versus Disneyland in France we saw real companies misunderstanding the culture and as a result losing millions of dollars. Learning the difference between P time and M time is very practical and could save large amounts of time if I ever go take my career into a P time society. The most crucial thing I believe I learned in this class was the importance of knowing your target market because this is what will make a business succeed or fail. Knowing ones market in a foreign country can be difficult because one must overcome different languages, social structures, and attitude patters. When I go into my future career I will remember the importance of knowing my target market and respecting their culture.

Over the past few years, there is a rapid level of development that is taking place in the field of the internet and large numbers of jobs are being generated.This jobs have given new lease of life to many people who are able to earn as much as thousands of dollars per month.

There is an international business online that is capable of providing such fabulous income. You will also be enjoying great level of freedom when you are involved in these kinds of jobs.

Some of the popular international businesses that are available online includes multi level marketing jobs, affiliate marketing and website designing jobs. There is also great potential in other niche areas such as SEO services.

Earning money through MLM

You have heard about people who are able to make lots of money through MLM. If you want to start earning a good amount of money through this method and achieve your target earning you have to have good dedication and work smart. One of the powerful factors that will be of good use to enable you to earn a considerable amount of money is to select a good product.

The product that is being chosen should be of great quality and should also be priced in such a manner that it will be of affordable range. Another useful aspect to be ascertained is that the product should be consumable. An effective force of sales network should be developed to attain good profits.

If you are not convinced with MLM, there are other opportunities such as affiliate marketing methods, website designing. In these kinds of jobs, you can work for any clients who are present in any part of the world. You can also work from any part of the world.

The major factor involved in the importance of English in international business is the acceptance of English as the international language of the business community for the purpose of uniformity in communication. Accepting English eliminates the need to explore an alternative language. If not English, then what language works better for the international business community?

English as an International Language

Perspective of English as Global Communication

If English as a global language "means that English has the widest distribution on the most continents, it is true. If it means that English is the language most utilized for international communication between and among language communities, it is true. But if it implies that English is the language of all the peoples of the globe, it is manifestly false" (Harris, 2001, 685). What may be good for the functionality of business may not be accepted as being good for the non-business community. With any new project or venture, research and development of the product or service should be done so that words used to communicate with the new market are not received with offense. Be sensitive and respectful concerning the decisions made in regard to the ways communication is used and worded.

Perspective of English as Learned Communication

"It is crucial that students are equipped with-and be aware of-both the linguistic and strategic repertoire that they can draw from in situations where they use English to communicate with those who do not share their first language and culture. In addition to the development of strategic competence, students also need to be reminded that communication is a two-way road. That is, making one's own message clear and trying to understand others is not the sole responsibility of non-native speakers or speakers of 'less standard' English varieties (however that is defined). Everyone is responsible for overall successful communication, whether it is international or not" (Matsuda and Friedrich, 2011, 340). Be mindful that words can have different meanings in different parts of the same country. Therefore, having words that have different meaning in different parts of the world is a reasonable possibility. There can also be different versions of English in different locations. Business English could also be different from the native English of an English-speaking country. Do not assume; technology has been made available to know for sure what is involved in any given business project or transaction.

English in International Business Communication

"In thinking about the impact of English on international business, there will be two effects: the intra-language effect and the inter-language effect. The intra-language effect would relate to the impact that English has in stimulating international business activity between English-speaking countries" (Hejazi and Ma, 2011, 153). If the native English of each of the two countries is slightly different, it still could have the feel of dealing with a non-English speaking country if time is not spent coming to an agreement defining business English. Business professionals new to a market will benefit by finding out how things work and use the same language the other market stakeholders are using.

"The inter-language, commonly referred to as "lingua franca", effect refers to the impact English would have on stimulating FDI activities between countries which have different official languages. The inter-language effect would have two dimensions: the first involves the use of English by a non-English-speaking country when carrying out international business with English-speaking countries; the second involves the situation in which English is used as a vehicle language between two non-English-speaking countries that use different official languages" (Hejazi and Ma, 2011, 153). Even though cooperation in using English in both cases may result in positive benefits for the countries involved, sensitivity in communication should be exercised to avoid miscommunication that may offend members of the markets involved. Good judgment with word choice is very important.

Conclusion

The importance of English in international business will depend on the purpose of the communication for which English is involved. Since the importance of English will vary depending on whether its use helps to complete business transactions, the deciding factor will depend of the opinion of the users concerning that fact. The success of communication in business will involve other factors. The more English works in communication for international business, the more it will be used. It will then be used because it is used by the people for whom businesses want to communicate.

References

Harris, C.D. (2001, October). English as International Language in Geography: Development and Limitation. The Geographical Review, 91, 4, 675-689.

Hejazi, W. and Ma, J. (2011). Gravity, the English language and international business. The Multinational Business Review, 19, 2, 152-167.

Matsuda, A. and Friedrich, P. (2011). English as an international language: a curriculum blueprint. World Englishes, 30, 3, 332-344.

The reason why some people carry out international business is to obtain the goods that they don't possess. In exchange with what you have, you will get possession of different commodities that are scarce in your country.

International trade has forced the most influential men in the world to organize meetings in which they have to settle the growing conflicts between countries which have carried out international business together in the past.

Many points have to be put into consideration if you are willing to carry out international business. The way you are going to communicate with your foreign business partners should cross your mind because the cultures are different.

Your brain should be working most of the time because the people you are going to deal with have been in the business for some good time. You must be able to balance your books perfectly because any slight mistake you make, you will lose out completely.

Nowadays the government has no say concerning the number of people who are supposed to trade outside the boarders. This has been brought about by the internet which has many sites dealing in international business. This makes it easy for the people to carry out their business without the knowledge of the government.

The different sites make it easy for the people to find out the number of products available on the market. This means that an individual finds it easy to make the best selection from which they make the deal and the goods are shipped into the country as soon as possible.

You can't just jump into this sort of business when you have no experience at it.Thus, you will profit from it as long as you have good connections with the best international business people on the globe.

International business will benefit you if you take some time to check out more information concerning the world markets and the different countries taking part. This will kick start you as you head for glory.

International Business Case: An Extreme Counter Offer

Dr. Ling, SingCast Cable's V.P. of Products, was in full control of the meeting. He sensed it was time to push for more concessions from CyberWave's negotiating team. CyberWave, the four year incumbent e-mail platform provider, had been very uncooperative in renegotiating the current contract. But with eWeb's (a Singapore start-up company) competitive offer on the table, Dr. Ling had a real opportunity to significantly cut his growing e-mail operational costs.

Dr. Ling looked directly at Mr. Hua, CyberWave's Sales Director, and stated in a quiet, gentle tone "Mr. Hua, we cannot afford any longer to supplement CyberWave's licensing fees for subscribers who sign up for free accounts. As you will see in the counter-proposal in front of you, we expect your company to charge nothing for these subscribers going forward, but of course we will pay for those subscribers who opt for a 'for fee' package."

Trying to mask his displeasure, Mr. Hua interjected "Dr. Ling, this is most difficult to comprehend."

Barely pausing, Dr. Ling did not respond and continued, "We are also leaning towards outsourcing the entire e-mail hosting operations to the selected vendor. We expect 'all' operational and technical costs to be included: hardware and software, telecommunications bandwidth, and any direct or indirect costs associated with the migration of the subscribers to the selected vendor's facility. Furthermore, we we will go through a formal RFP process if we cannot reach a mutual agreement that meets our satisfaction."

Dr. Ling glanced at the only American in the room. He was surprised that Mr. Hua's manager had not reacted. He knew he was asking for a lot, but it was his job to ask for as much as possible. Dr. Ling knew that incumbent vendors detested formal RFP's. He really did not have the time to orchestrate the RFP process, but he would do so if he thought he could put more pressure on CyberWave to lower their prices. For all he knew, CyberWave might just be desperate enough to agree.

Dr. Ling continued, "Mr. Hua, I am sure you are aware that a new vendor has emerged -- eWeb. They have crafted a very creative business proposition that many within our company view as a long-term business commitment. Obviously I am not at liberty to provide you with the details of their proposal, but I would encourage you to be very creative and aggressive with your business model. We are looking to award this contract for a three year term."

Dr.Ling was not sure how is subtle threat would be received. He liked CyberWave's technology and their ingenuity, but he thought that they were starting to take his business for granted.

He continued, "CyberWave and SingCast have had a good business relationship over the last four years. But as discussed in our last meeting, SingCast feels that your company has not been proactive enough in finding a business model to lower our total cost of ownership. If you value our business, now is the time to demonstrate your commitment."

Patrick Wilson, the American and Mr. Hua's manager, could not believe what he was hearing. Patrick could not remember the last time he heard such an "extreme" opening position for a contract re-negotiation with a customer. Threats, massive price concessions, and a competitive RFP was a lot to digest. It took all of his mental strength to refrain from interrupting, but today he was going to take his cues from Mr. Hua. Since Mr. Hua remained stone faced, he did the same. This was Patrick's second trip to Singapore. After twelve years of selling globally, he knew better than to let his "American emotion" take control of his tongue. Instead of talking, he decided to write Dr. Ling's points down on his note pad. He wrote:

SingCast Counter:

1. Charge nothing for any new subscriber that does not sign up for a "for fee" account

* Reaction - Ridiculous! We have no control of "how" SingCast charges for their packages. Whether they charge or not, a subscriber is using our software, we need to get paid.

2. Outsource entire e-mail operations

*Reaction - Could be a great opportunity to generate new fees and leverage services from a 3rd party outsourced sub-contractor

3. Outsourcing costs would have to include: hardware and software costs, monthly telecommunications bandwidth costs, and all costs associated with the migration of the consumer accounts

* Reaction - Need more fact finding. A model like this has revenue potential, but many risks (we could financially lose our shirts). Not sure how we would account for and control bandwidth costs

4. eWeb is the competitive vendor - Is Dr. Ling threatening us?

* Reaction - Very scary! The CEO, James Li, is an ex-CyberWave VP of Engineering. James was with the company for three years and was responsible for the e-mail solution product development. He took three of the best developers with him to start the company in Singapore.

* James knows our product inside and out and if he has built a new product - it is probably very good.

5. Three year term for the contract. Looking for a new business model that lowers total cost of ownership

* Reaction - Since he said new, probably safe to assume that we have to change all of our pricing terms and the model.

SingCast was Singapore's number two market share broadband vendor. After only two years from receiving its government license to offer consumer services, SingCast was on pace to surpass MediaOne, the market share leader for broadband connectivity and consumer e-mail subscribers. SingCast's multi-million dollar bet of wiring fiber-optic cable directly to consumers' homes was paying off. Consumers in droves were cutting the cord with MediaOne, primarily due to its poor customer service, high prices, and aging technology infrastructure. SingCast's stock was hot, up 42% in 9 months. The shareholders were pleased with SingCast's new strategic emphasis on consumers versus its previous strategy of primarily targeting enterprises.

Dr. Ling was uncomfortable with all of the praise and attention he was receiving. He was the visionary leader who convinced SingCast's CEO and board to bet big on wiring the fiber-optic cable directly to consumers' homes. But with the corporate success, two significant challenges were emerging. First, SingCast's server farm was not keeping pace with subscriber growth as SingCast underestimated just how popular their solution would be with the Singapore consumers. Second, the initial contract pricing model with CyberWave was netting CyberWave millions of dollars of licensing fees for "new" subscribers who could sign up for the SingCast service for free.

Dr. Ling knew early in the project that the licensing fees paid to CyberWave could become a financial issue, but he lost the argument with the marketing department. They were adamant that the only way to get MediaOne subscribers to change vendors was to offer "free" accounts. Hence, hundreds of thousands of subscribers had converted their basic personal email account, but less than the predicted amount opted for the "for fee" packages. To the financial markets and shareholders, the appearance of all these new subscribers was a positive, but in reality SingCast profit margins on these subscribers was very small and the cost of acquisition very high.

Case Questions:

1. Construct two possible reactions to Dr. Ling's opening offer and support each with pro's and con's of each reaction.

i. List new possible pricing models.

ii. List ideas to control costs.

iii.Suggest new ideas for Dr. Ling to propose to the marketing department regarding SingCast product packages.

2. List two possible approaches in dealing with eWeb Wizard and support each with pro's and con's.

3. List any relevant issues that may pertain to this customer being in Singapore.

Safety is a concern no matter where you travel in the world. Of course, some countries and cities will be safer than others will, but it is always important to be alert and to keep personal safety in mind when you travel.
Before You Leave Home

Before you go, make a photocopy of your passport and visas. Keep them with you, but separate from your actual passport. Also leave a set at home with someone you can contact easily. If you lose your passport, go in person to the nearest American Embassy or Consulate, and apply for a new one. If your passport has been stolen, file a police report, as you will need it when you reapply for a new passport. Having a copy of your passport will save time. If you are traveling with another person, have them come with you to help verify that you are an American citizen. Bring your U.S. driver's license or other identification with you. If the consulate cannot verify your identification, you'll be given a limited validity passport and when you get back to the U.S. you will need to reapply.

Travel Safety

It is important to be on guard at airports, train and bus stations. These are areas where petty theft can easily occur. These areas are easily accessed by the public and have a lot of activity, which helps a thief work unobserved. Interestingly, most business people report that it isn't the locals that you need to worry about, it's other people who may be traveling. Don't assume that a country generally perceived as safe, such as Japan, has no crime problems and let down your guard.

If you have luggage, use covered luggage tags, and use an office instead of a home address. Lock your suitcase before putting it into overhead bins and keep your purse with you when you go to the rest room on the airplane or train. Don't wear loud jewelry that will make you stand out as a wealthy target or tourist to a thief. It is always best to blend in as much as you can without calling attention to yourself. Some women suggest that traveling dressed down is a safer way to go. However, others caution that you may not be viewed or treated as a professional if you are not dressed in smart attire when you travel.

Hotel Safety

You can reduce your risk of theft and assault by staying in a quality hotel that has safety features such doormen, bellmen, and night staff. Choose popular, business travelers' hotels in tourist areas, not in residential areas where the streets tend to quiet down in the evening. Some women recommend staying in a hotel that is large so there are people actively coming and going and you won't be alone. Others prefer a small hotel where the lobby is under the watchful eye of the desk clerk and where a loiterer would be obvious.

When you check in, make sure that your room number is not announced for nearby guests to hear. Lock your valuables in the hotel safety deposit box or the safe in your room. Use the peephole in your door to help identify visitors. If someone knocks on your door at night stating they are night staff, call the hotel lobby to confirm and verify their purpose before opening the door. Most modern hotels have voicemail. If you are not expecting a late night call, let the caller leave a voicemail message. You can call the person back; it is worth a two-minute delay to ensure it is not a crank caller.

Street Safety

Being Followed

I have received reports from women on business in London, Paris, Tokyo, Rome and other cities that they have been followed by men they do not know. Since you do not know the intent of the man following you in such a situation, it is best not to interact with the person but try to lose him as quickly as possible.

Here are some tips to avoid being followed and how to confront someone who is following you:

o Walk in populated areas so that you have other people around you.

o If you are being followed, turn off into a department store, a hotel, or other public area where you might find someone to help you if needed.

o Try ignoring the individual. He may eventually go away. If your follower knows that it bothers you, he may turn it into a game.

o Take a taxi to get away, even if it is just for a few blocks.

o Confront the person with a stare-down if you think that will cause him to run off (although if not done aggressively, many times this will encourage conversation).

Pickpockets and Petty Theft

Many businesswomen who travel internationally have experienced petty theft, such as purse-snatchings and pickpockets on the street, in restaurants, and in dark garages. Some cities have more incidents than others do. Here are some tips on how to avoid a pickpocket:

o Avoid dense crowds, as this is usually where a pickpocket will linger.

o Crowded buses, train stations and airports are prime spots for pickpockets. If you are wearing pants in these places, keep your money in your front pocket.

o On sidewalks, do not walk close to street traffic, as passing motorbike thieves often snatch purses.

o Sling your handbag over your shoulder and body so that it is more secure and harder to snatch.

o Do not hang your handbag on the inside of a restroom door handle or set it on the floor where it can be easily lifted.

o In a restaurant, wrap your handbag around your leg or keep it on your lap. Do not hang it over the back of your chair.

o Study city maps in your room before you venture out so that you have a clear sense of where you are going and don't look like a tourist.

o Be aware that people may be watching you dial your phone-card number in a phone booth. Such people may memorize the numbers for later use.

o Avoid ATM's in lonely areas. If it does not appear to be safe, exchange money at the hotel to avoid risk.