The final assessment will be a culmination of various activities, discussions, and research that students performed throughout the course. The final deliverable is a paper of approximately 1,150 words, which should include some charts and graphs.
Students should assume that the audience of their paper has some knowledge about international business. For example, the paper may be prepared for a seminar on globalization.
The final assessment will consist of the following five options:
1. Prepare in-depth case studies of two companies in a similar industry and compare their globalization experience. Be sure to thoroughly cover each company's market entry strategies. Choose from the following lists or choose your own per instructor approval.
Company groups to consider from similar industries:
Apple and Microsoft
Amway, Avon, or Mary Kay
McDonald's, Starbucks, Burger King, or KFC
American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, or Visa
FedEx and UPS
Coca-Cola and Pepsi
Company groups to consider from the United States and outside the United States:
Kraft Foods and Nestle
Walmart and Carrefour or Tesco
Ford and Hyundai
Boeing and Airbus
Walt Disney and Sony
2. Write a description of a country's expansion into international business over the past 50 years. Be sure to thoroughly cover trade initiatives, foreign direct investment initiatives, currency issues, and regional integration efforts.
3. Analyze international business expansion of American companies in the Middle East or Asia from varying perspectives. Be sure to thoroughly cover how political systems impact international business and cultural implications.
4. Analyze foreign direct investment initiatives.
5. Choose a topic with the instructor's approval.
At a minimum, the student's paper should:
Address cultural, legal, political, and ethical areas of international business.
Analyze market entry strategies, labor issues, site selection, and market research.
Identify lessons the international business manager may learn.
Apply economic theory to the chosen topic.
Describe infrastructure, financial needs, and other components necessary for international trade.
Show an accurate interpretation of written and graphical information.
Format your paper using West Writing Style Handbook guidelines.
Include a minimum of four sources, which may consist of readings from the University Library, your text, and other selections.