KardeS, Inc. is a U$.$S$.-$based maker of software products for the health care industry. Recently, KardeS, Inc. has been investigating whether it would be beneficial to internationalize some of its value$-$chain activities.

There are two health care software development companies in India that could provide programming services at a lower cost than current expenditures for programming by KardeS, Inc.

In addition, an international market research shows that German health care companies have a strong demand for the type of software that KardeS offers.

Which of the following would be most important for KardeS, Inc. to consider when deciding whether to internationalize its sales efforts to Germany?

What type of training is received by programmers in software firms abroad?

How intense is the competition from German companies offering similar products?

Is employee empowerment culturally favored in Germany?

Will KardeS save money on advertising by targeting small rather than large companies?