For this project, you will research, analyze, and describe the business environment of a selected foreign country.
Instructions for Preparing the Foreign Country Environmental Analysis Project (with Rubric)
Purpose:
To research, analyze, and describe the business environment of a foreign. Your country for analysis will be selected by the instructor.
Assignment and Presentation Topic:
You have been asked by the local Chamber of Commerce to find out about doing business in a foreign country. The Chamber’s companies want to know about the opportunities in the country and how to take advantage of these opportunities.
The Chamber also wants to know about the differences in doing business in the foreign country and what they will need to do to be successful there. This requires research and analysis of the various environmental forces in the country compared to the US. (See Foreign Country Environmental Analysis rubric)
Process:
Country will be randomly assigned by instructor
Research and environmental analysis
Each student must analyze the elements of the foreign country’s business environment that are important to an American Company interested in doing business in that country. Students must research the foreign country’s business environment by using the Country Commercial Guide prepared by the US embassy of the country you selected at http://www.buyusa.gov/
Students must also use information and knowledge about the foreign business environment gleaned from research and from information provided in the text, and from reputable internet sources.
Questions to be answered include:
What information about the foreign business environment does an American company need to know about doing business in this country?
How can this research help an American company understand the opportunities, threats, barriers, and risks of doing business in the country?
Which information would be most helpful for a US company learning how to do business in that country?
In order to answer these questions and complete and present an appropriate analysis of the country, the students must identify, collect and evaluate a wide range of information. Since considerable information about most countries exists from a variety of sources, the focus of the research will be on the evaluation and analysis of information. Therefore, the selection, evaluation, and analysis of information will be as an important aspect of the report as the content. There are numerous sources available for most countries. As mentioned, students MUST use United States Country Commercial Guide PLUS two other sources.
Rubric for the Foreign Country Environmental Analysis assignment (100 points)
The total possible maximum points that can be earned for each part of the assignment is based on the extent to which your assignment meets the following expectations:
10 POINTS: INTRODUCTION
Described the location and geography of the country: i.e. where is the country? Who are its neighbors?
Explained the extent to which location and geography affected this country’s economy, culture, business practices, etc.
Explained important historical development(s) that has affected the country’s culture, politics, ways of doing business, attitudes towards foreigners (extent to which they are xenophobic).
20 POINTS: ECONOMIC analysis (Chapter 3)
Explained how differences in economic systems, economic institutions, how the economy is organized, the rate of economic growth, or other economic factors (refer to the economic section in the “environments of international business” document) such as GDP, inflation rate, interest rates, etc. that are different in the target country when compared to economic factors in the USA that can affect how business is done, the types of products you can sell, or, how differences in the economy can affect business decisions.
20 POINTS: CULTURE analysis (Chapter 4)
Identified and described how cultural differences can affect how an American company does business in the foreign country. (At the minimum, the HOFSTEDE model must be used to compare the culture of the foreign country to American culture and how any differences between these two cultures might affect how an American company does business in that foreign country.)
20 POINTS: POLITICAL analysis (Chapters 5, 6)
Explained how differences in politics, the political system, or the role of government in the economy can affect how an American company does business in the foreign country, the types of products that can be sold, or, in any way, can affect any business decision. (Refer to the politics section in the “environments of international business” document)
20 POINTS: ANALYSIS OF ANOTHER ENVIRONMENTAL FACTOR
Explained how ONE of the remaining environmental forces (technological, legal, competitive, or natural) could affect the process of doing business, how to do business, the types of products an American company could sell, or, in any way, could affect a business decision.
5 POINTS: BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
Described some of the business opportunities in this country.
5 POINTS: WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
Explained the most important thing you learned about the country and explains something important we need to know about doing business in the country.
I can also provide the online login for the text if needed.
