Question 1:
a) How, according to ‘The Functions of the HQ Unit in the Multi-Business Firm,’ do economies of scale and economies of scope give cost advantage opportunities to firms?
b) What considerations would be relevant to a firm’s deciding which strategy (scale or scope) to adopt?
c) How does the choice of executive focus: strategic planning, strategic control, financial control – influence HQ functions and approaches in a multi-business firm?
Question 2:
a) Drivers of globalization potential comprise Cost Drivers, Customer Drivers, Competitive Drivers and Government Drivers. Over which of these do organizations have greater (or lesser) control? What actions can be taken to exploit certain drivers?
b) Give examples of companies which fall under the multi-domestic or global strategy. In brief identify their strategies.
c) What characteristics do international managers require? How can companies prepare managers for international assignments? How can managers position themselves for international experience and careers?
d) Describe the roles, characteristics and challenges faced by Country Managers.
e) What strategies can transnational companies employ to mitigate the complications of multiple reporting structures? (Consider, for illustration, a marketing manager which reports to both a country manager and a marketing executive at corporate HQ.)
Question 3:
a) Is Global branding significant to consumers? Why (or why not) and how? What characteristics do consumers associate global brands with when making purchase decisions? Give illustrations of how global branding affected a purchase decision you have made.
b) What challenges do global markets pose for brand management?
c) What strategies can transnational companies take to create positive perceptions of their global brands?
d) What strategies can transnational companies use to protect their trademarks and patents?
Question 4:
a) Define ‘global’ and ‘international regional’ strategies.
b) What features, issues and challenges differentiate global strategies from domestic strategies?
c) Are there generic global strategies? For illustration, applications of Porter’s low cost, differentiation and focus strategies?
d) Describe the implications of global and international regional strategies for different departments and functions. For illustration, finance and budgeting; human resources; legal counsel; operations and production; marketing.