BM023-3-2

Individual Assignment

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Learning Outcomes: Understand a variety of international environmental influences on Business. Analysis of t e im!act of uncertainty on International Business Be aviour. Objectives of the Assignment: "o !erform an environmental analysis of a country of your c oice in com!arison to anot er country "o identify !ossi#le o!!ortunities and t reats "o analyse o$ t e environmental factors in terms of !olitical-legal% social% economic and tec nological environment can affect t e international o!eration functions and decision-ma&ing of a #usiness "o #e a#le to !erform a costs-#enefits-ris& assessment "o determine and evaluate t e most a!!ro!riate mar&et entry strategy Background: 'ou are an e(ecutive $or&ing for a consulting firm called GLOBAL CONNECTION. 'our firm s!ecialises in doing international mar&et researc and !roviding !rofessional advice on international #usiness ventures to local small medium #usiness entre!reneurs and large com!anies t at $is to e(!and t eir o!eration overseas. ) oose an industry *+(am!les, te(tile% food !roduct% consumer electronics% s oes% restaurant c ain% agricultural !roduct% -alal !roduct.. 'ou $ill #e res!onsi#le for researc ing and giving com!re ensive information of t e current environmental conditions of a foreign country c osen from t e list #elo$ and o$ t ey affect t e !ros!ects and feasi#ility of international #usiness endeavours. " e !ur!ose of your !resentation is to create a$areness of t e ossib!e benefits% costs and risks of entering into International Business venture so t ese entre!reneurs or #usiness managers can ma&e sound decision. 'ou need to give recommendations and/or a summary of $ at t ese entre!reneurs need to #e a$are of #efore c oosing to enter into t e country $ ic you c osen. ) oose any ONE "#$ of t e follo$ing countries% analyse t eir P+0" environment and e(!lain o$ t e environmental conditions of t e country of your c oice $ill affect an international #usiness venture ." e country of your c oice must not be the one that %ou originate from. 1. 2. 3. 3. )am#odia 1ietnam 0out 2orea -ong 2ong 4. 5. 6. 7. "ai$an ) ile Pa&istan 0ri 8an&a

" e lengt of t is $ritten assignment is a!!ro(imately &'()) $ords to #e su#mitted toget er $it a softco % in )9 format. 0tudents need to use ade:uate references to su#stantiate t eir researc and re!ort. *;ften to o#tain a credit or a distinction% students are re:uired to !resent 10 or more quality references.
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BM023-3-2

Individual Assignment

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'ou are re:uired to state t e num#er of $ords *e(cluding t e e(ecutive summary% content !age% references and #i#liogra! y. used on t e cover of t e assignment. 9iagrams% figures% references% #i#liogra! y and any a!!endices made in your re!ort are not su#<ected to any $ord !enalty. A sliding scale of !enalties for e(cess lengt $ill #e im!osed. " e !enalties $ill #e as follo$s, 2%001-2%200 2%201-2%300 2%301-2%500 2%501 and a#ove =o !enalty 10> reduction in t e mar& 20> reduction in t e mar& " e $or& $ill #e ca!!ed at a !ass i.e. 40>

*aking +eferences 'ou are not limited to use only International Business te(t#oo&s. ;t er related te(t#oo&s suc as Internationa! Business Communication% Internationa! *anagement% Internationa! ,uman +esource *anagement and G!oba!-Internationa! *arketing can #e used. -o$ever% you are recommended to use recent <ournals% re!orts% surveys% and ne$s!a!er articles from credi#le sources *$ ic can #e online or offline materials. instead of only te(t#oo&s and general information $e#sites for your references in order to !rovide more u!-to-date information to su!!ort your $riting. 0tudents $ o fail to use any <ournals% re!orts and surveys as sources of references $ill receive a lo$er mar& in t e overa!! .ua!it% criterion. Pu#lis ed information from s!ecialty maga?ines suc @The EconomistA and @Business /eekA is ig ly recommended. 'ou can visit $$$.economist.com and $$$.#usiness$ee&.com. Please refer to your li#rarian for #ac&dated articles t at cannot #e accessi#le online. Anot er recommended $e#site $ill #e *c0inse% 1uarter!% t at is accessi#le at tt!s,//$$$.mc&insey:uarterly.com/ ome.as!(. 9e!ending on t e c osen country% you are encouraged to read @Asia 2uture 3hockA $ritten #y *ichae! Backman to aid you in t is assignment. Citations and +eferences 'ou are re:uired to use !ro!er referencing met ods for t is assignment B ,arvard +eferencing 3%stem. +nsure eac citation as its reference and eac reference needs to ave a citation in t e document. =um#ering and #ullets are not re:uired for references. Ceferences need to #e !resented in an ascending al! a#etical order *i.e. from A to D..

3uggested 3tructure and 2ormat of /riting Belo$ is a suggested structure you can use for your re!ort. - +(ecutive 0ummary B identify t e countries you $ill #e focusing on% give #rief information in regards t e country demogra! y% economic !rofile and
8evel 2 Asia Pacific University )ollege of "ec nology and Innovation 201206

BM023-3-2

Individual Assignment

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International Business o!!ortunities *$ords in t e e(ecutive summary is not considered in your $ord count #ut it s ould not #e more t an ONE "#$ !age. - )over Page - )ontents - Political-8egal +nvironment - +conomic +nvironment - 0ocial +nvironment - "ec nological +nvironment - Cecommendations and summary " e re!ort must follo$ t e standard academic format. Eont , "imes =e$ Coman Eont 0i?e , -eadings-15!ts% 0u#- eadings-13!ts% normal $riting-12!ts 0!acing , 1.4

Breakdo4n of marks: Mar& allocation Criteria Com onents 1. 5o!itica!6!ega! environment B analysis and recommendation 2. Economic environment B analysis and recommendation 3. 3ocio6cu!tura! environment B analysis and recommendation 3. Techno!ogica! environment B analysis and recommendation 4. Overa!! .ua!it% of the document B this takes into account your presentation, executive summary, format, clarity of writing, use of language, flow of information, extensiveness of research, etc. Tota!

*arks a!!ocated 20 20 20 20 20

100

Note: Cecommendation can #e eit er $ritten under eac section of t e P+0" analysis or as a se!arate section at t e end of t e assignment. -o$ever% t e overall ans$er must give t e evidence or im!ression $ ere t e information !resented in t e P+0" analysis is lin&ed to or utilised in t e given recommendations. " is to avoid aving t e overall $or& a!!ears fragmented.

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Asia Pacific University )ollege of "ec nology and Innovation

201206

BM023-3-2

Individual Assignment

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*isce!!aneous " e follo$ing are some :uestions you need to as& in doing t is $ritten assignment. I*5O+TANT NOTE: 5LEA3E +EA7 *ake 3ense of 8our 7ata 9o not merely co!y t e statistical information a#out a countryFs economy or demogra! y and t en !aste it into your $ritten assignment. 'ou need to s o$ o$ t e statistical num#ers matter. 0tudents may 2AIL t is assignment if t ey do su#stantial co!ying and !asting of information #ut give little or no evidence to s o$ o$ t e data are relevant to t e targeted entre!reneurs or #usiness managers of t eir country in t eir assessment of t e #enefits% costs% and ris&s of !ossi#le international #usiness ventures. Eor e(am!le% many students $ill insert t e !o!ulation num#er of a country #ut fail to e(!lain o$ t is is used to ma&e decision $ et er to enter into t e mar&et or not. Is t e si?e of t e !o!ulation a determining factor of t e mar&et si?eG " e more relevant data students s ould o#tain is not t e si?e of t e !o!ulation #ut t e si9e of the market related to a !articular good or service $ ic an entre!reneur or a #usiness organisation $ants to sell. +ven if t ere is a large !o!ulation living in a country% t ere may #e limited num#er of !eo!le interested or ca!a#le of #uying t e !roduct. 7o Not /rite 5aragra h Ans4ers in Tab!es Avoid !utting long !aragra! information in ta#les <ust to circumvent t e $ord count. Information in t e ta#les s ould #e s ort and concise. Any attem!t #y students to insert long descri!tions% e(!lanations or analysis in ta#les $ill ave t e $ords in t em considered to$ards t e final $ord count. /rite 3hort 5aragra hs 9o not $rite in a long !aragra! . 'ou need to !resent your $ritings in s ort !aragra! s to effectively differentiate t e discussion or e(!lanation of one idea from t e ot er. " e follo$ing are some :uestions you could as& yourself $ en doing t is assignment. It is not necessary t at you ave to ans$er all t e :uestions as t ey are merely guides to give you some ideas of $ at information to loo& for. 9ue to t e $ord constraints% you $ill need to be se!ective of t e information you $ant to !resent and c oose t e salient !oints t at matter to t e chosen audience.

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Asia Pacific University )ollege of "ec nology and Innovation

201206

BM023-3-2

Individual Assignment

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9e!ending on your target audience% t e follo$ing is a guide of critica! .uestions you may need to as& yourself in order to &no$ $ at to !ut into your ans$er. 5o!itica!6 1. H at are t e influences of t e o!itica! regime of t e targeted country Lega! to t e !ros!ect of International BusinessG Is it su!!ortive of foreign Environment #usinessesG Hould t e !olitical systems #e o!en to foreign involvement into t e local industryG ;r $ould t e !olitical regime create cha!!enges to the o eration and market entr% of foreign com aniesG 9oes t e !olitical regime favour some countries over t e ot ersG H y is t ere suc favouritismG )ould t is favouritism #e overcome #y bi!atera! government interaction and negotiationG Is t ere any effort made #y your government to #uild !olitical-economic ties $it t e country of your c oiceG H at evidence do you ave to s o$ t at suc effort is made or #eing madeG 2. Hould t e current !olitical and legal system of a country lead to corru t ractices among !u#lic officials $ o deals $it foreign direct investment and ot er form of mar&et entryG Hould t is go against a com!anyFs ethica! o!iciesG -o$ $ould t e management decide in dealing $it t e corru!tion of t e ot er countryG If t e foreign #usiness agreed to underta&e t e #usiness endeavour and acce!t t e corru!t !ractice #y !u#lic officials% $ill t is lead to substantia! economic costs to t e #usinessG 3. H at are t e !ega! restrictions of t e foreign country t at may create difficulty in international #usiness endeavourG 3. H at are t e !egis!ations in t e foreign country of your c oice t at serve to rotect the interest of foreign business com anies G Is t ere sufficient enforcement #eing !racticedG 4. -o$ $ould t e !olitical condition of t e foreign country inf!uence the decision on internationa! business entr% mode G H ic mode of entry $ould #e most a!!ro!riate ta&ing into account t e !olitical considerationG 5. -o$ is t e current !olitical climate of t e country $ ic you are intended to enterG Are t ere any o!itica! uncertaintiesG Hould t ere #e a !olitical ris& in esta#lis ing #usiness o!eration in t at foreign country suc as a !ossi#le c ange in governmentG H at are t e !ossi#le im!lications of suc !olitical ris&sG Hould t e #enefits o#tained from t e !ros!ective international #usiness venture out$eig t e ris&sG 6. -o$ does t e o!itica!6!ega! c!imate of t e country of your c oice affect t e deve!o ment of the !oca! human ca ita!G

Techno!ogica!
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1. Is t ere ade:uate infrastructure in t e foreign country t at may affect

Asia Pacific University )ollege of "ec nology and Innovation 201206

BM023-3-2

Individual Assignment

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Environment t e o!eration of International BusinessG and Loca! 2. Are t ere fre.uent disru tions and rob!ems $it :uality in t e Infrastructure !rovision of uti!it% services *e.g. electricity% $ater% and telecommunication. in t e targeted country t at may adversely affect t e International #usiness o!erationG 3. 9oes t e current infrastructure suc as t e countryFs trans!ortation system ade:uately cover t e targeted mar&et areaG 3. Hould t e countr%:s trans ortation s%stem lead to logistic com!lications $ ic may lead to ig o!eration costsG H at solutions can #e !rovided to overcome t is !ro#lemG 4. Is t e !o!ulation techno!ogica!!% !iterate to ado!t ne$ innovations in t e country if introducedG Hould t e !o!ulations #e rece!tive of t e use of t ese ne$ innovationsG 5. Is t ere ade.uate ski!!ed !abour in t e local mar&et to !rovide t e needed man!o$er in andling high !eve! of techno!ogica! rocessG 3ocio6 Cu!tura! Environment 1. -o$ can !anguage #e a factor t at affects t e International Business o!erationG Hould a foreign country ave !reference in dealing $it anot er country $ ic it s ares t e same language *Eor e(am!le% t e #usiness relations of Erenc s!ea&ing countries in Africa and t e Erenc telecommunication com!any% ;range.G 2. Hould re!igion or ethnic factors #e relevant in International Business dealings *for e(am!le% a Muslim country #eing more o!ened to a foreign com!any coming from anot er Muslim country es!ecially if it deals $it t e trading of halal !roducts.G Hould t e #usiness and mar&et !o!ulations in t e country #e a#le to acce!t t e #usiness dealings% !roducts or services from a #usiness organisation $it different religious and et nic affiliationG 3. Hould t e differing va!ues and norms of t e countryFs society result in different consumer #e aviourG Is t ere a need to design a different marketing strateg% to enter into t e targeted foreign mar&et or can t e mar&eting strategy #e standardised to ac ieve o!erational efficiencyG Eor e(am!le% in t e digital gaming industry% American consumers often li&e violent games and virtual s!orts. Iermans are less rece!tive to games $it ig level of violence due to !arental influence $ ereas Ja!anese li&e games $it cute s!rites as c aracters. +ven if $e e(amine t e use of and! one across cultures% different societies $ill ave different motivations to$ards and! one consum!tion $ ic leads to different #e avioural usage. Hould t ere #e a need to ada t the roduct and romotiona! design to suit t e foreign mar&et due to cultural differencesG ;r t e !roduct and !romotions #e standardisedG
Asia Pacific University )ollege of "ec nology and Innovation 201206

8evel 2

BM023-3-2

Individual Assignment

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3. If t ere is a need for ada tation% $ould t is engender substantia! costsG 4. H at is t e attitude of t e society in t e foreign country to4ards fema!esG H at are t e im!lications of t is in regards to t e International Business interactionG -o$ $ould this affect ,uman +esource *anagementG Are t ere different !ractices in communicating and managing male and female $or&ersG 5. -o$ does t e cu!ture of a societ% affect 4ork behaviour G H at are t e c allenges t at occur due to t e intercultural differencesG 6. Are t e society mem#ers rece tive to foreign roductsG Are t ey !atriotic and !refer to su!!ort locally made !roductG 9oes t e local !o!ulation of t e foreign country ave a strong sense of nationa!ismG 7. 9oes t e culture of t e country !ractice briber%G H at is t e form of briber%G H at are t e ethica! im !icationsG Hill t is go against t e et ical !olicies of com!anies of your countryG 9. -o$ does t e socio-cultural environment affect t e creativit% and innovation of t e targeted countr%:s human ca ita!G Economic Environment 1. -o$ does t e current international economic environment affect t e targeted countryFs economic condition es!ecially in lig t of t e aftermat of t e &)); g!oba! financia! crisis and current economic recover%G Is t e country in any$ay !rotected against t e negative effects of t e 2007 financial crisisG If yes% o$ is it !rotectedG If no% $ y is t e country susce!ti#leG Hould t e country #e attractive for International Business venture ta&ing into consideration of its current economic vulnera#ility and t e negative glo#al mar&et sentimentsG Is t e countryFs economy recovering and if yes% to $ at e(tentG 9iscuss $ et er t e rate of recovery gives confidence for investment and e(!ort or $ et er #usiness managers and o$ners s ould $ait for a #etter time. 2. -o$ is t e Ba!ance of 5a%ment of t e countryG Hould it create a ris& to t e economic $ell-#eing of a country t at may affect t e International Business endeavourG 3. -o$ is t e current country economic conditionG Is it $ellG Is it undergoing recessionG Is it suffering from high rate of inf!ationG -o$ $ould t is affect t e !ros!ects of International Business endeavourG If t e country economic condition is $ell% o$ long $ould suc condition remainG Managers ave to ta&e into account of t e economic c%c!e and #e $ary of !ossi#le recession or inflation. " ey need to see into t e future. Hould t e current and future economic condition #ecome an o!!ortunity or a t reatG
Asia Pacific University )ollege of "ec nology and Innovation 201206

8evel 2

BM023-3-2

Individual Assignment

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3. H at is t e current gro4th economic gro4th rateG Hould it im!rove in t e near or long-term futureG H at evidence do you ave to indicate t e economic trend of t e countryG 4. H at is t e countr%:s G75G Is it a relia#le figure for International Business managers to ma&e t eir decision onG 5. H at are t e current economic o!icies t at e(ist in a countryG Are t ese !olicies su ortive or restrictive of International BusinessG Is t ere ig degree of !rotectionism !ractice #y t e government to safeguards it local #usinessesG Is it rece tive of the foreign direct investment and t e im ort of foreign goodsG H at is t e current tariff and .uotaG Hill it go do$n es!ecially due to t eir commitment to Internationa! 2ree Trade agreementG 6. Is t ere in e(istence a trading b!oc t at affects t e International Business tradingG -o$ $ill t is influence t e !ros!ects of doing #usiness in t e targeted countryG 7. H at is t e urchasing o4er arit% "555$ and er ca ita incomeG -o$ does t is affect International Business managers in considering t e c oice of country to invest in or in t e evaluation of a country !ros!ectG Are t ese figures relia#le for international #usiness entre!reneurs and managers to #e used in decision-ma&ingG 9. Is t ere commitment #y t e government to any international treaties suc as t ose made #y /TO% I*2 or trade regimes t at may ave influence on t e International Business venturesG Hould t ese influences #e !ositive or negative to t e investors and entre!reneurs in your country $is ing to enter into t e foreign mar&etG

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Asia Pacific University )ollege of "ec nology and Innovation

201206

BM023-3-2

Individual Assignment

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5erformance Criteria Mar&s are a$arded #ased on t e follo$ing guidelines, Grade Assessment Guide!ines Analysis is su!erficial. A#sence or limited use of conce!ts. Irrelevant regurgitation of information. Eailure to s o$ relations i!s #et$een ideas. Many &ey issues are ignored. 2ai! "2$ A!!lications of conce!ts and language of t e su#<ect is 0>-30> confusing. 8imited or no referencing is made. 8ac& of clarity in t e re!ort due to !oor grammar. 0everal s!elling mista&es made in $riting. =o or very limited recommendations are given. Analysis is su!erficial. Use of conce!ts and language of t e su#<ect are minimal. Ee$ learning outcomes are met. Information !resented in a routine% unimaginative and 2ai! "2<$ sometimes unnecessarily long-$inded fas ion. Many &ey 30>-39> issues are ignored. Hriting is undermined $it many grammatical and s!elling errors. 8imited recommendations are given. Pro!er understanding of t e conce!ts and issues are s o$n. +lements of an a!!ro!riate structure are !resent. 0ome reading and researc are evident in t e re!ort. Ade:uate references are 5ass "7 to C$ made #ut not in re:uired format. Analysis of t e issues is 40>-54> !resent #ut lac&s de!t . 0ome $ea&ness in terms of relevancy. 0ome !arts of t e assignment ans$er do not flo$ co erently. 0ome recommendations are given. +vidence of reading and researc . Understanding of t e a!!lication of a!!ro!riate models and conce!ts is demonstrated. Credit "B to B<$ 2ey issues are identified and analysed alt oug t is may #e 55>-64> limited at times. 0ources of information are ac&no$ledged in t e rig t referencing format follo$ing -arvard system. Ade:uate recommendations are given. Arguments are clear and convincing. Presentation of ideas is $ell-organised in a co erent fas ion. 0uccessful integration of t eory and !ractices is demonstrated. +(tensive reading and 7istinction "A to A<$ researc is demonstrated in $riting. )onsistent referencing to 65>-a#ove sources using t e -arvard system. )o erent flo$ of information is !rovided. Eormat used is ig ly consistent. Iood recommendations are given.

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Asia Pacific University )ollege of "ec nology and Innovation

201206