Assignment:
International Business
Word Limit: 2500 words (Variation within 10% more or less is allowed)
Format: Essay
Aims:
Activity is sharpen and demonstrate knowledge and analytical skills in international business. Comparative analysis of real-world cases, this assessment also provides you with opportunities to link the international business theories with the practice.
QUESTIONS need to be addressed
Mars (https://www.mars.com/global/index.aspx) and Ferrero (https://www.ferrero.com) are two world leading food (especially chocolate) manufacturers. After researching these two companies and related literature, respond to the following questions:
1) What are the key success factors of these two companies in terms of internationalizing?
2) Do you think one company is more competitive that the other in terms of internationalizing? Why? Please apply some international business theories when you analyze this question.
3) If you were given the responsibility of managing these two companies, what international strategy changes you would undertake in order to make the companies more competitive and profitable?
Format
This assessment task should be presented as an essay and should include the following sections:
- Title (You need to give an appropriate title to this essay - The title should be able to highlight the core meaning of the whole essay)
- Introduction
- Question 1 (You need to give an appropriate heading to this question, E.g: Success Factors)
- Question 2 (You need to give an appropriate heading to this question)
- Question 3 (You need to give an appropriate heading to this question)
- Conclusion
- Reference list
Note: DO NOT use questions directly as headings in the essay
You need to work out an appropriate heading to cover the core meaning of each question and keep it as short as you can.
Guidelines
1) The core of this assignment is to assess your level of mastery of the subject matters and your analytical skills in the international business context. Being descriptive is NOT appropriate for this assignment.
2) Keep the Introduction and Conclusion short (Maximum 200 words each)
3) Response to each question should be between 600 and 750 words
4) Total length of the assignment is limited to 2500 words EXCLUDING references (10% more or less is allowed). Each of the three questions is weighted equally.
Presentation
- The assignment must be well-structured and well-presented
- The clarity of expressions together with the appropriate use of grammar, spelling and punctuations are important to maintain.
- Theories and examples could be integrated to substantiate the arguments
- At least 8 academic references must be cited along with other non-academic references such as articles from newspaper and corporate web pages.
- Any use of comments, information, data or quotations from any sources (books, journals, newspapers, web etc) must be cited using an appropriate referencing style (Harvard)
- Use appropriate pagination. The 12 point font in Times New Roman should be used throughout. Appropriate spacing (1.5 lines) and margins on all sides at least 2cm need to be maintained.
- Number each page