The Planning Process This activity focuses on the international planning process in detail. This process serves as a guide to planning for multinational firms that operate in several countries. Expanding markets around the world have increased competition for all levels of international marketing. Cost containment, customer satisfaction, and a greater number of players mean that every opportunity to refine international business practices must be examined in light of company goals. Collaborative relationships, strategic international alliances, strategic planning, and alternative market-entry strategies are important avenues to global marketing that must be implemented in the planning and organization of global management. Here, we focus on the planning process, perhaps the single most important task for the international marketer. In exploring the various phases of the planning process, the foreign marketer should begin to develop the methodology by which the decision to enter a foreign market is made. Match the types of information to the proper phase of the international planning process. 1. Host-country(s) constraints Phase 1: Preliminary analysis and screening: Matching company/country needs 2. Company character (Click to select) 3. Measure performance (Click to select) 4. Price (Click to select) 5. Situation analysis (Click to select) 6. Distribution (Click to select) 7. Standards (Click to select) 8. Selecting modes of entry (Click to select) (Click to select) Phase 1: Preliminary analysis and screening: Matching company/country needs Phase 2: Defining market segments and adapting the marketing mix accordingly Phase 3: Developing the marketing plan Phase 4: Implementation and control