Group Assignment
(2023 S1)
IBUS 1101
Global Business
1Coordinator: Dr Connie C.S. Chan
Summary: Group Assignments
• After Week 3 tutorial, your tutor will assign students to groups & email the list (this may change with
enrolment; while students may request to work with certain team members, it may not always be practical/possible)
• Average number of persons per group is 4 (3 and 5 are fine depending on divisibility of class size, but not 6)
• Two parts: presentation (20 marks) and written analysis and reflection (10 marks)
• Submit slides deck and video file by Week 10 Monday 1 May 23 11:59 pm in Canvas
(20 slides comprising contents of presentation; 1 cover showing members’ names; 1 on team work; 1 reference list)
(15 minute video – CC tuts are encouraged to present live. Video files are for grade moderation across the cohort)
• In-class presentation in Weeks 10 and 11 followed by Q&A and “friendly comments”
• Refer to breakdown and criteria.
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Guide on Task and Process
• Select a firm, preferably a listed company. (Inform tutor asap. First come-first-serve basis – no two groups in the same tutorial can select the same firm.)
• Research on the parent company, home country and current state of internationalization (e.g. specialization, locations, global strategy)
• Analyse the product / service and whether is suitable for internationalization? What are the firm’s competitive advantages?
• What are the objectives? Sourcing, manufacturing, processing, market seeking or a combination and others?
• Consider at least two possible target countries in the initial study and planning process.
• Select one of the most suitable target countries. Attractiveness of the location? Explain and justify your decision. (this has not happened yet)
• Identify and assess using evidence from research and provide rationale and arguments for the following:
(1) Opportunities – resources (material, labour, tech), market demand (size, quality, potential), industry analysis, ease of doing business, location attractiveness
(2) Challenges – country risks (political/legal, economic, socio-cultural), competition, operational, infrastructure, regional & geopolitical
(3) Entry mode choice and justification of decision (export, joint venture, licensing, acquisition, greenfield, others?)
(4) Will the proposed operations fit with the firm’s overall global strategy?
(5) Suggest feasible and realistic action plan : how to manage and operate the new venture?
(ownership structure, staffing, HQ-subsidiary relations, organisation, operations, considering the firm’s resources, host environment & timeframe)
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More on Entry mode
• Export:
– Who is the import agent?
– Why did you select this agent?
– How will you distribute the products?
• JV:
– Who is the joint venture partner?
– Why did you select this partner?
– What is the ownership arrangement?
– How will you manage the joint venture?
• Greenfield
– Where will you set up the operation?
– How will you distribute the products?
– How will you manage the operations?
• Acquisition
– Which company will you acquire?
– Why did you select this company?
– How will you manage the acquisition?
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Research
• Familiarise with course contents from Canvas, lecture, tutorial activities, textbook and assigned readings
• Additional external research: use authoritative sources only (not wiki, personal blogs, student essays, or writing aid sites)
• Start with news sources (Financial Review, Bloomberg, CNBC, Reuters, BBC, ABC, NYT, SCMP)
• Company webpages, annual reports, interviews with senior managers, press release statements
• Statistics, surveys, industry reports, monographs
• Statements / announcements by the government, trade consuls, or economic organisations
• Consultancy (accounting, legal, management), business councils, industry reports
• Proposed venture has not happened yet. Do not use cases or examples that have been covered in lectures, tutorials, Canvas and readings
➢ Please state source of the reports and study (in small print within the slides and written report)
➢ Provide full reference list at the end following the APA style. https://libguides.library.usyd.edu.au/citation/apa7
➢ Distinguish clearly research data and your analysis
➢ Presentation and writeup must demonstrate understanding of concepts and critical analysis of research data
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Links to potential resources
Market
– GMID : Global Market Information Database (University Library)
– http://www.imf.org/external/data.htm#data
– http://data.worldbank.org/data-catalog
Competition
– GMID : Global Market Information Database
– http://www.weforum.org/issues/global-competitiveness
– http://www.imd.org/research/publications/wcy/index.cfm
Statistics
– http://data.worldbank.org/indicator
– http://www.weforum.org/issues/global-competitiveness
– http://www.imd.org/research/publications/wcy/index.cfm
– http://www.ilo.org/global/statistics-and-databases/lang--en/index.htm
– http://www.manpowergroup.com/press/meos.cfm
Ease of Doing Business
– www.doingbusiness.org
– http://www.weforum.org/issues/global-competitiveness
– http://www.imd.org/research/publications/wcy/index.cfm
Country Risk
– http://info.worldbank.org/governance/wgi/index.asp
– www.Cia.gov
– www.Prsgroup.com
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Q & A and Friendly Comments
• All group members must participate in the presentation and class discussions for both weeks 10 & 11.
(absence of group members must be covered by approved special consideration for the assignment or it may affect the group marks)
• All group members should be involved in Q&A and friendly comments.
• Write down comments of others’ work on shared documents or articulate verbally during the Q&A session
(white board, post-it notes, jamboard, google doc, or as set up by tutor)
• Critically analyse and learn from others’ research. Do not comment on the appearance of presenters and
general issues, such as “all good”, “impressive”. Be specific and demonstrate your analysis and application of
course contents.
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Marking Criteria
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Oral presentation in class Marks
Parent firm, current status, home country, why internationalise, objectives, global strategy 5
Opportunities analysis, challenges, process of deciding on target country and entry strategy 5
Entry mode analysis and justification. Recommendations on how to manage and operate. 5
Creativity, originality, use of media, group coordination, time management, professionalism, Q&A 3
Friendly comments of other groups’ work (lessons, critique, suggestions for improvement) 2
Total 20
HD: Deep analysis of relevant research data, coherent, well supported arguments / recommendations. Achieved excellence in all the areas of assessment.
DI: Good analysis of relevant research data and application of learning. Outstanding performance in all or most of the areas of assessment.
CR: Good research and performance, showing understanding of course contents. Above the average standard of the cohort.
P: Met the minimum requirements of the assignment and understanding of course contents.
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Marking Criteria
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Written analysis and reflection of group project Marks
Critically analyse relevant research data, apply course knowledge, and meet the criteria & guidelines
Depth of research: the firm, opportunities, challenges, locations, industry analysis, entry mode, global strategy
5
Lessons learned and reflection of the group project by connecting to learning from the course unit
Consistent with research contents and rationale in the presentation.
Clearly structured, well organised, and explained. Short sentences, paragraphs, line spacing.
Proper citation and referencing: clear distinction of research material and your analysis.
5
Total 10
HD: Deep analysis of relevant research data, coherent, well supported arguments / recommendations. Achieved excellence in all the areas of assessment.
DI: Good analysis of relevant research data and application of learning. Outstanding performance in all or most of the areas of assessment.
CR: Good research and performance, showing understanding of course contents. Above the average standard of the cohort.
P: Met the minimum requirements of the assignment and understanding of course contents.
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Timeline
Weeks 3 - 4: assigned groups
Weeks 4 to 5: set agenda and assign responsibilities
start researching and preparation
Week 6: confirm research parameters with tutor; selection on first come first serve basis
Weeks 5 to 8: teams may consult the tutor and coordinator
(keep all members informed of the progress and communications)
Due date: Week 10 Monday 11:59 pm Sydney time
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Peer Evaluation
• We hope that all the groups collaborate well and you will have a great learning experience. Your ability to
work well in a diverse group and various settings is a positive reflection of your cultural competence.
• If the group cannot resolve disagreements and communications break down, peer evaluation is a last
resort.
• Tutors must be informed as soon as possible, not after marking has commenced. Upon request, the tutor
will send the PE form to all the team members to complete and return the forms to the tutor.
• In the PE form, a student must evaluate other team members (but not yourself). If you contribute your fair
share to the project, you will get the full mark awarded. However, if majority of the team members and
your tutor assess that members’ contribution vary widely, each will be graded accordingly.
• Be aware that group members are unlikely to get the same mark in a PE. The final decision from the
teachers’ assessment of members’ contribution and award of marks cannot be changed.
• PE is not the same as “friendly comments” which is part of the group assignment.
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General questions on the assignment
If you have further questions, post on Canvas Discussions – group presentation & written assignment
- read the instructions on the assignment pages first before asking
- check earlier posts if the questions have already been addressed
- all group members should have a good understanding of the guidelines
- clarify if there are areas that you are not sure
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When Emailing Teachers
Subject: Course code and Tutorial (e.g.CC04 or RE01) Group number
To: email address of teacher (tutor or coordinator)
c.c. : email addresses of all the group members must be included
Summarise the subject or topic
Clear paragraphing, bullet points or number the questions
Neglect to follow a clear format could result in delay and/or misunderstanding
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