Assignemnt: International Business
Study Block
2000 words maximum, excluding references (+/- 10% rounded up of the extra words).
Harvard referencing style is to be used.
Scenario: a multinational hotel chain wants to look into investing in China. They have asked you to write a brief for the team that will travel there for the first time to meet potential partners.
Using theory and your critical analysis of the country and its people, present that country's cultural profile, what determines certain behaviours, their beliefs, cultural norms and taboos, and any additional factors that might impact the first meeting with the local partners. Please include examples from your own experience there too.
Format:
• Your review: this should be font size 12, single line spaced.
• References
• Appendices (if needed)
• Submit as .doc or .docx file
• Harvard intext citation
Assessment criteria for the assignment:
• Varied sources (theory) for both the socio-cultural and economic aspects related to the country, critically analysed; With a minimum of 10 peer reviewed articles
• Structured and targeted advice for the in-coming team;
• Clear, logical structure and flow of arguments;
• Clear, well articulated writing, within the word limit.
Points to consider:
- The majority of this essay should be written in academic style, with correct referencing. Use a variety of sources for cultural theory and specific information on that country (in terms of behaviour, working relations, attitudes, beliefs).
- You may want to consider for instance how the economy impacts on people's behaviour - ask how that then will have consequences for the hotel chain (i.e. consumer behaviour, HR practices, management in general). Do not limit your knowledge to what you find in books/ articles - show how your experiences reinforce or disprove some of the literature. Make sure that your advice for the visiting team is targeted and clear.
- This isn't a report on the economy of the country - it should be advice that the team needs to know before engaging in business with the locals, so they don't lose face, they know how business should be conducted, and have a general idea about the industry (but the latter is not the focus of this paper).
- Don't be too descriptive in explaining events, using critical thinking reflect on what may be learned from theory.