[SOLVED] International Business Studies


International Business Studies

Practical assignment IBSN / IBSE

The course International Business Studies (IBSN and IBSE) gives an introduction to the field of international business. The students will learn about key concepts like internationalization and globalization, the economic, political and legal foundations of international business and the role of several principal institutions like the EU. Further, topics like theories of trade, competitiveness and multinational enterprises will be dealt with.

After completing this course the students can do an extensive international research and advise management on the opportunities and threats in the international business environment.

Assignment description

Choose an MNE company (European and not mentioned in Peng & Meyer).
Refer to the list for this on Blackboard.
Describe the following with regard to the company:
The formal institutions which the company is involved with: in the fields of politics, economics and the law, and their implications for the company.

The informal institutions which the company is involved with: in the fields of culture, religion and the language, and their implications for the company.

And assess the resources of the company with the aid of the VRIO framework.

Discuss the (potential) success of your company in the chosen country by applying one of the three modern theories of international trade mentioned in chapter 5.

Why did your company choose FDI (horizontal or vertical)?
Do this on the basis of OLI.

How does the company deal with exchange rates?

Describe the main competitors of your company in the chosen country and how you are going to compete with them.

Describe how your firm can create value by using the AAA typology of strategies.

Present your findings during the lecture in lecture week 10/11 (the lecturer will draw up a timetable). Also prepare for answering any questions from the class/the lecturer.
Submit a consistent rapport in which all the sub-assignments are incorporated.
Deadline: lecture week 11.

Context
The international research is an individual assignment which you carry out in principle as homework, in addition to the IBSN lectures. There might also be time during the lectures to work on your assignment, so always make sure that you have the required materials with you.

Sources and tools

Book
Peng, M.W. & Meyer, K.E. (2019). International business. London: Cengage Learning.

Internet
Company website
Learning objectives

The learning objectives below are central to carrying out the practical assignment:

The student is able to illustrate the concepts of international business and globalization.  The student is also able to give further information about the history and current trends of globalization.

The student can describe several formal (political, economic and legal) institutions which an International company is dealing with. The student can further describe the company implications with these formal institutions.

The student can describe several informal (culture, religion, language) institutions which an International company is dealing with. The student can further describe the company implications with these informal institutions.

The student can describe and assess the resources of an international company.

The student is able to explain the drives of international business based on several international trade theories .

The student is familiar with the term ‘foreign direct investment’ (FDI) and is able to illustrate this term based on the OLI-principle.

The student knows what exchange rates are, on which the rates are based upon and how the rates are influenced by the international monetary system.

The student is able to describe the main competitors of a company in a given country and how to compete with them.

The student is able to describe how a firm can create value by using the AAA typology of strategies.


Criteria final product(s)

The complete portfolio assignment:
Consists of 12-20 pages (excluding the front page, the list of contents, any appendices, et cetera) in a common font type and common font size.
Is submitted digitally (via Blackboard) to the lecturer.
Is submitted on the Sunday of lecture week 11, at the latest.

General criteria:
Correct use of the Dutch (IBSN) or English (IBSE) language, a consistent and attractive lay-out and a logical structure. If this is not the case, the assignment will not be checked. See the EER (OER) for the rules regarding this.
The sources are reliable and references are listed in APA format. If this is not the case, the assignment will not be checked. See the EER (OER) for the rules regarding this.
The cover includes at least the name of the student, the course, the year and the name of the lecturer.

Assignment specific criteria:
The portfolio assignment and the presentation are both assessed by the lecturer, on the basis of a fixed assessment framework (see Blackboard).
The final mark for IBSN is a weighted average of both marks, whereby the portfolio assignment counts for more (80%) than the presentation (20%).
Both marks must be sufficient, so at least a 5.5 for each of the parts.


Timetable practical assignment

Course week Planning assignment components Deadlines
1 Choose an MNE company
–
2 Describe the formal institutions which the company is involved with: in the fields of politics, economics and the law, and their implications for the company.
–
3 Describe the informal institutions which the company is involved with: in the fields of culture, religion and the language, and their implications for the company.
–
4 Describe the and assess the resources of the company with the aid of the VRIO framework.
–
5 Discuss the (potential) success of your company in the chosen country by applying one of the three modern theories of international trade mentioned in chapter 5.
–
6 Describe why your company choose FDI (horizontal or vertical)?

Do this on the basis of OLI.
–
7 Describe how your company deals with exchange rates?
–
8 Describe the main competitors of your company in the chosen country and how you are going to compete with them.
–
9 Describe how your firm can create value by using the AAA typology of strategies. –
10 Presentations Practical Exam
–
11 Presentations Practical Exam
Written assignment

International Business Studies