Task: Technology Transfer Challenges
Select a specific country and product (including its underlying technology), and the best method of introducing that product to the selected country. (NOTE: You must choose a real product, not make one up, and you must select a country in which your selected product is not currently offered).
a. Analyze the selected country's political, consumer, and business environments, keeping the selected product in mind. Be sure to address the pros, cons, and risks of each environment with regard to the introduction of the selected product.
b. Explain the modifications that will need to be made to the selected product in order to introduce it successfully to consumers in the selected country. Provide a clear rationale for each modification. If no modifications are necessary, please justify this position.
c. Analyze any specific modifications that will need to be made to the underlying technology of the selected product in order to meet existing infrastructure requirements and limitations in the selected country.
d. Analyze the methods of effecting technology transfer (licensing, exporting, joint ventures, and wholly owned subsidiaries) and determine which method is most suitable for introducing the selected product into the selected country. Provide a clear justification for your determination.
SPECIFICS:
a. Discuss the required aspects of evaluating pros, cons, and risks of the chosen target country's political, consumer and business environment. A matrix may be used in conjunction with the narrative. Challenge the cons and/or risks by evaluating offsetting benefits that may accrue to the business venture that would make the given level of risk or having to deal with the con acceptable.
b. Provide a listing of features and modifications needed to successfully achieve the organization's goals for market place success and support these with logical and empirical evidence from research conducted. Suggest alternatives to enhance product design in providing the needed features and allowing for future modifications in the most cost-effective manner.
c. Outline the host country infrastructure and how that drives the need for accommodations and modifications to existing products to meet quality and efficacy goals in that foreign market place. Evaluate the potential for modifications to that foreign infrastructure and the associated timing of such changes to anticipate future needs and accommodations that may be necessary.
d. Identify and support the method of transfer selected and why it fits within the host country, including reference to and analysis of political, consumer, or business environment needs. Evaluate trends within the political, consumer, or business environment of the foreign market that could have future impact on the method of transfer and what key drivers might be identified to make such a change.