Individual Assignment: Essay-style Answer on International Business Topics

This is an individual assignment. It will constitute 100% of your overall mark for the module. Please choose ONE question from the following FOUR. You are asked to write an essay-style answer of about 3000 words on the topic you have chosen.

You are expected to develop your own arguments within the assignment, based on your own critical reflection, as well as your wider reading, and the discussions that have taken place during lectures and seminars.  You are also expected to draw on academic sources such as journal articles, books to to support the arguments and analysis within your assignment.

You should also make sure that referencing and citing of sources complies with the Harvard Referencing System.  A guide for this can be found online via the University of Sunderland Library website.

Students are required to submit their coursework through JIRA. Only assessments submitted through JIRA will be marked. Any other submission including submission to your study centre in hard copy will be treated as a non-submission.

If your centre supports Turnitin©, a copy of your Turnitin© or SafeAssign originality report must be submitted in conjunction with your assignment.

This assessment covers the following learning outcomes from the module.

1. Critically review and apply concepts, terminology & theoretical models associated with international business policies and strategies.
2. Demonstrate understanding of the political, socio-cultural, economic and technological factors that have been found to influence variations in international organisational business structures and leadership and management styles
3. Critically assess the relationship between national and organisational cultures
4. Relate the conceptual theories  of ‘internationalisation’, innovation and competitive advantage to different industries and locations

1. Apply relevant theoretical concepts to real-world business (environment) dilemmas or issues, producing a diagnosis and suggesting possible outcomes.  

For each question, the competent answer will be concise, accurate and clearly written in your own words. It will put forward your individual analysis of the issues raised, rather than merely offer a descriptive account. It will be logically organised and contain a conclusion.

Drawing on what you have learnt during the module, your assignment should apply the theories that are relevant to the assignment question chosen.  In addition, your arguments within the assignment should be supported by drawing on relevant academic literature and examples from companies operating in the international business environment,

You also need to make sure that direct quotations are cited and acknowledged in compliance with the Harvard Referencing System.

The Generic PG assessment criteria are attached as well as a module interpretation in the form of a mark sheet.  

The University’s Policy on Cheating, Collusion and Plagiarism will apply.

In answering ONE of these questions, please pay particular attention to the assessment criteria

• as much as possible your answers should draw on real world examples from the activities of international businesses and national economies
• equal weighting should be assumed for two part questions.

1. Applying your analysis to a Multi National Enterprise considering entering into a new market in a developing economy, critically assessthe theories which are available to evaluate the extent and potential impact of culture to its business operations? (100 marks)

2. Using current examples from international business, and drawing on relevant models and theories, critically assess the impact of corporate social responsibility in achieving and sustaining competitive advantage.(100 marks)

3. The PESTEL framework analyses specific dimensions of a national environment.  Critically evaluate how the framework can be adopted to take into consideration other additional dimensions, with reference to regional and global influences. (100 marks)

4. With reference to no more than two emerging economies, discuss to what extent can FDI and joint ventures provide opportunities for technology spillovers, which can lead to increased innovative capacity in a host country