Assignment:
Description:
Assignment will focus on a specific country and its surrounding region. Each student will prepare a research paper which will be 5-8 pages in length (excluding cover and citations pages). This is equivalent to 1300-2000 words. You will also conduct a review of 3 of your peers' papers via a Moodle Discussion Forum. Instructions for the peer reviews will be provided separately.
Scenario: You are a professional business consultant. One of your clients is considering establishing a business in your country of expertise (if it helps your research, you can choose the type of business such as a factory, a retail chain, a call center, administrative office, etc. or a specific industry). You will gather and present facts about the business environment in a specific country and its role in the global business place.
This project will be graded on a 100-point scale
Country Selection:
1) You may select any country that interests you, provided another student in your class has not already chosen that country. Your first opportunity to select a country will be in class on Tuesday October 17th. Names will be drawn randomly and countries will be selected on a first-come, first-serve basis. After class on October 17th, e-mail Professor Hanlon with your country choice or any changes.
2) The assignment list for selected countries will be placed in Moodle.
Content:
This paper is an exercise in critical thinking. You will be expected to select relevant information, interpret the information, and compare the information to at least one other country. You should also make an effort to demonstrate your knowledge of the material covered in class by applying the course concepts to your country. If used, the course textbooks must cited as one of your resources.
The following information should be addressed in your paper:
1) Background (Be brief; 1-2 paragraphs)
a) The basics for each country.
b) Description of the country's political and economic systems.
2) Economic conditions which might include GDP performance, standard of living and economic sectors. Conduct data comparisons over time. What does the data indicate about trends?
3) Business and financial information which might include factors of production, major products and services, primary imports and exports, and trade measures.
a) Discuss trade between your selected country and at least one of its significant trading partner(s).
4) Culture:
a) Discuss factors of business etiquette specific to this country.
b) Relevant social and cultural considerations which might include ethnic and religious influences, language(s), education, and other topics.
Discuss those topics that you think might be relevant to doing business in or with your country. What relevance does the information you presented have with regard to business?
5) Current Topics, Events and issues:
a) Identify and describe at least two (2) relevant and current topics and/or events that could impact a decision to do business in or with this country. Consider current topics and/or events from categories such as current events, business, economics, social, political, and/or technological.
i) Topics should also be relevant to understanding this country, its people and culture. Be sure to include information on relevant transnational issues.
ii) Why are these topics, events or issues relevant to understanding the country, its people and culture?
iii) What are the business impacts of the information that you have chosen to report on (local, regional and/or global)?
6) Recommendations and Conclusion: Discuss the advantages, disadvantages and risks associated with doing business in or with this country. Would you recommend doing business in or with this country? If so, why and in what manner; if not, why?
7) Graphs and Charts: You are expected to include and discuss at least one graph/chart related to a specific topic on your country. Topics that lend themselves well to graphs and charts include economics, trade, people/culture statistics. Graphs and charts do not have to be embedded in the body of your paper. You can attach them to the back of the paper, but make sure you discuss them in the body of your paper.