BANGOR UNIVERSITY
AND
MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE OF SINGAPORE
Course : Master of Business Administration in Banking and Finance (MBFD5 1710A)
Master of Business Administration in International
Marketing
(MIMD5 1710A)
Module Code and Title : Applied Business Projects (International Business)
Module Tutor : Dr Alby Kurian
Assessment : Individual Assignment
Due Date : 17 October 2018
Word Length : 3,000 words +/- 10%
This assignment is intended to give you an insight to the development of Multinational
Business Enterprises of the kind that many of you aspire to work for. You are required to
consider the operations (past, present & future) of a Multinational Company assigned to
you – using concepts introduced in the IB module, & considering the behaviour of
managers when going international.
The company will have a wide range of international activities as it is taken from a global
listing – there will be plenty of information available to you in the public domain.
The company’s Annual Report & other information on the company’s own website will be
valuable sources of information, as well as third party commentaries on the Company.
Your task is to research relevant information & interpret the company’s development over
time, the behaviour of its managers, & its possible future strategy – using concepts in the
module.
MBFD51710A_MIMD51710A_ASB4904: Applied Business Projects (International Business),
Individual Assignment: 17 October 2018 Page 2 of 2
1. Concisely summarise the geographic & product markets that the company CURRENTLY SERVES, indicating (with examples) the range of transaction modes it uses to serve these
markets (you may need to do this by interpreting the nature of the subsidiaries it operates
– are these wholly-owned, joint ventures, agents, etc). Conclude whether it prefers joint
venture activities or wholly-owned operations.
2. Analyse how the company has reached its current position by depicting the HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT of the company’s International Business operations –
try to capture the countries entered, with which products, & the mode used at the time of
entry. Use Dunning’s OIL to interpret its strategy to date – what does it ‘own’, what has
been the manager’s approach to control/internalisation, & why has it chosen locations?
3. Consider whether the organisation displays ETHNOCENTRIC OR GEOCENTRIC BEHAVIOUR. Consider how the company has adjusted to the challenges of
internationalisation over time by applying the “Pattern of Internationalisation” – choose
two time points to show how many countries it entered, how similar they were to the ‘home
country’, etc. Is there a pattern to the countries it has selected to serve? Then assess the
approach to ‘organisation & control’ & international human resource management? – for
senior management posts does it choose home country nationals, host country nationals,
or third country nationals. Relate the company’s approach to its cultural origin.
4. Conclude by looking at aspects of the COMPANY’S FUTURE. How do you think the organisation will be affected by current changes in its external environment – specifically
increasing automation of operations (“The Fourth Industrial Revolution”, Klaus Schwab
2016), & possible changes in regional groupings around the World?
Write a report of four roughly equal sections. Your assignment should be 3000 words in
length. (plus or minus ten percent)
Make effective use of Appendices in your answer. Ensure that you acknowledge all sources
that you use, & that the work submitted is your own effort.
END OF ASSIGNMENT
