BM7047 International Business Environment Individual Project , BSU, UK

Introduction to the Task

The individual project is, based on real-world information, to study an international company’s international business strategies and management.

You will select an international company and analyse its marketing and HR management both in its home country and in one of the countries where it operates. This analysis should take into account the influence of national culture and social norms. The study requires a critical comparison between the company's domestic and international business strategies.

You are expected to utilise the knowledge acquired from lectures, seminars and your research to guide your report. In addition, you are also encouraged to challenge the existing theories and research findings with practical insights. Criticality, coherence, originality, and creativity are key elements for the success of this project.

Word count – 4,000 words, including the main body of the report only, i.e. from introduction to conclusion; 10% margin on each end.
Submission – Monday, 13 Jan.25 (midday) to Turnitin only.

Managing your report

Your report is suggested to include these sections and contents.

1.  Introduction

Give an introduction to the background and the key contents of this report, for example, the reason and value to study this research topic; the reason to choose xxx company, including this company’s profile; the three key topics you presented in this report and the reason for you to study them, etc. Suggested word count – 300 words.

2.  Business Environment Analysis

Use PEST analysis to critically compare and analyse the business environment in the two countries. Political and legal – also include international relations of the two countries

Economical – also compare the economic development in the two countries Social/cultural – use at least one cultural model
Technological – study its infrastructure and government’s support or investment in tis infrastructure Suggested world count – 1000 words

3.  International Management Analysis

Deeply and thoroughly study the elected company by using a comparative methodology, i.e., compare its strategies and management in the two countries and draw your arguments. The two topics (i.e., marketing and HR strategies and management) that you study must be analysed and discussed in a collective manner, i.e., the interrelationship among these topics must also be studied. Proper international management theories, models, framework and existing research findings must be used where applicable. Suggested word count – 2400 words.
 
3.1 Marketing Strategy and Management

Briefly review the company’s principles in marketing strategies (i.e. ethnocentric? polycentric? or geocentric?) and then compare its managerial practices in marketing in the two places, the same? different? why? By using the international 4Ps model.

3.2  Human Resource Management

Briefly review the company’s principles in HR strategies (i.e. ethnocentric? polycentric? or geocentric?) and then compare its HR strategies and management in the two places, centralised by the Headquarters? decentralised with more autonomy? why?
When reviewing the company’s marketing and HR strategies and management, also link its practices in dealing with business ethics and cultural differences.

4.  Conclusion

Review your report and draw your conclusion. Suggested word count – 300 words.

3.  Presentation and Referencing
This is one of the elements that you are assessed. Although minor grammatical errors and spelling mistakes may not be penalised, you are expected to submit a logically structured, well-written and properly referenced report.

• Design a proper cover page
• Create an abstract
• Create a Table of Contents
• Times new Roman, Arial, Calibri or other easily readable font is acceptable. Nonstandard typefaces or script are not acceptable.
•  Font sizes should be 12 point for text and 10 point for footnotes.
• You need to reference properly for your report. It must be in Harvard system. In-text reference should be given wherever you cite a source. End of paper reference list should be properly presented. Improper referencing will lead to a mark loss or a fail.
• You need to carefully read and refine what you have written in your report before submitting the final report
• Style should be consistent throughout the document, including preliminaries, end matter, table headings, figures, and captions.
• There is no formal limit on file size but you should use an appropriate resolution. High resolution photographs add little or nothing to academic value and Turnitin may request you to produce a smaller version if you have produced an unreasonable size of file.

Appendix – anything that is too long, too much, and is not very relevant to be written in the report, but you would like your reader to know it as supplementary information, you may put it in the appendix. Appendix should be placed after the reference list as the last element in your report.