International Business Entry Strategies

University of Colorado Boulder via Coursera

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Details

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Provider

Coursera
Pricing

Paid Course
Languages

English
Certificate

Paid Certificate Available
Duration & workload

7 hours 5 minutes
Sessions

On-Demand
Subtitles

English, Arabic, French, Portuguese, German, Thai, Indonesian, Spanish, Kazakh, Hindi, Russian, Swedish, Korean, Greek, Italian, Chinese, Ukrainian, Japanese, Polish, Dutch, Turkish

Found in

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Overview

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In this course, you’ll explore and evaluate the many ways businesses can engage in international commerce. You’ll start by examining the three key decisions you need to make before going global, including using a practical model to help you select the right country. Next, you’ll dig into the various modes of exporting and importing, then learn about contract entry options like licensing and franchising. You'll then get to know foreign direct investment strategies, such as forming joint ventures, pursuing mergers, or making acquisitions. The course wraps up with a personal perspective on going global—guiding you through the process of deciding to go, preparing for your move, working and living abroad, and navigating the challenges of returning home. Upon completion, you will have the confidence, skills, and practical knowledge to take a business global, choose the best entry strategies, and thrive both professionally and personally in the international arena. This course is designed for anyone interested in international business, whether you’re already involved with businesses operating globally or you’re considering expanding abroad. It will be especially valuable if you’re looking to deepen your understanding of how companies succeed in international markets and discover the many ways you can actively participate in global business opportunities.

Syllabus

Introduction - International Business Entry Strategies

In this course, you’ll explore and evaluate the many ways businesses can engage in international commerce. You’ll start by examining the three key decisions you need to make before going global, including using a practical model to help you select the right country. Next, you’ll dig into the various modes of exporting and importing, then learn about contract entry options like licensing and franchising. You'll then get to know foreign direct investment strategies, such as forming joint ventures, pursuing mergers, or making acquisitions. The course wraps up with a personal perspective on going global—guiding you through the process of deciding to go, preparing for your move, working and living abroad, and navigating the challenges of returning home. Upon completion, you will have the confidence, skills, and practical knowledge to take a business global, choose the best entry strategies, and thrive both professionally and personally in the international arena. This course is designed for anyone interested in international business, whether you’re already involved with businesses operating globally or you’re considering expanding abroad. It will be especially valuable if you’re looking to deepen your understanding of how companies succeed in international markets and discover the many ways you can actively participate in global business opportunities.

IB Entry Strategies

In this module, you will gain a comprehensive overview of international market entry strategies. You’ll start by considering the fundamental question: “Should you go global?” and examine the key factors that will influence your decision. If you decide to expand internationally, you will then need to explore three core entry decisions: entry timing, country selection, and your choice of entry strategy. Then to help with your analysis is a discussion of entry timing, followed by a detailed analysis of country selection, guiding you through the use of the PESTEL framework to evaluate and select your target market.

Exporting Strategies

In this module, you’ll learn how to export to a foreign market. First, you’ll explore the relationship between exporting and importing, and then you’ll walk through the steps you need to follow for successful exporting. Next, you’ll compare three alternative types of exporting: direct exporting, indirect exporting with intermediaries, and piggyback exporting. Finally, you’ll discover how to achieve successful importing, which essentially mirrors the process of successful exporting.

Direct Entry Strategies

In this module, you’ll explore ways to enter foreign countries directly, including both contractual entry methods and foreign direct investment. With contractual methods, you form arm’s-length relationships with foreign companies—these include licensing, franchising, outsourcing, management contracts, and turnkey projects. If you choose foreign direct investment (FDI), you will take an active ownership role in a foreign firm. Your FDI options include joint ventures, mergers, acquisitions, and Greenfield investments.

Living Abroad

In this final module, you will explore the personal side of international business by discussing what it’s like to work and live abroad as an expatriate (expat). You will identify the characteristics that make for a successful expat, and compare them with traits that may lead to less success. Next, you will review the many steps needed to take to get ready for living abroad, along with the precautions to consider. You’ll then examine what life abroad as an expatriate entails, including strategies you can use to cope with culture shock. Finally, you will consider the challenges you might face when returning home after a long assignment abroad. You then wrap up by reflecting on whether the experience is worth it for you—with the provisional answer being “yes!”