QUESTION:

Company A believes that it has achieved nationally all its strategic vision, goals and objectives and is thinking therefore of going international. It is accordingly developing a new strategic plan with the purpose of introducing its brand name, products and service to a new international market. The Company has received the approval of all stakeholders to proceed with the project only after the venture has been thoroughly investigated and found to be viable.

To that effect, a focus group is to be set up with the mandate to conduct a Feasibility Study in order to decide the viability of Company A going global. Your role as both HR Manager of Company A and Team Leader is to select the members of the focus group while ensuring that they cover all the dimensions of the project mandate, prepare a detailed plan on how you would conduct a thorough investigation of all aspects of the tasks at hand, including potential roadblocks and problems, and then state how you would implement the plan in order to be able to make the most appropriate recommendations to Company A's executive branch.

As a means of showing the level of your knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the mandate's goals and objectives, describe how you would proceed to achieve them, starting with the composition of the Focus Group and concluding with how relevant and important this exercise is to the strategic thinking and final decision of Company A going international. Discuss also some of the potential roadblocks and problems that you expect to encounter in accomplishing your mission.