As the firm looks for ways to offset the domestic downturn in sales, Deborah, the CEO of your company, wants to determine if a global strategy is a good fit for the organization. She has designated you as the manager for this project. You will work with your team to develop a global marketing plan for your organization.

You begin your research in deciding if and what the global strategy should be. You get your team together and begin to discuss a plan on how you will research this possibility.

You start the meeting by saying "Let's brainstorm and start to get a plan together for a possible globalization strategy. Tiffany, I'd like you work with me to begin researching possible locations."

Tiffany says, "I think we need to research some locations, but I think there is more to it than that. There still needs to be a decision on the type of strategy or approach we are taking. Would we use a multidomestic approach, a global approach, or a transnational approach? I'm still not entirely convinced a global strategy is the answer."

"Great point, Tiffany. It is obvious to me as well that we need to explore a strategy that will put us in a better position to handle the economic downturn. We have to provide the board with the facts. They seem to be leaning in the direction of a global strategy, but I'm not sure it's the right move either. That's why we need to do research."

Discuss the following:

• How do you define a global strategy?
• Are there other international strategies, and how do they differ?
• Identify a minimum of 3 possible countries and location options for globalization. Research each of these locations in the furniture industry, and document both the pros and cons of using these in global strategy.
• What country would you choose? What evidence can you provide in support of your choice?
• What evidence might somebody else, who does not agree with you, provide to support his or her choice?
• What could you tell somebody else to show he or she is wrong?