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INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT

International management is the


management of business operations in an organisation
serving markets and operating in more than one country.

It requires knowledge and skills beyond normal


business expectations, such as familiarity with local
market and competitive conditions, the legal and financial
environment, the capability to do multicurrency
transactions and managing across borders.

What is the role of international


management?
Planning, organizing, staffing,
directing and controlling are basic functions of management. 
International managers always have to organize their
business to adapt to local requirements of all
countries. Firstly, they have to create a command
hierarchy that involves people operating in multiple
countries. Then, they have to adhere to local laws and
regulations of the nations they operate in.
8 CHALLENGES FOR COMPANIES GOING
GLOBAL?
Going global is usually a worthy endeavor, but it does bring with it some challenges. If you are interested
in taking your business global, it is crucial you have a plan in place to address some of the main hurdles you
will need to overcome to succeed.  We’ve outlined 8 main challenges for companies going global that will help
prepare you for global expansion.

1. The Physical Distance

Although you may have the Internet and telephones to communicate overseas, nothing is quite the same as
being there in person to talk to your prospects and your distribution partners, not to mention costs related to
freight, logistics and shipping. At some point, you will have to figure out the costs involved in doing business
“long distance” in the regions where you want to expand.

2. Unfamiliar Cultures

Do you know the most common behaviors in the country you are looking to expand into? What about the way
in which people interact with each other in a social setting? Overcoming this cultural challenge is important for
taking your business global so that you can assimilate with the people who will become your customers. 

Learn more about Cultural Consulting Services

3. Mastering Marketing

Are you familiar with the buying process in the country that you wish to expand into? Learning the best way to
reach your prospective customers is an important element of taking your business global. This will allow you
to establish the kind of customer base that is necessary to be successful with globalization in the long term.
One key ingredient to successful global marketing is transcreation. Transcreation will allow you to adapt your
marketing content to a new foreign market.

4. Organizational Communication

The way team members handling your globalization efforts communicate, report, and track their efforts will
have a big impact on how well you can succeed at taking your business into foreign markets. You need to have
an effective system and set of protocols in place so that company leadership can keep tabs on what is going on
with your international expansion since they will not be there to manage in person.

5. Tariffs and Export Fees

Most countries have some type of tariff or fee that is charged to companies bringing goods into their country.
You need to know about these tariffs so you can incorporate them into the financial planning element of your
globalization plans. Also remember the legal side of globalization: you may have to pay different kinds of fees
depending on the shipping and logistics laws in place in that specific country.

6. Human Resources

When taking your business global, it is important to consider how you will meet the manpower requirements
for operating in a foreign country. You may need to hire new team members which will require an additional
investment. If you decide to send some of your existing team members to new global markets, you have to
account for the roles that they will leave vacant.

7. Choosing the Right Countries

You need to have done enough research to understand where the best place to expand is. If there are several
options, analyze the relative benefits and drawbacks of each country to determine which markets are most ideal
for globalization.

8. Properly Adapting Documents and Content to the Culture

You have to come up with a way your prospective customers can read and understand your sales materials,
instructions, and other documentation that is important for your business. Ideally, you will be able to do more
than just translate them; you will have them adapted to the culture so that they are optimally understood and
relatable by locals.

Addressing these issues will help you meet the challenges presented by taking your business global and help
you extend your company’s reach to new heights. Partnering with a LSC that can not only translate your
messages accurately, but also adapt them to target a specific locale is essential for global expansion. 

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