Assume that you are advising a company of your own choice on their potential new international expansion/entry opportunities. Your task is to write an essay covering the following information:
1. In a few lines, briefly introduce the company, your suggested country and entry mode.
2. Explain and analyse the company’s readiness for internationalisation.
3. Identify the most attractive potential foreign country for the company internationalisation and support your choice with appropriate reasons.
4. Recommend the most appropriate entry mode to this country and explain your reasoning.
Answers will be assessed for both their theoretical and empirical contributions. Please make sure you answer all parts of the question.
Guideline for a high grade:
• Stick to the coursework brief
• Accuracy in the use of relevant theory, framework, and concepts
• Sufficient case study research for a good evidence-based analysis
• Strong integration of theory and case
• Avoid personal opinions that have not been developed based on knowledge of extant theories, frameworks, and IB concepts.
• A convincing critical analysis of the firm in relation to the question.
Critical analysis is:
• When you try to find answers/interpretations/explanations in the literature and then evaluate them and make sense of them relevant to your case. For example, if you are using a theory from the literature to discuss the choice between JV and WOS, you may discuss what different theories offer and how relevant it is to your case. If there is any other theory that can overrule this one or not. You need to recognize and reflect on the complexity of the issue at hand and appreciate that things/ concerns and decisions are not black and white!
• It also includes Integrating different sources of information (books, articles, etc.) to provide a fuller picture of your discussion.
• And providing practical evidence to illustrate and support your arguments.
• A well-structured piece of work that effectively connects key elements, demonstrates clarity, and focus throughout. • Well use of citations of relevant academic sources throughout work to clearly support claims; well referenced.
• A well-formatted work, free from errors showing extensive proofreading, edited to word count.
1st 80+ Outstanding piece of work: All major and minor objectives achieved. Thorough comprehension and informed criticism. Evidence of work beyond question and some originality. Free from errors and showing analytical skills
There is a thorough comprehension of business process, illustrating how they are influenced by an international context.
There is a thorough comprehension of various business strategies and/or actions that assist businesses in performing in an international context
Well-structured and well presented piece of work effectively connecting key
elements. Using headings and subheading
Thorough use of citations of relevant academic sources beyond the lecture note throughout work to clearly support claims; well referenced
Writing is insightful, demonstrating excellent clarity and focus throughout;
development of ideas is easy to follow
Structure:
Word count: A word count is 1800 words and must be adhered to. The penalty for
exceeding 1800 words is a five-mark deduction.
o The actual word count of the assignment must be stated by the student on the
first page (cover sheet) of the assignment.
o The word count includes: In-text referencing, quotations/citations, headings,
subheadings, captions of table, figure, and diagram, footnotes/endnotes (if any).
o The word count excludes: Appendices (if any) and list of references at the end
of the report
– Your coursework is an essay. The use of subheadings is encouraged both to help you
structure your work and to help the marker to see the structure.
– The essay should be written in the third person which is the preferred approach in
academic writing. For example, instead of writing ‘I think that’, it is appropriate to write
‘the evidence suggests that…’ .
– A suggested structure and word count for your coursework
1. Introduction of the company and summary of the answers. (200 words)
2. Company readiness for internationalisation (300 words)
3. New foreign market (650 words)
4. Foreign market entry mode (650 words)
5. Reference list (does not count)
6. Appendices (only for interview questions, if there is any)(does not count)
