Certified Global Business Professional (400 hours)

Course Overview/Description

The North American Small Business International Trade Educators Association (NASBITE) Certified Global Business Professional Credential (CGBP) provides a benchmark for competency in global commerce. The CGBP designation demonstrates an individual's ability to conduct global business including Global Business Management, Global Marketing, Supply Chain Management, and Trade Finance. For candidates experienced in international trade, the certification confirms that knowledge. For candidates just beginning, it establishes a professional development goal to ensure a full understanding of the profession. For companies, it assures that employees are able to practice global business at the professional level required in today's competitive environment.

This online preparatory program for the examination leading to the Certified Global Business Professional Credential is a prestigious acknowledgement of international business expertise.

The Program
The North American Small Business International Trade Educators Association (NASBITE) Certified Global Business Professional credential is attained by taking a qualifying examination. A preparatory program for the examination is offered in four modules through Gatlin Education Services. The four modules include:

Global Management
This module provides an overview of essential skills for the practice of management in an international business context. It covers practical applications of management including: setting a mission and vision for the global business enterprise; developing a global business plan; conducting research in an international environment; understanding the nuances of cultural, legal, political and regulatory differences; and using technology to support global trade.

Global Marketing
This module provides an overview of essential skills for the practice of marketing in an international business context. It covers practical applications of marketing including: assessing the external environment, performing strengths-weaknesses-opportunities-threats (SWOT) analysis, conducting international market research, developing a marketing plan and budget, determining the global marketing mix (product, price, placement, and promotional strategies), and conducting competitor analysis. Material is presented in the form of readings, e-lectures, practical applications, and self assessments.

Supply Chain Management
This module provides an overview of essential skills for managing supply-chain logistics in an international business context. It covers practical applications of supply-chain management including: transportation modes; taxes, duties and quotas; trade agreements; packaging requirements; use of intermediaries; documentation requirements; legal and regulatory requirements; insurance; trade conventions; and the offshore procurement process.

Trade Finance
This module provides an overview of essential skills for managing financial transactions in an international trade. It covers practical applications of trade finance including: political and economic risks, foreign exchange tactics and risks, credit and payment risks, optimal terms of payment, arranging financing, and setting the business's overall financial plan.

Benefits of the Program

• The program was developed by academics, industry practitioners and professionals who assisted in the development of the certified Global Business Professional Credential.
• The program is completely online - there are no required text books or manuals.
• The focus of the program is preparing students to pass the certification exam.
• The program is facilitated by instructors with students progressing at their own pace.
• Faculty are experienced teachers with extensive backgrounds related to the material

Course Objectives

After completing this course, students will have covered material included in The North American Small Business International Trade Educators (NASBITE) Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP) examination, including:

• The management challenge of international trade.
• Aspects of the global business planning process.
• Factors affecting management of international trade.
• Information sources for global business planning.
• Sources of assistance for global business planning.
• Practical tools for international trade.
• The management context of global business.
• Evaluating the internal and external environment to identify potential marketing threats and opportunities.
• Developing and implementing the global marketing plan.
• Coordinating the marketing mix of goods and services.
• Optimizing supply-chain solutions to meet the requirements of the international business plan including evaluation of all modes of transportation, inventory, time to market, landed costs, and customer requirements.
• Evaluating and selecting potential intermediaries necessary to support the international business plan.
• Completing documents required for international movement of product and services.
• Coordinating with other departments to calculate the true cost, benefits, and risks of proposed transactions in order to implement risk management policies.
• Facilitating the offshore procurement process.
• Assessing political and economic risks and cultural issues of the target country to establish the financial costs and viability.
• Evaluating foreign currency exchange risk and selecting, implementing, and managing risk mitigation techniques to protect the company against fluctuation of foreign exchange.
• Researching and analyzing credit history and payment capacity of the potential buyers/partners to assess the commercial risk of the buyer.
• Establishing the most appropriate methods and terms of payment.
• Selecting appropriate methods, terms, and currency of payment to agents, sales representatives, distributors, suppliers, and international joint ventures.
• Developing a short, medium and long-term financial plan.

Course Outline

• Global Management
  1. Management Challenge of International Trade
  2. Aspects of the Global Business Planning Process
  3. Factors Affecting Management of International Trade
  4. Information Sources for Global Business Planning
  5. Sources of Assistance for Global Business Planning
  6. Practical Tools for International Trade
  7. The Management Context of Global Business

• Global Marketing
  1. Evaluating the Internal and External Environment
  2. Developing and Implementing the Global Marketing Plan
  3. Coordinating the Marketing Mix

• Global Trade Finance
  1. Political Economic and Cultural Risks
  2. Foreign Exchange Risk and Mitigation
  3. Researching, Analyzing and Mitigating Credit Risk
  4. Optimizing Methods of Payment and Documentation
  5. Payment Terms
  6. Developing the Short, Medium, and Long-term Financial Plan

• Global Supply-Chain Management
  1. Optimizing Supply-Chain Solutions
  2. Evaluating and Selecting Potential Intermediaries
  3. Completing Documents for International Movement of Products and Services
  4. Calculating Costs, Benefits, and Risks of International Transactions
  5. Facilitating Offshore Procurement Processes

Prerequisites/Audience

Audience includes NASBITE members, as well as practitioners, educators and students engaged in international trade and global commerce. Candidates from small and large companies will benefit, as will students in two- or four-year degree programs. The credential is also suitable for individuals working in trade-assistance organizations, trade-promotion agencies, and related educational institutions.

PC Requirements/Materials Included

This course is compatible with the Windows Vista operating system.

A Windows or MAC system is acceptable with access to the Internet via a 56.6K modem or better. Microsoft Office and Macromedia's Shockwave and Flash applications (free download) are also required. There are no required textbooks. All material is contained in the course and can be printed for future reference.

Instructor Bio

Instructor biographies vary, although all instructors have a PhD or an MBA or are industry practitioners who are subject-matter experts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How do I register?
Click on the register button at the top of the page and follow the directions. It is important that you type all your information in the boxes, then print it out to sign.  Payment and sending instructions are in the bottom right corner of the form.

2. How much do the courses cost?
The fee is in the pink box at the top of the page.

3. What trade skills are certified and at what depth?
The NASBITE CGBP certifies that a candidate is competent in the four primary areas:

1. Global-Business Management
2. Global Marketing
3. Supply-Chain Management
4. Trade Finance

Within each area are the following five "threads", which are topics that cross all four areas:

1. Documentation
2. Legal and Regulatory Compliance
3. Intercultural Awareness
4. Technology
5. Resources

Within each of these areas and threads, there are tasks and knowledge statements tested through the CGBP exam. The NASBITE CGBP does not certify that a candidate is an expert in each of the four domains. It certifies that a candidate is proficient in the tasks and knowledge generally associated with a practitioner who has worked in global trade for two years.

4. What are the benefits of the CGBP certification?
Candidates receiving the NASBITE CGBP designation may use the credential logo and word mark on resumes and business cards identifying them to employers and the public as individuals proficient in global commerce. For companies, the certification establishes a professional development goal for current and future employees. The credential also helps individuals diversify their skills in global commerce and assures they understand a broad range of topics rather than just the specific field they have experienced within international trade.

5. What is required to achieve certification?
To receive the NASBITE CGBP designation a candidate must pass the CGBP exam and have completed either two years of college-level study, or have worked in global commerce for two years.

6. What is the CGBP exam and when is it offered? What is the cost?
The CGBP exam is a multiple-choice exam covering the four areas and five threads. The exam is offered in major U.S. cities at various times during the year. Locations and dates are posted on www.nasbite.org under Exam Locations.

7. Can I register for courses if I live outside the United States?
Yes you can!

8. How long does it take to complete a course?
All of our courses are self-paced and open enrollment. You can start and finish the course at your own pace. When you register for a course, you are given 180 days (6 months) to complete the course. If you need more time, extensions are available.

9. How can I get more information on the course?
All of the information we have is available online under our course catalog (www.gatlineducation.com). If you have questions that are not answered online, please feel free to email us at courseinfo@gatlineducation.com or call 817-870-2870. We will answer your questions promptly.