BO6203 Assignment 2: International Business Strategy and Analysis

This assignment, for the BO6203 module, presents solutions to four essay questions focusing on international business challenges. The first question requires an analysis of country risks faced by an international company in regions like South America, Africa, Central Asia, or the Middle East, proposing a risk management strategy. The second question involves advising on HR management for a Swedish company expanding to Mexico, including job titles and expatriate settlement plans. The third question examines the benefits and drawbacks of outsourcing arrangements between international companies and local partners. Finally, the fourth question investigates how international companies utilize technologies like additive manufacturing, advanced robotics, or AI to transition to more sustainable business practices. Each question has a 500-word limit, and the assignment emphasizes integrated knowledge, logical arguments, supporting evidence, case study relevance, and proper referencing.

Assignment Title 4 short essay questions for TB2
Type of Submission Individual Assignment 2
Weighting of the assignment in
the overall module grade 50%
Word Count/Time allocation
(for presentations) 2000 words (± 10%) (excluding references and appendices)
Issue Date 18 September 2020
Submission Date 12 April 2021
Date of Feedback to Students 26 April 2021
Where feedback can be found
Brief comments on the electronic script, summary comments in
the “Comments” box and a breakdown of the allocation of marks
in the “Rubric” on Turn-it-in in CANVAS
Assignment Task
You need to answer the following 4 questions by making full use
of what you have learned in this module as well as all the
materials available on various sources. The word limit for each
question is 500 words (± 10%) and the total word limit for this
assignment is 2000 words (± 10%). Please provide the word
count per question on the script. The deadline: 1pm on 1st April
2021.
Q1. You can choose any international company, who has faced anyone of the
country risks: political, economic, operational or competitive, in the last 12 months in
one of the following regions: 1) South America, 2) Africa, 3) Central Asia, and 4) the
Middle East. Identify, analyse and manage the risk as if you were employed as a
consultant by your chosen company. Any risk management technique which has
already been adopted and utilised by the chosen company will NOT be accepted in
your answer. (500 words)
Q2. You have been promoted to HR Director in the Swedish company which
manufactures and sells the medical equipment (MRI scanner). Being very hi-tech,

the equipment has until now been made in Sweden by the company’s skilled team.
Your employer has just purchased a factory in Mexico for the manufacture of medical
equipment that has been selling well in the USA. There is a budget for three
expatriate managers to be sent to manage its operation in Mexico for four years. The
CEO has asked you to recommend the job title for three expatriates with your
justification for each job title and prepare a plan to help these expatriates’ early
settlement in Mexico. (500 words)
Q3. Choose any international company that has outsourced one of its business
functions to a local company in their international operation (For example: DHL’s use
of local Indian company for its inbound freight distribution in India) and critically
discuss the benefits and drawbacks of its outsourcing arrangement with the local
company. An outsourcing arrangement between the two companies should be post
2010. (500 words)
Q4. Recently, a notion of ‘Industry 4.0’ or ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’ has become
of the centre of attention in the business world. Some associated technologies, such
as additive manufacturing, advanced robotics, Drones, IoT, Blockchain, and AI, have
been rapidly developing and many firms are contemplating different ways to exploit
these technologies. Choose any international company utilising one of these
technologies and discuss their journey in moving away from its traditional business
to more sustainable business. (500 words)
Notes for all questions
· The list of references should appear at the end of each question.
· Executive summary is not required
· Tables and figures used in your answer will NOT be a part of word count.
Marking Criteria
Section/element Allocated Marks
Demonstration of integrated knowledge
20%
Ability to provide an argument in a logical and clear manner
20%
Convincing evidence to support your argument
20%
Relating your discussion to at least one case study discussed in the class
30%
Referencing, structure, language and presentation of the answer 10%

Penalty (if any) for exceeding word count – note faculty writing guide states:
Any reports which are more than 10% over the specified word count will only be
marked up to the word count limit + 10%. The rest of the work will not be marked.
Please note that these criteria apply to all the questions
Rubric
BO6203 _ 2nd Assignment
Criteria Ratings Pts
This criterion is linked to a learning outcomeQ1: Risk Management
Total mark: 25% 100 pts
This criterion is linked to a learning outcomeQ2: HR Management
Total mark: 25% 100 pts
This criterion is linked to a learning outcomeQ3: Outsourcing
Total mark: 25% 100 pts
This criterion is linked to a learning outcomeQ4: Industry 4.0
Total mark: 25% 100 pts
Total points: 400
BO6203 _ 2nd Assignment