Assignment One: Essay on a selected topic
Assignment 1 requires you to write a 2,000-word essay on ONE of the following three topics. Essays provide a vehicle for you to present your own views in a balanced and convincing manner. They also encourage the development of original thought in relation to the topics covered in the course.
Learning Outcome/s Being Assessed
In writing the assignment, students will need to
1. Demonstrate a strategic and operational understanding of global operations and logistic functions.
2. Recognise organisational structures, processes and theories used in operations management areas such as international expansion, international supply chains, value chain analysis, quality control, and distribution systems.
3. Appraise the realities of operating different types of production/distribution firms.
Word limit: Please note that your word limit is 2,000 words excluding references. You will be allowed a plus or minus 10% leeway on the word limit.
Topic options for Assignment one
1. Why has the supply chain network perspective of operations management become more important in recent years?
2. 'The stage theories of internationalization reflect a rationale of gradually reducing the risks of internationalization'. Why is this statement formed, and do you agree with this? What are the risks that firms aim to mitigate when internationalizing their business and how the different internationalization stages help firms to minimize these risks?
3. Market access and resource-seeking are two generic strategies for international expansion. With the increasing importance of the Chinese economy to the world economy, multinational companies from over the world have expanded into the Chinese market. Does entry into the Chinese market represent a market access strategy, a resource-seeking strategy or both? Support you arguments by using relevant examples of companies that have internationalized their business in China.
Assignment Files -
https://www.dropbox.com/s/6z9vhonc2j6biqr/Assignment%20Files.rar?dl=0