In this thesis we investigated the differences and similarities between a big and a small Swedish firms’ market entry process into Japan. This was done by studying the two chosen companies, IKEA and Haglöfs respectively. We conducted our research using a case study collecting data from primary and secondary sources. The primary data was collected by using a semi-structured interview approach while the secondary data has been collected through searching for relevant sources. We concluded that the main similarities between IKEA and Haglöfs were the firms’ extensive use of network relationships in the Japanese market, were both utilized employees with Japanese market knowledge. The main differences, on the other hand, were mainly the enthusiasm shown from actors, such as governors, consumers and municipalities, that actively encouraged IKEA’s market entry. The scope of the entries was also different, with the size of the IKEA product catalogue and the construction of stores requiring more governmental approvals and lengthy processes. IKEA’s extensive international experience gained from earlier market entries were also something which set the two entries apart.

Multimarket competition has become a substantial part of the modern economy. As such, it has drawn the attention of academics in both economics and strategy fields. Many studies have found empirical evidence of mutual forbearance in several industries, but despite its importance, its behavioral roots have not been explored. In my dissertation I integrate the reality of boundedly-rational decision makers into the mutual forbearance hypothesis. I apply an outgrowth of the behavioral theory of the firm – the shifting focus model of risk taking – to the study of competitive behavior. I propose a behavioral model of multimarket competition that focuses on corporate strategic decisions - market entry and exit decisions, regardless of entry mode (e.g. acquisitions) or exit mode (e.g. divestitures). This approach provides a granular view of changes in the business scope of the firms in terms of product and geographic markets served. I test my hypotheses in the U.S. property liability insurance industry over a 12-year period (1998-2008). I argue that firms follow the mutual forbearance logic as long as their performance goals are satisfied. However, under conditions of adversity, firms shift attention to recovering from the performance shortfall and their actions deviate from the mutual forbearance predictions. This dissertation shows that underperforming firms with abundant slack take longer to forbear, and underperforming firms with limited slack start forbearing sooner, as predicted. By bridging behavioral and competitive perspectives to the study of market entry and exit decisions, I underscore the value of cross-fertilization in strategy research.

Globalisation has taken the world by storm by opening opportunities for new markets and easier communication. The general economic climate during the last decade is one reason to this, and the impact has resulted in internationalisation as a key strategy for survival. This has affected many kinds of industries and companies, not least new venture firms. There is today a competitive market climate where companies need to have a strategic advantage to succeed. One advantage could be to increase customer value through the selection of communication channels and sales channels, which has resulted in the following research objective: The purpose of this study is to examine how international market entry decisions based on customer perceived value can affect the choice of communication and sales channel strategies for new venture firms in a B2B context. This study has been of exploratory descriptive kind where a qualitative data collection has been conducted through in-depth interviews with five gemmologists active worldwide. The results of the research were varied since the respondents had different opinions, but some conclusions could still be made. The findings suggest the use of a multiple channel strategy regarding sales channel. The study also highlights the importance of 1) Building and cherishing customer relations, 2) Looking up potential resellers or distributors, 3) Communicating a solution and not a product and finally 4) Focus on internet advertising rather than paper and television. Since this study has been of qualitative kind, one suggestion for future research is to make a quantitative study of the same study to confirm the previously mentioned findings. These findings are due to the nature of the study only implications, but a quantitative study would make them generalizable. / Globalisering är ett område som tagit världen med storm, detta genom att förenkla kommunikation och öppna möjligheter till nya marknader. Det ekonomiska klimatet i skrivande stund är en av faktorerna som har påverkat detta, vilket har resulterat i internationalisering som en viktig strategi för överlevnad. Detta har påverkat många typer av industrier och företag, inte minst startups. Dagens konkurrenskraftiga marknadsklimat medför att företag behöver ha någon slags strategisk fördel för att lyckas. En fördel kan vara att öka kundvärdet genom val av kommunikationskanaler och försäljningskanaler, vilket lett till följande syfte för denna studie: Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur marknadsbeslut baserade på kundvärde kan påverka valet av kommunikations- och försäljningskanaler i ett B2B-sammanhang. Denna studie har varit av förklarande och beskrivande slag, där en kvalitativ datainsamling har genomförts genom djupintervjuer med fem gemmologer som är aktiva på en internationell marknad. Resultaten av studien var varierade då respondenternas åsikter skildes, det gick dock trots detta att dra en del slutsatser. Resultaten indikerar att användning av en hybrid försäljningsstrategi vore optimal. Studien belyser också vikten av att 1) Bygga upp och värna om kundrelationer, 2) Söka potentiella återförsäljare eller distributörer, 3) Sälja en lösning istället för en produkt och slutligen 4) Fokusera på internetannonsering i stället för tidningar och tv. Då denna studie har varit av kvalitativt slag är ett förslag till framtida forskning att göra en kvantitativ studie av samma ämne för att bekräfta resultaten. Resultaten är i nuläget endast indikationer medans en kvantitativ studie skulle göra dem generaliserbara.

This thesis inquires marketing strategy of a new beverage brand in the Czech market. By reviewing a relevant literature and reports it helps to understand theoretical concept of creating a marketing plan and its steps. The core of the theoretical part is external and internal situational analysis of the market, customers and a marketing mix. This theory is later applied at the specific case of KOH Coconut brand and its potential launch in the Czech Republic. KOH Coconut is a Taiwanese coconut brand featuring coconut water beverages and other coconut products.

The goal of my thesis is to elaborate a recommendation for the slovak market entry of the project bezrealitky.cz. Recommendation will be based on a situation analysis of the real estate market and of the main competitors. It should confirm or disconfirm the hypothesis, that in the slovak real estate market exists a niche in providing complex services for byuers and sellers of the real estates, which could be filled by project bezrealitky.cz

This thesis focuses on the comparison and evaluation of two entry strategies of international pharmaceutical company Fagron on the Czech and Brazilian market. In the theoretical part the internationalization of companies and possible approaches to international business is summarized. I closely describe the most significant forms of entering foreing markets with emphasis on selected impacts of FDI to the receiving economy. Then I describe the basic analyses required to enter foreing market together with specifics of B2B markets and the specific scope of business of the company -- pharmaceutical compounding. After the introduction of company Fagron and its expansion strategy Buy-and-Build I proceed with the analyses of particular entry strategies on the selected markets with the emphasis on their strategic goals, specific impacts and meeting the goals. This part draws from carried out in-depth analyses of the selected markets, which were moved to the appendices due to the limited scope of work. In the last chapter the above-mentioned market entries are compared, with the focus on the most important similarities and differences, and subsequently evaluated.

Aim of the diploma thesis is to choose a suitable strategy for expansion of the selected company. The chosen company based in Brno develops web content management software. The strategy is made based on analyses of external environment – potential market for entry, analyses of internal environment of the company and its financial analysis. The last part of the thesis consists of suggestions and proposed solutions.

Táto diplomová práca sa zaobera témou, ako môže jeden z najväčších operátorov na trhu s hazardnými hrami zvládnuť zmenu zákona na Slovensku. V teoretickej časti práca obsahuje prehľad foriem vstupu na trh. Teória je následne použita na stanovenie hlavného cieľa práce, ktorým je návrhnutie možnej stratégie vstupu na slovenský trh.

Tato diplomová práce se zabývá analýzou vstupu firmy NAVERTICA,a.s. na Jihoafrický trh. Práce obsahuje analýzu společnosti a současné situace na trhu v Jižní Africe. Je aplikována kritická analýza literatury na dané téma společně s analytickými metodami. Opodstatněná doporučení, zda-li vstoupit na cizí trh a jakou formu vstupu zvolit, jsou dána. Tato doporučení jsou založena na vyhodnocení výsledků analýz této diplomové práce.

The main objective of the diploma thesis Ways of introduction of the new product in the market is to evaluate and choose suitable marketing strategy for the management of company Schrack Technik spol. s r.o. which is considering introduction of the new product in the market. The new product is electric vehicle charging station. Due to comprehensiveness of the main objective there are also set two partial objectives which are interconnected and contribute to its elaboration. First partial objective is to define company´s situation on the market applying financial analysis, analysis of internal and external environment (Porter´s five forces, PESTE, SWOT analysis) which should help to find company´s strength and weaknesses, evaluate possible threats and opportunities. Second partial objective is to evaluate whether the electro mobile industry is attractive or not.