an international business plan

Start typing

Trade Management
International Trade Finance
Market Entry Strategies
Marketing & Sales
Research & Development
Supply Chain Management
CITP® |FIBP® Spotlight
Import Export Jobs
International Trade Courses
International Trade Workshops
International Trade Certification
International Trade Resources
FITTskills Lite Downloads
FITT Small Business Guide: The Scaling Up Edition

A Guide to Preparing an International Business Plan

By: FITT Team

An international business plan acts as a framework that identifies goals and objectives, specific target markets and clients, resources required and strategies to be developed in pursuit of international business opportunities. The plan allows for the monitoring of progress via metrics against which success and failure can be measured. A comprehensive international business plan will be comprised of a number of integrated strategies related to business functions, including communications, sales and marketing, finance and production.

What Is an International Business Plan?

An international business plan is a valuable management tool that describes who a business is, what it plans to achieve and how it plans to overcome risks and provide anticipated returns. It can be used for a wide variety of purposes, such as to:

Set goals and objectives for the organization’s performance.
Provide a basis for evaluating and controlling the organization’s performance.
Communicate an organization’s message to managers and staff, outside directors, suppliers, lenders and potential investors.
Help the planner identify the cash needs of the business.
Provide benchmarks against which to compare the progress and performance of the business over time.

A comprehensive and detailed plan forces the planner to look at an organization’s operations and re-evaluate the assumptions on which the business was founded. In doing so, strengths and weaknesses can be identified.

Although highly dependent on the individual business case, on average it takes a three-year commitment to establish a successful presence in a foreign market. This process may require tremendous human, technical and financial resources during the developmental period.

International Market Entry Strategies Couse Banner

The Planning Process

An international business plan is subject to repeated adjustment and revision to keep it current with the changing circumstances of the organization. The plan is a feedback mechanism through which new information is continually incorporated into the organization’s operations. Planning always precedes action. Therefore, planning must be thought of as a continuous cycle. The analytical tools presented here are not intended to be used just once. If they are to be useful, they should be used repeatedly as part of a process of improvement and incremental adjustment.

Plan Preparation Guidelines

These 7 guidelines will help in preparing a comprehensive international business plan:

Clearly define the objectives for producing the plan : Who is going to read the plan, and what will they need to do? These objectives can help you decide how much emphasis to put on various sections.
Allocate sufficient time and resources to thoroughly research the plan : A plan is only as good as the research that went into producing it.
Show drafts of the plan to others : It can be very useful to obtain feedback from others, both inside and outside the business.
Create an original plan that is done specifically for each business case : A common mistake entrepreneurs make is to borrow heavily from a sample plan and simply change the names and some of the numbers. There are two big problems with this approach. First , the emphasis placed on various sections of the plan must reflect what is important to the particular business in question. Second , a good plan should flow like a story, with the sections working together to demonstrate why the business will succeed. Plans that borrow too heavily from other plans tend to be disjointed, with some sections contradicting others and various key issues left unaddressed.
Outline the key points in each section before the writing starts : These points must then be reviewed to ensure the sections are consistent with each other, there is little duplication and all key issues have been addressed.
Ensure financial projections are believable : For many readers, the financial section is the most important part of the plan because it identifies the financing needs and shows the profit potential of the business. In addition, a good financial plan will give the reader confidence that the author really understands the business.
Consider writing the executive summary as the last step in the process: It is usually easier to provide a concise overview after the detailed content has been created.

If you’re having trouble getting started with your business plan, try writing like it’s a series of tweets—one for every section of your business plan. To get your point across, 140 characters is all you need.

Forcing yourself to boil each section of your business plan down to one main point is an exercise in decision making and strategy all in itself. When you’re done, you’ll have everything you need to take your next step, whether that’s practicing your pitch to potential investors or a business partner, or sitting down to expand each tweet into a full section of a more traditional business plan.

Core Content

The international business plan is the culmination of all of the work done to determine the appropriate venture for the organization’s growth. As part of the feasibility process, the organization will have determined its own internal readiness, conducted comprehensive target market research and carefully analyzed any relevant risks.

Feasibility of International Trade Couse Banner

At this point, the organization can take all of this information and analysis and formally document the plan for moving forward. There are many different models and examples of how to put together a formal business plan, rather than one correct way.

The right format will depend on the organization, the venture being pursued and who will be accessing the business plan and for what purpose. However, there are some basic guidelines to follow.

One of the reasons business plans are developed is to convince investors and/or bankers to invest in the venture.

Increasingly, they are looking for a business plan to include two sections: one relating to online strategy (in terms of e-marketing, social media and ROI) and the second relating to corporate social responsibility (including quality, health, safety and environment policies).

The inclusion of these topics gives more credibility to the company by demonstrating its commitment to the community and to employees’ well-being.

Table 3.1 nternational Business Plan Content

Telling a Story

One trend in business planning is to use a narrative structure in the document, rather than traditional technical writing techniques. Storytelling techniques are increasingly being used throughout the business world to create personal and organizational brands, deliver marketing messages and develop persuasive plans.

Stories make presentations better. Stories make ideas stick. Stories help us persuade. Savvy leaders tell stories to inspire us, motivate us. That’s why so many politicians tell stories in their speeches. They realize that “what you say” is often moot compared to “how you say it.

Instead of using bulleted points and cold, technical language, organizations employ a “beginning, middle and end” narrative style. This engages the audience by establishing the context, describing the conflict or obstacles and arriving at a successful resolution.

The Executive Summary

Usually the last step of preparing the international business plan is to develop the executive summary, a short overview of what the plan proposes to accomplish. For some purposes, a one-page business plan can also be useful.

There is not a great deal of difference between an executive summary and a one-page business plan. The most significant distinction is the one-page plan must completely fit on one page in a readable font, while an executive summary may spread over two or three pages.

One-Page Business Plan

There is a trend towards the one-page business plan, especially if the plan is to be presented to potential partners for their consideration. Audiences for the one-page plan will be looking for a “quick hit”: a clear and concise description of what the opportunity is and how it is being pursued.

For example, a one-page business plan might include the following topics, as described in Noah Parson’s article “How to Write a One-Page Business Plan” on the website Bplans :

Customer problem/opportunity
Your solution/approach
Business model (how you make money)
Target market (who is the customer and how many are there)
Competitive advantage
Management team
Financial summary
Funding required

The one-page plan (or the executive summary, if used in place of the one-page plan) may provide the first impression the audience has of the business. This is the most important document generated out of the business planning process, and significant effort and care should be taken in its creation.

There are many websites the provide blank samples of one-page business plans, including Bplans , the GoForth Institute and Startup.com.

A Note on Strategic Plans

A strategic plan covers many of the same points as a business plan. However, a strategic plan sets out the detailed action plan to be followed to achieve the objectives of the international business plan.

It must outline specific activities, their due dates and who is responsible for each activity. It is a project plan with a critical path. A strategic plan ensures any venture is carried out in a coordinated, informed and systematic way.

A key consideration in action planning is how quickly to enter the market, which is driven by the chosen market entry strategy. If market entry is done too quickly, the potential for costly mistakes increases. However, if it is completed too slowly, opportunities may be missed and competitors will have more time to react.

The Planning Cycle

Attaching the word “cycle” to planning implies that it happens more than once. International business plans need to be reviewed periodically because new information that has an impact on both planning and operations is continually coming in.

All plans, including international business plans and strategic plans, need to be reviewed every time there is a major event impacting the business, such as civil unrest, a currency fluctuation or the presence of a new competitor.

About the author

Author: FITT Team

The Forum for International Trade Training (FITT) is the standards, certification and training body dedicated to providing international business training, resources and professional certification to individuals and businesses. Created by business for business, FITT’s international business training solutions are the standard of excellence for global trade professionals around the world. View all posts by FITT Team

How to evaluate new ASEAN export markets for your business

Covers from all 10 selections of the 10 books for international trade professionals to read in 2024

Top 10 books for international trade professionals to read in 2024

4 ways to visualize data more effectively for reports and presentations

common international business mistakes represented by a hammer with bent nails in a board

3 common mistakes that cause international businesses to fail – and how to avoid them

Disqus comments, leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

2 thoughts on “A Guide to Preparing an International Business Plan”

Thank for international businesses

I have a company in Dubai and I am looking for someone who can write an internationally designed business plan with me for investors. Do you have an address I can contact?

Subscribe to our mailing list

Email address:

Craft Your International Business Plan: A How-To Guide

Are you ready to take your business across borders? International expansion is a great way for businesses to grow and succeed in new markets. But before you dive into an international market, there are specific steps you need to consider: crafting a strategic plan. Whether it’s determining the competitive landscape of a target country or understanding local customs and regulations, an effective international business plan can lay the foundation for long-term success while also providing guidance on how best to allocate resources and manage risks. But where should one begin? Let’s dive into it!

Analyze Potential Markets

In today’s global market, expanding your business into new markets can open up a world of opportunities for ecommerce revenue growth. To get ecommerce revenue from new markets , the first step is to analyze potential markets. This involves conducting market research to identify which countries or regions hold the greatest potential for your business. You can start by looking at demographic data, economic trends, and consumer behavior in different parts of the world.

Of course, you should also delve into the market-specific data. Analyzing the competitive landscape and potential barriers to entry is sure to determine which markets are most viable for your business. Additionally, understanding cultural differences and local customs can give you insight into how your product or service may be received in a new market. Businesses can now expand their reach and increase their revenue streams in ways they never thought possible.

Set Clear Goals and Objectives

Once you have identified potential markets, it’s time to set clear goals and objectives for your international expansion. These goals should align with your overall business strategy and take into account the resources needed to enter a new market successfully.

Do you want to increase brand awareness, generate more revenue, or establish partnerships in a particular region? Or maybe you want to expand into a new market to diversify your customer base and reduce risk. Whatever the reason may be, setting clear and measurable goals can guide your decision-making process and ensure that your international business plan is aligned with your long-term vision.

Develop A Robust Strategy

With potential markets and goals in mind, you need to develop a robust strategy for entering the international market. But how do you know which strategy will work best for your business?

Direct Exporting

Direct exporting involves selling your products or services directly into the international market. This approach can be a low-cost way to test the waters and gain valuable information about overseas markets without the commitment of setting up a physical presence. However, it does require careful planning and research. Consider your product’s suitability for the market, the logistics of shipping and delivery, legal and regulatory requirements, and how you’ll handle customer service.

Licensing and Franchising

If you prefer a more hands-off approach, licensing and franchising can be viable options. Licensing involves granting another company the rights to use your intellectual property, such as trademarks or patents, in exchange for royalties or fees. Franchising is similar but typically involves a more comprehensive arrangement where the franchisee follows your established business model and brand guidelines.

Joint Ventures and Strategic Alliances

Collaborating with a local business through joint ventures or strategic alliances can also be an effective way to enter a new market. This approach allows you to benefit from the other company’s expertise and established networks while sharing the risks and costs associated with entering a new market.

Mergers and Acquisitions

For businesses looking to make a big splash in the international market, mergers and acquisitions can provide a quick way to gain market share, access new technologies or products, and expand your customer base. These transactions require significant financial resources and due diligence to ensure compatibility and avoid potential risks.

Identify The Resources You Need

No matter which strategy you choose, entering the international market requires a significant investment of time, money, and resources. It’s essential to identify what you need to make your international expansion a success.

Consider the staffing and expertise needed to manage operations in a different country. Will you need to hire local employees? If so, do you understand labor laws and cultural norms for managing a workforce in that country? Will you need to partner with local vendors or suppliers? How will you handle language barriers and cultural differences? It’s also crucial to assess your financial resources and determine how much capital you’ll need for market research, legal expenses, marketing efforts, and other related costs. Secure funding or explore financing options early on to avoid delays in your expansion plans.

Consider Different Countries or Regions

As businesses expand globally, you must first understand the unique culture, customs, and laws of different countries or regions to effectively reach and connect with their target audience. For example, did you know that in Japan, it’s considered impolite to loudly slurp noodles? Or that in China, the color red symbolizes good luck and happiness? Or that in Germany, punctuality is highly valued?

When you consider the cultural nuances and preferences of your target market, you can tailor your marketing strategies, product offerings, and overall business approach to resonate with local consumers. This can go a long way in building trust and brand loyalty in the global marketplace.

Decide How You Will Marke Yourself Abroad

Now that you have a clear understanding of your target market and their cultural preferences, it’s time to decide how you will promote and market your business abroad. This can include tactics such as translating your website and marketing materials into the local language, partnering with local influencers or businesses, and utilizing social media platforms popular in that region.

Even consider any legal or regulatory requirements for advertising and marketing in the target market. In certain countries, there may be restrictions on certain types of advertising or requirements for labeling and packaging. Other countries may have specific rules for online advertising and data collection.

Venturing into the international arena can be a game-changer for your business, opening up new avenues of growth and diversification. The journey, however, is paved with its unique set of challenges and complexities.

A strategically crafted international business plan acts as the compass guiding you toward success. It entails rigorous market analysis, clear goal-setting, robust strategic development, resource identification, cultural understanding, and effective marketing. Such a plan ensures that your business meets the needs and expectations of your new customers, stands tall amidst global competition, and reaps the rewards of global expansion. Get ready to embrace an exciting journey filled with opportunities, learning, and growth. Now that you have a step-by-step guide in hand, the world is truly your oyster!

Propel global posts 166.1% increase in revenue for q3 fy2024, spritzer’s ‘plastic reimagined’ inspires exciting ideas whilst giving new life and uses to recycled plastic, beast (bengkel animasi digital arts & creative festival) 2024 goes back to bandung.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Search ITA Search

Sample Export Plan

Sample export plan .

Completing an international business plan helps you to anticipate future goals, assemble facts, identify constraints and create an action statement. It should set forth specific objectives and implement a timetable and milestones. A strategy for entering or expanding into targeted markets is critical to your success in the global marketplace.

Conduct an “audit” of your company to determine how exporting will impact your operations. Consider the management issues for exporting, approaches to exporting, distribution channels and other important considerations that will impact your business.

Understand the key components of an effective, actionable export plan. Just as no two companies are alike, there is no one-size-fits-all export plan. Your export plan should be an extension of your overall business plan, if not infused completely into your business plan. Many of the same questions for your international sales strategies will apply to your domestic sales plan.

Have a clear idea of the information you need to collect and sources where you might find that information.

Creating an international export plan is important for defining your company’s present status and internal goals and commitment. It is also required if you plan to seek export financing assistance. Prepare a plan prior to requesting bank loans. This can save both time and money.

Sample Outline of an Export Plan

Part I: Export Policy Commitment Statement   

Part II: Situation or Background Analysis

Product/Service for Export

Export License (if needed)

Personal Export Organization

Products/Services to be Exported

Products that Qualify Under FTAs

Resources Outside the Company

Industry Structure, Competition, Demand Operations

Export Control Compliance

Product Classifications

Resources Inside the Company

Part III: Marketing Component

Identifying, Evaluating, and Selecting Markets

Product Selection and Pricing

Distribution Methods                                           

Internal Organization and Procedures

Sales Goals (Profit and Loss Forecasts)              

Terms and Conditions

Pricing with Consideration of Duties, Taxes  

Freight Costs, and Logistics Included 

Part IV: Tactics—Action Steps

Primary Target Countries

Indirect Marketing Efforts

Quarterly Accomplishments

Secondary Target Countries 

Part V: Export Budget

Pro-forma Financial Statements    

Marketing Materials

Travel      

Website Enhancements

Trade Show Visits

Other Costs

Part VI: Implementation Schedule

Follow-up

Periodic Operational and Management Review (Measuring Results against the Plan)

Addenda: Background Data on Target

Basic Market Statistics (Historical and Projected)

Background Facts

Competitive Environment

International Business Plan Template

What is an International Business Plan?

An international business plan outlines the goals and objectives of a business that is looking to expand into international markets. It is a comprehensive document that outlines the strategy and tactics of a business that is looking to enter into the global marketplace. The international business plan is a critical component of the overall business plan and should be developed in concert with other elements of a business’s overall strategy.

What's included in this International Business Plan template?

3 focus areas
6 objectives

Each focus area has its own objectives, projects, and KPIs to ensure that the strategy is comprehensive and effective.

Who is the International Business Plan template for?

The International Business Plan template is designed for organizations of all sizes and industries who are looking to expand their operations and business into other countries. The template provides a comprehensive framework for businesses to establish effective international business relationships, utilize digital platforms, and recruit qualified international talent. It is a powerful tool that can help businesses develop and grow their international presence.

1. Define clear examples of your focus areas

When creating an international business plan, it is important to define the focus areas that will be addressed. Focus areas are the broad topics that the plan will address, and should be tailored to the specific needs of the business. Examples of focus areas could include establishing effective international business relationships, utilizing digital platforms, and recruiting qualified international talent.

2. Think about the objectives that could fall under that focus area

Objectives are the specific goals that the business wants to achieve within each focus area. Objectives should be tailored to the business’s specific needs and should be achievable and measurable. Examples of objectives could include building an international network, developing international partnerships, creating an online presence, and strengthening online connections.

3. Set measurable targets (KPIs) to tackle the objective

KPIs, or Key Performance Indicators, are measurable targets that help to quantify the success of a project or objective. KPIs should be tailored to the specific objectives of the business and should include an initial measure, a target measure, and a unit of measure. Examples of KPIs could include increasing the number of international advisory board members, increasing the number of website visits, and increasing the number of international hires.

4. Implement related projects to achieve the KPIs

Projects are the specific actions that the business will take to achieve each objective. Projects should be tailored to the specific objectives of the business and should be achievable and measurable. Examples of projects could include creating an international advisory board, establishing strategic alliances, developing an international website, and expanding social media presence.

5. Utilize Cascade Strategy Execution Platform to see faster results from your strategy

Cascade is a powerful strategy execution platform that helps businesses quickly and effectively develop and execute their international business plans. Cascade provides businesses with the tools and insights they need to stay organized and ensure their plans are executed accurately and efficiently. With Cascade, businesses can stay on track and achieve their goals faster than ever before.

International Business Plan Structure

Is your business missing the opportunities in the international markets? Are you struggling with where to start your international expansion and how to go about it?

International Business Plan outlines corporate goals and steps towards foreign markets entry. It is also called the Export Business Plan . At Win Global, we apply a 3-step approach to your international expansion.

Step 1: Building a Solid Foundation for International Business Plan

During this phase we determine the readiness of your business to the international expansion and help you to build four pillars of the successful international expansion:

Selection of the product, service or solution to expand internationally
Defining global value proposition for the selected product, service or solution
Profiling ideal buyers or distributors of the product, service or solution
Target market selection

Step 2: Analytical Phase of International Business Plan

This is a very important stage of the preparatory period for entering the international markets. It summarizes all the information collected from foreign market research and risk assessment. Based on obtained information a company checks the feasibility of continuing international business planning and makes a first go-or-not-to-go decision.

Step 3: Planning Phase of International Business Plan

This is the final stage when we put together a foreign market entry plan for our clients and consider all steps that must be taken in order to succeed in international business. The typical content of International Business Plan is:

Executive Summary of International Business Plan
Corporate Global Vision and Goals
Four Pillars of the International Business Expansion
Foreign Market Research Summary
Risk Assessment
International Business Strategy At this stage, we identify the best strategy that will help our client to enter each particular foreign market of interest. The examples of international business strategies are exporting, licensing (franchising), joint venture, foreign direct investments, etc.
International Business Action Plan Based on an International Marketing Plan and the project approach International Business Action Plan contains activities, milestones, estimations, resources, performance measurement and evaluation criteria.
Cost and Benefit Estimate .

Contact us now to schedule a free and no-obligation discussion about your issues in international expansion and determine if we can help you. Fill out the contact form now .

Careers Our vacancies Working at Menzies Apprenticeships Graduates Work Culture Menzies Awards
Payment Portal

How to draw up an international business plan

Nick Farmer – International Tax Specialist

Many businesses have heard about the benefits of trading internationally, but haven’t yet taken the plunge. Others may have started on this journey, but are still trying to figure out how to improve their international experience.

To make a success of international trade, it is important to approach it as a separate part of your business and draw up a specific international business plan.

So how do you put together a clear plan that will help you realise your international ambition?

The easiest way to start is to map out your plan into the following key segments: reasons, research, resources, relationships and review.

Steps to create a global business plan

Step 1 – reasons for going global.

To start with it is important to define your reasons for wanting to trade internationally. It could be the perfect next step, but just because someone says it would be a good idea doesn’t necessarily mean it is right for your business. So really challenge yourself to understand why you are taking your business down this path. Here are a few reasons that often arise:

Spread the customer base;
Reduce dependency on home economy;
Next stage of business development;
Helps the business innovate and remain competitive;
Increases status of the business;
Fulfils personal ambition

Taking time to deliberate on your reasons and being able to articulate them will give you a greater sense of purpose and help you galvanise the team around you.

How to go global in the tech sector

Step 2 – research the market.

Once you have determined that trading internationally is right for your business, then it’s time to start doing your research.

Firstly, there is now a considerable amount of data available from behind your desk. From spending time undertaking this research you are trying to find answers to questions such as:

What markets are right for your products or services?
What’s the competition like and are there gaps in the market?
How easy is it to do business in the target market?
What changes need to be made to the product; branding, colours, name etc?
How do you comply with local regulations?
What documentation and translations will be required?

At the same time as researching the market, you will need to think through what operating model is going to be suitable for your business in each of your target markets. Will you be looking to sell directly from the UK, or instead use in-country agents or distributors. Maybe your product can be licensed to a local business, or franchising arrangements will work for you. If you are prepared to make more of a commitment then it could be worthwhile looking for a local joint venture partner, or even set up your own operations in the local market.

Once you have exhausted the desk based research, it’s then important to carry out some in-country research to really get a feel for your audience and the opportunities that exist. It may be possible to join a trade delegation, and these can often be a good way to get introductions, but only if the visit is particularly relevant to your sector. Alternatively you might sign up for a trade show, or contact potential customers from online marketplaces, before you leave and put together an itinerary for your visit. Part of the reason for your visit will of course be to better understand the local customs and culture and to make sure you go into the market with your eyes open.

Step 3 – Resources

Whilst it is crucial to do your market research, it’s also vital that you clearly analyse the resources that are available to you to make sure you have the capacity to accommodate the desired international activity within your business. Carrying out a health check on the existing business will help you determine if you have the capability and resources to make international a successful part of your business. This will include:

Do you and your team have the time and capacity to devote to international trade or do you need to recruit appropriate expertise?

Management team

Who is going to be involved in managing the process and making sure control procedures are in place?

What employee involvement will be necessary, and will any movement of staff or local hires be required?

What funding is going to be required to support the initiative and what is the payback on this?

Language skills

What language skills will you need and are these available to you?

Is your website set up for international trade or does it need to be ‘internationalised’?

Step 4 – Relationships

holding hands company and accountancy firm

There’s no doubt that trading internationally could be rewarding for your business, but to be successful it is certain that you are going to need to get some outside support. There’s a whole community of businesses set up to support international traders and understanding who is who, and getting the right people behind your business, is all part of the key to success. Collaboration partners would include:

Accountants

Providing commercial support and making sense of the numbers involved, as well as sourcing local advice from overseas network partners.

Tax advisers

Tax will play its part in any cross border transaction, so it will be important to understand the implications before it’s too late, such as VAT, Customs Duties and Withholding taxes.

Trading outside your home market will require specific insurance, and you may wish to have credit insurance to protect against non-payment.

Immigration

Where your activities involve the movement of people, there may be local visa requirements that need to be fulfilled.

There will be legal paperwork involved, such as contracts, commercial agreements and invoices, as well as the labelling and need to protect your intellectual property.

Logistics providers

To help you transport and distribute your product and ensure you have the right export documentation.

If additional finance is required you will need to explore the alternatives and find out what export finance is available to you.

Foreign Exchange

Trading internationally will usually involve foreign exchange exposure and the need for specialist FX support.

Drawing up an international business plan is only the start, and this will need to be kept constantly under review so that you are able to assess the benefits for your business. Key to this process will be the data that you collect, as this will enable you to determine the profit that you are actually making from your international activities. Making sure that your accounting system is correctly configured to provide you with this information, and that there is a regular review process (monthly, quarterly) including comparison between budget and actual, is part of the process of going international.

Tips & Advice
IT Risk and Security
Life & Tech Blog
Visit Our Site

7 steps to create your international business plan

Congratulations! You’ve made the decision to go global . Now how do you get started?

First, determine your company’s export readiness by taking this nine question quiz created by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The website calculates your readiness score and provides additional resource links to help overcome any corporate weaknesses.

Next, develop a plan. Stanley Pfrang, Market Development Director – India, the Middle East and Africa, WEDC , and Jen Pino-Gallagher, Bureau Director, International Market Development, DATCP , shared a seven step plan at a program I recently attended.

Proactively develop a plan. Some companies reactively dive into the international market after receiving a product or service inquiry from overseas. A better strategy is to first think through planning steps two-seven to help avoid costly missteps.
Conduct market research. Is there a need or demand for your product or service? Is market expansion feasible? Who are your competitors? What financial and legal paperwork is required? Do your current customers also operate in global markets? If so, what can you learn from them about opportunities and potential pitfalls?
Entering new markets. Who can help you distribute your product? Do you need storage space? Will you need a manufacturing partner located in your target destination?
Logistics. How important is your delivery speed? The decision will help you select transportation carriers and/or delivery routes.
Payments. Determine what currency you will accept. Will you sell in U.S. dollars and/or foreign currency? Will you offer a discount if payment is received in U.S. dollars? Will you accept letters of credit? Will you require a down payment before production begins on goods or services?
Visit the market before entering it. How do your competitors operate? How will your customers use your products or services as compared to those of your competitor? Trade shows are a good, inexpensive resource to help you see market potentials and downsides.
Resources. Explore state and federal government online resources. Join an industry association knowledgeable about international trade. Talk to customers and maybe even competitors to learn from their mistakes and wise decisions.

After sharing the seven step plan, Pfrang, Pino-Gallagher and other program panelists offered additional tips.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions about companies interested in your product. How long have they been in business? Obtain customer and vendor references. A face-to-face meeting to establish a relationship before doing business is best and can be done using Skype or a similar internet connection if necessary.

When seeking a trade consultant, hire a native of the foreign market you wish to enter because she will better understand the market needs and difficulties. At a minimum, hire someone with English as his second language.

Never automatically dismiss a lead that comes your way. Always explore the possibilities. It may lead to big things.

Be ruthlessly conservative in planning when internally strategizing your approach to new markets and opportunities that arise. Remember to include the impact on staff resources, time zone differences and product distribution methods.

Read Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands , a book that provides insights into business culture and customs in many different international markets. Lastly, always remember the primary goal of marketing.

So now it’s your turn to share advice. What resources do you use? What wisdom have you developed through experience? I’d love to hear from you. You can leave your comments below or you can reach out to us on Twitter and Facebook .

Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
Click to print (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

About Guest Blogger

Connect with tds.

Stay connected with TDS Business for the latest news.

Transform your home office with these 5 steps
“Love Stinks” – when a scammer is involved
Tips and Tricks for Better Wi-Fi
3 Steps Toward Brand-Worthy Customer Service
Protect yourself from phone fraud this holiday season

business plan , DATCP , Deloar Newton , Global , International , Jen Pino-Gallagher , Stanley Pfrang , WEDC

One Response to 7 steps to create your international business plan

I run a small time web business in the evening, and have been operating globally for over a decade. If you have any type of web presence for your product, you quickly find yourself doing global sales on a small scale in terms of units – i.e. single items – though not necessarily on a small scale in terms of income- about 30% of my sales are out of country -that is where my strongest customers are (and oddly in the countries with universal health care and some of the highest tax rates). Many local banks are not set up to handle those type of transactions economically so I use various on line payment systems. You lose 3-4% but it is a lot simpler than any other option. I learned this the hard way when my community bank took 4 months to finalize a simple overseas bank transfer from the Philippines. For screening customers I am basically linked to other people working in the same type of business. We share mainly which customers to avoid, scammers and the like. Likewise I have come to learn a lot about what countries to ship to an which to avoid as well as the various headaches of different import customs and other processes. It can be a tricky process but a lot of local small businesses are doing it . In terms of language barriers – if you are not dealing with English speaking customers there are various free translation services on line – In todays world though you need these markets – Wisconsin is the weakest state I have for sales and overseas is by far the most profitable.

About TDS Business

TDS Telecommunications delivers high-speed internet, TV entertainment, and phone services to a mix of rural and suburban communities throughout the U.S. With 1.2 million connections, TDS is a rapidly growing technology company. Powered by fiber-optics and new industry-leading technologies, TDS delivers up to 8 Gigabit internet speeds and offers internet-protocol based TV entertainment solutions along with traditional phone services. TDS also offers businesses VoIP advanced communications solutions, dedicated internet service, data networking, and hosted-managed services.

Site by Madison Web Design

Most Popular

Privacy Overview

Business Essentials
Leadership & Management
Credential of Leadership, Impact, and Management in Business (CLIMB)
Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Digital Transformation
Finance & Accounting
Business in Society
For Organizations
Support Portal
Media Coverage
Founding Donors
Leadership Team

Harvard Business School →
HBS Online →
Business Insights →

Business Insights

Harvard Business School Online's Business Insights Blog provides the career insights you need to achieve your goals and gain confidence in your business skills.

Career Development
Communication
Decision-Making
Earning Your MBA
Negotiation
News & Events
Productivity
Staff Spotlight
Student Profiles
Work-Life Balance
AI Essentials for Business
Alternative Investments
Business Analytics
Business Strategy
Business and Climate Change
Design Thinking and Innovation
Digital Marketing Strategy
Disruptive Strategy
Economics for Managers
Entrepreneurship Essentials
Financial Accounting
Global Business
Launching Tech Ventures
Leadership Principles
Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Accountability
Leading Change and Organizational Renewal
Leading with Finance
Management Essentials
Negotiation Mastery
Organizational Leadership
Power and Influence for Positive Impact
Strategy Execution
Sustainable Business Strategy
Sustainable Investing
Winning with Digital Platforms

5 International Business Examples to Learn From

Conference table with a map of the world illustrating global business

29 Jun 2021

Despite the rise in geopolitical conflicts and concerns around global health in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic , international business continues to thrive. According to a Profile Tree report , about 70 percent of international trade involves global value chains—meaning different stages of production are located across different countries.

“There has never in the history of the world been a more exciting time to be conducting business across international borders,” says Harvard Business School Professor Forest Reinhardt in the course Global Business . “The opportunities are enormous—to make money, to learn more about the world, and to make the world a better place.”

If you’re interested in entering this exciting sector, here’s an overview of what international business is and what factors can help make your company successful.

Access your free e-book today.

What Is International Business?

The term international business refers to any business that operates across international borders. At its most basic, it includes the sale of goods and services between countries.

Yet, other forms of international business do exist. For example, a business that produces components or products overseas but sells them domestically can be considered an international business, as can an organization that outsources services, such as customer service, to locations where labor expenses are cheaper.

For most organizations, decisions around building, producing, and selling products or services are informed by many factors.

Cost is an important one because businesses that primarily operate in developed markets, like the United States and Europe, can often source cheaper labor abroad.

Other factors play a role in decision-making, too. For example, an organization that makes a conscious effort to become more sustainable may produce its product as close as possible to the end user to reduce greenhouse gas emissions related to transportation, even if it might result in higher labor costs. Likewise, a business may take pride in sourcing local labor to create jobs and support the economy.

What Makes a Successful International Business?

Although international business can benefit the global economy, it also carries inherent risks. The fact that each country has its own government, regulations, inflation rates, and currency can complicate business models and must be weighed against the perceived benefits of operating internationally.

Some of the most common challenges of international businesses include language and cultural barriers, currency exchange rates, and foreign politics and policies.

“Although international business is extremely exciting, it can also be risky,” Reinhardt says in Global Business. “And it pays us to understand how to manage these risks.”

To be successful, international businesses must be resilient, adaptable, communicative, and resourceful. They need to have a deep understanding of international economics to anticipate how global markets will affect their bottom line and international marketing to effectively communicate their organization’s value to diverse audiences.

Are you interested in working with an international organization? Do you have plans and aspirations to take your business international?

Here are five well-known international businesses that have successfully—and not so successfully—navigated the global market.

Examples of International Businesses

Apple Inc., founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne in the 1970s, is now considered one of the most influential international companies. Headquartered in the United States, Apple designs, develops, and sells electronics, software, streaming, and online services worldwide.

Apple opened its first international location in Tokyo, Japan, in 2003 after saturating the American market. Under Jobs, Apple touted ease-of-use, innovative design, and customer loyalty with the marketing slogan, “ Think Different ,” and it continues to use visionary strategic marketing and a tight ecosystem to overcome competition and attract creative audiences around the globe.

Apple not only sells products internationally but has supply chains from 43 countries that ship supplies to China for final production and assembly. By keeping a tight-knit and strong relationship with suppliers, strategic inventory, and a focus on sustainability, Apple stands as one of the world’s most successful companies.

2. Financial Times

The Financial Times is a formerly British daily newspaper that’s now owned by the Japanese holding company Nikkei. The Financial Times’ mission is to deliver unbiased, informed investment and economic information to empower individuals and companies to make secure investment decisions.

The Financial Times had a rocky start trying to break into the international market. Andrew Gilchrist, former managing director of the Financial Times , describes his experience at the publication in the online course Global Business .

During his tenure, the Financial Times prioritized entering the international market in India. Despite a large English-speaking population and strong government support, domestic journalism was considered culturally and legally suspect. In fact, the Financial Times was eventually tied up in legal knots because the local newspaper barons were able to challenge every move through the courts.

Eventually, the Financial Times’ attempt to go international in India led to an economic slowdown and sluggish company growth.

3. McDonald’s

Two brothers, Maurice and Richard McDonald, converted their drive-through barbecue restaurant in San Bernardino, California, into a burger and milkshake restaurant—now known as McDonald’s—in 1948.

The McDonald brothers focused on creating a better business system geared toward self-service and efficient and repeatable processes that relied on heating lamps instead of waiters. This model, known as “ Speedee ,” led to lower costs, cheaper products, and faster growth. It became the epitome of “fast food.”

Soon after, Ray Croc took McDonald’s a step further by bringing in franchisees and suppliers, leading to the creation of restaurants across the United States. McDonald’s model continued to expand, and, in 1967, the company opened locations in Canada and Puerto Rico .

McDonald’s has been internationally successful, thanks in large part to the consistency its business model allows. The fact that a Big Mac tastes the same regardless of which country you order it in is a testament to the company’s long history. Today, there are 38,000 restaurants in more than 120 countries.

4. Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola was created by pharmacist John Pemberton in 1886 at a soda fountain in Atlanta, Georgia. It was used as a tonic for common ailments due, in part, to the addition of cocaine and caffeine derived from the kola nut, which was a major ingredient at the time. (This was later removed from the recipe in 1903.)

Although popular at its inception, Coca-Cola became the company it is today because of the marketing and business leadership of Asa Griggs Candler and future investors, who dramatically increased sales and expanded syrup factory production into Canada.

Eventually, an independent bottle company licensed the rights to Coca-Cola’s syrup production and distribution, streamlining production and generating massive profits. Coca-Cola later remarketed for Germany, China, and India, and it’s now sold everywhere except Cuba and North Korea .

Coca-Cola currently has over 900 bottling and manufacturing facilities worldwide , many of which are in North America, Asia, and Africa.

H-E-B is a popular American grocery company with more than 340 stores in Texas and northeast Mexico. It was founded by Florence Butt in 1905 and expanded into Mexico in 1997.

The primary driver of international expansion wasn’t a desire to capture greater market share, but rather, a desire to gain access to foreign produce markets in warmer climates, from which the company could source produce during its domestic suppliers’ off-season in the northeastern United States.

Craig Boyan, president of H-E-B, explains in Global Business that, upon becoming an international business, H-E-B bought blueberries from Chile and Peru to sell year-round. Despite it being expensive to ship blueberry crates to Texas, this enabled the company to continue meeting its customers’ needs. Since then, production has increased with demand, especially in Mexico, which has an ideal climate to produce blueberries year-round. H-E-B now sources blueberries mostly from Mexico, making them more available and affordable for customers.

Global Business | Thrive in today's interconnected, global economy | Learn More

Why Study International Business?

Many global businesses succeed by expanding their markets, production operations, and supply chains internationally. But doing so requires savvy business leadership bolstered by economic knowledge, an understanding of markets, and the ability to learn political and cultural trends.

Furthering your education in global business is an effective way to gain these skills.

Acquiring them, along with experience, can lead to a successful career in global business. Some of these important skills include:

Strong communication skills
Emotional intelligence
Cultural awareness
Knowledge of finance and accounting
Entrepreneurship skills
Understanding of global economics

Which HBS Online Business in Society Course is Right for You? | Download Your Free Flowchart

Start Expanding Your Business Internationally

Regardless of the role, professionals must stay current on all business practices. A global business education provides a wide range of opportunities to create and capture value for organizations. To bring this value to the workplace, individuals need to understand the economic, political, and social factors that drive change and how decisions affect global markets .

Strategists and entrepreneurs should learn about the broader macroeconomic and political landscape of their organizations to grow their business internationally and manage global teams. Professionals in heavily regulated industries can also use this knowledge to develop approaches and frameworks to navigate their complex industries.

If you’re considering joining a global business or thinking about ways to expand your organization internationally, completing an online Global Business course is an excellent way to quickly gain those skills.

Are you interested in breaking into a global market? Sharpen your knowledge of the international business world with our four-week online course Global Business , and explore our other business in society courses. Not sure which is right for you? Download our free course flowchart .

This article was updated on April 23, 2024. It was originally published on June 29, 2021.

About the Author

Dictionary of International Trade

International business plan.

Planning is essential for any business. Before venturing into international markets companies have to draft an International Business Plan as this document will help them set their goals, effectively allocate their resources and determine which countries offer the most potential for their products as well as how to reach the clients and how to make competitive offers. The purpose of the international business plan is to prepare companies, specially middle and small, to enter the international market place or to better organize their existing international business activity. The International business plan can be divided into six sections following a time sequence. Each section helps to plan international business strategies and take effective export decisions:

Section 1. Export diagnostics.
Section 2. Market selection.
Section 3: Market entry methods.
Section 4: International offer .
Section 5: International promotion strategy.
Section 6: Economic plan.

The Plan will serve as step-by-step guide to lead the company through the process of exporting products and services to international markets. International Business Plan Template and Example.

Related entries

Zero-sum game
Win-win strateg
Win-lose strategy
Value for money (VFM)
Unique selling proposition (USP)

Search Terms

Banking (206)
Contracts & Law (190)
Customs (130)
Documentation (111)
Economics (173)
Insurance (54)
Logistics (401)
Marketing (139)

Practical Guide to Incoterms

Contracts & Law
Documentation
International Contracts
Chinese Contracts
Country Guides
Business Letters
Trade Documents

B2U – Business-to-you.com

THE place that brings real life business, management and strategy to you

International Business Strategy

Due to increasing globalisation the past decades, even smaller companies have been able to cross national borders and do business abroad. Consequently, many terms have been given to companies operating in multiple countries: multinationals, global businesses, transnational companies, international firms et cetera. The aim of this article is to clearly define these different terms and see how they differ from each other, because they do differ! An often used framework to distinguish multiple forms of internationally operating businesses is the Bartlett & Ghoshal Matrix (1989). Bartlett and Ghoshal clustered these businesses based on two criteria: global integration and local responsiveness . Businesses that are highly globally integrated have the objective to reduce costs as much as possible by creating economies of scale through a more standarized product offering worldwide. Business that are highly locally responsive have as extra objective to adapt products and services to specific local needs. It seems that these strategic options are mutually exclusive, but there are companies trying to be both globally integrated and locally responsive as can be seen in some examples below. Together these two factors generate four types of strategies that internationally operating businesses can pursue: Multidomestic , Global , Transnational and International strategies.

Figure 1: Bartlett and Ghoshal’s Typology of Multinational Companies: Global, Transnational, International and Multidomestic Strategy

Multidomestic: Low Integration and High Responsiveness

Companies with a multidomestic strategy have as aim to meet the needs and requirements of the local markets worldwide by customizing and tailoring their products and services extensively. In addition, they have little pressure for global integration. Consequently, multidomestic firms often have a very decentralized and loosely coupled structure where subsidiaries worldwide are operating relatively autonomously and independent from the headquarter. A great example of a multidomestic company is Nestlé. Nestlé uses a unique marketing and sales approach for each of the markets in which it operates. Furthermore, it adapts its products to local tastes by offering different products in different markets.

Global: High Integration and Low Responsiveness

Global companies are the opposite of multidomestic companies. They offer a standarized product worldwide and have the goal to maximize efficiencies in order to recude costs as much as possible. Global companies are highly centralized and subsidiaries are often very dependent on the HQ. Their main role is to implement the parent company’s decisions and to act as pipelines of products and strategies. This model is also known as the hub-and-spoke model. Pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer can be considered global companies.

Pfizer | Medische Informatie | Netherlands

Transnational: High Integration and High Responsiveness

The transnational company has characteristics of both the global and multidomestic firm. Its aim is to maximize local responsiveness but also to gain benefits from global integration. Even though this seems impossible, it is actually perfectly doable when taking the whole value chain into considerations. Transnational companies often try to create economies of scale more upstream in the value chain and be more flexible and locally adaptive in downstream activities such as marketing and sales. In terms of organizational design, a transnational company is characterised by an integrated and interdependent network of subsidiaries all over the world. These subsidiaries have strategic roles and act as centres of excellence. Due to efficient knowledge and expertise exchange between subsidiaries, the company in general is able to meet both strategic objectives. A great example of a transnational company is Unilever.

International: Low Integration and Low Responsiveness

Bartlett and Ghoshal originally didn’t include this type in their typologies. Other authors on the other hand have attributed the name to the lower left corner of the matrix. An international company therefore has little need for local adaption and global integration. The majority of the value chain activities will be maintained at the headquarter. This strategy is also often referred to as an exporting strategy. Products are produced in the company’s home country and send to customers all over the world. Subsidiaries, if any, are functioning in this case more like local channels through which the products are being sold to the end-consumer. Large wine producers from countries such as France and Italy are great examples of international companies.

Figure 2: Organizational structures of the Bartlett and Ghoshal’s MNC Typology: Global, Transnational, International and Multidomestic Strategy

Table 1: Characteristics of MNC Types (Multidomestic, Global, Transnational) – Bartlett and Ghoshal

MNE Archetypes of Administrative Heritage

Bartlett and Ghoshal are not the only academics who have been trying to classify internationally operating companies. Verbeke (2013) has looked at a large number of multinational enterprises (MNE’s) and their administrative heritage, and distinguished four archetypes of MNE’s: Centralized Exporter, International Projector, International Coordinator and the Multi-centred MNE. Each will be elaborated on below.

Centralized Exporter

The centralized exporter is a home-country managed firm that trades and sells products internationally. In this case, most production facilities are located in the home country and foreign subsidiaries, if any, are functioning largely as facilitators for efficient home country production. Products are standarized and only minor customer-oriented activities are done abroad. The centralized exporter is very close to an international or global company in Bartlett and Ghoshal’s typology.

International Projector

The second archetype is the international projector. These kind of companies build upon a tradition of transferring its proprietary knowledge, which was developed in the home country, to foreign subsidiaries across the globe. These subsidiaries are essentially clones of the home operations, since the business model and its success recipe are simply copied and pasted abroad. The automotive company Ford is known for this strategy in its early days in the 1900s. Disneyland is another great example of a successful business model that has been copied all over the world.

International Coordinator

The international coordinator does not only rely on knowledge and resources from its home country as could be seen in the two archetypes above. Instead the international coordinator manages international operations both upstream and downstream the value chain through a tightly-controlled but still flexible logistics function. They tap into location advantages from multiple countries in order to form an efficient vertical value chain across borders. It is therefore perfectly possible that the raw materials are bought and manufactured in multiple countries and that the product is being assembled elsewhere where labor is cheapest. A good example of an international coordinator is Apple. The components of Apple’s flagship product, the iPhone, are bought from multiple suppliers all over the world and are finally assembled in China. Design and marketing on the other hand are still largely done in California where Apple is headquartered.

Multicentred MNE

Finally, the multicentred MNE consist of a set of entrepreneurial subsidiaries abroad. Local responsiveness is the foundation of this company’s strategy. The only thing that holds these firms together are the shared financial governance and the identity and interests of the founding fathers and owners of the company. Ultimately the multicentred MNE should be viewed as a portfolio of largely autonomous and independent businesses. Bartlett and Ghoshal’s multidomestic strategy is most closely associated with this archetype. Philips is known for using this approach in the early years of its existance.

Figure 3: MNE Archetypes of Administrative Heritage (Verbeke, 2013): Centralized Exporter, International Projector, International Coordinator and Multi-centred MNE

International Business In Sum

Taken this all together, there are many ways in which companies can do business abroad. When a firm has economic operations located in at least two countries, they are often referred to as multinational enterprises or companies (MNE’s or MNC’s). But the way in which they do business abroad determines whether we can call it an international, global or transnational company for instance. By being aware of these different types of multinationals, you will be better able to structure your own strategic options when going global. In case you want to know more about foreign market entry options, you might want to read more about the OLI paradigm .

5 thoughts on “ International Business Strategy ”

GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOUNG BUSINESS MEN AS ME

Well done and informative. This helped me understand the terms better. Thanks.

Amazing article, brought clarity to all sub types, along with examples. Thank you for this.

The content was very informative and understandable. The examples used made it practical. Nice piece!

Great post! In my experience, developing an international business strategy that considers local cultures and regulations is crucial for success. For example, when expanding into China, a brand must understand the importance of satisfying the “Made in China” engine and tailoring their marketing message to appeal to the Chinese consumer. Knowing the local laws and regulations and adapting your business model accordingly can make a huge difference in the long run. Thanks for sharing!

University Catalogs

General Information
Undergraduate
Search Courses

Print Options

International business.

Technological advances have connected the world’s countries, societies, economies, and individuals in ways that were unimaginable not long ago. What happens outside U.S. borders is of paramount concern to American businesses and citizens. This major provides students with detailed knowledge about the global aspects of the U.S economy and specific, functional skills useful to a career in the global economy.

The requirements of this program, which has two tracks, are:

The Core Curriculum requirements and the BBA Degree Requirements
International Business 350 or 350S
International Business 378 (may fulfill the writing and independent inquiry flags)
All international business majors must have an approved international experience, either through a study abroad program or international internship. Approval must be requested through the International Business Canvas Community and must be received before travel. More information about requirements for approval at this website .
Twelve hours from the list of International Business elective courses in #6 below.
Three hours of upper-division business coursework.
Additional elective coursework necessary to provide a total of at least 120 semester hours.
Six hours from the list of International Business elective courses in #6 below.
Twelve semester hours of coursework in a foreign language associated with the geographic region used to fulfill requirement 4. A minimum of six of the 12 required hours must be at the upper-division level.
Nine semester hours of upper-division coursework focused on the specific geographic region used to fulfill requirement 4. All area studies coursework must be approved by the international business faculty and may be limited by subject matter. More information about area studies coursework can be found at this website .
Additional elective coursework necessary to provide a total of at least 120 semester hours.
International Business 360D , International Security ,
International Business 362 , Global Regulatory Strategy
International Business 376 / Finance 376 , International Finance ,
International Business 365 , Finance and Global Business ,
International Business 375C / Operations Management 375 , Supply Chain and Operations Management Strategy
International Business 366 / Accounting 366C , International Accounting and Transfer Pricing ,
International Business 367C , Intercultural Management
International Business 367D , Global Entrepreneurship
International Business 368 , Global Value Chains ,
International Business 372T , any topic,
International Business 340S , any topic.

Send Page to Printer

Print this page.

Download Page (PDF)

The PDF will include all information unique to this page.

2024-2025 General Information Catalog

2024-2025 Graduate Catalog

2024-2026 Law School Catalog

2024-2025 Medical School Catalog

2024-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

High School

International business plan.

The International Business Plan Event involves the development of a proposal to start a new business venture in an international setting. Any type of business may be used.

Participants

Written entry page limit, appear before a judge, present plan, interview time, sponsored by:.

Essential Elements

Related resources, become a deca insider.

Get the latest news, important notifications, weekly case study and more delivered in your inbox with DECA Direct Weekly.

Become a DECA Insider

Get the latest news, important notifications, weekly case study and more delivered in your inbox.

DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.

Competitive Events

Find Your Event

Competition Success

Online Practice Exams

Vocabulary Flipcards

Performance Indicator Flipcards

Video Library

Chapter Name

International Business Plan

The International Business Plan Event involves the development of a proposal to start a new business venture in an international setting. Any type of business may be used.

Career Opportunities

Align Energy

Align Energy is a revolutionary utility-management service that seeks to provide users with the ability to smartly budget their energy expenses. Through the use of an app and website, Align’s interface displays a household’s real time energy usage, showing electricity, water, and gas usage in a logical format that clearly states how much they have spent at any time.

Sample Exams

Exam blueprint.

The chart below shows the number of items per instructional area for the 2023-2024 exams used at the district level, chartered association level and the International Career Development Conference.

EXAM STRATEGIES

The exam blueprint is your best friend.

Use the exam blueprint to focus your preparation efforts. You may prioritize studying instructional areas with the higher number of questions listed the blueprint.

Keep Expanding Your Knowledge

As you advance in competition, exam items become more specialized to the Career Cluster. Therefore, you should start with an understanding of general business concepts in the Business Administration Core and build on the knowledge within the Career Cluster of your competitive event.

Review Your Work

Don’t just take the exam! After you take the exam, compare your answers to the exam’s key. If you incorrectly answer a question, re-read the question, note the correct answer, and then read the descriptive key. The descriptive key explains the correct answer and why the other answers are incorrect. This will also help you understand the performance indicator addressed in the exam question.

Focus Your Efforts Where They Need To Be

Each exam question is linked to an instructional area. For each incorrect answer, tally the instructional area it matches. If you are noticing a pattern of incorrectly answering questions within particular instructional areas, spend more time learning the knowledge and skills within those instructional areas. Spend more time reviewing the performance indicators under those instructional areas.

Form Study Groups

Because there are only seven DECA exams, chances are high that some of your fellow chapters are taking the same exam as you, even if they are in a different competitive event. Use this opportunity to form study groups. You could consider taking the exam together and discussing the questions and answers. You could even divide and conquer to prepare study materials to help understand performance indicators.

Get In The Mode

Recreate the testing scene. Find out from your chapter advisor the setting for your exam during competition. Will you be taking the exam online through an electronic device prior to the competition, or using pencil and paper on-site during the competition? Find out how long you will have to take the test. Then try to replicate the setting using a practice test and using the same time frame you are given in competition.

Develop a Study Schedule

Make sure to study and prepare on a regular basis. Plan a study schedule and calendar leading up to your competition. Do not study right before you take the test. Instead, concentrate on being calm and confident in yourself when taking the exam.

Test Taking Techniques

When taking the exam, use these general test taking techniques:

Familiarize yourself with the format.
Read the question. Think about the answer.
Read all choices before choosing your answer.
Eliminate choices you know aren't correct.
If you get stuck, circle and come back.
Always take an educated guess.
If time allows, review your work. ‍

Remain Positive!

Be confident. Refrain from engaging in negative discussions with other members prior to the exam, such as “I’m so nervous – I don’t know if I studied enough.”

Sample Role-Plays

Instructional areas.

Each role-play focuses on a primary instructional area. For each role-play, a majority of its performance indicators will focus on that primary instructional area. The following instructional areas may be used in this event's role-plays.

ROLE-PLAY STRATEGIES

Key elements.

The following key elements are always a part of each role-play scenario. Understanding the format and style of the role-play will help you become familiar, feel comfortable and easily identify the key elements so you can maximize your time developing your solution.

Participant Role
Company and Brief Description
Deliverable
Instructional Area

Performance Indicators

Meeting Location

The performance indicators are your guide to a focused presentation! Apply them to the situation because they are always based on a real-life situation. Use industry knowledge that you have researched before competition to supplement what you know about your performance indicators. This helps demonstrate your proficiency.

What's the Ask?

At the end of any role-play situation, you are presented with what the judge is looking for from you. Make sure you address what the judge is asking while incorporating the performance indicators. You will want to wow your judge with your solution while explaining it by incorporating the performance indicators.

Communication is Key

Speak clearly so that the judge can understand what you are sharing with him/her. You have time to talk about your performance indicators within the situation—don’t rush and take the chance a judge didn’t hear you talking about something. Be natural and comfortable in your role in the situation. Nonverbal communication can be just as important as verbal communication. Smile and be confident to help demonstrate your professionalism.

Be Creative and Stand Out

Be calm, be professional and be enthusiastic. Don’t be scared of your competition. There are many creative ways to approach a role-play, and no one way is necessarily right, so focus on adding your own creative twist to what you do. Don’t just have a “Plan A”; exceed expectations by having options for your judge to select from if the situation calls for it. Setting yourself apart through innovation, creativity and quality ideas is the key way to stay in a judge’s mind long after all the competitors have finished presenting. What can you bring to the presentation that no other competitor will show your judge?

Connect with the Judge

Take time to make sure your judge is following your thoughts. You can ask your judge questions to make sure he or she has understood what you have shared. Near the end of the role-play, the judge will likely ask you questions. When you are preparing your presentation for the role-play, you may anticipate what questions the judge may ask. However, if you need a minute to consider the questions before answering, say so in a professional manner. This reflects your respect of his or her position and your desire to share an informed answer.

Speak the Language

When speaking with the judge, be as professional as possible, while still being personable and accessible. This means using accurate industry terminology when the situation calls for it. Do not be afraid to use sophisticated or rich vocabulary—without sounding like you’re just trying too hard to impress, because, of course, you still want to be relatable, friendly, and down-to-earth.

Make a Good Impression

Be friendly, make eye contact and give a firm handshake when you first meet your judge. Do not wait for them to introduce themselves; rather, take the initiative. While you might be nervous and feel awkward, taking initiative shows that you truly are mature, confident and comfortable. Also, adhere to the dress code, because you come across as much more professional if you really do look like a business executive. You may also consider the career area in which you are competing. For example, as a competitor in Apparel and Accessories Marketing, you may want to wear something that will reflect an interest in fashion or a more creative point-of-view, without being outrageous. You want to leave a good impression with the judge, and of course, be rememberable.

WRITE IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT

Participants in the International Business Plan will prepare a written proposal to start a new business venture in an international setting. It may be a new business or a new product or service of an existing business. Any type of business may be used. The body of the written entry must be limited to 20 numbered pages, including the appendix (if an appendix is attached), but excluding the title page and the table of contents.

WRITTEN ENTRY GUIDELINES

The written entry must follow the specifications provided in the Written Entry Guidelines section of the DECA Guide for the competitive event. In addition to the Written Entry Guidelines, participants must observe all of the standards on the Penalty Point Checklist. These standards are designed to make competition as fair as possible. Additionally, the Written Event Statement of Assurances and Academic Integrity Form must be signed and submitted with the entry.

Sample Written ENTRY

Written entry strategies, content is king.

The written entry is the foundation of your competitive event. It's your outline for your project or plan, and represents your process to achieving your outcome. Choosing the right written event and the right company, event, idea, product or topic is so important, because you want to be passionate about the work you will endeavor in this process. Be thoughtful when making your decisions using some of these key considerations:

Is there enough data accessible?
Can I get information I need from the company or about the product, event or idea?
Are there real people I can engage with or enlist the help and expertise of?
Is this cutting edge or has the potential to be?

First, But Last

The executive summary is one of the most important parts of your written entry. Not only is it likely to be one of the first parts of your entry the judge reviews, it also provides an overall summary of your entry. It should be dynamic, concise and effectively highlight the main points of your written entry all while including a call to action. Often, it is best to write the executive summary last so that you can identify the most relevant components to include. Some tips for an effective executive summary include:

Start with a bang.
Identify the problem solution and opportunity.
Focus on what makes you stand out.
Sell don't just tell.
Include data and finances.
Use graphics and formatting as appropriate.
Imagine this is the only thing someone would read.

Review, Edit, Proofread

Once you have completed your written entry, review it against the written entry guidelines and written entry evaluation form to ensure you have addressed each item. If you believe items are missing or need improvement, revisit your written entry and improve those areas. You may also wish to ask consultants to read your written entry against the criteria and provide feedback. Often, that is the best way to determine if your written entry is clearly understood by someone other than you as the project creator(s). In addition, you should edit and revise your written work so that it is well-organized, professional, logical and error free.

Avoid Penalty Points

Penalty points can cause you to lose your chance for advancement quickly! Many times, they can easily be avoided. Some of the most common reasons for penalty points include:

Not using the current year’s event guidelines.
All participants or advisor not signing the Statement of Assurances.
Leaving out sections in the body of the written entry.
Having too many pages. Double check the number of pages allowed in your written entry.

Give your entry to a trusted advisor or peer to review against the Penalty Point Checklist.

PRESENT WITH PIZZAZZ

The participants will present the project to the judge in a 15-minute presentation. The judge is role-playing a business executive. The presentation begins immediately after the introduction of the participants to the judge by the adult assistant. Each participant must take part in the presentation.

PRESENTATION GUIDELINES

Each participant may bring a copy of the written entry or note cards pertaining to the written entry to use as reference during the presentation. Only visual aids that can be easily hand carried to the presentation by the actual participant(s)will be permitted. The participants themselves must set up the visuals. Wheeled carts, moving straps or similar items may not be used to bring visuals into the area. Set up time is included in the total presentation time. Participants must furnish their own materials and equipment. No electrical power or internet connection will be supplied. Alternate power sources such as small generators are not allowed. Sound may be used, as long as the volume is kept at a conversational level. Materials appropriate to the situation may be handed to or left with judges in all competitive events. Items of monetary value may be handed to but may not be left with judges. Items such as flyers, brochures, pamphlets and business cards may be handed to or left with the judge. No food or drinks allowed. If any of these rules are violated, the adult assistant must be notified by the judge.

Presentation Strategies

First things first.

Consider your presentation your time to highlight the most important parts of your competitive event. In every case, you're trying to sell the judge that your idea, concept or plan is the best. Start with that in mind, and develop an outline for your presentation. Your ultimate goal is for the judge to choose your presentation. Consult the presentation evaluation rubric in the DECA Guide to ensure that your presentation includes information for all of the scoring criteria. You may also consider visual aids and if you'll use technology — but make sure they are relevant and meaningful to your presentation.

Brand Yourself A Winner

When creating your project and delivering your presentation, you are essentially developing a brand for yourself and your ideas. Make your presentation’s brand attractive and easy for your judge to remember by wrapping it in a strong visual package. Tie together all the elements of your project, from the charts and graphs of your written document, to your slide backgrounds, to the shirt you wear with a signature element, such as a particular color palette or pattern.

Stop, Look, Listen

A great portion of your presentation’s success isn’t dependent on what you say, but how you say it. Like any good speech, the judge may not recall every statistic, market segment or promotional idea that you deliver, but they will remember how you made them feel. That’s where confidence in your delivery comes in. Being excited, nervous and anxious about your presentation can cause your rate of speech to increase rapidly, making your words fly by in a blur. Always remember the power of pause. When practicing your presentation, incorporate pauses into your phrases. This will create a dramatic, ear-catching effect to keep your judge attentive to your presentation, plus it will emphasize important points and information.

Eye contact is another way to connect with your judge. Locking eyes shows confidence in the points you’re delivering and is another way to keep your judge engaged in your delivery.

A memorable part of your delivery that will greatly affect how your judge feels is your tone of voice. Your tone should vary depending on the subjects you’re covering in your presentation. For example, presenting a charity that your Community Giving Project supports may be most effective with a serious, earnest tone, yet in sharing your creative marketing ideas for an Integrated Marketing Campaign event, an excitable, vibrant tone would be great for expressing your creativity. No matter what tone you use, make sure you vary your expression. Nothing will lose a judge’s attention more than a flat, boring delivery that gives them no feeling about your topic.

While relying on your innate ability to “wing it” is never recommended for competition, writing down paragraphs of perfect phrases, word-for-word, doesn’t guarantee that your presentation will turn out trophies either. Note cards are a handy tool to remember specific numerical data and exact quotes, but using them as a crutch for your memory could reduce your confident delivery, especially in form of eye contact with your judges. Instead, commit your presentation to memory as best as possible. If you thought it, developed it and wrote about it, you should be able, with a bit of practice, to present it well. Use your visual aid to help guide your talking points, with illustrations, diagrams or other images to help cue your words.

Just because you reach your last slide doesn’t mean it’s time to thank your judge, shake hands and flee the room. The time after your formal presentation is crucial for further interaction with your judge. Take this opportunity to clarify parts of your presentation, show more of your personality and impress your judge with an ability to provide thorough answers to any questions they may have. The best way to flawlessly answer these questions is to prepare for them in advance. Use your advisors and peers as practice judges for your presentation, and request that they each ask you at least three follow-up questions to your presentation. You begin to become more confident delivering answers off-the-cuff and will begin to learn the most commonly asked questions of your presentation. Should your judge not immediately ask any questions, ask for them!

To leave even more of an impact on your judge, provide them with a handout before you walk out the door, such as a brochure or outline. Use this strategy to highlight important takeaway points from your presentation, further brand yourself and your ideas, and keep a presence in front of your judge, even long after your final handshake. Make sure to have a final statement or call to action to show your judge that you’re interested in following through.

INSIGHTS INTO THE INDUSTRY

Industry trends are patterns or current happenings that occur within a specific industry. Keeping up with the industry helps give you a pulse on issues and trends that are affecting the industry. This knowledge can help you develop creative, relevant and timely solutions for your competitive event.

5 Things You Really Need to do when Starting Your Own Business

How to spot the next 500-unit franchise, build a bank relationship before you need a loan, quizno owner could purchase bankrupt group, how founders can manage investor relations during a recession, the major benefits of social media for small business owners, how small businesses are competing for hires, mom and pop stores making a comeback, conquer the competition.

Not only do these interactive competition preparation tools help you expand your industry terminology, understand performance indicators and check your comprehension through exam items, they also help you prepare for DECA competition!

Expand your vocabulary

Broaden your knowledge

Check your comprehension

DECA Direct Online is your source for competition tips and career insights. Check out these articles and more on DECA Direct Online as you prepare for competition.

3 Written Event Competition Tips To Consider

The ultimate written event guide, 4 things you must remember while public speaking, deca goes lean in entrepreneurship.

DECA+ ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY ‍ A DECA+ subscription is required for each DECA chapter wishing to access the resources within the DECA+ site. The login is to be used only by the chapter and its members, and the login cannot be shared beyond the chapter. Under no circumstances may any of the content, including but not limited to exams, scenarios or sample written entries, in whole or in part, or any item within be published or posted on any website. Under no circumstances may any of the content, including but not limited to exams, scenarios or sample written entries, in whole or in part, or any item within be shared or distributed beyond the specific DECA chapter that has purchased the subscription. Any chapter(s) which violates the DECA+ distribution and use policy will not be allowed to participate in the current school year’s chartered association conference or the International Career Development Conference. If any exams or scenarios are posted on a chapter or chartered association website in way outside of the distribution and use policy, the chartered association will not be eligible to purchase exams or receive scenarios from DECA Inc. for a period of one year for the first offense. Furthermore, further access to DECA+ by the chapter(s) in violation will be prohibited effective immediately for a period of no less than three years.

Supported by

Samsung Workers Strike, the First in the Company’s History

The South Korean tech giant is at odds with some of its employees as it is trying to reassure investors that its memory chip business can meet demand.

Share full article

Several workers, many in dark blue vests, stand in front of a large banner with Korean writing on it.

By Jin Yu Young and Meaghan Tobin

Jin Yu Young reported from Seoul and Meaghan Tobin from Taipei, Taiwan.

For the first time, workers at Samsung, the conglomerate that dominates the South Korean economy, went on strike on Friday.

The action comes as Samsung Electronics fights to regain its edge in the business of making memory chips, a critical component in the advanced artificial intelligence systems that are reshaping longstanding rivalries among global technology companies.

Workers in Samsung’s chip division were expected to make up the majority of those who will not report to work on Friday for a planned one-day strike. Union representatives said that multiple rounds of negotiations over wage increases and bonuses had broken down.

“The company doesn’t value the union as a negotiating partner,” said Lee Hyun Kuk, the vice president of the Nationwide Samsung Electronics Union, the largest among five labor groups at the company. It says that it represents 28,000 members, about one-fifth of Samsung’s global work force, and that nearly 75 percent voted in favor of a strike in April.

Mr. Lee said that union workers received no bonuses last year, while some had gotten bonuses of as much as 30 percent of their salaries in the past. “It feels like we’ve taken a 30 percent pay cut,” he said. The average union worker earned about 80 million won last year, or around $60,000, before incentives, he said.

A Samsung Electronics representative said the company was trying to reach an agreement with the union but declined to comment further on the details of the negotiations.

The work stoppage had not affected Samsung’s production or business activities, the company representative said. It was timed to fall between a national holiday and the weekend, on a day that many people in South Korea planned to take as vacation. It was not clear how many workers participated in the action. A small group of workers gathered in front of Samsung’s headquarters in Seoul on Friday morning while organizers played protest songs over loudspeakers.

Still, it was awkward timing for the company, which has been trying to reassure clients and investors that its chip business can meet the demands of the artificial intelligence boom.

“Samsung has been a highly respected company in the memory semiconductor sector, they’ve been the leader for decades. But they lost the technology leadership to competitors,” said Nam Hyung Kim, an analyst at the equity research firm Arete Research. “The union strike is nothing compared to a lot of the issues they are facing at this point,” Mr. Kim said.

While so-called logic chips make computers run, memory chips let them store information. They are in everything from smartphones to refrigerators. Advanced computers use many of both types of chips, and generative artificial intelligence systems rely on extra-strength, high-bandwidth memory chips to create text, images and other kinds of content on demand.

Samsung has been the world’s largest maker of memory chips for years, and reported about $1.4 billion in profit from its chip division in the first quarter of this year.

But that followed four straight quarters of losses. Samsung ended last year with its weakest earnings in more than a decade.

Despite the losses, Samsung remained the world’s biggest memory chip maker by revenue and market share last year, according to TrendForce, a market research firm. But heading into the year, its local rival, SK Hynix, claimed the top spot in the market for the next-generation, high-bandwidth memory chips just as demand for them took off. Companies developing artificial intelligence systems like Nvidia scrambled to buy them. Analysts say that SK Hynix anticipated this demand earlier than Samsung did. Samsung’s foundry business, which makes chips designed by other companies, also lags behind rivals.

The result was the largest shortfall in the company’s history, according to remarks Jun Young-hyun made to his colleagues when he took over the leadership of Samsung’s chip division last month after an executive shake-up.

Mr. Jun previously led Samsung’s chip business when it overtook Intel as the world’s largest chip maker by revenue. And he ran its battery arm after the company discontinued a line of smartphones after several had spontaneously exploded.

A representative from Samsung said the company expected to increase its output of high-bandwidth memory products threefold over last year, and to double that again in 2025. The company said that it planned to invest about $200 billion by 2042 in a new semiconductor industrial complex south of Seoul that was being developed by the government, and that it planned to spend $40 billion on facilities in Texas.

This time, Mr. Jun’s quest for a comeback comes as Samsung tries to move on from years of uncertainty while its top executive, Lee Jae-yong, was ensnared in a corruption scandal that led to the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye.

Mr. Lee, South Korea’s wealthiest person, according to Bloomberg News , is a scion of the family that founded Samsung, the largest of the family-run conglomerates known as chaebol that have transformed South Korea into an export superpower and influence nearly every facet of society.

In February, he was acquitted of additional charges related to a merger that helped him secure control over the company. Mr. Lee’s legal trouble has kept Samsung’s influence over South Korea’s economy and politics in the spotlight.

Samsung was founded in 1938 by Mr. Lee’s grandfather Lee Byung-chul as a shop selling vegetables and dried fish. It quickly expanded and set up Samsung Electronics in 1969 to manufacture televisions and refrigerators and, soon after, semiconductors.

Labor strikes in South Korea are not uncommon. Since February, over 10,000 young doctors walked off the job in protest of government plans to increase the number of admitted medical students. Last spring thousands of construction workers rallied over discontent with the president’s labor policies.

For decades, Samsung was known for its aversion to organized labor, and unions have organized workers at the company only in the last several years.

Mr. Lee, the union representative, said that some employees had expressed fear about joining the union.

“Our goal on Friday isn’t to affect the production line, but rather to send a message to the management that we have reached a certain level of maturation,” Mr. Lee said.

After the vote in April, the union held multiple rallies. In a bid to appeal to the public for support, it planned the events to feel like a street festival and arranged for K-pop singers to entertain the crowd.

Since last week, when the union announced the strike day, a bus draped with a banner bearing the union’s protest slogan — “Labor oppression, union oppression, we won’t take it anymore!” — has been parked in front of Samsung’s offices near Seoul’s fashionable Gangnam district.

Workers agreed to collectively take the day off and then return to work but are prepared to take additional days in the future if they cannot come to an agreement with the company, Mr. Lee said.

Jin Yu Young reports on South Korea, the Asia Pacific region and global breaking news from Seoul. More about Jin Yu Young

Meaghan Tobin is a technology correspondent for The Times based in Taipei, covering business and tech stories in Asia with a focus on China. More about Meaghan Tobin

Explore Our Coverage of Artificial Intelligence

News and Analysis

Federal regulators have reached a deal that allows them to proceed with antitrust investigations into the dominant roles that Microsoft, OpenAI and Nvidia play in the A.I. industry.

Google appears to have rolled back its new A.I. Overviews after the technology produced a litany of untruths and errors.

OpenAI said that it has begun training a new flagship A.I. model that would succeed the GPT-4 technology that drives its popular online chatbot, ChatGPT.

The Age of A.I.

After some trying years during which Mark Zuckerberg could do little right, many developers and technologists have embraced the Meta chief as their champion of “open-source” A.I.

D’Youville University in Buffalo had an A.I. robot speak at its commencement . Not everyone was happy about it.

A new program, backed by Cornell Tech, M.I.T. and U.C.L.A., helps prepare lower-income, Latina and Black female computing majors for A.I. careers.

Election 2024
Entertainment
Newsletters
Photography
Personal Finance
AP Investigations
AP Buyline Personal Finance
AP Buyline Shopping
Press Releases
Israel-Hamas War
Russia-Ukraine War
Global elections
Asia Pacific
Latin America
Middle East
Election Results
Delegate Tracker
AP & Elections
Auto Racing
2024 Paris Olympic Games
Movie reviews
Book reviews
Personal finance
Financial Markets
Business Highlights
Financial wellness
Artificial Intelligence
Social Media

South African opposition parties holding crunch talks on the ANC’s unity plan. But deep rifts remain

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader, Julius Malema, front center, arrives at the Results Operation Centre (ROC) in Midrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, June 1, 2024. The African National Congress party has lost its parliamentary majority in a historic election result that puts South Africa on a new political path for the first time since the end of the apartheid system of white minority rule 30 years ago. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

South African président Cyril Ramaphosa waves as he arrives to meet with senior officials of his African National Congress party during the ANC’s National Executive Committee Thursday, June 6, 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The ANC lost its long-held majority in last week’s vote but remained the biggest party. An ANC spokesperson said Wednesday that it was now leaning toward a government of national unity that would bring together many of the political parties in a broad agreement, rather than a direct coalition with the main opposition, the Democratic Alliance. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Leader of the opposition Democratic Alliance John Steenhuisen visits the Results Operation Centre (ROC) in Midrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Friday May 31, 2024. South Africa is heading closer to the reality of a national coalition government for the first time as partial election results put the ruling African Nation Congress (ANC), short of a majority. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Copy Link copied

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South African opposition parties were meeting Friday and will continue crunch talks into next week to consider the ruling African National Congress’ offer to become part of a government of national unity .

ANC failed to secure a majority in last week’s highly contested election , but some opposition parties are already rejecting the party’s offer because of deep-seated divisions.

Senior officials of the main opposition Democratic Alliance , or DA, will meet on Monday to discuss the centrist party’s approach to the negotiations. The top leadership of the the leftist Economic Freedom Fighters , or EFF, party were holding talks on Friday.

Parties are under pressure to conclude negotiations and reach an agreement by June 16, because South Africa’s constitution requires them to do so within 14 days after the declaration of the election results.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is ANC leader, announced on Thursday that the party had decided to form a government of national unity and had invited all parties to join, a process that is expected to be complex considering vast divisions among the opposition parties themselves.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, second left, greets World War II veterans at the international ceremony at Omaha Beach, Thursday, June 6, 2024, in Normandy, France. Normandy is hosting various events to officially commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings that took place on June 6, 1944. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, Pool)

Most of the opposition parties don’t differ only with the ANC on various socioeconomic policies, but are also at extreme odds with each other on economic policies like land redistribution and affirmative action.

Opposition party ActionSA has already declared it won’t be part of the negotiations, saying that it refuses to work with the ANC.

In what looks likely to be a government of national unity reminiscent of a path taken by the Nelson Mandela-led ANC after the country’s first democratic election in 1994, the party has decided to invite a myriad of opposition parties to be part of the government.

While Mandela insisted on a unity government despite the ANC having won by an overwhelming majority with nearly 63% of the national vote, the ANC has been forced into the current situation by its worst electoral performance ever, dropping from the 57.5% it got in the 2019 election to 40% this year, a decline of 17.5%.

Shortly after Ramaphosa’s announcement, the EFF’s leader took to X to reject Ramaphosa’s proposal of a government of national unity and accused the ANC of arrogance despite failing to win a majority.

The EFF is among the top five parties after the election with just over 9% of the national vote, having declined from the 11% it garnered in 2019 but is expected to form a crucial part of the eventual outcome of the negotiations.

“The arrogance continues even after the South African voters issued warning signs. You can’t dictate the way forward as if you have won elections,” EFF leader Julius Malema said. “We are not desperate for anything, ours is a generational mission.

“We can’t share power with the enemy,” Malema said.

In 2023, DA declared the Economic Freedom Fighters as its No. 1 enemy.

DA, which got just over 21% of the national vote to remain the second-biggest party, said its highest decision-making body, the Federal Council, would meet on Monday to consider its options.

“I can’t say now what the position of the DA is, we have a whole negotiation team and we are meeting as the federal council on Monday. We will have a framework for negotiations that we will release this weekend,” Democratic Alliance federal chairperson Helen Zille said Friday.

The fifth-biggest party with nearly 4% of the national vote, the Inkatha Freedom Party, on Friday expressed willingness to be part of the government of national unity, but was also set to discuss the matter with its party structures over the next few days.

“In principle, the IFP is not averse to a GNU (government of national unity). However, the devil is in the details, which will become clearer in the coming days ... enabling the IFP to make a well-considered decision,” IFP spokesman Mkhuleko Hlengwa said.

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party led by former President Jacob Zuma, who left the ANC, was the latest to enter the negotiations, with the party confirming on Thursday that it had begun talks with the ANC after initially failing to respond to the party’s invitation.

The party has raised objections about the election results to the country’s electoral body, citing alleged voting irregularities and threatening to boycott the first sitting of Parliament to swear in the country’s new lawmakers.

Economists say that the markets are keenly awaiting the outcome of the negotiations to see the composition of the next government of Africa’s most developed economy, and the economic policies it will pursue.

What you need to know about Biden’s plan to end the war in Gaza

Show more sharing options
Copy Link URL Copied!

When President Biden announced a three-phase plan to end the devastating war in the Gaza Strip, he raised hope that a breakthrough was finally on the horizon between Israel and Hamas militants.

It would include a cease-fire, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and a surge in aid for starving Palestinians in Gaza. It was essentially a plan that both Israel and Hamas had previously proposed, U.S. officials said.

Yet days after Biden’s May 31 announcement, neither side is on board. Hamas refuses to go along with the agreement unless Israel commits to a permanent end to hostilities while Israel says several of its demands are not being met.

Here’s a closer look:

What’s the plan?

The Biden administration desperately wants a deal that would stanch the bloodshed in Gaza as well as the hemorrhaging of domestic political support that its backing of Israel has unleashed.

Los Angeles, CA - April 29: Graffiti at the Powell Library on the UCLA campus where pro-Palestinian demonstrators erected an encampment on the on Monday, April 29, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

‘Are you a Zionist?’ Checkpoints at UCLA encampment provoked fear, debate among Jews

At UCLA, the legacy of the encampment remains an issue of much debate, particularly among Jewish students.

May 9, 2024

But examination of what the president announced shows the deal to be more of a loose framework — rolled out in three phases — with many details still to be negotiated. Phase one includes a six-week “full and complete” cease-fire, a withdrawal of Israeli military forces from “populated areas” of Gaza, and the return of Palestinians to homes in northern Gaza they were forced to flee.

Also, Hamas would release some hostages, including women and older people, in exchange for the freedom of hundreds of Palestinians being held in Israeli jails. There would be a drastic ramping up of humanitarian aid delivered to the Gaza Strip.

Then negotiations would begin on a potential phase two, which Biden said he hoped would include “the cessation of hostilities permanently.”

“I’ll be straight with you,” Biden said. “There are a number of details to negotiate to move from phase one to phase two.”

How have Israel and Hamas responded?

Both Israel and Hamas have publicly raised objections over how negotiations would unfold and whether Israel can keep fighting.

Graffiti at the Powell Library on the UCLA campus where pro-Palestinian demonstrators erected an encampment in Dickson Plaza on on Monday, April 29, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

World & Nation

Is Zionism patriotism or racism? Big disagreements over a word in use for 125 years

Protesters on both sides of the Israel-Hamas war use the word in diametrically opposed ways. What are the origins of the term?

May 22, 2024

Experts said the U.S. may be keeping these details deliberately ambiguous simply to get Israel and Hamas to engage. It allows both to believe they can get what they want in the negotiations to come.

How has the international community responded?

Rallying allies around the proposal, senior U.S. officials have spent days on the phone to key leaders in the region. Dozens of countries support the deal, U.S. officials say. The State Department has used its daily briefings to read out declarations of support from countries in Europe, the Mideast and elsewhere, including Morocco, Saudi Arabia, France and Britain.

“When you see the broad support from Europe, from the Arab world, from countries in the Global South, I think it’s a significant statement of ... the opportunity that we have here and how it’s important that we not miss this opportunity,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.

But sustaining support in the middle of a difficult U.S. election year will test the Biden administration’s skills.

Smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike in the area of the southern Lebanese village of Odaisseh near the border with Israel on May 5, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border tensions as fighting continues between Israel and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. (Photo by Rabih DAHER / AFP) (Photo by RABIH DAHER/AFP via Getty Images)

Lebanon captures gunman following U.S. Embassy attack

A security guard is injured in the attack, which comes amid heightened fears of a wider war between Lebanon and Israel.

June 5, 2024

“For the three-phase Biden plan to have any chance of becoming a reality, it will require increased U.S. diplomacy in the Middle East at a time when the attention of America and President Biden himself will be elsewhere,” said Brian Katulis, senior fellow for U.S. foreign policy at the Middle East Institute in Washington.

Israel’s incentives and objections

Biden’s decision to publicize the proposal, which he repeatedly referred to as an Israeli proposal, was in part a tactic to force Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to own its terms rather than wiggle out of them.

Before Biden’s announcements, Netanyahu and his wartime Cabinet endorsed the proposal. But afterward, the Israeli prime minister told a closed-door session of right-wing members of his coalition government that there were “gaps” between what Israel had agreed to and what Biden had announced.

U.S. officials saw this as a way for Netanyahu to contain objections from within his coalition, the most extremist members of which are threatening to leave — and topple — the government if Netanyahu accepts the deal.

Netanyahu continues to insist publicly that his war goals have not changed, including eliminating Hamas as a military and governing force after its assaults on southern Israel on Oct. 7. The militant group has sustained heavy losses but has not been destroyed.

In the Oct. 7 attack, militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage. Israel’s bombardment and ground assaults have devastated Gaza and killed at least 36,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, whose numbers do not distinguish between combatants and civilians.

Biden said the proposal would “create a better ‘day after’ in Gaza without Hamas in power.”

The president also said he believed Hamas, after eight months of war with Israel, is no longer capable of launching a major offensive, an assessment that many in the Israeli military agree with.

Netanyahu is under enormous pressure to bring home hostages; about 100 are believed to still be alive.

Other incentives for Israel, U.S. officials say, is that an end to fighting in Gaza could tap down escalation of a simmering conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group on Israel’s northern border, which has burst into several cross-border attacks in recent days.

Israel is also hoping that peace would lead to improved diplomatic relations with its Middle East neighbors, particularly the region’s powerhouse Saudi Arabia, a carrot that U.S. officials have long dangled.

Hamas’ incentives and objections

U.S. officials said Wednesday they were still awaiting an official response to the proposed deal from Hamas.

Usama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official based in Beirut, said at a news briefing on Tuesday that his group will not agree to the proposal without a clear commitment from Israel to a permanent cease-fire and “comprehensive” withdrawal from Gaza.

“This is what could open the door wide to completing the agreement,” Hamdan said.

The U.S. believes the final say will come directly and only from Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader considered the architect of the Oct. 7 attack and who Israel and the U.S. believe is hiding in the vast tunnel network underneath the Gaza Strip.

Word reaches him through a complicated, clandestine system. Documents go from Israel and the U.S. to Qatari negotiators, who transmit them to Hamas political leaders in Doha, Qatar’s capital, who then get word to Sinwar somewhere deep in Gaza.

Some analysts say Sinwar could be persuaded to accept the proposal — even though it does not guarantee the survival of Hamas — because he could in effect proclaim a strategic victory over Israel by claiming credit for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, an end to Israeli bombardments, and renewed humanitarian aid for the strip. He could portray the military assault he has overseen as having hit the mightier Israel hard and with irreparable deadly force, while destroying its reputation in many parts of the world.

But Sinwar could also use a similar argument — that Hamas is winning— to justify continuing the war, analysts said.

As with Israel, Biden’s decision to go public with the deal was also meant to put pressure on Hamas.

“The goal [with Biden’s announcement] appears to be to spotlight stonewalling by Hamas and right-wing members of the current Israeli government as key roadblocks to a diplomatic settlement,” Katulis said. “It remains to be seen whether the two parties to this conflict will sign up for even the first phase of the proposed deal.”

Wilkinson reported from Washington and Bulos from Beirut.

U.S. launches lobbying blitz to sell Gaza cease-fire plan to Hamas through Arab and Muslim nations

June 4, 2024

Palestinians are waiting for aid trucks to cross in central Gaza Strip on Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Who will run Gaza after the war? Israel? Hamas? The U.N.?

Palestinians sift through the rubble of their home in the wake of an Israeli air and ground offensive in Jebaliya, northern Gaza Strip after Israeli forces withdrew from the area, Friday, May 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Enas Rami)

Israel calls permanent cease-fire in Gaza a ‘nonstarter,’ undermining Biden proposal

June 1, 2024

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the verdict in former President Donald Trump's hush money trial and on the Middle East, from the State Dining Room of the White House, Friday, May 31, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Biden details 3-phase hostage deal aimed at winding down the Israel-Hamas war

May 31, 2024

FILE - President Joe Biden speaks before signing a $95 billion Ukraine aid package that also includes support for Israel, Taiwan, and other allies, in the State Dining Room of the White House, April 24, 2024, in Washington. The Biden administration is due to deliver a first-of-its-kind formal verdict on whether Israel's conduct of its war in Gaza complies with international and U.S. laws. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

Has Israel followed the law in its war in Gaza? The U.S. is due to render a first-of-its-kind verdict

May 8, 2024

Palestinians stand in the ruins of the Chahine family home, after an overnight Israeli strike that killed at least two adults and five boys and girls under the age of 16 in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Friday, May 3, 2024. An Israeli strike on the city of Rafah on the southern edge of the Gaza Strip killed several people, including children, hospital officials said Friday. (AP Photo/Ismael Abu Dayyah)

Hamas says it accepts cease-fire as Israel orders Palestinians to evacuate eastern Rafah

May 6, 2024

Mourners pray over the bodies of Palestinians who were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Nuseirat, at the Al Aqsa hospital in Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip, Saturday, April 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Biden and Netanyahu speak as pressure grows on Israel over Rafah invasion

April 28, 2024

FILE - President Joe Biden meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York, Sept. 20, 2023. Biden on Saturday, Oct. 7, decried what he called an “appalling assault" against Israel by Hamas militants near the Gaza Strip, saying the U.S. is prepared to offer support amid the surprise attack that left at least 100 people dead and sparked worldwide condemnation, anger and shock from Israel's allies. Biden spoke with Netanyahu earlier Saturday, and the U.S. president made clear that “we stand ready to offer all appropriate means of support” to Israel. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor: Israel won’t get peace with Benjamin Netanyahu in office

April 12, 2024

This combination photo shows President Joe Biden, left, on March 8, 2024, in Wallingford, Pa., and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, Israel, Oct. 28, 2023. Biden and Netanyahu spoke Monday, March 18, in their first interaction in more than a month as the divide has grown between allies over food crisis in Gaza, conduct of war. (AP Photo)

Letters to the Editor: President Biden now wants a cease-fire. Would that help Hamas?

April 10, 2024

Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter

Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond. In your inbox three times per week.

You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.

Tracy Wilkinson covers foreign affairs from the Los Angeles Times’ Washington, D.C., bureau.

Nabih Bulos is the Middle East bureau chief for the Los Angeles Times. Since 2012, he has covered the aftermath of the “Arab Spring” revolution as well as the Islamic State’s resurgence and the campaign to defeat it. His work has taken him to Syria, Iraq, Libya, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Yemen as well as on the migrant trail through the Balkans and northern Europe. A Fulbright scholar, Bulos is also a concert violinist who has performed with Daniel Barenboim, Valeri Gergyev and Bono.

More From the Los Angeles Times

Palestinians mourn relatives killed in an Israeli strike on Israeli strike on a U.N.-run school in the Nusseirat refugee camp, outside a hospital in Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Israeli strike kills at least 33 at Gaza school that military says was in use by Hamas

June 6, 2024

WESTWOOD, CA - April 26, 2024: Pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrate in an encampment at UCLA. (Michael Owen Baker / For The Times)

Three Jewish students sue UCLA, saying protesters blocked access to campus facilities

Demonstrators calling for cease-fire in Gaza protested in San Francisco as VP Kamala Harris arrived for fundraiser

Vice President Kamala Harris met by protesters outside fundraiser in San Francisco

FILE - A shell that appears to be white phosphorus from Israeli artillery explodes over a house in al-Bustan, a Lebanese village along the border with Israel, on Oct. 15, 2023. Israel's use of the controversial white phosphorus incendiary shells in conflict-hit southern Lebanon has harmed civilians and should be investigated as a possible crime under international law, global human rights group Human Rights Watch said Wednesday, June 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla, File)

Rights group report says Israel has hit residential buildings in Lebanon with white phosphorous

Adam Neumann gives up on his plan to buy back WeWork

Adam Neumann is giving up on plans to reacquire WeWork.
He called a bankruptcy plan that cut him out "unrealistic and unlikely to succeed."
That deal includes $450 million in equity funding and plans to wipe away billions of debt.

Adam Neumann is abandoning his plans to reacquire WeWork.

Last month, the company announced a plan to emerge from bankruptcy that cut him out of its future.

Now, Neumann says he is stepping away.

And in a statement, the entrepreneur didn't exactly seem hopeful about the company's new path.

"For several months, we tried to work constructively with WeWork to create a strategy that would allow it to thrive," Neumann said. "Instead, the company looks to be emerging from bankruptcy with a plan that appears unrealistic and unlikely to succeed."

The New York Times' Dealbook was the first to report that Neumann was throwing in the towel.

A representative for Neumann previously told Business Insider he'd submitted a bid of about $650 million.

Watch: Microsoft CEO unravels ChatGPT, ethical AI, and going bust

Main content

IMAGES

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PLAN FOR COMPANIES
International Business Plan Template
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PLAN
International Business Plan by
Business Plan For International Business
Unit 3 Preparing AN International Business PLAN

VIDEO

Prife International Business Plan
A Guide to Preparing an International Business Plan
Prife Business Plan 0207_2024
THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PLAN (FIZHDOTCO CLOTHING) USIM
Prife international Business Plan English Presentation
MetaForce International Business Plan in English

COMMENTS

A Guide to Preparing an International Business Plan
An international business plan acts as a framework that identifies goals and objectives, specific target markets and clients, resources required and strategies to be developed in pursuit of international business opportunities. The plan allows for the monitoring of progress via metrics against which success and failure can be measured. A comprehensive international business plan will be ...
PDF OUTLINE FOR AN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PLAN
The first stage in developing an international business plan is to undertake a preliminary country analysis. Presented below are four separate sections to be completed for collection and analysis of market data and preparation of the plan: (1) Analysis: Cultural Environment; (2) Analysis: Economic; (3) Analysis: Market and Competitors; and (4 ...
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PLAN
Download product. Price. 30,00 €. 30% Discount for the purchase of 2 or more products. The INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PLAN is a practical guide and template for international market development used by companies, executives, consultants and students that require a practical tool for planning international activities.
Craft Your International Business Plan: A How-To Guide
A strategically crafted international business plan acts as the compass guiding you toward success. It entails rigorous market analysis, clear goal-setting, robust strategic development, resource identification, cultural understanding, and effective marketing. Such a plan ensures that your business meets the needs and expectations of your new ...
Sample Export Plan
Sample Export Plan Completing an international business plan helps you to anticipate future goals, assemble facts, identify constraints and create an action statement. It should set forth specific objectives and implement a timetable and milestones. A strategy for entering or expanding into targeted markets is critical to your success in the global marketplace.
International Business Plan Template
The International Business Plan template is designed for organizations of all sizes and industries who are looking to expand their operations and business into other countries. The template provides a comprehensive framework for businesses to establish effective international business relationships, utilize digital platforms, and recruit ...
International Business Plan Structure, Sample, Content
The typical content of International Business Plan is: At this stage, we identify the best strategy that will help our client to enter each particular foreign market of interest. The examples of international business strategies are exporting, licensing (franchising), joint venture, foreign direct investments, etc.
Tips on Formulating an International Business Plan
Sections For Your International Business Plan: Define The Nature And Scope Of The Business: This should include the nature and scope of your business, the reasons for choosing it, geographical areas of operation, financial requirements, risk assessment and expected return on investment. Product/Service Definition: Details of the product to be ...
How to build an international business plan
- Your international business plan will be wrong, but it doesn't mean it won't be useful. So let me explain. There are so many factors you won't be able to control when expanding overseas, it will ...
How to draw up an international business plan
The easiest way to start is to map out your plan into the following key segments: reasons, research, resources, relationships and review. Steps to create a global business plan. Step 1 - Reasons for going global. To start with it is important to define your reasons for wanting to trade internationally.
7 steps to create your international business plan
First, determine your company's export readiness by taking this nine question quiz created by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The website calculates your readiness score and provides additional resource links to help overcome any corporate weaknesses. Next, develop a plan. Stanley Pfrang, Market Development Director - India, the Middle ...
A Guide to Preparing an International Business Plan
An international business plan describes who a business is, what it plans to achieve and how it plans to overcome risks and provide anticipated returns.Learn...
5 International Business Examples to Learn From
Examples of International Businesses. 1. Apple. Apple Inc., founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne in the 1970s, is now considered one of the most influential international companies. Headquartered in the United States, Apple designs, develops, and sells electronics, software, streaming, and online services worldwide.
What is International business plan? Definition and meaning
The Plan will serve as step-by-step guide to lead the company through the process of exporting products and services to international markets. Definition of International business plan: Planning is essential for any business. Before venturing into international markets companies have to draft an International Business Plan as this.
How To Write A Business Plan (2024 Guide)
Describe Your Services or Products. The business plan should have a section that explains the services or products that you're offering. This is the part where you can also describe how they fit ...
7 Steps to Grow Your Company Into an International Business
Step 1: Conduct Market Research. The first step in growing your company into an international business is to conduct market research and identify potential markets for expansion. This involves gathering and analyzing data on the economic, political, and cultural environment of the countries you are considering, as well as the demand for your ...
International Business Strategy EXPLAINED with EXAMPLES
Together these two factors generate four types of strategies that internationally operating businesses can pursue: Multidomestic, Global, Transnational and International strategies. Figure 1: Bartlett and Ghoshal's Typology of Multinational Companies: Global, Transnational, International and Multidomestic Strategy.
Expanding Your Business Internationally? 15 Essential Things ...
13. Doing The Necessary Research. Research, research, research. Spend the time to understand the messaging and marketing materials you are going to use to hit the mark in your international ...
International Business < The University of Texas at Austin
The Core Curriculum requirements and the BBA Degree Requirements. International Business 350 or 350S. International Business 378 (may fulfill the writing and independent inquiry flags) All international business majors must have an approved international experience, either through a study abroad program or international internship.
International Business Plan
The International Business Plan Event involves the development of a proposal to start a new business venture in an international setting. Any type of business may be used. Participants. 1 to 3. Exam. Written Entry Page Limit. 20. Appear Before a Judge. Present plan. Prep Time. Interview Time.
International Business Plans & Data Pass
Business Unlimited plans already include up to 5GB of high-speed data and unlimited texting in up to 215+ countries and destinations. Add an International Pass to make unlimited calls and use even more data while traveling. 844-518-8424. During congestion, heavy data users (>50GB/mo. for most plans) and customers choosing lower-prioritized ...
How To Start A Business In 11 Steps (2024 Guide)
The best way to accomplish any business or personal goal is to write out every possible step it takes to achieve the goal. Then, order those steps by what needs to happen first. Some steps may ...
International Business Plan
WRITE IT LIKEYOU MEAN IT. Participants in the International Business Plan will prepare a written proposal to start a new business venture in an international setting. It may be a new business or a new product or service of an existing business. Any type of business may be used. The body of the written entry must be limited to 20 numbered pages ...
International Plans
If you're a T-Mobile customer on qualifying plan, you can add an International Pass to get more high-speed data and unlimited voice calling in 215+ countries and destinations. 1-Day (512MB) International Pass: 512MB of high-speed data and unlimited calling, to be used up to 24 hours, for $5. 10 day (5GB) International Pass: 5GB of high-speed ...
Samsung Workers Strike, the First in the Company's History
Workers at Samsung, South Korea's most valuable company, are striking for the first time in its history. Tina Hsu for The New York Times. Jin Yu Young reported from Seoul and Meaghan Tobin from ...
South African opposition parties holding crunch talks on the ANC's
The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business.
What you need to know about Biden's plan to end the war in Gaza
June 6, 2024 9:13 AM PT. WASHINGTON —. When President Biden announced a three-phase plan to end the devastating war in the Gaza Strip, he raised hope that a breakthrough was finally on the ...
Adam Neumann gives up on his plan to buy back WeWork
May 28, 2024, 6:55 AM PDT. Jackal Pan/Getty, Tyler Le/BI. Adam Neumann is giving up on plans to reacquire WeWork. He called a bankruptcy plan that cut him out "unrealistic and unlikely to succeed ...