LEVEL 7 ASSIGNMENT SPECIFICATION
Programme:
MBA
Module Level:
7
Module:
International Business
Module code:
SBLC7015
Contribution to Overall
Module Assessment (%):
100%
Assignment No(s):
1 of 1
Assignment Title(s):
Strategies for analysing and engaging with foreign markets.
Lecturer:
Dr Vincent Wee Eng Kim
Internal Verifier:
Hand Out Date:
Submission deadline:
Feedback deadline:
25th March 2021
Referencing:
In the main body of your submission you must give credit to authors on whose research your work is based. Append to your submission a reference list that indicates the books, articles, etc. that you have read or quoted in order to complete this assignment (e.g. for books: surname of author and initials, year of publication, title of book, edition, publisher: place of publication).
Disclosure:
Please include the following statement on the title page of the submitted assignment, followed by your name:
I declare that this assignment is all my own work and that I have acknowledged all materials used from the published or unpublished works of other people. All references have been duly cited.
All assignments must be submitted to Turnitin unless otherwise instructed by the Lecturer.
Note: the Turnitin version is the primary submission and acts as a receipt for the student. Late submission of the electronic version of the assignment will result in a late penalty mark. Penalties for late submission: Up to oneweek late, maximum mark of 50%. Over one week late, Refer. Only the UWTSD Extenuating Circumstances Panel may grant an extension.
YES
X
NO
Learning Outcomes tested
(from module descriptor)
Assessment Criteria - To achieve each outcome a student must demonstrate the ability to:
1.
Critically analyse and evaluate the theories, concepts and contexts which frame the international institutional trade and multi-national investment environment including political, economic, social, technological and environmental factors
· Demonstrate a critical analysis of theories, concepts, tools and frameworks that underpin the process of analysing foreign markets prior to deciding those that are chosen for entry.
2.
Analyse and critically evaluate the modes of engagement, key decision and strategy frameworks applied within international markets and the interconnectedness between these and the economic, legal, governmental, political, regulatory, cultural and other environments in which international companies operate;
· A critical analysis of the opportunities and challenges presented to firms operating in an international business environment including the relevant management decision criteria to successfully exploit such opportunities and mitigate any potential risks.
TASK DESCRIPTION– ASSIGNMENT (100%)
BACKGROUND / INTRODUCTION
Through the application of relevant international business tools and frameworks, this assignment requires students to analyse critically the process that companies go through in researching, entering and engaging with foreign markets. Students should comment upon any potential practical, international or cross-cultural risks or opportunities involved.
TASKS
You are required to;
1. Select a business organisation of your choice that is already involved in a foreign market or is contemplating on entering a foreign market.
Any Sector, any industry easy to access information.
2. The selected business organisation must be agreed with your lecture
3. Critically evaluate through the use of relevant business tools and frameworks the suitability of the foreign market selected
5 forces, stakeholder analysis, Swot, Diamond model by Porte
4. Analyse any actual or potential risks in the foreign market selected based on the cu
ent Digital Transformation within the global market.
Eg. Cu
ent pandemic. More business trying to exploit to technology
Justify the model you chosen, why you go India.
5. Critically analyse the mode of entry utilised/or to be utilised by the chosen company to suitably realise the opportunities available and overcome the risks in the foreign market selected.
Suggest mode of entry, justify your choice
Identify opportunities and threats (risks)
6. Critically analyse relevant management responses that have been undertaken by the selected company to realise the opportunities offered in the market selected (including the management of its human resources; operational function; marketing and cross-cultural issues).
Design strategy after id threat at section 5.
Business strategy, product strategy, pricing, HR, cross-culture analysis of the market/country
Id the threats and how are you going to overcome
Who competitor, how to do better than them to let customer choose you
HR - HR strategy,Staffing,
Training and development, Compensation,
Expatriates,
Performance appraisal,
Labour relations,
Operations,
Manufacturing, Logistics, Outsourcing
Marketing – Mix, Product/Services,
Pricing,
Distribution (Place), Promotion(IMC),People, Process, Physical Evidence
Cultural - Cultural issues,O/T,Elements/Characteristics
Competitive analysis - Who?
How big?
What products/services? What is THEIR advantage?
What's different about them?
Direct? Indirect?
7. Please suggest practical and justified recommendations about how the company selected can achieve/or could achieve competitive advantage in the market selected.
8. Prepare an academic report using the structure below;
· Title Page
· Table of Contents
· Executive summary-Not more than 200 words (does not count towards the overall word count)
· Introduction
· Literature review
· Discussion and analysis
· Conclusions
· Recommendations
· References
· Bibliography
· Appendix-use sparingly
LENGTH REQUIRED
3000 words +/- 10%. Any deviation from this will be penalised.
FORMATTING AND LAYOUT
Please note the following when completing your written assignment:
1. Writing: Written in English in an appropriate business/academic style
1. Focus: Focus only on the tasks set in the assignment.
1. Length: 3000 words maximum
1. Formatting: Typed on A4 paper in Times New Roman or Arial font 12 with at least 2.5 centimetre space at each edge, double spaced and pages numbered.
1. Document format: Report (Please do not write in the first or second person).
1. Ensure a clear title, course, and name or ID number is on a cover sheet and a bibliography using Harvard referencing throughout is also provided.
1. Research: Research should use reliable and relevant sources of information e.g. academic books and journals that have been peer reviewed. The research should be extensive.
The use of a range of information sources is expected – academic books, peer reviewed journal articles, professional articles, press releases and newspaper articles, reliable statistics, company annual reports and other company information. All referencing should be in Harvard style.
marking criteria and Student FEEDBACK – ASSIGNMENT(100%)
This section details the assessment criteria. The extent to which these are demonstrated by you determines your mark. The marks available for each criterion are shown. Lecturers use a similar format to comment on the achievement of the task(s), including those areas in which you have performed well and areas that would benefit from development/improvement.
Common Assessment Criteria Applied
Marks available
Marks
Awarded
1. Research-informed Literature
Extent of research and/or own reading, selection of credible sources, application of appropriate referencing conventions.
A critical review of contemporary academic literature; the concepts and frameworks of international business related to foreign market analysis; choice of mode of entry and related management interventions from a range of academic sources;
25
2. Knowledge and Understanding of Subject
Extent of knowledge and understanding of concepts and underlying principles associated with the discipline.
The level of; demonstration of knowledge; the grasp of these concepts/theories or models and their use in relation to the case study and the foreign market selected;
25
3. Analysis
Analysis, evaluation and synthesis; logic, argument and judgement; analytical reflection; organisation of ideas and evidence
A critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis of the relevant concepts/frameworks of international business to the case study and foreign market selected;
20
4. Practical Application and Deployment
Deployment of methods, materials, tools and techniques; application of concepts; formulation of innovative and creative solutions to solve problems.
Critical application of the relevant tools; frameworks and international business strategies to provide solutions to the potential challenges or take advantage of available opportunities for the case study selected;
20
5. Skills for Professional Practice
Attributes in professional practice: individual and collaborative working; deployment of appropriate media; presentation and organisation.
Presentation and coherent structure of the assignment including referencing of sources as per the Harvard style of referencing;
10
TOTAL
100
Assessment Mark (Assessment marks are subject to ratification at the Exam Board. These comments and marks are to give feedback on module work and are for guidance only until they are confirmed. )
Late Submission Penalties (tick if appropriate)
%
Up to 1 week late (50% Max)
Over 1 week late (0%)
GUIDANCE FOR Students IN THE COMPLETION OF TASKS
NOTE: The guidance offered below is linked to the five common assessment criteria overleaf and specifically aligned to the “exceptional” outcome category to which we anticipate students aspire.
1. Research-informed Literature
Your work must embed and be informed and supported by relevant and credible scholarly material that is accessible in the learned journals listed on the module schedule. You should refer to at least 25 such sources. Additionally, you should refer to text books, cu
ent news items and benchmark your organisation against other organisations to ensure your assignment is cu
ent and up-to-date. High-level referencing skills using the Harvard Method must be demonstrated throughout your work and all sources listed alphabetically within your bibliography.
1. Knowledge and Understanding of Subject
Your work must demonstrate the growing extent of your knowledge and understanding of concepts and underlying principles associated with the subject area. This means that within your work, you should provide evidence of your growing mastery in critical awareness of cu
ent challenges, new insights and the constant need for innovation within the field. Furthermore, a critical awareness of the ambiguities and limitations of knowledge and even understanding, should be considered and examples of such, illustrated within your work.
1. Analysis
To be considered masters worthy, your work must contain evidence of analysis, evaluation and synthesis. This means not just describing “What!” but also justifying: Why? How? When? Who? Where? And at what cost! At all times, you must provide justification of your arguments and judgements. Evidence that you have reflected upon the ideas of others on matters occu
ing in the real world of business is crucial to you providing a reasoned and informed debate within your work. Your choice of methodologies to gather data and information must be rigorously defended. Furthermore, you should provide evidence that you are able to make sound judgements and convincing arguments in the absence of complete data, since within the real world of work, we rarely have access to, or know all the information! Persuasive conclusions are especially necessary and must be derived from the content of your work – there should be no new information presented within your conclusion. Your work should aspire to resemble work which is of journal publishable quality.
1. Practical Application and Deployment
It is essential that you rationalise how you