Reference no: EM132245321 , Length: 3000 Words

International Business Management Assignment -

Learning Outcomes:

Knowledge:

• Recognise how doing business in a global market differs from that of the domestic market.
• Understand the processes and methods by which a firm analyses environmental factors to determine the ethical requirements and social responsibilities needed for global operations.
• Recognise the internal and external factors that influence the success of global activities. Identify opportunities, barriers and risks present in a global market and understand the methods used to manage them.
• Understand the breadth of knowledge within the discipline of international business management and recognise that further knowledge can be acquired.
• Recognise the major sectors of the international business environment and associate cultural, social, economic and political awareness with successful international integration.

Skills:

• Determine suitable organisational design and management practice to best utilise the firm's available resources in different global locations and functions.
• Use appropriate information technology to adapt the firm's operations to best suit the environmental, business and economic conditions in a foreign market.
• Undertake individual and group research in order to develop verbal and written communication skills to convey relevant concepts associated with international business.

Application of knowledge and skills:

• Use initiative and judgement in examining and implementing international business practice in a professional workplace environment.
• Adapt international business management knowledge and skills to achieve different organisational objectives that exist within a range of organisational and management frameworks.
• Demonstrate the ability to confidently communicate practical and theoretical concepts associated with international business management.

Assessment Task 1: Individual research report

Assessment details:

You are a (SME) product manufacturer (or the supplier of a service). Your marketing department has identified a potential market in another country. The decision to enter this new market simply needs to be supported by environmental analysis. This analysis will report on the operating environment in your target country - specifically in the context of your product or service and its compatibility with your strategy.

The word limit is 2500 words.

Your analysis will include a PESTEL analysis - and other external analysis supportive of your intended strategy - specifically, the "O" and "T" of a SWOT analysis. (Do not discuss factors internal to your company in this assignment - you are examining only the external environment - you will discuss internal factors in the next assignment)

In the report you must:

• Clearly identify the product/service and the (single) target country. You must cross over a national boundary - ie new rules and conditions.
• Undertake the environmental analysis in the context of your product. Therefore, your discussion should relate specifically to how environmental factors will potentially impact upon your chosen product/service.
• Identify the main external opportunity and threat for this venture - i.e. the key deal maker or reason for you to consider this product in this country ("O"). Also, discuss the key deal breaker or possible factor that will negatively impact upon this venture ("T"). This can be also interpreted as being the key external factor upon which you will build your strategy, and a key external risk that might hinder success.
• Provide a recommendation in the context of your product. (The second assignment builds on this assignment so, it is assumed that you will find positively for the operating environment in this assignment.)

A few things to note:

• This is NOT a marketing report! - it is an environmental analysis.
• The product may already exist or it could be an innovation.
• Research widely, using credible sources - these MUST be referenced (using APA)
• Do not directly use cut/paste from your sources - even if it is referenced. You WILL be marked down! Rewrite/reinterpret in your own words.
• Use report format - professionally presented.

Assessment Task 2: Individual research report

Assessment details:

Prepare a written research report that builds on your first assessment - using the same product/service mentioned in task #1. This assessment examines an entry strategy and operational structure for your planned move into another country.

The word limit is 3000 words.

At a minimum, you will need to discuss:

• your chosen entry mode - and why it was chosen over its closest contender
• why you expect this venture to be successful - the "S" and "W" of your SWOT. This can be expanded to involve discussion as to the key core competency of the firm that will promote success, and also the key internal weakness that might hinder success. Can this weakness be overcome?
• the operational strategy and corporate objective
• the intended organisational design - e.g. global product, global area, global function, global customer or matrix design
• the scope for expansion within your chosen country/market
• financial capital requirements (analytical discussion only - no numerical data is needed)
• staffing policy - ethnocentric, polycentric, geocentric. (You may also break this down to management and non-management, depending on the size of your operation.)

A few things to note:

• This is NOT a marketing report! - rather, this report examines an entry strategy
• Research widely, using credible sources - these MUST be referenced (using APA)
• Do not directly use cut/paste from your sources - even if it is referenced. You WILL be marked down! Rewrite/reinterpret in your own words.
• DO NOT RECYCLE TEXT FROM ASSIGNMENT #1. You can discuss concepts raised in task #1 but you MUST present this as an extension of earlier ideas - not just a repeat of text.
• Use report format - professionally presented. Do not exceed the word limit. Anything beyond the word limit will not be assessed.

Attachment:- Assignment File.rar