business assignment help

            M5

Overview

Readings

Read Chapters 12, 13 & 14

Learning Activities

Written Assignment #3: A Little Electronic Magic at Alibaba.com 

Discussions

Discussion Topic: Will Prime Locations Change? 

Ch 12 - The Strategy of International Business

OBJECTIVES

·         Evaluate industry structure, firm strategy, and value creation

·         Profile the features and functions of the value chain

·         Assess how managers configure and coordinate a value chain

·         Explain global integration and local responsiveness 

·         Profile the types of strategies MNEs use

Chapter Overview 

Chapter Twelve presents tools and concepts used in analyzing and formulating international business strategy.  First, the relationship between industry structure and competition in global industries is examined.  Next, value chain analysis is used to identify the internal capabilities of the firm that can be leveraged to create competitive advantage.  Effective international strategy depends greatly on the proper configuration and management of a company’s global value chain.  The sometimes conflicting demands of global integration versus local responsiveness are examined.  Finally, a typology of strategic alternatives including multidomestic, international, global, and transnational strategies is presented.

 

Ch 13- Country Evaluation and Selection

OBJECTIVES 

·         Grasp company strategies for sequencing the penetration of countries

·         See how scanning techniques can help managers both limit geographic alternatives and consider otherwise overlooked areas

·         Discern the major opportunity and risk variables a company should consider when    deciding whether and where to expand abroad

·         Know the methods and problems when collecting and comparing international information    

·         Understand some simplifying tools for helping to decide where to operate

·         Consider how companies allocate emphasis among the countries where they   operate

·         Comprehend why location decisions do not necessarily compare different       countries’ possibilities

·         Fathom the conditions that may cause prime business locations to change in the future.

Chapter Overview

The country evaluation and selection process determines the geographical opportunities firms choose to pursue. Chapter Thirteen first discusses the challenges of marketing and production site location. It goes on to carefully examine the process by describing the choice and weighting of variables used for opportunity and risk analysis as well as the inherent problems associated with data collection and analysis. The chapter then introduces the use of grids and matrices for country comparison purposes, discusses resource allocation possibilities, and concludes by noting the different factors considered as part of start-up, acquisition, and expansion decisions. 

Ch 14 - Export and Import

Objectives

·         Explain the idea of exporting and profile its elements

·         Explain the idea of importing and profile its elements

·         Describe the problems and pitfalls that challenge international traders

·         Describe the resources and assistance that helps international traders

·         Define the idea of an export plan

·         Discuss the practice of countertrade

Chapter Overview 

The first part of Chapter Fourteen is devoted to an examination of export and import strategies. Next, the roles of a wide variety of third-party intermediaries are discussed. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the major issues related to export financing, including the use of countertrade as a form of payment mechanism.

 

M5 Discussion

M5 - Will Prime Locations Change?

There are several important demographic shifts that are expected to occur over the next several decades.  Population growth in high-income countries is expected to slow and populations are actually expected to decline in countries such as Japan and Italy.  Meanwhile, population growth in low-income countries is expected to be robust.  Since there is a positive relationship between the changes in the size of the working-age population and per capita GDP, the growth in per capita GDP should be higher in today’s emerging economies than in today’s high-income countries. These changes could have significant implications for the location of markets and the location of labor forces.  

Another trend that could influence country selection is the propensity of innovative people to converge on places that develop reputations for facilitating creativity and innovation.  Even with technologies that allow people to work from home or in virtual office environments, face-to-face contact will continue to be important—especially among the best and brightest. 

In light of the changing dynamics and the related discussion in chapter 13, please share your perspective.

 

M5 Written assignment

M5 - A Little Electronic Magic at Alibaba.com

Please read the "A Little Electronic Magic at Alibaba.com" case from chapter 14, and answer to the following questions. It is important for you to read the chapter carefully before attempting to answer the assignment. The learning from reading the text must be reflected in your answers. Grading criteria for case studies are listed under "course information." 

1. Do you think most international trade might eventually take place through Web sites like alibaba.com? How might that influence your interest in importing and exporting?

2. Identify a product you would like to import. Visit www.alibaba.com, go to the advanced search field, and enter it. Select required criteria and click on “Search.” Review the list of companies that qualify. Find a suitable seller. Analyze this process for ease, usefulness, and potential value.

3. Please provide three recommendations that you would offer an SME, based on the opportunities and constraints of electronic Web sites like Alibaba, as it considers engaging in exporting or importing.

4. How transparent do sites like Alibaba.com make the import-export transaction?  Would you still worry about fraud?

Instructions:

1.     Prepare your responses in no more than 4 type written pages (in APA Format).  There is no need to write too much. Try to stick to the points.

2.     Conduct a spelling check carefully before submitting your response.

3.     Write your name and assignment number at the top of the document.