Assignment 1: Discussion-Diamond Excellence

The best performing firms in Brazil, Russia, India, and China have been referred to as "rough diamonds." Areas in which some of the top firms in these regions excel include relationship-building, technical expertise, passion for what they do, and resilience in overcoming challenges.

Using the Argosy University online library resources, the textbook, and the readings for this module, research these rough diamonds. Locate a minimum of four different scholarly sources that can help you identify different firms from each of the four regions that exemplify each of the four traits. For each intersection shown below, name a firm from the region and explain how they demonstrate excellence in the trait. You may list different firms from the same region for each trait or list one firm for multiple traits (total number of firms will be between 4 and 12). Provide arguments in favor of your choices and cite sources that support your arguments.

Give reasons in support of your responses. Be sure to cite any relevant resources.

When responding to your peers, state which of their choices you agree with and disagree with, and why. Be sure to note what in your own research affirmed or contradicted their findings. Provide alternate perspectives, such as why you think a different firm might be a better example of excellence in a trait for a region.

Write your initial response in 300-500 words. Your response should be thorough and address all components of the discussion question in detail; include citations of all sources, where needed, according to the APA style; and demonstrate accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Assignment 2: Discussion-Standardization versus Adaptation

Companies that have operations in different markets have to continuously face the challenge of choosing between providing standard products to all the markets that they serve, or adapting their current products and lines of products to match local demands and needs.

Using the Argosy University online library resources, locate a minimum of four different scholarly sources on this subject, then respond to the following:

• Identify the main elements of a national business environment that could influence the standardization-versus-adaptation decision.

• Provide two examples of multinational companies that use standardization and two examples of multinational companies that adapt their products/services. Describe/predict the current/potential future outcomes of those decisions.

Give reasons in support of your responses. Be sure to cite any relevant resources.

Write your initial response in 300-500 words. Your response should be thorough and address all components of the discussion question in detail; include citations of all sources, where needed, according to the APA style; and demonstrate accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Assignment 3: Discussion-BRICS and N11 Management

Some global businesses succeed due to their management of logistics, supply chains, and collaborative innovation.

For this discussion assignment, consider companies from the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) and the N11 (the Next Eleven countries: Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Turkey, South Korea, and Vietnam) regions.

Using the Argosy University online library resources and the Internet, research the BRICS and N11 regions and successful firms operating in them; locate a minimum of four different scholarly sources to leverage in your discussion. Based on your research, select one firm from any of the BRICS and N11 regions that you feel is successful primarily due to, or has the greatest potential because of, their integrated logistics, supply chain management, and nurturing of collaborative innovation.

Identify three firms in total, (one each to represent integrated logistics, supply chain management, and collaborative innovation) from any of the BRICS or N11 regions. For each of your three choices, complete the following:

• Describe the firm and explain why you chose it.

• Explain the way in which it excels in the category you have associated it with and how that has contributed to its success.

• Provide examples from your research and experience.

In your discussion with your classmates, share any striking positives and negatives that you found about any of the firms through your research. If you have personal experience working with one of the firms mentioned, you may wish to share some insights.

Write your initial response in 300-500 words. Your response should be thorough and address all components of the discussion question in detail; include citations of all sources, where needed, according to the APA style; and demonstrate accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation

Assignment 4: Discussion-Growth in Emerging Markets

When analyzing new markets to enter, companies need to perform an environmental screening to be sure about which potential candidates would be the most likely to provide the right conditions for achieving expected results. In doing that, economic conditions and growth patterns always play an important role for decision making.

Using the Argosy University online library resources and the Internet, research recent growth trends for developed and emerging countries and answer the following:

• After the 2007/2008 world economic crisis, what has been different about emerging markets with regard to growth patterns, economic conditions, and trends? Justify your answer by providing some examples.

• If you were the person in charge of growth strategies for a retail company, what market(s) would be your primary targets for an expansion? Why? Explain your reasoning and substantiate your claims with citations from your research.

Give reasons in support of your responses. Be sure to cite any relevant resources.

Write your initial response in 300-500 words. Your response should be thorough and address all components of the discussion question in detail; include citations of all sources, where needed, according to the APA style; and demonstrate accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Assignment 5: Discussion-Sustainable Growth Challenges

Using the Argosy University online library resources and the Internet, research how companies can keep a pattern of sustainable growth.

Respond to the following:

• What are the main challenges of keeping up performance and sustainable growth while managing a very diverse workforce when a company expands its operations to different markets, especially to emerging economies?

• Determine what you feel to be the main challenges. Define them.

• List the components or elements that should be addressed, why, and how.

Provide examples of how organizations have succeeded with or failed at overcoming those challenges.

Give reasons in support of your responses. Be sure to cite any relevant resources.

Write your initial response in 300-500 words. Your response should be thorough and address all components of the discussion question in detail; include citations of all sources, where needed, according to the APA style; and demonstrate accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation.