TITLE:
Country Selection for International Expansion: TOPSIS Method Analysis
AUTHORS:
Assamoi Valerie Christian, Yabin Zhang, Coulibaly Kigbajah Salifou
KEYWORDS:
Country Selection, Market Expansion, TOPSIS Multi-Criteria Model, Emerging Markets
JOURNAL NAME:
Modern Economy,
Vol.7 No.4,
April
29,
2016
ABSTRACT: Using multi-criteria TOPSIS decision analysis, aimed at an optimal choice
from a pool of alternatives between positive and negative ideal solutions
respectively, subject to a relatively shorter geometric distance to the former
solution, a step by step process is carried out to elaborate on how to
successfully select a market for expansion. Dataset of 13 economic indicators
covering a period from 2000 to 2013 has been used to evaluate the best suitable
country among five African emerging markets for the expansion of an Ivorian
company named FILTISAC. The results indicate that TOPSIS is a robust and
efficient method that can be utilized in a multi-decision analysis process for
country selection in view of foreign market expansion strategy. It is empirically
determined that South Africa is the most suitable country for company expansion
amongst those selected viz. Nigeria, Egypt, Morocco and Ghana.