Assignment #1 – Global Strategy: 10% of the Final Grade

Written Assignment Objectives:

Understand how a company's management orientation can direct their approach to foreign market entry

1. Demonstrate understanding and application of the external environments affecting global marketing activities
2. List, describe and apply the different modes of foreign market entry
3. Analyze qualitative country and business facts and their implication on global marketing strategy
4. Make and defend your country selection and business decisions
5. Develop critical thinking skills by demonstrating ability to apply global marketing concepts to a particular situation
6. Demonstrate college-level writing skills consistent with a 400-level course.

Imagine you own a company that manufactures sunglasses. To lower production costs, you want to move your factory from a developed country to a low-wage country. After doing some research, please answer the following questions:

• Choose a prospective country from the list provided to you to which you will move. Why did you select this country?

• What elements of the national business environment will affect your move?

• Are there any obstacles to overcome in the international marketing environment?

• How will managing your company be different in the new country? Think about the environment and the culture.

• How will managing your new employees be different in the new country? Think about the environment and the culture.

A few resources to get you started:

• http://fortune.com/global500/
• http://www.forbes.com/global2000/
• http://www.bea.gov/international/index.htm
• http://www.economist.com/
• http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/statistics/notices/20140307_exh19.html
• https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/
• http://countryfacts.com/
• http://www.factmonster.com/countries.html
• http://www.state.gov/countries/
• https://www.sba.gov/content/do-your-market-research

These are just a few examples of the endless numbers of resources and data you can find online. You are not limited to just these examples. If you have others, please share with the group.

Written Assignment Objectives:

1. Understand how a company's management orientation can direct their approach to foreign market entry
2. Demonstrate understanding and application of the external environments affecting global marketing activities
3. List, describe and apply the different modes of foreign market entry
4. Analyze qualitative country and business facts and their implication on global marketing strategy
5. Make and defend your country selection and business decisions
6. Develop critical thinking skills by demonstrating ability to apply global marketing concepts to a particular situation
7. Demonstrate college-level writing skills consistent with a 400-level course.

PREPARE your written assignment as follows:

1. Thoroughly read the chapters in the weekly conferences and conduct additional outside research on country and business resources.
2. Review the following global marketing topics to ensure you understand the marketing principles and can demonstrate you can apply them in this case.

External Environments (Module 1)

• political environment
• economic environment
• legal and regulatory environment
• technological environment
• cultural environment
• competitive environment

Management orientations (Module 1)

• ethnocentric management orientation
• polycentric management orientation
• regiocentric or geocentric management orientation

Modes of foreign market entry: (Module 2)

• exporting
• licensing
• franchising
• contract manufacturing
• joint venture
• strategic alliances
• mergers and acquisitions
• wholly owned subsidiaries

3. Prepare thoughtful answers to the questions being asked!

4. Follow ALL the guidelines for writing and submitting your Written Assignment

Prepare as a word processed document (such as Microsoft Word). Use a simple 12-point font such as Times New Roman. Use black ink for majority of your work and only use colors if it enhances your ability to communicate your thoughts. Use approximately ten (10) double-spaced text (although more are acceptable). The cover page and References page are not part of the written analysis.

• • Be sure your name and date are on the cover page of your writing assignment.
  • Use headers to separate major themes or topics. Respond comprehensively. Give examples when appropriate. Be sure to provide your own perspective on each of the questions.
  • Include a References page, which includes references that explain the concepts.
  • You should use a minimum of seven (7) references dated 2015 to the present.
  • You should use APA style for a paper which includes formatting for page numbers, page margins, etc. More information about using a style guide can be found in the UMUC's virtual library accessible from your LEO classroom in Content "Learn to Use APA" or at umuc.edu/library.
  • Upload your word processed document in your LEO assignments folder by the due date in the LEO calendar.

Refer to the grading rubric associated with the assignments. Be sure to note that a percentage of your grade on this assignment will be based on your grammar, composition, adherence to the submission requirements, and use of an appropriate college-level style guide for writing and referencing.

Don't forget …

This is a formal written assignment. That means all rules of grammar and composition apply.

You will be graded on your writing as well as your mastery of the content.

Grading rubric

Points	Standard
100	Student clearly demonstrates superior understanding of the course concepts important to the case and conveys such through a professionally prepared written report, emphasizes critical thinking skills, and employs case authors and other academic sources to defend responses or provide counterargument.
90	Student demonstrates above-average understanding of course concepts in the standards described above; may be slightly off track or weak in one of the content areas or written requirements.
80	Student demonstrates average understanding of the course concepts in the standards described above; may be slightly off track or weak in two content areas or written requirements.
70	Student demonstrates a below-average understanding of the course concepts in the standards described above; off track in at least one of the content areas and weak or noncompliant with one of the written requirements.
60	Student minimally demonstrates some understanding of the course concepts in the standards described above; case analysis exhibits weaknesses in both content and writing requirements.
50–10	Student does not demonstrate an understanding of the course concepts and grade will be assigned based on the severity of the weaknesses exhibited in both content and writing requirements.
0	Student does not submit a case written assignment.