Research Report: Issues Faced by Businesses in International Expansion

This report examines the multifaceted challenges businesses encounter when expanding into international markets. The research begins by establishing a clear research question focused on the issues businesses face in international expansion, followed by defined project goals and objectives, which includes an analysis of Marks and Spencer's international business operations. The background section highlights the importance of international business and the competitive pressures driving firms to expand globally, emphasizing issues like communication barriers, human resource challenges, market research difficulties, and competitive pressures. The methodology section outlines a descriptive research design, utilizing both primary data collected through surveys of Marks and Spencer managers and secondary data from journals and online articles. The sampling strategy employs simple random sampling with a sample size of 10 managers, and the report addresses potential accessibility and ethical issues related to data collection and confidentiality. The project timeline details the sequence of activities over a ten-week period, from drafting the research proposal to analyzing data and completing the final report. The anticipated results include an assessment of the issues affecting businesses in global markets and the identification of potential solutions. This report provides valuable insights for businesses seeking to understand and navigate the complexities of international expansion. Students can find similar reports and solved assignments on Desklib.

Research Methods
1

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Clear statement of research question.......................................................................................3
2. Project goals and objectives.....................................................................................................3
3. Background/ statement of problem/ significance of the project..............................................3
4. Project design/ methodology....................................................................................................5
5. Project timeline........................................................................................................................7
6. Anticipated results...................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................9
2

1. Clear statement of research question
 What are the issues business face in expanding within international market?
2. Project goals and objectives
Aim: To analyze the issues faced by business in expanding within international market: A case
on Marks and Spencer.
Objectives:
 To explore the concept of international business
 To determine the importance of international business for the organization
 To examine the issues business face in expanding within international market
 To recommend the alternative ways through which issues faced can be resolved in an
effective manner
3. Background/ statement of problem/ significance of the project
Global business is considered as the manner in which firm manages the business in
internal market that is comprised of sale, marketing, hiring as well as financial practices. The
concept of international business includes commercial transactions that occurs among two or
more regions, countries as well as nations beyond their political boundaries. Generally private
business are involved in undertaking the transactions in order to earn greater amount of
profitability (Daniels and et.al., 2009). Government carries out as a reason of profit as well as
political reasons. The concept of international business is considered as all the form that are
engaged into cross border transactions of the goods, services as well as resources among the two
or more nations.
The major issues that is being faced by the firms in the present market is related with
competition. For the sake of surviving there is increased importance for the firm to expand in the
international market. As such this helps in increasing the increase the image of the brand in the
global market (Knight and Kim, 2009). Moreover it act as an aid in enhancing the profitability
and sales of the company to a greater extent. In global business management there are series of
issues that are being faced by the firm. Also it is regarded as task that involves investment of
huge funds by the organization. With the emergence of globalization the trend related with
carrying out the operations within the international market has increased to a greater extent. This
3

has offered greater opportunity to the firm in attaining sound position in the market and gain
edge over the competitors in an effective manner.
There is presence of several issues that are being faced by the firm while making
expansion in the global market. This is in relation with the communication. Cultural
misunderstanding results from the miscommunication which is regarded as one of the major
challenge that is being faced by the firms in international market. It has been examined that
language problem is the major one that affects the operations of the business to a greater extent
(Levi, 2007). Along with this another major issues is related with human resource. When
business make expansion that there is greater difficulty faced by it in making determination of
the qualified personnel who would be able to perform the business activities in an appropriate
manner. Such is important as it can result in failure of the organization as well. It has been
examined that organization face major issue in carrying out the market research. This is for the
sake of determining whether or not the products of the firm would be acceptable within the
international market or not. It has been determined that another major issue that is being
experienced is in relation with the competition. Identification of the competitive environment is
essential so that uniqueness within the product and services can be developed (Griffith, Cavusgil
and Xu, 2008). As such this would assist the firm in surviving in the international market to a
greater extent.
The present investigation possess potential significance in terms that it assist the
businesses who are about the expand in international market know about the issues that are being
faced (Rugman, Collinson and Hodgetts, 2006). Thus they can take corrective measures
regarding this in order to resolve it at initial stage only. In addition to this the present
investigation has significance for the scholars who are carrying out the research on the similar
subject matter.
In the proposed thesis the analysis has been done with respect to Marks and Spencer. The
company is British multinational retailer that is being headquartered in London. The organization
is being listed over the London Stock exchange and is the constituent of the FTSE 100 index.
The company is specialized in making sales of clothing, home products as well as luxury food
products. The company possess 852 stores across the UK and several international stores. The
4

company has presence across the globe which reflects that it has greater experience in managing
global business (Kurtz and Boone, 2008).
4. Project design/ methodology
Research methodology is referred as the roadmap that act as an aid in conducting the
investigation with effectiveness (Kothari, 2011). Under this chapter various tools would be used
that will help in attainment of the research aim. With the application of the various research tools
valid outcomes can be drawn from the proposed investigation.
Type of research
There is presence of various types of research that is comprised of exploratory and
descriptive (Purposes of Research: Exploratory, Descriptive & Explanatory,2014). Within the
proposed investigation descriptive research design would be employed. This is because of the
reason that it offers in-depth knowledge with respect to phenomenon under subject.
Method of data collection
In order to carry out the proposed investigation both primary as well as secondary sources
of data would be used. This helps in collection of data in an effective manner. For the sake of
gathering primary data the tool that is survey would be utilized. Such will be gathered from the
managers of Marks and Spencer. By this the investigator would be able to draw suitable results.
Questionnaire would be developed in structured way and later it is being offered to the managers
of the company. This would help in attaining knowledge regarding the viewpoints of the
respondents with effectiveness. In addition to this secondary data would be used. Under this
collection of the information will be done by the means of journals, online articles and books.
With information collection through primary and secondary data reliability of the information
can be checked with effectiveness. Further through secondary information the issues and faced
by firm within international market can be known in better manner.
Sampling tool
Sampling is regarded as the tool through which subset are determined from the universe.
With this research can be conducted with effectiveness. There is presence of two kinds of tools
that are related with sampling. Such is comprised of probability and non probability. In the
proposed investigation probability sampling tool will be employed. In this simple random
sampling will be carried out. Such is because, it provides equal opportunity to each person in
5

getting chosen as sample for the investigation (Mackey and Gass, 2013). Therefore viewpoints
can be achieved with effectiveness. For the proposed investigation the size of sample will be 10
managers of Marks and Spencer. The size of sample would be effective in providing reliability of
the results. Along with this it act as an aid for the investigator in attainment of the targets with
effectiveness.
Accessibility issues
There is presence of various issues associated with accessibility when the investigation
would be conducted. In order to gather secondary data online sites would be utilized. But there
are several issues attached with this. There is presence of some sites that have restricted access
for usage. Due to such the security as well as registration of one who would access is needed.
This is regarded as the major issue faced in gathering important information in order to carry out
the research. In addition to this another problem is related with gaining an access to managers of
Marks and Spencer.
Ethical issues
While the research would be conducted there are various ethical issues that would be
experienced by the investigator. This would be related with confidentiality and citation of the
work in proper manner (Green, Camilli and Elmore, 2012). The information collected from the
employees by the means of survey in case shared then such will influence the trust of the
respondents. This is required to be considered and the information offered by the employees is
kept confidential. Along with this it would not be shared with any outsider who has no interest in
the proposed investigation. Further another ethical issue is associated with citing the work that
would be included in the research. Thus this elements would be considered so that it reflects that
work in carried out ethically.
Data analysis plan
In order to analyze the gathered information from primary as well as secondary methods
tool such as qualitative and quantitative would be employed. Through development of the theme
qualitative would be carried out. Through such suitable description in relation to subject of the
research would be offered. Such would be devised from the opinions of the personnel that is
collected by means of survey. Through conducting the analysis of this suitable conclusion would
6

be drawn. However quantitative tools is not being used as such it used statistical tool for analysis
of subject that is quantifiable in nature.
Research limitation
There is presence of several research limitation. The initial one is associated with
unavailability of the time. The proposed research is needed to be accomplished in specified
duration of time therefore it is not possible for the investigator to fulfill all the aspects in the
research. This affects the entire investigation. Another major drawback is in association with the
size of sample. As such is smaller thus it may not be considered as the representative of the
whole universe.
5. Project timeline
Time line of the project is consist of sequence of activities that are required to be carried
out bye the organization. There is greater importance in complying with such so as to accomplish
the research aim and objectives in an effective manner. The activities along with the duration of
time for their start and finish has been enumerated in the manner as under:
Activity 1th
Wee
k
2nd
Wee
k
3 rd
Week
4t
Week
5th
Week
6th
Wee
k
7th
Wee
k
8th
Wee
k
9th
Week
10th
Week
Drafting
Research
Proposal
Literatur
e Review
Setting
aims and
objective
s
Drafting
literature
review
Drafting
of
methodo
logy
Developi
ng
question
7

naire
Collectio
n of Data
Analysis
of Data
Draft
Findings
Analyse
data
Remaini
ng
chapters
completi
on
6. Anticipated results
From carried out the proposed investigation the expected outcomes includes assessment
of the issues that affects the business when they carry out the operations in global market.
Further the alternatives to such would be assessed so that situation of the business can be
improved to a greater extent. The anticipated outcomes would result in attainment of the aims
and objectives that are being set for the proposed investigation.
8

REFERENCES
Journals and Books
Daniels, J. D. and et.al., 2009. International business. Pearson Education India.
Green, J. L., Camilli, G. and Elmore, P. B., 2012. Handbook of complementary methods in
education research. Routledge.
Griffith, D. A., Cavusgil, S.T. and Xu, S., 2008. Emerging themes in international business
research. Journal of International Business Studies. 39(7). pp.1220-1235.
Knight, G.A. and Kim, D., 2009. International business competence and the contemporary firm.
Journal of International Business Studies. 40(2). pp.255-273.
Kothari, C. R., 2011. Research methodology: methods and techniques. New Age International.
Kurtz, D. L. and Boone, L. E., 2008. Contemporary business. Cengage Learning.
Levi, M. D., 2007. International Finance: Contemporary Issues. Routledge.
Mackey, A. and Gass, S. M., 2013. Second language research: Methodology and design.
Routledge.
Rugman, A. M., Collinson, S. and Hodgetts, R. M., 2006. International business. Pearson
Education.
Online
Purposes of Research: Exploratory, Descriptive & Explanatory. 2014. [Online]. Available
through: <http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/purposes-of-research-exploratory-
descriptive-explanatory.html#lesson>. [Accessed on 10th April 2017].
9