Deck 1: The Scope and Challenge of International Marketing

Question 1

The uncontrollable factors affecting international marketing are limited to political forces, economic climate, and competitive structure.

Answer 1

False
Explanation: Refer Exhibit 1.3-The International Marketing Task

Question 2

The geography and infrastructure of a country are uncontrollable factors that influence the business decisions of a company in an international market.

Answer 2

True
Explanation: Refer Exhibit 1.3-The International Marketing Task

Question 3

Political and legal forces, economic climate, and competition are some of the domestic environment's controllable factors.

Answer 3

False
Explanation: Domestic environment uncontrollables include home-country elements that can have a direct effect on the success of a foreign venture: political and legal forces, economic climate, and competition.

Question 4

An international marketer must deal with at least two levels of uncontrollable uncertainty.

Question 5

The difference between domestic and international marketing lies in the different concepts of marketing.

Question 6

Political and legal issues a company may face abroad are mitigated by the "alien status" of the company.

Question 7

The level of technology in a country is an uncontrollable element for international marketers.

Question 8

The political and legal environment is a controllable element for international marketers because of their potent ability to lobby and influence legislation in foreign markets.

Question 9

International marketing involves selling of a company's goods and services to consumers or users in more than one nation for a profit.

Question 10

The foreign policies of a country have a direct effect on a firm's international marketing success.

Question 11

Abolition of apartheid in South Africa is an example of a positive uncontrollable element in an international marketing scenario.

Question 12

In a broad sense, the uncontrollable elements of the foreign business environment constitute the culture.

Question 13

The process of evaluating the uncontrollable elements in an international marketing program involves substantial doses of cultural, political, and economic shock.

Question 14

The business activities of international marketers are not affected by competition in their domestic market.

Question 15

Level of technology remains unchanged across countries making it a fairly predictable factor in international marketing.

Question 16

The controllable elements can be altered in the long run and, usually, in the short run to adjust to changing market conditions, consumer tastes, or corporate objectives.

Question 17

For companies today, becoming international is a luxury only some can afford.

Question 18

The political details and the ramifications of political and legal events are often more transparent in a domestic situation than they are in a foreign market.

Question 19

The uncontrollable factors a company has to deal with decreases with the number of foreign markets in which it operates.

Question 20

Companies from Japan are the leading group of investors in the United States.

Question 21

The self-reference criterion is closely related to ethnocentrism.

Question 22

Which of the following is a controllable element for an international marketer?

A) Level of technology
B) Geography and infrastructure
C) Channels of distribution
D) Cultural forces
E) Structure of distribution

Question 23

Which of the following is a dynamic trend that is affecting the current global business strategies?

A) The trend toward buying American cars in Europe.
B) The trend toward the acceptance of the free market system among developing countries.
C) The trend toward using English as the global language.
D) The trend toward establishing a world currency.
E) The trend toward worldwide instant communication.

Question 24

A company in the "no direct foreign marketing" stage of international marketing involvement does not actively cultivate customers outside national boundaries.

Question 25

In dealing with unfamiliar markets, marketers must be aware of the frames of reference they are using in making their decisions.

Question 26

The most effective approach to build global awareness into an organization is to increase the diversity mix of the employee profile, especially for entry-level jobs

Question 27

John refuses to buy Japanese products because he sees this as a way of selling out to a nation known for its aggressive behavior. John is using a self-reference criterion to make his decision.

Question 28

For an international marketer, the _____ can be altered in the long run and, usually, in the short run to adjust to changing market conditions, consumer tastes, or corporate objectives.

A) competitive structure
B) economic climate
C) structure of distribution
D) environmental factors
E) controllable elements

Question 29

Which of the following is true regarding the impact of globalization on domestic markets in the United States?

A) Companies with only domestic markets have been able to sustain their customary rates of growth.
B) Multinational companies are making more profits from their domestic operations compared to their earnings from the foreign markets.
C) Only multinational companies with large production facilities have succeeded in the international markets.
D) The domestic companies have reduced their manufacturing employment more than the US multinationals.
E) Multinational manufacturing companies in all industries and sizes have outperformed their domestic counterparts.

Question 30

_____ is the performance of business activities designed to plan, price, promote, and direct the flow of a company's goods and services to consumers or users in more than one nation for a profit.

A) Internal marketing
B) Importing
C) Corporate management
D) International marketing
E) Domestic trade

Question 31

Which of the following is an uncontrollable element for an international marketer?

A) Firm characteristics
B) Promotion
C) Price
D) Research
E) Level of technology

Question 32

Research has revealed that smaller home markets and larger production capacities appear to favor internationalization.

Question 33

The global marketing concept views the marketplace as consisting of one primary domestic market that is complimented by several smaller regional markets.

Question 34

Which of the following elements in the marketing environment poses a challenge to both domestic and international marketers due to its uncontrollable nature?

A) Price
B) Promotion
C) Research activities
D) Political/legal forces
E) Channels of distribution

Question 35

Understanding one's own culture normally requires no additional study.

Question 36

Which of the following is an essential requirement for companies to succeed in international markets?

A) Binding strictly to their traditional methods of operations to succeed in international markets.
B) Focusing primarily on their production to meet the demands at home.
C) Venturing into multiple markets at once.
D) Committing themselves completely to foreign markets.
E) Focusing on improving the domestic market to invest the returns in international markets.

Question 37

To avoid errors in business decisions, it is necessary to conduct a cross-cultural analysis that emphasizes the need for ethnocentrism.

Question 38

Sam Watkins just ate cookies and, therefore, feels justified in refusing food offered by his Middle Eastern host. In this instance, Sam's self-reference criterion has just saved him from making a cultural blunder.

Question 39

Companies from _____ lead in foreign investment in the United States.

A) Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
B) Russia
C) China
D) United Kingdom
E) Canada

Question 40

Which of the following is the most critical difference between domestic marketing and international marketing?

A) The difference in marketing principles being followed.
B) The different concepts of marketing.
C) The change in marketing goals.
D) The environment in which marketing plans must be implemented.
E) The basic processes used to market products and services.

Question 41

Which of the following reflects the relationship between international business and domestic business?

A) Domestic businesses find it relatively easy to manage profits in the current scenario.
B) Domestic businesses find it relatively easy to manage profits in the current scenario.
C) Most domestic businesses are the result of customization efforts of international businesses.
D) The ability to invest abroad is to a large extent a function of domestic economic vitality.
E) Domestic businesses are more viable as capital tends to move toward minimum use.

Question 42

_____ impedes the ability of a person to assess a foreign market in its true light.

A) Nativism
B) Pluralism
C) Xenocentrism
D) Ethnocentrism
E) Relativism

Question 43

Which of the following is an uncontrollable factor for a marketer in a domestic environment?

A) Firm characteristics
B) Competitive structure
C) Channels of distribution
D) Price of the product
E) Promotional measures

Question 44

The primary obstacles to success in international marketing are a person's _____ and an associated ethnocentrism.

A) regionalism
B) holism
C) self-reference criterion
D) effort at adaptation
E) effort at integration

Question 45

Robert Jonas is in charge of a new marketing effort directed toward Peru. In order for his company to effectively market and distribute to all of Peru's major cities, Mr. Jonas must devise a logistics plan for crossing the Andes Mountains on a daily basis. Which of the following foreign environment uncontrollable variables would be a chief concern as Mr. Jonas devises his plan?

A) Competitive forces
B) Cultural forces
C) Geography and infrastructure
D) Economic forces
E) Political/legal forces

Question 46

Compared to the foreign environment uncontrollable variables, which of the following elements is excluded from the domestic marketer's list of uncontrollable variables?

A) Political forces
B) Competitive structure
C) Economic climate
D) Cultural forces
E) Legal forces

Question 47

M&M, a company producing musical instruments, had dominated its home market for several years before venturing into international markets. The company was focusing more on international operations until a German company in the same business entered its home market. The German company started selling good quality products at prices much lower than M&M's and affected its sales adversely. Which of the following elements in the marketing environment has affected the business of M&M in the above scenario?

A) Level of technology
B) Structure of distribution
C) Competition in the domestic market
D) Cultural forces
E) Promotion of the product

Question 48

Which of the following is closely related to the self-reference criterion?

A) Differentiation
B) Marketing myopia
C) Ethnocentrism
D) Multiculturalism
E) Pluralism

Question 49

Which of the following best illustrates the political and legal issues faced by companies because of their "alien status" when they attempt to do business in foreign countries?

A) A company doing moderate business in international markets because of violent history of its home country.
B) A company being forced by the local government to share its core competencies in order to continue doing business.
C) A product not being widely accepted in the foreign market because of its irrelevance to the customers.
D) A company utilizing an identical promotional campaign it used in the domestic country.
E) A company not succeeding in a foreign market because its product pricing is above the purchasing power of the local customers.

Question 50

Which of the following is a possible outcome of the "alien status" of a company?

A) An increase in protectionist federal policies.
B) A positive balance of trade.
C) A sharp rise in domestic and international demand.
D) A huge trade deficit.
E) An economic situation of the magnitude of the Great Depression.

Question 51

Which of the following political actions is likely to favor international marketing?

A) Placing trade embargo on Cuba owing to widespread political instability in the country.
B) U.S. government placing a trade ban on Libya for rampant terrorism.
C) Paraguay imposing low tariffs and tax rates for manufacturing industries.
D) Tariff hike for imports established by China.
E) U.S. government coupling human rights issues with foreign trade policy.

Question 52

_____ is an unconscious reference to one's own cultural values, experiences, and knowledge as a basis for decisions.

A) Nativism
B) Holism
C) Self-reference criterion
D) Segregation
E) Xenophobia

Question 53

The _____ issues faced by a company are often amplified by the "alien status" of the company, which increases the difficulty of properly assessing and forecasting the dynamic international business climate.

A) product research
B) pricing
C) product specification
D) political/legal
E) promotional

Question 54

With respect to the environment in which a business operates, factors such as competition, political and legal forces, economic climate, would all be classified as:

A) controllable elements.
B) uncontrollable elements.
C) predictable elements.
D) demographic elements.
E) cultural elements.

Question 55

_____ is a controllable element in both domestic and international marketing environments.

A) Economic climate
B) Competition within the home country
C) Price of products
D) Political forces
E) Foreign policies

Question 56

In the United States, unrelated individuals keep a certain physical distance between themselves and others when talking or in groups. Americans do not consciously think about that distance; they just know what feels right without thinking. Someone from another culture would not necessarily understand this and would apply their rules for contact when speaking. The preceding is an illustration of what is called applying a _____ when reviewing the mentioned social custom of contact.

A) self-space principle
B) segregation principle
C) integration criterion
D) space command criterion
E) self-reference criterion

Question 57

The marketing tasks of an international marketer differs from that of a domestic marketer as:

A) the international marketer has fewer uncontrollable elements to deal with compared to a domestic marketer.
B) the level of technology and cultural forces are controllable elements for the domestic marketer.
C) the structure of distribution is an uncontrollable element for the international marketer.
D) the competitive structure is one of the controllable factors for an international marketer.
E) the international marketer is less concerned about geography and infrastructure than the domestic marketer.

Question 58

_____ is the conscious effort on the part of the international marketer to anticipate the influences of both the foreign and domestic uncontrollable factors on a marketing mix and then to adjust the marketing mix to minimize the effects.

A) Standardization
B) Adaptation
C) Segregation
D) Segmentation
E) Projection

Question 59

Ralph Waite is a marketing manager at a video game console manufacturing firm. Ralph has been asked to review the marketing opportunities of his company in a foreign market. Ralph is aware that he can modify certain elements of the marketing environment to suit the foreign market needs. He is primarily focusing his attention on the factors that are not under his control and might affect their business prospects. Which of the following uncontrollable elements is most likely to affect the company's business prospects in the foreign market?

A) The pricing policies in the foreign market.
B) The trade policies in the home country.
C) The promotional activities required to market the product.
D) The level of technology in the targeted market.
E) The product distribution channels adopted by his company.

Question 60

Amy Sims has been assigned the task of preparing a marketing plan for her company for the next year's business activities. She knows that she should begin her plan by examining the variables that she has some control over. These controllable variables would include price, product, channels-of-distribution, and _____.

A) demand
B) political forces
C) competition
D) economic climate
E) promotion

Question 61

Jefferson's is a firm that specializes in dog food and grooming products. The company has a very well-established domestic market. The company does not actively sell its products outside national borders but provides goods to customers who contact them directly or place orders with them through the Internet. Jefferson's is currently in the _____ stage of international marketing involvement.

A) frequent foreign marketing
B) active foreign marketing
C) global marketing
D) regular foreign marketing
E) no direct foreign marketing

Question 62

Which of the following best describes the stage of development where the company's products reach a foreign market without any conscious effort on the part of the marketer?

A) Infrequent foreign marketing
B) Regular foreign marketing
C) No direct foreign marketing
D) International marketing
E) Global marketing

Question 63

Which of the following is the most effective way to achieve organizational global awareness?

A) Hiring employees based on the sole criterion of global awareness.
B) Organizing employee trips to foreign cultures to increase their sensitivity.
C) Increasing the diversity mix of the front-level employee profile.
D) Having a culturally diverse senior executive staff or board of directors.
E) Promoting social networking as a means to improve inter-cultural communication.

Question 64

Which of the following is true regarding the stages of international marketing involvement?

A) A firm essentially progresses through the stages in a linear order.
B) The international marketing stage represents the highest level of international involvement.
C) A firm begins its international involvement at the second stage.
D) A firm may be in more than one stage simultaneously.
E) The final stage of the process is involves no direct foreign marketing.

Question 65

If a marketer is motivated to initiate an international marketing effort mainly because of temporary surpluses in the domestic market, which of the following stages best characterizes the stage of international marketing involvement for this marketer?

A) Infrequent foreign marketing
B) Regular foreign marketing
C) No direct foreign marketing
D) International marketing
E) Global marketing

Question 66

Which of the following types of nontariff barriers strictly falls under the category of specific limitations on trade?

A) Import credit discriminations
B) Export subsidies
C) Voluntary export restraints
D) Embargoes
E) Packaging, labeling, or marking standards

Question 67

To avoid errors in business decisions, it is necessary to conduct a cross-cultural analysis that isolates the self-reference criterion influences. Which of the following should be the first-step to avoid the aforementioned errors?

A) Redefining the problem without the SRC influence.
B) Solving the problem for the optimum business goal situation.
C) Isolating the SRC influence in the problem and examining it carefully to see how it complicates the problem.
D) Defining the business problem or goal in home-country cultural traits, habits, or norms.
E) Defining the business problem or goal in foreign-country cultural traits, habits, or norms through consultation with natives of the target country.

Question 68

In which of the following stages of international marketing involvement, companies primarily focus all their operations and production to service domestic market needs, even though they have a permanent productive capacity devoted to the production of goods to be marketed in foreign markets?

A) No direct foreign marketing
B) Infrequent foreign marketing
C) Regular foreign marketing
D) International marketing
E) Global marketing

Question 69

Which of the following will aid a manager in understanding the way people of different countries think and act?

A) A better understanding of global economic trends.
B) A deeper understanding of world market potential.
C) An understanding of foreign investment opportunities.
D) An understanding of microeconomics.
E) A historical perspective.

Question 70

Ajax Corporation has decided to enter the international marketing arena by marketing its products on a country-by-country basis, with separate marketing strategies for each country. The company is using which of the following concepts to formulate its international policies and strategies?

A) Domestic market extension concept
B) Multidomestic market concept
C) Mass marketing concept
D) Universal marketing concept
E) Standardized marketing concept

Question 71

Which of the following characterizes a globally aware manager?

A) Using one's home culture's values alone to market one's products in foreign countries.
B) Accepting the cultural ways of another individual as their own.
C) Allowing others to be different and equal.
D) Discarding one's home culture's standards to adopt the global cultural standards.
E) Controlling any influences that the global cultural standards may have on the marketing process.

Question 72

Which of the following firms has a better chance of accelerating the internationalization process?

A) International regulatory bodies set export/import limits.
B) The importing country can levy heavier import tariffs to override the VERs.
C) The exporting country sets the limits on the quantity it will export.
D) It is a mandatory tax imposed by a government on goods entering at its borders.
E) It is an absolute restriction against the importation of certain goods.

Question 73

Regular foreign marketing stage differs from the international marketing stage as companies at the regular foreign marketing stage:

A) fail to actively seek customers in international markets.
B) market their products in international markets only when there is a surplus in production.
C) fail to represent careful strategic thinking about international expansion.
D) lack permanent productive capacity that is devoted for production of goods and services to be marketed in international markets.
E) focus all their operations and production to service the domestic market needs even though they are interested in foreign markets.

Question 74

James Bright's company seeks markets all over the world and attempts to sell products that are a result of planned production for markets in various countries. Which of the following stages best characterizes the stage of international marketing involvement for Mr. Bright's company?

A) Infrequent foreign marketing
B) Regular foreign marketing
C) No direct foreign marketing
D) International marketing
E) Internal marketing

Question 75

Understanding one's own culture requires additional study as:

A) self-criticism is not easy to build when studying one's own culture.
B) much of the cultural influence on market behavior is at the subconscious level.
C) the cultural traits in one's own country are complex and not internalized.
D) international trade treaties mandate that managers have extensive cultural knowledge of their own country.
E) cultural influence on one's own market behavior is generally minimal and insignificant in the long run.

Question 76

Which of the following is true of ethnocentrism?

A) It is the cultural binding force among a diverse employee population in an organization.
B) It is a problem that arises when managers from affluent countries work with managers and markets in less affluent countries.
C) American managers have generally been uninfluenced by it, especially in the beginning of the 21st century.
D) It is the cornerstone of effective adaptation in the field of international marketing.
E) Self-reference criterion is universally considered the technique to reduce or eliminate ethnocentrism.

Question 77

The most effective way to control the influence of ethnocentrism and the SRC is to:

A) reduce interaction with culturally diverse audience.
B) ask for feedback on every possible occasion.
C) recognize their effects on our behavior.
D) learn at least two foreign languages to understand the cultural differences.
E) ask for second opinion in a decision-making scenario.

Question 78

Which of the following is true of firms in the first two stages of international marketing involvement-no direct foreign marketing and infrequent foreign marketing?

A) They do not begin internationalization at these stages.
B) They take a strategic approach to decision making regarding international expansion.
C) They are more reactive in nature and embark on internationalization without planning.
D) They intend to maintain a continuous market representation in foreign markets.
E) They are a result of dedicated production capacity maintained for foreign markets.

Question 79

Which of the following organizations seems better equipped for internationalization?

A) A firm that sells its products only to those foreign customers who directly contact the firm.
B) A firm that has a production capacity that is much greater than home market demand.
C) A firm that focuses its production activities on meeting the demands in the home market.
D) A firm that has a culturally diverse employee profile but few competitive offerings at the global level.
E) A firm that has little intention of maintaining a continuous market representation.

Question 80

Maria Peron's company treats the world, including the home market in Spain, as one market. Market segmentation decisions no longer focus on national borders. Instead, market segments are defined by income levels, usage patterns, and other factors that span countries and regions. Which of the following stages best characterizes the stage of international marketing involvement for Ms. Peron's company?

A) Infrequent foreign marketing
B) Test marketing
C) No direct foreign marketing
D) Internal marketing
E) Global marketing