Assignment

Part 1 - Group presentation

Your employer is a UK-based multinational enterprise (MNE) looking to invest overseas. Your employer has assigned you the task of researching your chosen global industry. You are required to present on the structure and state of your industry, and on the macroeconomic health of one key economy.

Instructions:

• Form a group of 4 or 5 students -* get it approved and registered on StudentCentral.

• Select a global industry: either one from the list below, or your own choice -* get it approved.

• Conduct an industry analysis, similar to that shown in Lecture 7 Multinationals, industries and strategy.

• Select one consumer market (country) in your chosen industry and carry out an assessment of its macroeconomic performance. You should select either the largest market or the fastest growing market. It is recommended you make use of the key macroeconomic variables used in Lecture 5 Economic Performance, and make use of benchmarking and comparisons (with the other 3-4 consumer markets of the chosen industry).

• You must deliver a presentation consisting of the following:

• Global industry analysis (approx. 9 minutes).

• Individual macroeconomic analysis of your chosen country (approx. 6 minutes).

• Allowed presentation time is 15 minutes. You will be penalised for exceeding, or failing to reach, your allotted time. However, plus/minus 1-minute error is allowed.

• Presentations will take place in the Central Media TV Studio in weeks commencing 15th January and 21st January.

• You must use Microsoft PowerPoint to produce your slides.

• Presentations are checked for plagiarism - on-slide referencing is mandatory.

• On the day, bring your presentation on a USB drive and your tutor a colour printout of your presentation.

• Ordering of presentations will be at your tutor's discretion.

Pre-approved Global industries (whole industry or subsection thereof)

• Automobiles          • Oil & gas
• Textiles                 • Telecommunications
• Smartphones         • Aerospace and defence
• Mining                   • Pharmaceuticals

Part 2 - Group written report

Your employer was intrigued by your industry analysis and macroeconomic presentation and wants to know more with the view of making an overseas investment. You are now assigned the task of reporting on three key aspects of a potential overseas investment into your industry. These three aspects are critical success factors of international ventures; be sure to report accurately from reliable sources.

Instructions:

In your existing groups, keeping the same global industry as in Part 1, you must write a report on the three aspects of an international investment into your chosen industry:

• Mode of entry
• Political factors
• Ethics in international business

Mode of entry

What is the most appropriate mode of entry for an international investment into your chosen industry? Why is it the most appropriate mode? Discuss advantages and disadvantages. What investments risk will your employer be exposed to?

Political factors

What political obstacles lie in your way? How can they be effectively dealt with? Is corruption an issue to contend with? Might bribes need to be paid? Is this acceptable? Are we at the bottom of the pecking-order? Do we have, or do we need, inside contacts? Is there a threat of war or expropriation of assets in the country?

Ethics in international business

Which, if any, of the divergent approaches to business ethics is most suitable for an investment into your chosen industry? Why might some approaches be unethical or inappropriate? Could we adopt a hybrid approach?

Further information

• You may find it useful to focus on your analysis on your chosen economy from the presentation - however, this is not a requirement.

• You absolutely must justify- and back-up your arguments using credible and reliable sources. Examples of credible and reliable sources can be found in all your EC221 lectures and on EC221 Student Central pages.

• Your word limit is 1500 words; so that's approximately 400 words per topic, leaving a few hundred for a brief introduction and concise conclusion.

• Use footnotes with caution, and remember that appendices are not marked.

• You can exceed the word limit by 10% - that is Business School policy - but go over 110% and you will be penalised.

• A report submitted with 1200 words is less likely to get a high grade than one with 1500 - you need to use every single word available to you. Equally, it is a good skill to be able to meet the word limit (1500 words) and not push to the upper limit.

• You are required to submit your report on Student Central, on the EC221 Assignment page. No paper copy is required. Your work will be checked for plagiarism using Turnitin before being marked online by your tutor. Feedback will be given through Turnitin.

Part 3 - Individual report

You will hear more about Part 3 once you have completed Parts 1 and 2. In short, it is a 2000-word individual corporate financial analysis from your chosen global industry (same industry as in Part 1 and 2).