Increased globalization and the thought of converging values has lead marketing practitioners and academics to consider more standardized approaches to marketing and advertising strategies. Even though cultures seem to evolve closer to each other, cultural diversity still exists. Advertising reflects and influences our cultural values and therefore it cannot be ignored when building effective advertising. Results show that culture impacts execution more than creative strategy (Wei & Jiang, 2005) and therefor execution is seen as an important element of cross-cultural marketing and advertising. The emergence of new social media channels is raising the question whether previous execution styles are suitable for these marketing channels and whether similar connection with the culture exists. This thesis examines how cultural characteristics are reflected in advertising execution and draws special attention to the marketing communication through mobile messaging applications. However, this study takes new approach for viewing culture’s influence on advertising executions by exploring the preferences of audience. This research aims to shed light on the under researched area of cross-cultural advertising in Asian region in terms of two culturally similar countries. This study examines Chinese and South Korean preferences and perceptions of execution styles and explores to what extent similarities and differences occur. These similarities and differences are analyzed in terms of culture and whether these findings can be attributed to the nations' cultural characteristics. To address the topic holistically in its cultural context, a qualitative mixed-methods research approach was adopted for this research. This present study combines cultural and advertising theories to produce a theoretical frame for data collection and further analysis. Findings indicate that culture does influence execution preferences even in rather similar cultures. Although advertising reflects nations’ cultural values, it does not directly translate into the preferences of that audience. This study indicated that the channel of marketing communication influences execution preferences. Mobile messaging application as a marketing channel was seen affecting the preferences of Chinese and Koreans towards more direct and informational communication which have been considered untypical for East Asian cultures. However, overall changes in the preferences appeared indicating value shift, changes in the expressions of culture, or paradoxal values. Results suggest that cross-cultural marketers and advertisers should recognize the importance of cultural characteristics when planning and designing execution strategies.

The ubiquitous nature of e-commerce demands an innovative conceptualization of consumer behaviour that responds to various cultural preferences. Culture has been identified as an underlying determinant of consumer behaviour, and this extends to ecommerce. This research investigates this phenomenon for the Egyptian consumer. This research designed a plausible, integrated framework for investigating the target phenomenon, especially for un-explored cultures. To help to identify salient components of the phenomenon, a three-study exploratory phase, that included: interviews, a survey, and card sorting sessions, was undertaken. The exploratory results highlighted the roles of trust, uncertainty avoidance, Internet store familiarity, and reputation as the main salient factors affecting the perception of the targeted group toward e-commerce. The research hypotheses were then developed based on the exploratory results. Finally, a model testing phase to empirically assess the research hypotheses through a laboratory experiential survey with 370 Egyptian Internet users was undertaken. The experiential survey results support the significant role of the Internet store’s perceived familiarity and reputation as the main antecedents of online trust. The relationship between trust and its two antecedents are found to be culturally sensitive; the high uncertainty avoidance of the consumer is found to be associated with a stronger effect of the store’s reputation on trust, and a stronger effect of store’s familiarity on trust. The research also highlights the significant effect of trust on the attitude towards and the willingness to buy from an e-commerce site. This research, by providing an understanding of the cultural drivers of e-commerce, contributes to building a theory of consumer’s cultural trust within an Internet store context. The research reports on the development of an integrated cultural trust model that highlights recommendations for expanding the adoption of e-commerce. The systematic research framework, introduced by this research, can be a robust starting point for further related work in this area.

O presente estudo tem por objetivo mensurar e avaliar a prontidão para exportar das Indústrias Paulistas utilizando, para isso, o referencial teórico presente na literatura sobre Estratégia e Marketing Internacional e o software CORE (Company Readiness to Export) desenvolvido pela Michigan State University. Como anseios adicionais, espera-se aferir a aplicabilidade deste software à realidade brasileira e levantar hipóteses sobre as políticas públicas passíveis de serem implementadas no sentido de fomentar a exportação de indústrias do Brasil. Este trabalho apoiou-se em pesquisa descritiva, realizada em uma amostra aleatória composta de 393 empresas industriais sediadas no Estado de São Paulo. As principais conclusões apontam para a falta de prontidão da indústria paulista para a atividade exportadora e, simultaneamente, sugerem estratégias e ações alternativas para superar essas dificuldades. O método de análise de dados incluiu a elaboração de modelos de regressão linear e múltipla para detectar a influência das variáveis independentes avaliadas (porte, setor, ação internacional, presença de capital estrangeiro) sobre a variável dependente Prontidão para Exportar. / This study has the objective of measuring and evaluating the readiness to export of Manufacturing Companies from São Paulo (Brazilian State) using the theoretical mainframe present in the literature about International Strategy and Marketing and the software CORE (Company Readiness to Export) developed by Michigan State University. As secondary aims, it is expected to gauge the applicability of this software to the Brazilian context and to raise hypothesis over public policies capable of being implemented in order to foment the Brazilian manufacturers exports. This work is sustained in a descriptive research, conducted on a random sample composed of 393 manufacturing companies based in São Paulo State. The main conclusions point to the lack of readiness to export of manufacturing companies based in São Paulo State and, simultaneously, suggest strategies and alternative actions to overcome these difficulties. The data analysis method included the elaboration of multiple and simple regression models to detect the influence of the independent variables (size, industry, international action, presence of international capitals) over the dependent variable Readiness to Export.

Inovação em produtos e processos pode ser a diferença entre sucesso e fracasso para vender produtos em outros países. Dentro desta perspectiva, a gestão tecnológica destaca-se como uma alternativa, de menor custo e mais rápida, de customizar produtos para novos mercados. O estudo sobre a decisão de customizar produtos nos mercados internacionais é especialmente importante para as organizações que decidem abrir uma subsidiária em outro país, mediante aquisição de uma empresa ou construção de suas próprias instalações. Qualquer que seja a decisão, a empresa fica exposta a riscos internacionais além de elevados custos; resultando na necessidade de diluí-los em âmbito global. Nesse contexto, existe a necessidade da empresa decidir quais produtos deverá customizar para o país em questão e quais produtos ela deverá padronizar, tendo em vista as vendas para outros países. O objetivo geral desta pesquisa é identificar, na função marketing de empresa internacionalizada, os fatores de influência relacionados com decisões sobre customização de produtos industriais e produtos de consumo para um determinado país. Dentro desta perspectiva, elaborou-se uma revisão da literatura sobre os temas: internacionalização, marketing internacional, decisões sobre customização de produtos e fatores de customização de produtos - base para a fundamentação teórica. Quanto aos aspectos metodológicos, em uma primeira fase qualitativa foram realizados quatro estudos de caso de caráter exploratório - duas empresas americanas e duas empresas europeias. Como resultado, elaborou-se um ranking de fatores considerados essenciais na decisão sobre customização de produtos: 1º Características do cliente (B2B)/consumidor (B2C); 2º Retorno sustentável sobre o investimento; 3º Lucro sustentável; 4º Exigências legais; 5º Vendas de outros produtos do portfólio; 6º Diferenças no clima. Na segunda fase quantitativa, elaborou-se uma survey, aplicada pela internet, resultado do levantamento empírico do estudo de casos. Como consequência, foram obtidos 123 registros válidos de uma amostra não probabilística intencional. Os resultados sugerem diferenças no ranking dos fatores de influência na decisão sobre customização de produtos. Outros achados advindos da pesquisa: fatores ligados à logística de distribuição de produtos tangíveis devem ser considerados na decisão sobre customização; tanto em mercados B2B, quanto em mercados B2C, produtos tangíveis possuem grande carga de serviços associados. Espera-se, com estes resultados, um avanço na contribuição para estudos futuros em decisão sobre customização de produtos. / Innovation in products and processes can be the difference between success and failure to sell products in other countries. Within this perspective, technology management is highlighted as an alternative, less expensive and faster, to customize products for new markets. The study on the decision to customize products in international markets is especially important for organizations that decide to open a subsidiary in another country by way of purchasing a business or building their own facilities. Whatever the decision, the company is exposed to international risks and high costs; which leads to reduce them on global basis. In this context, a company needs to decide which products to customize for the country in question and which products to standardize for sale other countries. The overall objective of this research is to identify, with respect to the marketing activities of an international company, the factors that influence decisions related to the customization of industrial products and of consumer products for a particular country. Thus, a literature review gathered information on the topics of: internationalization, international marketing, decision on product customization and product customization factors - the theoretical basis for the research. Regarding the methodological aspects, in the qualitative first phase, were conducted four exploratory case studies, at two American companies and two European companies. As a result, it was elaborated a ranking of factors considered essentials in deciding on customization of products: 1st Characteristics of the customer (B2B) / consumer (B2C); 2nd Sustainable Return On Investment; 3rd Sustainable income; 4th Legislative requirements; 5th Other products sales in the portfolio; 6th Differences in weather. Subsequently, the quantitative second phase, based on the empirical case studies, a survey was elaborated and applied online. As a result of the online survey, it was obtained 123 valid records of a willful non-probability sampling. The results have suggested differences in the factors of influence in decision on product customization ranking. Other findings have derived from research: factors related to the distribution logistics of tangible products should be considered in deciding customization; tangible products have great load of associated services, both B2B and B2C markets. It is expected from these results, a step forward in contributing to future studies about decision on product customization.

O estudo sobre a decisão de customizar produtos nos mercados internacionais é importante para as empresas que decidem abrir uma subsidiária em outro país, mediante aquisição de uma empresa ou construção de suas próprias instalações. Qualquer que seja a decisão, constitui um alto grau de internacionalização, uma vez que a empresa fica exposta a elevados custos e riscos internacionais. Nesse contexto, existe a necessidade da empresa decidir quais produtos deverá customizar e quais deverá padronizar no mercado-alvo. O objetivo geral desta dissertação é o de identificar, na função marketing de empresa internacionalizada, os fatores de influência relacionados com decisões sobre customização de produtos para um determinado país. Inicialmente, em uma revisão da literatura, reuniram-se informações sobre internacionalização, marketing internacional, estratégias de entrada no mercado internacional, decisões dos profissionais de marketing, decisões sobre composto de produtos, sobre customização de produtos, fatores de customização de produtos entre outras. Assim, para se chegar ao objetivo geral, realizou-se um estudo de caso de caráter exploratório e qualitativo em uma empresa, localizada no Brasil, de origem alemã do setor de autopeças que comercializa produtos para clientes industriais, isto é, negócios entre empresas. Como resultado da pesquisa, chegou-se a uma escala de importância em que foram enumerados sete fatores de influência nas decisões sobre customização de produtos: 1. posicionamento de mercado; 2. importância estratégica de clientes; 3. desenvolvimento do ciclo de vida do produto; 4. exigências legais; 5. ambiente físico; 6. infraestrutura e compatibilidade; 7. importância estratégica de fornecedores. O estudo de caso mostrou que os fatores de influência estão relacionados entre si. Os resultados ainda sugeriram que os dois primeiros fatores são fundamentais para que a empresa de autopeças obtenha sucesso na customização de produtos no mercado-alvo, uma vez que o estudo de caso constatou evidências de que o setor automotivo tende a operar com poucos modelos de motores no mercado global, o que sugere poucos fornecedores de autopeças para desenvolver soluções para clientes globais que operam em mercados locais. Outros resultados advindos da pesquisa sugeriram uma possível relação entre a autonomia da subsidiária e o fator posicionamento de mercado à medida que os executivos tendem a tomar decisões sobre customização de produtos no mercado local e comunicá-las à matriz. / The study concerning products customization decision in the international markets is important for companies that have taken a decision to open an overseas subsidiary, either acquisition of a company or through its own Greenfield investments. Whatever decision follows, the result comes up with high degree of internationalization, as long as company has been liable to high costs and international hazards. At that context, the company has been needed to decide which products may be customized and which products may be standardized at a target-market. Thus, the central purpose of this dissertation is to identify, at internationalized company marketing function, the influencing factors that have been associated with decisions about products customization towards a particular overseas country. At first, literature was reviewed so that information had had gathered about internationalization, international marketing, international marketing strategies, marketing experts\' decisions, products mix decisions, products customization decisions, customization decision factors among others. Therefore, to reach at central purpose, a qualitative and exploratory case study was performed at auto-parts German company that deals in business to business customers. Amongst the main results from that research, it was reached a model of importance where it was numbered seven influencing factors with regard to products customization decisions: 1. marketing positioning; 2. strategic customers importance; 3. product life cycle development; 4. lawful requirements; 5. natural environment; 6. infrastructure and compatibility; 7. strategic suppliers importance. It has been noticed from research that influencing factors have been a relationship each other. The first two ones were considered very outstanding influencing factors for researched auto-parts company. It will reach success at new markets if the two ones are considered for products customization decisions because that research has found evidences about tendency in automotive industry for developing few motors model into global market. That tendency has suggested few auto-parts suppliers for local developing solutions for global customers. Other distinct result has noticed from this research suggests a possible relationship between subsidiary autonomy decisions and marketing positioning factor while executives take decisions about products customization at local market and release them to headquarters.

Purpose and research question: The purpose of this research is to explore how dynamic marketing capabilities in international e-tail companies are influenced by organizational culture. Furthermore, the aim is to contribute to the theoretical field of marketing capabilities, as well as providing practical implications to managers in international e-tail companies.How does organisational culture influence dynamic marketing capabilities in international e-tail companies? Method: The study is conducted with a qualitative method and an abductive approach, using a single case study design. The empirical data consist of eight semi-structured interviews with people at the company Scandinavian Design Center, in addition to secondary data and observations on site. Findings: The results of the study indicate that characteristics from four types of organisational cultures, including entrepreneurial, team, hierarchical and rational can influence DMCs positively and negatively on two levels: incremental and renewing. Team culture influences DMCs positively on both levels, while entrepreneurial culture has both positive and negative influence on different levels. Hierarchical and rational culture negatively influence DMCs on both levels, except when it comes to formal roles and articulated goals, which positively influence both incremental and renewing DMCs.

The aim of the theoretical part of this thesis is to describe different dimensions and elements of marketing strategy of a company and present different steps companies are recommended to take during planning and preparing a marketing strategy. The practical part describes the analysis of the Volkswagen AG program for used cars Das WeltAuto. The analysis focuses on the international marketing strategy that the program follows in the markets where it operates and describes its main elements, goals and implementation. The ultimate aim of this thesis is to analyze the process of integration of different brands on the level of a big corporation and to research the process of implementation of a marketing strategy for special used car program Das WeltAuto on an international level.

This thesis is concerned with the sales strategy of an International corporation Guinness on a UK market. The paper further analyses the internal and external environment of the company. Based on these analyses the paper provides some possible strategies that can result in an improvement of the sales efficiency of the company

Diplomová práca sa zaoberá návrhom marketingovej stratégie vybranej spoločnosti. Návrh bol realizovaný na základe požiadavok start-up spoločnosti, ktorá sa zaoberá predovšetkým vývojom softvéru, chce expandovať do zahraničia a nemá žiadne skúsenosti s marketingom. V práci je prevedená externá aj interná analýza spoločnosti. Taktiež bola prevedená analýza kľúčových faktorov úspechu a analýza hlavných konkurentov. Interná analýza spoločnosti pozostáva zo 4 P marketingového mixu a SWOT analýzy. Posledná časť práce vyberá vhodnú stratégiu vstupu na zahraničný trh a detailne analyzuje návrhy pre marketingový mix spoločnosti. V práci je taktiež navrhnutý zjednodušený finančný plán. Na konci práce sú zhodnotené prínosy diplomovej práce pre vybranú spoločnosť.

The thesis is focused on international marketing of gaming industry. It’s focus is on trends and possibilities of international marketing strategy for microtransactions. The theoretical part aims to define basic concept of gaming industry, marketing, microtransactions, customer behavior and ways to engage with him. The analytical part is creating a concept of international marketing strategy for a game, which is being developed by the author of this thesis based on quality research and theoretical background. This strategy is supposed to engage with customers not interested in microtransactions.