International Business, Essay Example

After taking this course, I have gained a better understanding of the factors that should be taken into account when dealing in a cross-cultural environment such as culture, individualism vs. collectivism, social norms, and language. I used to think that successful marketing strategies in the U.S. are also applicable in international markets but this course has made me realized the importance of marketing concept of 4Ps. International markets are often quite different, thus, multinational companies have to understand local market characteristics to devise effective competitive strategies.

I didn’t enjoy the course in the beginning but eventually the course topics started gaining my interest and my performance also improved due to greater commitment. One of the ways I can improve my performance in the futureis by starting reading materials from day one. I started taking this course seriously only once lectures grabbed my interest. Had I started reading chapters earlier, my performance would have been better.

Cultures and social norms often take time to learn and the course material didn’t mention strategies that I would consider effective. The suggestions seemed too simplistic or not practical over a short period of time. I believe that inviting professionals and executives to speak in the class that have been involved in international dealings will significantly enrich everyone’s learning.

The best measure is always performance and the success rate of my international engagements will be the best predictor of how much I have learnt in this course. But I do believe this course has made me more confident and willing to take international assignments in the near future.

Overall, I have done a good job of achieving course objectives. The course has helped me learn about common challenges in international business and how they can be successfully overcome. I have also become more sensitive to and respectful of international cultures now. It is clear to me that no brand no matter how strong it is, can afford lack of knowledge about local market characteristics.