Meaning and Definition of International Business

Today business is growing globally and the need for profit is pushing a large number of business firms into world markets beyond their historical and traditional boundaries. A global corporation is gaining an increasing acceptance in the business community compared to corporations operating within the geographical limits of a country. These companies are termed as Multi National Corporations (MNC) or Trans National

International business involves transactions across the national boundaries. It  includes  the transfer of goods, services, technology, managerial knowledge and capital to other countries. Although business has been conducted on an international scale for many years, international business has gained more significance only in recent years because of the emergence of multinational corporations in some of the developing countries.

Meaning of International Business

International business denotes all those business activities which take place beyond the geographical  limits  of  the  country.   It involves not only the international movements of goods and services,  but  also  of  capital  personnel,  technology  and intellectual property like patents, trademarks, know-how and copy rights.

Definition of International Business

Roger Bennet defines, International business involves commercial activities that cross national frontiers

According to John D. Daniels and  Lee H. Radebaugh, International business is all business transactions-private and governmental- that involve two or more countries. Private companies undertake such transactions for profits, governments may or may not do the same in their transactions.

Features of International Business

The nature and characteristics or features of international business are:-

1. Large scale operations

In international business, all the operations are conducted on a very huge scale. Production and marketing activities are conducted on a large scale. It first sells its goods in the local market. Then the surplus goods are exported.

2. Intergration of economies

International business integrates (combines) the economies of many countries. This is because it uses finance from one country, labour from another country, and infrastructure from another country. It designs the product in one country, produces its parts in many different countries and assembles the product in another country. It sells the product in many countries, i.e. in the international market.

3. Dominated by developed countries and MNCs

International business is dominated by developed countries and their multinational corporations (MNCs). At present, MNCs from USA, Europe and Japan dominate (fully control) foreign trade. This is because they have large financial and other resources. They also have the best technology and research and development (R & D). They have highly skilled employees and managers because they give very high salaries and other benefits. Therefore, they produce good quality goods and services at low prices. This helps them to capture and dominate the world market.

4. Benefits to participating countries

International business gives benefits to all participating countries. However, the developed (rich) countries get the maximum benefits. The developing (poor) countries also get benefits. They get foreign capital and technology. They get rapid industrial development. They get more employment opportunities. All this results in economic development of the developing countries. Therefore, developing countries open up their economies through liberal economic policies.

5. Keen competition

International business has to face keen (too much) competition in the world market. The competition is between unequal partners i.e. developed and developing countries. In this keen competition, developed countries and their MNCs are in a favourable position because they produce superior quality goods and services at very low prices. Developed countries also have many contacts in the world market. So, developing countries find it very difficult to face competition from developed countries.

6. Special role of science and technology

International business gives a lot of importance to science and technology. Science and Technology (S & T) help the business to have large-scale production. Developed countries use high technologies. Therefore, they dominate global business. International business helps them to transfer such top high-end technologies to the developing countries.

7. International restrictions

International business faces many restrictions on the inflow and outflow of capital, technology and goods. Many governments do not allow international businesses to enter their countries. They have many trade blocks, tariff barriers, foreign exchange restrictions, etc. All this is harmful to international business.

8. Sensitive nature

The international business is very sensitive in nature. Any changes in the economic policies, technology, political environment, etc. has a huge impact on it. Therefore, international business must conduct marketing research to find out and study these changes. They must adjust their business activities and adapt accordingly to survive changes.