Here are some duties and responsibilities which international business consultant does:
? Provides specialized consulting services to firms or companies.
? Helps businesses navigate the complicated international marketplace.
? Provides information that is up-to-date and relevant for companies that are planning international expansions about the market and international business world.
? Pass on information about business practices and legal implications of owning a business in another country.
? Conveys information regarding foreign business investments as well as opportunities.
? Researches about various markets around the world.
? Provides information about risk and business analysis.
? Proposes recommendations to a company based on the conducted research.
? Provide guidance for companies or corporations entering new markets internationally.
? Understands the business requirements well and suggest suitable improvements in the business processes.
? Can go beyond national boundaries and look at the international domain

Other duties and activities of international business consultant are going to different countries for research regarding international business markets as well as looking for opportunities for investment. He also conducts meetings with various business professionals, financial agents, as well as government officials of different countries. When research is done, he presents reports and conducts discussions with clients about the right choice for international ventures. He also provides marketing and advertising services. He supports the companies in different aspect for the business? development. That is why it is very important that he have strong business management skills, awareness of the recent foreign policies and political economic developments that may affect foreign businesses, ability to carry out skilful administration or, excellent communication skills, excellent research skills, and strong international network of associates that can give accurate information about the business climate and markets in different countries. He should also have hands-on experience in working with different international companies. He may provide services in a specialized field or in a range of fields.

International business consultant must possess leadership skills, should be adaptable to change, should be able to identify key strategic inflection points, and can suggest firms on ways to adapt to the new changes in the external environment. He may work as independents or may be hired as internal consultants. It takes time, college education and experience to develop the skills needed to specialize as an International business consultant.

Prior to the entitlement, less than one third of Australian employees had a super. Now, over 94% of Australian employees benefit from this retirement investing. Employees contribute 9% of an employee’s non-overtime wages to a fund on their behalf. However, not all funds are created equal. When they were first introduced, an industry super fund was only made available to those employed by the specific industry. Now, an industry super is not a closed fund, but rather a non-profit investment fund. Industry superannuation funds offer several benefits over retail funds.

When you invest in an industry super, you pay lower fees, never pay financial planner commissions and join an industry super fund that has outperformed retail funds for the past five years. While not all industry superannuation funds have outperformed the market, many have shown substantial increases when compared to similar retail offerings. Plus, since these funds are not-for-profit, the only goal is to help you earn the maximum amount of money for retirement. Changing funds is a simple process, so if you are not currently invested in an industry super fund make the switch now.

(1) Strategic Risk
(2) Operational Risk
(3) Political Risk
(4) Country Risk
(5) Technological Risk
(6) Environmental Risk
(7) Economic Risk
(8) Financial Risk
(9) Terrorism Risk

Strategic Risk: The ability of a firm to make a strategic decision in order to respond to the forces that are a source of risk. These forces also impact the competitiveness of a firm. Porter defines them as: threat of new entrants in the industry, threat of substitute goods and services, intensity of competition within the industry, bargaining power of suppliers, and bargaining power of consumers.

Operational Risk: This is caused by the assets and financial capital that aid in the day-to-day business operations. The breakdown of machineries, supply and demand of the resources and products, shortfall of the goods and services, lack of perfect logistic and inventory will lead to inefficiency of production. By controlling costs, unnecessary waste will be reduced, and the process improvement may enhance the lead-time, reduce variance and contribute to efficiency in globalization.

Political Risk: The political actions and instability may make it difficult for companies to operate efficiently in these countries due to negative publicity and impact created by individuals in the top government. A firm cannot effectively operate to its full capacity in order to maximize profit in such an unstable country’s political turbulence. A new and hostile government may replace the friendly one, and hence expropriate foreign assets.

Country Risk: The culture or the instability of a country may create risks that may make it difficult for multinational companies to operate safely, effectively, and efficiently. Some of the country risks come from the governments’ policies, economic conditions, security factors, and political conditions. Solving one of these problems without all of the problems (aggregate) together will not be enough in mitigating the country risk.

Technological Risk: Lack of security in electronic transactions, the cost of developing new technology, and the fact that these new technology may fail, and when all of these are coupled with the outdated existing technology, the result may create a dangerous effect in doing business in the international arena.

Environmental Risk: Air, water, and environmental pollution may affect the health of the citizens, and lead to public outcry of the citizens. These problems may also lead to damaging the reputation of the companies that do business in that area.

Economic Risk: This comes from the inability of a country to meet its financial obligations. The changing of foreign-investment or/and domestic fiscal or monetary policies. The effect of exchange-rate and interest rate make it difficult to conduct international business.

Financial Risk: This area is affected by the currency exchange rate, government flexibility in allowing the firms to repatriate profits or funds outside the country. The devaluation and inflation will also impact the firm’s ability to operate at an efficient capacity and still be stable. Most countries make it difficult for foreign firms to repatriate funds thus forcing these firms to invest its funds at a less optimal level. Sometimes, firms’ assets are confiscated and that contributes to financial losses.

Terrorism Risk: These are attacks that may stem from lack of hope; confidence; differences in culture and religious philosophy, and/or merely hate of companies by citizens of host countries. It leads to potential hostile attitudes, sabotage of foreign companies and/or kidnapping of the employers and employees. Such frustrating situations make it difficult to operate in these countries.

Although the benefits in international business exceed the risks, firms should take a risk assessment of each country and to also include intellectual property, red tape and corruption, human resource restrictions, and ownership restrictions in the analysis, in order to consider all risks involved before venturing into any of the countries.

Dr. Sidney Okolo is a professor, consultant, strategist, and Africa expert. He is affiliated to several universities, the Managing Director of International Business Associates, a management consulting firm, and also the CEO of Global Education Support, an education assistance program.

Among other things, he engages in all aspects of learning, knowledge, organization and human change. His focus is on leadership, management, entrepreneurship, profit engineering, human potential, excellence, achievement, business strategy, research and development. Product management, change management, conflict management, athlete management, marketing, business development and operations. He works with clients to adapt to change due to change in factors of production, technology, goods and services. He engages clients in training, retraining, development, skills enhancement, association, behavior modification, ways of thinking, and attitude adjustment. In addition to his work in the United States, his focus is also on developing countries in the continent of Africa, their leadership, culture, economic and market structure, community planning and development, and his created four letter word, “PIES”, which stands for: poverty, instability, ethnicity, and sectarianism.

(b) Manufacturing and Marketing : The manufacturing exports are those who export goods manufactured by them. Many MNCs and other firms both small and large do manufacturing and marketing
(c) Sourcing and Marketing : There are many MNCs and firms which outsource their products which they market at home and abroad.
(d) Global Sourcing for Production : There are many firms that outsource globally their raw material, intermediates etc required for their manufacturing.

(e) Services : Services is an enormous and fast growing sector of international businesses. There is a large variety of services rendered Sinternationally. The broad segment includes tourism and transportations, IT, banking, insurance, consultancies etc.
(f) Investments : International portfolio investment has been growing fast, as a result of globalization. FDI are associates with establishment of manufacturing or marketing facilities abroad.
So, in short we can say that every business in today’s world is growing internationally and world is coming closer and with this there are greater chances of revenue generation.

The skills acquired through training are beneficial to all students, even students that apply education to careers outside of the business industry. The principles can be applied to almost any field by preparing students to become reliable and intelligent professionals. Colleges offer students the chance to work through programs at every degree level. Several concentrations can be completed allowing students to focus their training to fit their career goals. Colleges offer programs in areas such as:

Entrepreneurship

Leadership

Global Business

Business Administration

This is a limited list of what programs can be completed. Students should research the variety of programs offered and what educational expectations exist for job placement. Some careers, especially leadership positions require students to complete graduate degree programs. Students can work directly through all required levels or gain an undergraduate degree and work for a couple of years. This gives them time to develop professional experience that they can practically apply to education at the graduate degree level.

Working to complete an associate’s degree program is often a basic step to transitioning into a bachelor’s degree program. This is done because most business careers require students to have bachelor’s degrees. A program for business administration, for example, trains students to develop an understanding in management theory, computer technology, and accounting. Courses teach students to take concepts in areas such as microeconomics and financial reporting and apply them to the business world. This is best carried out when students step inside the industry and obtain jobs working for retail, nonprofit, and small businesses.

Entry-level positions in all areas of the field can be entered when students complete bachelor’s degree programs. Training encompasses major key principles like management, accounting, business law, international business, and human resource management education. The focus of this wide range of knowledge is to prepare students for their specializations and careers. The standard curriculum no matter what specialization is chosen requires students to demonstrate the relationships between quantitative theory, economy, accounting, marketing, and human resource management. The successful completion of a program gives students the ability to plan, staff, organize, manage, and direct several areas of a business inside the professional workforce. Further education usually reflects the chosen specialization of students or they can choose one if they worked through general business programs.

Advanced training at the graduate level is offered inside master of business administration or doctoral level degree programs. Students study several areas, which may include courses in advertising, management, leadership, customer relationship, acquisition, and more. Depending on the concentration students learn what is expected inside executive and managerial positions.

Accredited business training provides students with a plethora of educational opportunities and career choices. Students can begin their training by enrolling in colleges that offer the programs they are interested in. Agencies like the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) can fully accredit the best quality career training programs. Complete a degree program and become a valuable business professional.