Global Marketing Test #2
Hofstede considers culture as "the collective programming of the mind," which makes it necessary to look at the attitudes, beliefs, and values. Giving an example of a country, explain how these attributes are so important.
An attitude is a learned tendency to respond in a consistent way to a given object or entity. Actually, they are clusters of interrelated beliefs. Many Japanese believe that the West is the source of important fashion trends, and therefore they share a favorable attitude toward American brands. A belief is an organized pattern of knowledge that an individual holds to be true about the world. Japan's monocultural society reflects the belief among the Japanese that they are unique in the world. Attitudes and beliefs are closely related to values. A value can be defined as an enduring belief or feeling that a specific mode of conduct is personally or socially preferable to another mode of conduct. Values represent the deepest level of a culture and are present in the majority of the members of a particular culture. The Japanese, for example, strive to achieve cooperation, consensus, self-denial, and harmony. Since these all represent feelings about modes of conduct, they are values. Attitudes, beliefs, and values are all interrelated and extremely important from a marketing point of view.
Nippon Paper Industries was found guilty in a U.S. court of conspiring with other Japanese companies to raise fax paper prices in the United States under the antitrust laws. What are the implications of such a law, and how does it affect international business?
Antitrust laws in the United States and other countries are designed to combat restrictive business practices and to encourage competition. Agencies such as the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, Japan's Fair Trade Commission, and the European Commission enforce antitrust laws. According to some legal experts, the pressures of global competition have resulted in an increased incidence of price-fixing and collusion among companies. The Sherman Act of 1890 prohibits certain restrictive business practices, including fixing prices, limiting production, allocating markets, or any other scheme designed to limit or avoid competition. The law applies to the activities of U.S. companies outside U.S. boundaries, as well as to foreign companies conducting business in the United States. Nippon Paper Industries was found guilty in a U.S. court of conspiring with other Japanese companies to raise fax paper prices in the United States. The Japanese government denounced the U.S. indictment as a violation of international law and Japan's sovereignty. A U.S. federal judge struck down the indictment, ruling that the Sherman Act does not apply to foreign conduct. However, a federal appeals court reversed the decision.
One of the basic elements of Roger's diffusion theory is the concept of adoption process which deals with the mental stages through which an individual passes from the time of his or her first knowledge of an innovation to the time of product adoption or purchase. Briefly describe these stages giving examples of Apples' iPhone.
1. Awareness. In the first stage the customer becomes aware for the first time of the product or innovation. Mass media advertising was critical in informing customers about the new iPhone. 2. Interest. Enough interest was generated by advertisement which did not fully disclose the exciting features of iPhone but did provide some clues. 3. Evaluation. Customers became curious and started mental assessment of the product's benefits in relation to present and anticipated future needs. Also, comparative assessment was made to see how it is more versatile than the existing technology. 4. Trial. Most customers did not purchase iPhone since it was expensive and waited to get some "hands-on" experience. Such trials are common for many products and services. 5. Adoption. This is the final stage where the individual will make a decision to buy; purchases it; or adopts it. Personal sources of information are more important in the entire process than impersonal sources. Word-of-mouth becomes a very important persuasive force affecting the decision to buy. 1. Awareness 2. Interest 3. Evaluation 4. Trial 5. Adoption
Discuss the basics of a framework for selecting target markets highlighting the salient features of David Arnold's framework.
A framework for selecting target markets should take into account the market size of the targeted market. The market size should then be multiplied by the competitive advantage in that country. Multiplying the market size and competitive advantage index yields a market potential. The next step in the analysis requires an assessment of the various market access considerations. Finally, multiplying the market potential by the terms of access index gives the final market potential. This framework takes into account the competitive advantage, market potential and the terms of access. This framework should prove useful as a preliminary screening tool for inter-country comparisons. However, it does not go far enough in terms of assessing actual market potential. Global marketing expert David Arnold has developed a framework that goes beyond demographic data and considers other marketing-oriented assessments of market size and growth potential. Thus, instead of a "top-down" segmentation analysis beginning with, for example, income or population data from a particular country, Arnold's framework is based on a "bottom-up" analysis that begins at the product-market level. The product-market refers to a market defined by a product category. For example, in the automotive industry that would refer to luxury car market. Arnold's framework incorporates two core concepts: marketing model drivers and enabling conditions. Marketing model drivers are key elements or factors required for a business to take root and grow in a particular country market environment. The drivers may differ depending on whether a company serves consumer or industrial markets. Enabling conditions are structural market characteristics whose presence or absence can determine where the marketing model can succeed. For example, in India, refrigeration is not widely available in shops and market food stalls. This creates challenges for storing dairy products and confections. So the enabling conditions are very important. After marketing-model drivers and enabling conditions have been identified, the management should weigh the estimated costs associated with entering and serving the market with potential short- and long-term revenue streams. One way to determine the marketing model drivers and enabling conditions is to create a product-market profile.
What are the differences between a patent, trademark, and a copyright? What is meant by counterfeiting?
A patent is a formal legal document that gives an inventor the exclusive right to make, use, and sell an invention for a specified period of time. Typically, this invention should be a new, novel, and/or non-obvious creation. On the other hand, a trademark is defined as a distinctive mark, motto, device, or emblem that a manufacturer affixes to a particular product or package to distinguish it from goods produced by other manufacturers. A copyright establishes ownership of a written, recorded, performed, or filmed creative work. Counterfeiting is the unauthorized copying and production of a product. An associative counterfeit, or imitation, uses a product name that differs slightly from a well-known brand but is close enough that consumers will associate it with the genuine product. The worst form of counterfeiting is known as piracy, which is the unauthorized publication or reproduction of copyrighted work. Counterfeiting and piracy are particularly important in industries such as motion pictures, recorded music, computer software, and textbook publishing. The United States in particular has a vested interest in intellectual property protection worldwide since it is home to many companies which have patents, trademarks, and copyrighted materials.
What are some of the pitfalls in assessing market potential and choosing target markets or segments?
After segmenting a market, the next important step is to assess the attractiveness of the identified segments. This is an important part when assessing emerging country markets as potential targets. Several potential pitfalls in assessment should be taken into account. In general, there is a tendency to overstate the size and short-term attractiveness of individual country markets. This can happen if estimates are based primarily on demographic data such as income and population. For example, the population figures in India and China can create a bloated image. Short-term profitability may be hard due to prevailing conditions in these emerging markets. Persistence and long-term outlook often pays off in new markets. A second pitfall may originate from pressures placed on marketers by shareholders or competitors. The possibility of missing out on entering a condition is in itself a stress-causing factor. Marketers may find themselves overwhelmed at times by such pressures and the urge to react quickly. Another factor may be the decisions made based on convenience or opinion of persons/advisors not residing in the home country. The right representatives or distributors should be selected in order to be successful.
Demographic changes can create opportunities for marketing innovation. Justify this statement using examples.
Demographic changes can create opportunities which are unexpected or unforeseen. For example, demographic change has been a driving force behind a renaissance of shopping malls in the United States. The first enclosed mall opened in 1956. After over 50 years retail experts were using terms like "dying culture" to describe American shopping malls. Although America boasts approximately 1,500 malls, many have closed as the Internet has brought the world's stores into American homes. Similarly in France, two entrepreneurs began rewriting the rules of retailing years before Sam Walton founded the Walmart chain. Marcel Fournier and Louis Defforey opened the first Carrefour ("crossroads") hypermarket in 1963. At the time, France had a fragmented shop system that consisted of small, specialized stores with only about 5,000 square feet of floor space, such as the boulangerie and charcuterie. The shop system was part of France's national heritage, and shoppers developed personal relationships with a shop's proprietor. However, time-pressed, dual-parent-working families had less time to stop at several stores for daily shopping. The same trend occurred in other countries.
Due to globalization, "it is a small world after all." Also, vast scale migration of populations due to various reasons, including opportunities, has created large segments of ethnic population. Considering these facts, highlight the ethnic segmentation and its importance.
Due to several reasons, in many countries the population consists of ethnic groups. For example, in the United States there are three major ethnic segments-African/Black Americans; Asian Americans; and Hispanic Americans. In other countries there are different combinations of ethnic population. Each segment shows great diversity and can be further subdivided. Even those coming from one country may have differences in language, culture, religion, and other attitudinal aspects. Their purchasing behavior is different within groups and sub-groups. From a marketing standpoint these groups offer great opportunity. Companies in a variety of industry sectors, primarily food and beverages, household goods, and financing services can benefit by targeting these groups. For example, Japanese automakers have been successful in targeting ethnic populations in different parts of the world.
The diversity of cultures around the world is reflected in languages and communication. When KFC translated its slogan "Finger Licking Good" it became "Eat your fingers" in Chinese; similarly "Pepsi is for Generations" became "your grandparents will come out of the grave to drink Pepsi." Studies showing how linguists have divided the study of spoken or verbal language demonstrate how verbal and non-verbal communication can have an impact on marketing around the world.
Linguists have divided the study of spoken language into four main areas: syntax (rules of sentence formation); semantics (system of meaning); phonology (system of sound patterns); and morphology (word formation). Unspoken or nonverbal communication includes gestures, touching, and other forms of body language. Both the spoken and unspoken aspects of language are included in the broader field of semiotics, which is the study of signs and their meanings. Language is a crucial tool for communicating with customers and channel intermediaries. Words have different meanings in different cultures. For example post in America may refer to putting something on a bulletin board, whereas in British English it may mean mailing through the post office. Similarly, Miller Lite was considered to have less alcohol in Europe, whereas Diet Coke was considered as a dietary supplement in the Middle East. Changes were made to market Miller Lite as Miller Pilsner in Europe and Diet Coke as light coke in the Middle East. In addition to syntax and semantics, phonology can have an impact. For example there is no letter that sounds like P in Arabic so Pepsi sounds like Bebsi and Popeye's sounds like Bobeye's. Similarly, sounds of r and l are intermixed in Chinese. In the United States recently, Sioux Gateway City airport decided to keep the symbol "SUX" although there were a lot of comments about its phonology. On the other hand, the airport decided to use it in marketing by using the slogan "Fly SUX" thereby making it easy for people to remember it. Semantics can also have an impact, such as the word Esso has negative connotation in some languages; Nova (as in Chevy Nova) meant it does not move and Colgate means "go hang yourself" in Spanish. Also, nonverbal cues can have different meanings. In some cultures shaking the head from right to left is considered as yes whereas it means no in some other cultures. Shaking hands is considered as finalizing the deal in some cultures and in others it is just an introduction. There are different ways of bowing in Far Eastern cultures to indicate different aspects. Thus, verbal and nonverbal communications have a distinct impact on marketing practices.
In most of the European Union countries, the influence of regulatory agencies is pervasive. What steps will be necessary of a corporation to protect business interest and advance new programs?
Executives of companies who would like to go global should realize that the influence of regulatory agencies worldwide is getting very pervasive. One way to understand the operation and legal aspects related to business environment is to have permanent representation of the company in the country. International companies such as McDonald's, Nike, and Toyota have several people representing their interests to the European Commission. Companies hire several lobbyists to represent their interests as well as to influence the direction of the regulatory process. U.S. law firms and consulting firms also have sharply increased in number and can be seen having offices in Brussels. This way they can gain insight into EU politics and have access to its policy makers. It may also be possible to hire local people as official representatives of the companies. It is estimated that currently there are 15,000 lobbyists in Brussels representing about 1,400 companies and nonprofit organizations from around the world.
Assume that the market segment is judged to be large enough, and the strong competitors are either absent or deemed to be vulnerable, then is it safe to enter the country?
If the market segment is judged to be large enough, and there are no strong existing or potential competitors, one should not assume that it is safe to enter the country. There are several other factors that can negatively impact a business. For example, significant regulatory hurdles may be present that limit market access. The company may also encounter cultural barriers or religious restrictions. Other marketing-specific issues can arise. For example, in India, three to five years are required to build an effective distribution system for many consumer products. Also, the approvals may take a considerably long period of time. Thus, apparent potential does not guarantee success. Managers have a difficult decision in such conditions. If there are certain prevailing conditions that require adaptation of products, then that should be taken into account. Also, it is important to consider the question of whether targeting a particular segment is compatible with the company's overall goals, its brand image, or established sources of competitive advantage.
What are the major differences between global, foreign, and local consumer culture positioning? Why are these differences significant? Give examples of how companies are trying to lure customers using these positioning strategies.
Global consumer culture positioning (GCCP) is defined as a strategy that identifies the brand as a symbol of a particular global culture or segment. It has proven to be an effective strategy for communicating with global teens, cosmopolitan elites, and globe-trotting laptop warriors who consider themselves members of a transnational commerce culture. For example, Sony's slogan "My First Sony" is positioned as the electronics brand for youngsters around the globe with discerning parents. Benetton uses the slogan "United Colors of Benetton" to position itself as a brand concerned with the unity of humankind. Categories of products that lend themselves to this positioning are both associated with high levels of customer involvement and by a shared "language" among users. High tech products such as iPod, iPhone, MP3 players, video cameras, and all such technology-prone items fall into these categories. Foreign consumer culture positioning (FCCP) associates the brand's users, use occasions, or production origins with a foreign country or culture. Foster's Brewing Group's U.S. advertising proudly uses the brand's nation of origin in all of its print ads and other promotions as being Australian. Local consumer culture positioning (LCCP) strategy associates the brand with local cultural meanings, reflects the local culture's norms, portrays the brand as consumed by local people in the national culture, or depicts the product as locally produced for local consumers. Budweiser's U.S. advertising particularly focuses on local aspects.
What are some of the salient characteristics and differences between high- and low-context cultures?
In a low-context culture, messages are explicit and specific; words carry most of the communication power whereas in high-context culture, less information is contained in the verbal part of a message. Much more resides in the context of communication, including the background, associations, and basic values of the communicators. Japan and Saudi Arabia are examples of high-context culture, where a great deal of emphasis is placed on a person's values and position or place in society. In a low-context culture, such as the United States, Switzerland, or Germany, deals are made with much less information about the character, background, and values of the participants. In a high-context culture, a person's word is his or her bond. As a result, lawyers are much less important in high-context cultures. This also makes negotiations lengthy in high-context culture since several meetings or prodding is needed.
When a company invents a product or service, it should have a right to defend its creativity with intellectual patents. However, there are some countries like Italy and China where piracy and copyright violations are common. How can a corporation prevent this by having some built-in measures in products and services?
Individuals or companies sometimes find ways to exploit loopholes or other unique opportunities in patent, trademark, and copyrights. A company should take measures to protect itself from such piracy situations. For many of the technological products, certain codes can be built into the software program such that it is self-destructive or becomes inaccessible for those who would like to use piracy. One of the sure safe methods is to make the product or service of such a quality that it becomes very difficult or expensive for anyone to copy. One such example can be seen in the formulas of Coke and Pepsi beverages. The product has special features and it is distributed so cheaply such that there is no money left for the counterfeiters. Similarly, packages and containers can be made in such a way that it will become expensive or otherwise technologically impossible to copy. For example, in China, Budweiser cans have fluted edges that are difficult to manufacture. Thus, there can be some inherent qualities or manufactured processes which can make it difficult, if not impossible, to duplicate.
Explain giving examples as to why "Jurisdiction" plays an important role in global marketing?
Jurisdiction plays an important role in trade-related disputes. Two examples illustrate the importance jurisdiction plays in addressing trade-related disputes. One pitted Volkswagen AG against General Motors. After GM's worldwide head of purchasing, José Ignacio López de Arriortúa, was hired by Volkswagen in 1992, his former employer accused him of taking trade secrets. Volkswagen accepted U.S. court jurisdiction in the dispute, although the company's lawyers requested that the U.S. District Court in Detroit transfer the case to Germany. Jurisdiction was also an issue in a trade dispute that pitted Eastman Kodak against Fuji Photo Film. Kodak alleged that the Japanese government had helped Fuji in Japan by blocking the distribution of Kodak film. The U.S. government turned the case over to the WTO despite the opinion expressed by many experts that the WTO lacks jurisdiction in complaints over trade and competition policy.
What should a U.S. company do if competitors are willing to offer a bribe for business in a foreign country?
Managers have to realize the fact that bribery is a fact of life in world markets. It is not going to change overnight or based on how ethical the U.S. companies feel about their business. In fact, bribery payments are considered a deductible business expense in many European countries. Two alternative courses of action are possible. One is to ignore bribery and act as if it does not exist. This may be a very hard option. The other is to recognize the existence of bribery and evaluate its effect on the customer's purchase decision, in other words, treating it as just another element of the marketing mix. The overall value of a company's offer must be as good as, or better than, the competitor's overall offering, including bribe. If possible, a lower price, a better product, a better distribution system, or better advertisement/promotion can be undertaken to beat the competition. The best line of defense is to have a product or service that is superior to that of the competition, whether a bribe is included or not. Thus, a bribe should not be a factor that will sway the purchase decision.
The ultimate threat a foreign government can pose toward a company is seizing assets. South Korea nationalized Kia, the nation's number three automaker, in the wake of the Asian currency crisis. How does this nationalization differ from expropriation and confiscation?
Nationalization is generally broader in scope than expropriation. It occurs when the government takes control of some or all of the enterprises in a particular industry. This is recognized by international law as a legitimate exercise of government power, as long as the act satisfies a "public purpose" and is accompanied by "adequate payment." On the other hand, expropriation refers to governmental action to dispossess a foreign company or investor. Compensation is generally provided, although not often in a prompt, effective, and adequate manner. Also, it may not match with international standards. If no compensation is provided, then it is referred to as confiscation. Confiscation is generally prohibited under international law and is considered an unfair practice. Nationalization: when the government takes control of some or all of the enterprises in a particular industry. Expropriation: governmental action to dispossess a foreign company or investor. Confiscation: generally prohibited under international law and is considered an unfair practice.
What factors should be considered by cosmetic companies to be successful in markets in Brazil, Russia, India, and China?
Noting that there is no "one-size-fits-all" ideal of beauty, cosmetic marketers should consider the sensitivity to local cultural preferences. Each customer is free to have her own aspirations. They have to offer the best quality and the best product to satisfy local customers. Many Asian women use whitening creams to lighten and brighten their complexion. In China, white skin is associated with wealth. Companies have to understand what beauty means to Chinese women and what they look for. Product offerings and communications therefore have to be adjusted accordingly. Market research is critical to understanding women's preferences in different parts of the world. Japanese women prefer to use a compact foundation rather than a liquid. Humid conditions in tropical countries, like India, should be taken into account. How many times women clean their faces should be taken into account. In China, mass-market and premium brands should be considered in order to fulfill requirements of the top and general market. In India, the number of working women is increasing dramatically, and consumer attitudes are shifting. Due to advances in technology and access to television, women are getting more beauty conscious. Coloring gray hair is also an important consideration for women in India. Thus, for each country different factors have to be considered since preferences for beauty products vary from country to country.
Colgate Total toothpaste is positioned as the brand that addresses all aspects of oral health. Such positioning is very important from a business point of view. How does positioning help in deciding on a marketing strategy? What are the differences between using "attribute or benefit" and "quality and price" as positioning strategy?
Positioning refers to the act of differentiating a brand in customers minds in relation to competitors in terms of attributes and benefits that the brand does and does not offer. It is the process of developing strategies for marketing purposes. It is frequently used in conjunction with the segmentation variables and targeting strategies. "Attribute or benefit" strategies are used to expose a particular product attribute, benefit, or other special feature. Aspects such as economy, reliability, multiple uses, durability, and simplicity are very commonly used to describe the attributes of a product or service. For example, Visa's advertising theme "It's Everywhere You Want to Be" exposes its benefit of being useful at any place in the world. Thus, these types of slogans, themes, or jingles very cleverly outline the benefits or attributes of a product. A similar strategy that is used is related to "Quality and Price." This strategy can be considered in light of a continuum from high fashion/quality and high price to good value. Swatch watches advertise their quality, Swiss origin, as well as affordable price. This way price is always tied to the quality and durability of the product or service.
Applying Hofstede's typology, show how Power Distance and Gender Differentiation can influence the marketing of products and services in different countries.
Power Distance is the degree to which members of a particular society expect power to be unequally shared. Hong Kong and France are both high power-distance cultures; low power distance characterizes Germany, Australia, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia. The power distance dimension reflects the degree of trust among members of society. The higher the power distance, the lower the level of trust. Companies in high power-distance cultures prefer sole ownership of subsidiaries because it provides them with more control. On the other hand, companies in low power-distance cultures are more apt to use joint ventures. Masculinity describes a society in which men are expected to be assertive, competitive, and concerned with material success, and women fulfill the role of nurturer and are concerned with issues such as the welfare of children. Femininity, by contrast, describes a society in which the social roles of men and women overlap, with neither gender exhibiting overly ambitious or competitive behavior. Japan and Austria ranked highest in masculinity; whereas Spain, Taiwan, the Netherlands, and the Scandinavian countries were among the lowest. The masculinity-femininity dimension is likely to manifest itself in the relative importance of achievement and possessions (masculine values) compared with a spirit of helpfulness and social support (feminine values). An aggressive, achievement-oriented salesperson can be more successful in Austria, Japan, or Mexico than in Denmark. The Japanese managers may react negatively to a woman, especially if she is younger than they are.
What is psychographic segmentation, and how do marketers use it in targeting different world markets?
Psychographic segmentation involves grouping people in terms of their attitudes, values, and lifestyles. Respondents are carefully selected by asking questions to assess their attitudes, values, and lifestyles. There are different companies that provide services and help in assessing these psychographic variables. Different groups are given names based on the attributes which describe their attitudes, values, and lifestyles. Automakers rely on this segmentation since the purchase behavior of a considerable size of consumers is dependent on psychographic values. A psychographic study showed that Porsche buyers could be divided into several distinct categories. One of the categories, "Top Gun" was found to buy Porsches and expect to be noticed. Proud Patrons and Fantasists, on the other hand, found such conspicuous consumption as irrelevant. Thus, automakers can design autos based on the preferences of populations grouped under each category. It is preferable to market to a mind-set rather than a particular age group. For finding such a group, psychographic studies are important. These analyses are expensive and require careful interpretations. SRI International, one of the market research organizations, has developed VALS/VALS 2 analyses of consumers based on psychographic values. A research team in Europe identified four lifestyle groups: Successful Idealists, Affluent Materialists, Comfortable Belongers and Disaffected Survivors. The first two groups represent the elite, while the latter two represented the mainstream European consumers. It should be noted that the segmentation and targeting approach used by a company can vary from country to country. Methods that can truly assess a population segment of a country should be employed for psychographic segmentation.
London's Sunday Times reported that Mecca-Cola has become the drink which has come to be seen as "politically preferable" to Pepsi or Coke in many Muslim countries. Also, Danish products were boycotted in many Islamic countries in protest of an offensive cartoon that was printed in Danish newspapers. Considering these two examples, show how religion can have an impact on marketing.
Religion is one of the most important sources of a culture's beliefs, attitudes, and values. Hindus do not eat beef, which means that McDonald's does not serve hamburgers in India. There was a big uproar when it was found that McDonald's french fries had beef as one of the ingredients. Similarly, Jews do not combine fish and dairy products, which makes McDonald's fish fillet a problem for them. Jews and Muslims do not eat pork, which rules out the use of bacon in many products sold by fast food operations. Restaurants in Malaysia have to declare that all meats are Halal or sacrificed in a specified religious way. In addition to religious requirements, religious sentiments also play an important role. After the incidents of September 2001, there was a distinct feeling of anti-Americanism in many parts of the world, particularly the Middle Eastern region. Mecca-Cola was an attempt to make indigenous products to compete with American ones. One of the concerns in allowing Turkey to join the European Union is that it is predominantly Islamic, whereas other members are comprised of Christians. All these cases show that religion plays a very important role in how people live as well as buy products and services.
What important lessons did Virgin chief executive Richard Branson learn in the mid-1990s when he launched Virgin Cola, directly targeting Coca-Cola's core market?
Starting a soft-drinks war with Coca-Cola was crazy. It was one of their highest profile business mistakes, though it was also one of the things that raised the profile of the Virgin name in America. By launching Virgin Cola they were having fun and reveling in bravado. However, taking on Coke taught them two lessons: how to make a great cola with a different taste; and how to antagonize a global business that brought in $28 billion in 2007, with profits of $5 billion. They underestimated the power and the influence of a global brand that epitomizes the strength and reach of American capitalism.
In the United States, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is a legacy of the Watergate scandal during Richard Nixon's presidency. Administered by the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission, the act is concerned with disclosure and prohibition. What is this law concerned with, and why is it a subject of criticism by many?
The act concerns disclosure and prohibition. The disclosure part of the act required publicly held companies to institute internal accounting controls that would record all transactions. The prohibition part makes it a crime for U.S. corporations to bribe an official of a foreign government or political party to obtain or retain business. Payments to third parties were also prohibited when they can be channeled to some related official as a bribe. Some critics of the FCPA feel strongly that this act is a sort of regrettable display of moral imperialism. The problem is the extra-territorial extension and sovereignty of U.S. law. To impose U.S. laws, standards, values, and mores on American companies and citizens worldwide is considered wrong. A second criticism of the FCPA is that it puts U.S. companies in a difficult position vis-à-vis foreign competitors. It is perceived that the act adversely affects U.S. businesses overseas. Bribes offered by non-U.S. companies are considerable and can provide a competitive advantage to other companies.
In December 2012, U.S. President Barack Obama signed the Russia and Moldova Jackson-Vanik Repeal and Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act. What does this law entail and how does it affect Russia-U.S. relations?
The first part of the law normalizes trade relations with Russia and Moldova by repealing Jackson-Vanik, a law dating back to mid-1970s. At that time, the Soviet Union was a non-market economy and restricted the right of its citizens to emigrate abroad. Jackson-Vanik denied most-favored-nation trading status to any country that blocked emigration rights. However, the Soviet Union broke apart in 1991, Russia has transitioned to a market economy, and today its citizens are free to travel abroad and emigrate. Moreover, Russia joined the World Trade Organization in 2012. For these reasons, Jackson-Vanik is no longer relevant. The second part of the law is concerned with civil rights issues in Russia at the present time. Sergei Magnitsky was a Russian lawyer who uncovered evidence that Russian government officials had stolen $230 million in tax payments made by the Heritage Capital Management investment firm. When Magnitsky went public with his allegations in 2008, he was arrested. The law calls for the U.S. government to identify by name Russian officials believed to be complicit in Magnitsky's death; those persons will not be allowed to enter the United States and any assets held in the United States have been frozen.
In Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, it is common to see that restaurants have signs declaring that all food is "Halal." It is common that courts handle marriages, divorces, distribution of family assets, and business practices by the "Sharia" law. What are these tenets and how do they have an impact on international business?
The legal system in many Middle Eastern and some Far Eastern countries is identified with the laws of Islam. These laws are associated with "the one and only one God, the Almighty." In Islamic law, the sharia refers to a comprehensive code governing Muslim conduct in all areas of life, including business. The code is primarily derived from two sources. The first and foremost source is the Koran or the Holy Book that is a record of the revelations made to the Prophet Mohammed by Allah (God). The second source is the Hadith which is an interpretation of Koran based on the sayings and practices of Prophet Muhammad. In particular, the Hadith spells out the products and practices that are Haram (forbidden) compared to Halal (allowed). Any non-Muslim doing business in Islamic countries should be aware of the Islamic laws which have wide implications for commercial activities including advertisement and promotion.
There are considerable differences and similarities among world cultures. This makes the task of the global marketer much more difficult. Giving examples, show what factors have to be taken into account when planning marketing strategy for different parts of the world.
The task of the global marketer is two fold based on the differences and similarities prevalent worldwide. First, marketers must study and understand the country cultures in which conduction of business is planned. Secondly, marketers must incorporate this understanding into the marketing planning process. Several adaptations will be needed in developing strategies. Deep cultural understanding can actually be a source of competitive advantage for global companies. It is not only the language but deep understanding of culture and developing a relationship that is of paramount importance. In a new geographic market, it requires a combination of tough-mindedness and generosity. While marketers should be secure in their own convictions and traditions, generosity is required to appreciate the integrity and value of other ways of life as well as points of view. People should overcome the prejudices that are a natural result of the human tendency toward ethnocentricity. 1. Study the culture 2. Consider the culture when implement marketing planning process.
After evaluating identified segments, decisions have to be made whether to pursue a particular opportunity or not. Assuming the decision is made to proceed, an appropriate targeting strategy must be developed. Explain the basic categories of target marketing strategies and how they can be implemented.
The three basic categories of target marketing strategies are: standardized marketing, concentrated marketing, and differentiated marketing. Standardized global marketing is analogous to mass marketing in a single country. It involves creating the same marketing mix for a broad mass market of potential buyers. It is also known as undifferentiated target marketing since it is based on the premise that a mass market exists around the world. Product adaptation is minimized, and a strategy of intensive distribution ensures that the product is available in the maximum number of retail outlets. The appeal of standardized global marketing is due to the lower production costs. The concentrated target marketing involves devising a marketing mix to reach a niche. A niche is a single segment of the global market. For example, in cosmetics, Chanel has targeted the upscale, prestige segment of the market. Concentrated targeting is also the strategy employed by the hidden champions of global marketing-companies unknown to most people that have succeeded by serving a niche market that exists in many countries. These companies define their markets narrowly and strive for global depth rather than national breadth. The narrowing of market definition is the key principle in this strategy. The third category differentiated global marketing, represents a more ambitious approach than concentrated target marketing. It is also known as multi-segment targeting. It entails targeting two or more distinct market segments with multiple marketing mix offerings. This strategy allows a company to achieve wider market coverage. For example, in the sport utility vehicle segment, Rover has a Range Rover at the high end of the market. A scaled down version, the Land Rover Discovery, is offered which competes directly with the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Freelander, its newest vehicle, has been on sale in Europe for several years. Thus, there is a multi-pronged approach to marketing.
There are specific characteristics of innovations that affect which innovations are adopted. Define those characteristics giving examples of products or services.
There are five different characteristics that are important in the adoption of innovations. They are: 1. Relative advantage. This involves a comparative assessment of the existing products or methods. If a product has a substantial relative advantage, it is likely to gain quick acceptance. The popularity of jump drives is an example for their preference over floppy disk. 2. Compatibility. This concerns with the extent to which a product is consistent with existing values and past experiences of adopters. For example, the first consumer VCR, the Sony Betamax, failed because it could only record for one hour. Most customers wanted to record for longer periods of time and thus selected VHS-format, although the recording quality of Sony-Betamax was superior to VHS. 3. Complexity. The degree to which an innovation or new product is difficult to understand, operate, and use. The more complex a product is, the slower will be its adoption. The new digital cameras are an example of their slow adoption since their operations are very complex. 4. Divisibility. This is the ability of a product to be tried and used on a limited basis without great expense. There are wide discrepancies in income levels around the world as well as the storage conditions. Smaller cans of Coke and Pepsi are popular in many countries, with affordable prices and less storage space requirement. 5. Communicability. It is the degree to which benefits of an innovation or the value of a product may be communicated to a potential market. Many of the software programs go unsold since their benefits are not fully communicated to customers. These characteristics give a clear outline of what is needed for an innovation to be successful. 1. Relative Advantage 2. Compatibility 3. Complexity 4. Divisibility 5. Communicability
Reference to one's own cultural values or self-reference criterion (SRC) can create a cultural myopia. It can consciously or unconsciously create considerable problems for marketing professionals. Using Walt Disney's decision to build a theme park in France, address the problem, following a systematic framework.
To address the problem and to eliminate or reduce cultural myopia, a systematic four-step framework is proposed as described below: Step 1. Define the problem or goal in terms of home-country cultural traits, habits and norms. Disney executives believe there is virtually unlimited demand for American cultural exports all over the world. Disney has a track record in exporting its American management system as seen by the success of Tokyo Disneyland. However, Disney policies prohibit sale or consumption of alcohol inside its theme parks. Step 2. Define the problem or goal in terms of host-country cultural traits, habits, and norms. Make no value judgments. Europeans in general and the French in particular are sensitive about American cultural imperialism. Consuming wine with the midday meal is a long-established custom in France. Many Disney characters are based on European folklore. Step 3. Isolate the SRC influence and examine it carefully to see how it complicates the problem. The differences noted in earlier steps suggest strongly that the needs upon which the American and Japanese Disney theme parks were based did not exist in France Step 4. Redefine the problem without the SRC influence and solve for the host-country market situation. A modification in design of the theme park that is in keeping with French and European cultural norms will solve the problem. Focus on French identity on the park.
For years, Coca-Cola Corporation did not enter India since the government wanted some kind of disclosure of their trade secrets. Why are trade secrets so important and what happens if a licensee or a government gains access to the licensor's trade secret?
Trade secrets, like the formula of Coke, are confidential information or knowledge that has commercial value and is not in the public or government domain. Careful steps have to be taken by those who have access to these trade secrets. Trade secrets include manufacturing processes, formulas, designs, and customer lists. To prevent disclosure, the licensing of unpatented trade secrets should be linked to a confidentiality contract with everyone who has access to the protected information. In the United States, trade secrets are protected by state law rather than federal statute. The U.S. law provides trade secret liability against third parties that obtain confidential information through an intermediary. Remedies include damages and other forms of relief.
Giving examples show how technology is providing interesting new opportunities for exploiting linguistics in the name of marketing.
With the increased use of information technology and computers, there has been a noticeable positive and negative impact on linguistics. Text messaging and chat rooms have made it much easier to abbreviate common words, primarily due to limited space on keyboards of cell phones such as BlackBerry and to reduce time involved. Thus, a combination of numerical and alphabetical abbreviations is being used. For example, GR8 (great); CU (see you); AFK (away from keyboard); b4 (before); BBL (be back later); BRB (be right back); GMTA (great minds think alike); l8r (later) and ^5 (high five). In Korean, the phonetic pronunciation of the numerical sequence 8282 (Pal Yi PalYi) means hurry up and 7179 (Chil Han Chil Gu) sounds like "close friend." In some languages numerology has different meanings which when decoded can convey messages. In addition to being exciting, such use of terminology can make slogans stick in the minds of consumers and therefore can be used effectively in marketing. Some of these are getting universally accepted terms due to common use of computers and technological gadgets.