GBMP5528 OLB Group Assignment Guidelines (25%)

Group Presentation (April 11, 2016) and Written Report(April 18, 2016)
The Assignment will consist of two modules: Class Presentation and Written Report.
A. Group Presentation (April 11, 2016)
Main Instruction and Objective of Group Project

* CHOOSE A FIRM OPERATING IN YOUR ASSIGNED REGION as an example of a case of

a successful global business and the lessons it provide to managers.
PLEASE CLEAR YOUR CHOICE OF FIRM WITH THE INSTRUCTOR to ensure
appropriate choice and that no 2 groups will report on the same company.
Important: The group presentation is to provide basic information and to be persuasive in making
your case that your subject company is successful. Its basically a summary of your findings on
the company.
The written report to be submitted the week after your oral presentation is required to contain the
recommendations and feedback from the class discussions and be detailed with thorough
analysis, data and information.
*Each Group will submit a 1 pager before the oral presentation indicating: The company and
region, the members and their individual sections of the report. This is important as this is MY
REFERENCE FOR MARKING the members of the groups and making written comments.
Each group should email the instructor their presentation.
1.

10:45 11: 00 (A)-11:05 (B) USA/Canada

2.

11:06 11:21 (A)- 11:26 (B) Latin America

3.

11:27 11:41 (A)- 11:46 (B) Europe

4.

11:47 12:02 (A)- 12:07 (B) No. Eurasia/South Asia

5.
12:08 12:23 (A)-12:28 (B) Mid East & No. Africa/SS Africa/Central
Asia
6.

12:29 12:44 (A)-12:49 (B) East Asia

7.

12:50 1:05 (A) 1:10 (B) SEA/ANZ

Lessons from Winning Companies/Short lecture

(A) Presentation Proper
(B) Including Class Discussion
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Guidelines
1. The groups will adhere to the assigned reporting time and time limits.
Going over time will affect other groups and the entire class. (time your
presentation)
2. Every member of the group should have a part in the presentation.
3. Please do not overload your powerpoint slides. Review your slides.
4. You may use index cards and other aids but please read only for a short
time.
5. You may use a video if you like but it should not exceed 3 minutes.
6. The next group should be ready to report once the presenting group is
about to end.
7. Please participate actively.
8. This is a regular class meeting. Everyone is expected to stay up to the end
of the class.
*Marking Scheme in Oral Presentation: 2.5 points Delivery, 2.5 points Organization and Clarity,
5 points Research for a total of 10 points.
B. Written Report Guidelines (For April 18 Submission)|
The group may also use this as format for the oral presentation to make it easier to prepare the
written report. This confirms or supplements previous instructions and guidelines given in class.
*Double spaced, written report of about 15 pp. to be submitted with references.
MAX. 20 PAGES. Page count excludes detailed tables which can be part of an Appendix.
Academic reports have clear sub topics and subheadings. Good writing requires clear, logical
organization and structure.
Objective:
Discuss Global Business Cases Lessons Learned from Successful Global Business/Businesses
* CHOOSE A FIRM FROM YOUR ASSIGNED REGION as a case of a successful business in
the Age of Globalization.

Outline of the Report:

Preface: Country Profile (1 point)
Name of Country:
Demographics:
Population:
Population Growth Rate:
Major languages:
Life expectancy:
Literacy Rates:
Government:
Type of Government:
Head of Government:
Geography:
General features
Climate
Surface area
Largest cities by population, are:
Economics:
Gross Domestic Product (GDP):
GDP Per Capita
GDP Growth Rate:
Sectoral Share in GDP: (Agriculture, Industry, Services)
Major Industries/Products:
Inflation Rate:
Unemployment rate:
Major Exports/Imports:
Major Transportation and Communications Infrastructure

Major Sources of Information: Government website, CIA Factbook, Atlapedia, World Bank etc.
I. Introduction (1 point)
- Firm Background, its history and its operating environment (the industry and the region)
- State the objective: why did you choose the firm?
- Short description of products and services etc.
II. The Role of Geography and the Firm (1.5 points)
-analyze the role of geography and the performance of the firm: physical features of the region,
transportation networks, climate, demographics, development indicators and the culture and
history of the region in influencing the performance of the firm (Chapter 1 concepts).
- There may be no specific reference to the role of the geography (human and physical) in your
choice of firm so please analyze by applying the concepts in Chapter 1.
-Use a PEST framework to analyze the major environmental influences on the firm performancePolitical, Economic, Social and Technological operating environments.
III. The Role of Culture and the Firm (1.5 points)
-Analyze the role of the cultural setting and the performance of the firm: the business culture
and practices, negotiation strategies, motivations.
-Opportunities and challenges working in the cultural setting of the firm.
-If the subject firm is a subsidiary or a branch of a company with head office in another country
then the business cultures of both the mother companys country and the branch/subsidiary
should be discussed and their interplay to produce the successful performance of the company.
- Use the national business culture as default
IV. Firm Strategies (2 points)
-This section is past and present oriented
-How did the firm successfully penetrate the region?
-What were the strategies that it pursued/still pursuing?
-How did the company successfully navigate the geography and business culture of its location?
-How successful is it? Cite evidence: market share, profitability, reputation in the industry,
innovations introduced, growth in labor, expansion of facilities/branches etc. Ideally, there is a
timeline: how the company became successful over the years.
V. Opportunities and Challenges (2 points)
-this section is future oriented
-what are the prospects of the firm in the region? (relate to regional industry and economic
prospects/performance, global supply chains)
-is the company well positioned to take advantage of the opportunities?
-what about the challenges posed by the established competitors? new players in the market?
-This section is basically future oriented by using a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses,
Opportunities and Threats) analysis framework to analyze the opportunities and challenges
facing the firm and how it may respond to them.
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VI. Conclusion (1 point) Total: 10 points

- A reiteration of the major points of the report.
Important Reminders:
Use at least 8 references other than the textbook
Cite your sources in the text when: stats and/or info are stated, a quote in the text
and a major assertion is made. Referencing is an evidence of the research
conducted. Always state the source when including tables and graphs. While citing
references is an evidence of the research made to support assertions made etc., the
student is expected to conduct his/her own analysis and arrive at his/her own
conclusions. Thus, it's expected that the student's "voice" should come out in the
report.
The Instructor will deduct the appropriate marks as deemed necessary such as for
non compliance with instructions, readability etc.