Background

You will prepare a report, including recommendations, for an actual company's overall entry strategy into a foreign market. Your strategy should include attention to the social, political, cultural, and economic environment of the country you propose entering, the entry and organizational strategies the company should advance, including potential alliances with local firms, and a discussion of the ethical, negotiation, leadership, and management challenges associated with your recommendation. This analysis should integrate the readings and cases for the course in the context of the actions of a specific firm. This analysis will be approximately 10-15 double-spaced pages (with complete references).

Assessment

Imagine that you are an entrepreneur (based in the US) who is exploring means to expand your business to another country. Your goal is to study the feasibility of setting up your business in the selected country. The product/service may be new or existing as long as it is not already being sold in your host country.

1. Step one:

a. State the study objectives

b. Discuss who you are in terms of your company, where you are located, how many employees you have etc. This is to give you some authenticity. You can make up all the info or base it on a small existing company. What is your product(s) and/or service(s)?

2. Step two:

a. Select a host country to expand your business - why did you select this country?

b. Discuss the business environment in the following contexts:

- Political & Economic including trade agreements

- Legal & ethical (10%)

- Social & cultural (15%) For your analysis, you are required to use any two of the following cultural dimensions (Chapters 4-5):

1. Hofstede (include home and host country's comparison charts)

2. Globe

3. Trompenaar

- Demographic environment of this country.

- Use established facts and figures.

3. Step three: Based on the above analysis and your research, explore:

a. Major opportunities for doing business in the host country (e.g. population base, economy, need for the product/service)

b. Major challenges (e.g. competition, infrastructure, government policies, culture, legal environment)

4. Step four

a. Select, describe and justify your entry strategy (Chapter 9). You need to select one and it must be in compliance with local host country laws and culture.

5.Step five:

a. Your final decision - to go ahead; decide against it; or to postpone entering the market.

b. Discuss 3-4 critical success factors that will contribute to positive outcome of the project

Please remember this is a feasibility study in International Management. You need to use concepts from various chapters and show your understanding and your learning during the course.

I need to read about your ideas and your perspectives

Required Parameters

1. Cover page with your name and project title

2. All pieces must be titled and separated e.g.

a. Introduction

b. Study objectives and The home company (step 1)

c. The host country and its business environment (step 2)

d. Opportunities and challenges for doing business (step 3)

e. Entry strategy (step 4)

f. Our decision - do we want to go into the country or not (step 5)

3. Cite your sources using MLA format

• Requirement of 10-12 pages (double space with 1" margin on all sides)

• Must cite all sources - work must be original not plagiarized (Use MLA Format).