You will be responsible for a research Term Paper (Feasibility Study for a Foreign Market Entry)

Term Paper: You will be responsible for a research Term Paper (Feasibility Study for a Foreign Market Entry), as detailed below:

• Term Project (Individual: Foreign Market Entry Strategy (30%) You will prepare a report, including recommendations, for an actual company’s overall entry strategy into a foreign market. Your strategy should include attention to the social, political, cultural, and economic environment of the country you propose entering, the entry and organizational strategies the company should advance, including potential alliances with local firms, and a discussion of the ethical, negotiation, leadership, and management challenges associated with your recommendation. This analysis should integrate the readings and cases for the course in the context of the actions of a specific firm. This analysis will be approximately 10-15 double-spaced pages (with complete references). 

It will be submitted through Turnitin and must not contain more than 20% matching material. Over 20% match will be considered as plagiarism and it will be reported to the college as violation of Academic Integrity Policy. However, if you like, you can edit and submit the edited version (with less than 20% matching content) prior to Saturday of the week 12 (11:59 PM) without penalty.

Please feel free to submit your Term Project at any time prior to the Week 12 deadline. 

Your Term Paper is due on Saturday of Week 12 (11:59PM). It should be submitted through Canvas in the Assignment Link in this Module. All delays will be penalized @10% for each day’s delay.

DETAILS OF YOUR TERM PROJECT

IBS 2240: Term Project

• This paper is a requirement to complete the course.
• This paper constitutes 30% of the course grade
• The final report will be submitted by Saturday of Week 13 through the assignment link in this Module.  The name of the Assignment link is “Submit Term Paper Here!”
• Requirement of 10-12 pages (double space with 1” margin on all sides)
• Must cite all sources – work must be original not plagiarized (Use APA Format).

You are an entrepreneur (based in the US) who is exploring means to expand your business to another country.  Your goal is to study the feasibility of setting up your business in the selected country. The product/service may be new or existing as long as it is not already being sold in your host country.

1. Step one: (5%)
   1. State the study objectives
   2. Discuss who you are in terms of your company, where you are located, how many employees you have etc. This is to give you some authenticity.  You can make up all the info or base it on a small existing company.  What is your product(s) and/or service(s)?
2. Step two: (35%)
   1. Select a host country to expand your business – why did you select this country?
   2. Discuss the business environment in the following contexts:

• Political & Economic including trade agreements (10%)
• Legal & ethical (10%) ……Learning Outcome 1
• Social & cultural (15%) ….Learning Outcome 2

For your analysis, you are required to use any two of the following cultural dimensions (Chapters 4-5):

1. Hofstede (include home and host country’s comparison charts)
2. Globe
3. Trompenaar

• Demographic environment of this country.
• Use established facts and figures.

1. Step three: Based on the above analysis and your research, explore: (15%)…. Learning Outcome 3
   1. Major opportunities for doing business in the host country (e.g. population base, economy, need for the product/service)
   2. Major challenges (e.g. competition, infrastructure, government policies, culture, legal environment)

1. Step four (10%)….. Learning Outcome 3
   1. Select, describe and justify your entry strategy (Chapter 9). You need to select one and it must be in compliance with local host country laws and culture.

1. Step five: (10%)
   1. Your final decision – to go ahead; decide against it; or to postpone entering the market.
   2. Discuss 3-4 critical success factors that will contribute to positive outcome of the project

Please remember this is a feasibility study in International Management.  You need to use concepts from various chapters and show your understanding and your learning during the course.

I need to read about your ideas and your perspectives

Format of the report

1. Cover page with your name and project title
2. All pieces must be titled and separated e.g.
   1. Introduction
   2. Study objectives and The home company (step 1)
   3. The host country and its business environment (step 2)
   4. Opportunities and challenges for doing business (step 3)
   5. Entry strategy (step 4)
   6. Our decision – do we want to go into the country or not  (step 5)
3. Cite your sources using APA format

Emphasis will be on the understanding of the problems, critical evaluation as well as the ability to clearly communicate proposed solutions. Your final project is your major contribution, where you will exhibit your learning.

Assessment Criteria

Step 1: Introduction 5%

Step 2: Business environment analysis (10%)

• (Political & Economic)
• (Legal & ethical)
• Cultural & Social

     Step 3: Business Environment Analysis (15%)

• Cultural and Social

     Step 4: Opportunities & Challenges (15%)

     Step 5: Decision & Entry Strategy (20%)

     Step 6: Research Paper & Citations (5%)

     Step 7: Presentation (if required) & Writing Quality (20%)