Edexcel Business A Level Revision

Multinational Corporation (MNC) - is a business that is based or registered in one country but has outlets/affiliates or does business in other countries.  Such companies have offices and/or factories in different countries (typically emerging economies or undeveloped countries due to cost savings) and usually have a centralised head office (typically in western markets e.g. UK and US) where they coordinate global management. Balance of payments - A record of a country's trade/transactions with the rest of the world. A surplus is when the sum of exports of goods/services/investment income/transfers is greater than imports. A deficit is when the sum of exports of goods/services/investment income/transfers is less than imports. Foreign direct investment (FDI) - is an investment in a business by an investor from another country for which the foreign investor has control over the company purchased. Transfer pricing - Two companies that are part of the same MNC use interna...

Multinational Corporation (MNC) - is a business that is based or registered in one country but has outlets/affiliates or does business in other countries.  Such companies have offices and/or factories in different countries (typically emerging economies or undeveloped countries due to cost savings) and usually have a centralised head office (typically in western markets e.g. UK and US) where they coordinate global management. Characteristics of a MNC include; Dominant players in the market Complex structures, multi-site and multi-product Grown through organic and inorganic growth Heavy investment in R&D Globally recognised brands Globalisation is one of the major reasons for the growth in MNCs. A number of businesses in order to grow and develop have had to take on a global or internationak perspective, MNCs have also caused further globalisation. MNCs impact the local economy in the following ways; Local labour, wages, working conditions and job creation Loca...

Cultural/social factors - are the lifestyle, customs and values of a group of people. It is important for a business to recognise these factors when targeting markets. Without an insight and understanding it is likely that a business will fail to establish a significant presence in the market. It is essential that a business understand the requirements of the target market, whilst at the same time ensuring that it does not use inappropriate marketing, very likely innocently, to upset them. Cultural and social factors include the following; Cultural differences Different tastes Language Unintended meanings Inappropriate/inaccurate translations Innappropriate branding and promotion. Cultural differences occur because different types of people have different lifestyles, customs and values. For example, in India a handshake for a business meeting is considered critical, though Indian women are not supposed to shake hands with men. Any drink such as tea must be accepted as a ...

Niche market - A smaller segment of a larger market where customers have specific needs and wants. Marketing mix - The set of actions, or tactics, that a company uses to promote its brand or product in the market. The 4Ps - price, product, place and, promotion - make up a typical marketing mix. The marketing mix needs to be applied effectively to global niche markets in order to be of use to the business. A business will have to invest in each element of the marketing mix numerous times in order to meet the requirements of the variety of consumers that they are targeting. This will require expertise and insight into these specific markets. PRODUCT Product will be the most important factor. The quality must be extremely high in order to target wealthier individuals on a global basis. This means that businesses must undertake significant market research and R&D in order to meet customer requirements. PRICE Businesses will be able to charge high prices as they are tar...

Niche market - A smaller segment of a larger market where customers have specific needs and wants. Global market niches are subcultures in world society. These share common interests and can be identified as market segments on a global scale. Although a niche tagets a smaller market, on a global scale, this can be sizeable. This is particularly profitable when we recognise that these are likely to highly differentiated products rather than low costs. This means that the world's wealthiest consumers can be targeted, with the quality of the product being the most important factor. Other common features of a global niche market include; Requires high levels of customer service as demanding customers pay for quality not quantity Highly skilled employees with the expertise and, at times, the reputation required to create and sell the desired products Product innovation is essential in order to product the highly differentiated products that customers require A high level...

Niche market - A smaller segment of a larger market where customers have specific needs and wants. Cultural diversity - is the range of different people and their values within a society, which may be based on ethnicity, beliefs or other similar factors. Society attempts to take into account all people's values in order to create a just and fair world.  Global niche markers are similar to domestic niche markets in that they target a very specific range of people, though the key is to position a product so that it appeals to a wide range of customers across the global market. CULTURAL DIVERSITY Cultural diversity recognises that the ideas, customs and social behaviour of a particular people or society vary in different global markets. Those businesses that cater for this will thrive but will struggle to identify exactly what niches in the marker that they have to fill. Those who don't are likely to lose market share. Cultural diversity needs to take into account d...

Ansoff Matrix - The Ansoff matrix is a famous strategic marketing planning tool that helps a business determine its product and market growth strategy. It suggests that a business's attempts to grow depends on whether it markets new or existing products in new or existing markets. MARKET PENETRATION A business might wish to pursue a strategy of market penetration targeting the same customer base in its current global markets.  To do this it will look at its EPG (Ethnocentric, Polycentric and Geocentric) marketing approach and decide where and how to invest. This will be dependent on the forecast return on investment from each market that it already operates in. It will look to see if it should continue its current approach e.g. ethnocentric or adapt it to meet the changing requirements of the marker e.g. to one of geocentricity.  MARKET DEVELOPMENT Global businesses will always be looking to pursue a strategy of new market development. As markets grow and disposable...

Marketing mix - The set of actions, or tactics, that a company uses to promote its brand or product in the market. The 4Ps - price, product, place and, promotion - make up a typical marketing mix.  The marketing mix needs to be applied carefully in order to meet the requirements of customers in all markets, which is a challenge for a business. Ideally, a business would want to market the same product, at the same price, using the same promotional techniques and distribute and sell through the same outlets. However, this might have to be changed to cater for the different needs of national markets. PRODUCT A firm will need to consider whether a standardised product can be sold on all global markets. Then it can build up an associated product range. This might be easier for a technological business as opposed to a food business. PRICE Price strategies that have worked in other economies such as western markets are unlikely to be successful in emerging and undeveloped ...

Ethnocentric - The domestic markets values is the superior market, and so ignores the values of other countries/markets in which their product exists. General marketing reproduced overseas for their product and no adaptation of product to meet local needs.  Therefore, products are marketed in foreign countres based on the perceived superiority of the home nation's values. To some extent, this approach ignores local customs, culture and religion. In order for this to be a successful approach, the markets need to be similar. For example, Nissan startd out using an ethnocentric approach to car sales where all cars overseas were exactly the same as those in the local Japanese domestic market. Among the benefits of an ethnocentric approach is the fact that standardisation provides significant economies of scale and much lower marketing costs as there is little or no research required for new markets. A drawback is the risk of losing sales as the business is not market orientate...

Global marketing strategy - A product strategy to increase sales through promotion and advertisements to the international market. It focuses on the 4Ps - Price, Place, Promotion and Product - on a range of foreign markets. Marketing strategy - A process to allow a bsuiness to focus limited resources on the best opportunities to increase sales and thereby achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. Glocalisation - is the adaptation of a global marketing strategy in order to meet the requirements of local geographic markets. The term is a mix of globalisation and localisation. MNCs such as Coca-cola and McDonald's use the same global marketing strategies in each market in which they operate, which has the advantage of economies of scale across global markets, called global brands. This would be a transnational corporation approach which is also used by Rolls-Royce cars, Chanel handbags and Tiffany jewellery, all luxury products. However, businesses increasingly have found t...

Global competitiveness -  is the ability of a business, usually a MNC, to perform better than its rivals across markets in different countries. This can be achieved through performance on price and quality or customers' perception of these factors.  Demand for highly skilled workers is outstripping their supply. This is impacting heavily on global businesses, many of whom are producing differentiated products. There is an imbalance in the global economy, with too many low skilled workers and not enough skilled workers. This is partly accounted for because many low skilled jobs have now been replaced by machinery. Machines find it more difficult to replace highly skilled workers e.g. the creative industries.  A lack of ability to recruit skilled workers could lead to a decline in competitiveness as global businesses will not be able to take advantage of lower unit costs and/or higher-quality products. This will be a particular risk for businesses that take the differ...

Global competitiveness -  is the ability of a business, usually a MNC, to perform better than its rivals across markets in different countries. This can be achieved through performance on price and quality or customers' perception of these factors.  Competitive advantage - is an advantage over competitors gained by offering consumers greater value, either by means of lower prices or by providing greater benefits and service that justifies higher prices.    Cost competitiveness - the differences in unit costs between competitors. Outsourcing -  A practice used by companies to reduce costs by transferring portions of work to outside suppliers rather than completing it internally. Outsourcing is an effective cost-saving strategy when used properly. Offshoring -  When a company moves various operations to another country for reasons such as lower labour costs or more favourable economic conditions in that other country. This topic is split into two; ...

Global competitiveness - is the ability of a business, usually a MNC, to perform better than its rivals across markets in different countries. This can be achieved through performance on price and quality or customers' perception of these factors. Exchange rates -  is the price of one currency expressed in terms of another e.g. £1 = $1.65. This means that an American would need to pay $1.65 to buy each £... or, we would need to pay 65p to buy each $. The exchange rate decides how much currency has to be spent by a business in order to buy a specific amount of another currency. Exchange rate movements are fluctuations in value between currencies, which can result in losses to businesses that import and export goods and to investors. EXCHANGE RATE APPRECIATES... This means that; Exports are less attractive in terms of price competitiveness and businesses will find it harder to compete with competitiors as their products will be more expensive in terms of the local currenc...

Global merger - is an agreement between two companies from different countries to join forces permenantly. They will become a MNC and these types of merger are likely to increase the power of the new business. Joint Venture - a separate business entity created by two or more parties acting as a collective tp set up a new business venture, involving shared ownerships, returns and risks. Patents -  a government authority or licence conferring a right or title for a set period, especially the sole right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention. Reasons for a global merger or joint venture; Spreading risk Entering new market/trade bloc Acquiring national/international brand name/patents Securing resources/supplies Maintaining/increasing global competitiveness. SPREADING RISK OVER DIFFERENT COUNTRIES/REGIONS By operating in a number of countries, a business reduces the risk associated with one individual country. This is because all countries will ...

Production - A process of workers combining various material inputs and know-how in order to make something for consumption by the customer, known as the output. Production can also be defined as the total amount of output produced in a time period. The more that can be produced in a specific period of time, the more efficient the business becomes in using its resources. There are 9 factors that have to be considered when assessing a country as a production location; Costs of production Skills and availability of labour force Infrastructure Location in trade bloc Government incentives Ease of doing business Political stability Natural resources Likely return on investment COSTS OF PRODUCTION In highly competitive mass markes, having low costs of production will be a significant advantage. This means low wage cost will see FDI to the country in order to take advantage of the labour force and its low wage costs. This allows businesses to drive costs down, allowing the...

Market attractiveness - A measure of the potential value of a particular market in a country. It can include short-term or long-term profit and growth rate of the market. A range of tools can be used to assess market attractiveness for a country, such as the Boston Matrix, PESTLE and Porter's Five Forces. Disposable income - the total income of an individual has available to spend after paying income taxes and the addition of benefits. Ease of doing business - how accessible markets are for a business Infrastructure - the physical systems that a country (or business) require to operate efficiently Political Stability - an absence of excessive fluctuations in the economy. There are several key issues to consider when assessing the market attractiveness, for example; Levels and growth of disposable income Ease of doing business Infrastructure Political stability Exchange rate LEVELS AND GROWTH OF DISPOSABLE INCOME Changes in disposable income are believed to have...