Assessment Component 2: Individual Essay Objective(s): This addresses Subject Learning Objectives 1 and 4.

Due: 5 June 2013

Task: Students must choose one of the following two options:

Option 1:

40 Marks Select one global company that you are familiar. Using the companys criteria of performance for that company you should be able to: 1. a) Explain how the companys global strategy operates. 2. b) What are the nature and drivers of the company global strategies? 3. c) Identify and explain the challenges facing the global strategy in achieving higher performance levels. 4. d) Suggest how the company could overcome those challenges? The assignment to be completed as a written report on a global company covering at least the period over the past 2 years. Students will individually develop a case study that explores the nature and drivers of global strategies for their chosen organisation or industry. This assignment needs to have a global strategic management focus. It should include a clear description and critical analysis of the global strategies deployed by your chosen company or industry including an evaluation of how well these strategies have 6 worked. The relevant information may be collected from annual reports or other published articles such as those available from the library electronic database, as well as other media.

The assessment will be marked on the quality of the identification description and analysis of critical strategic issues; the inclusion of appropriate material data and the provision of enough scope for detailed analysis; and grammar and written English. Personal interviews are not recommended since confidentially and ethical considerations have to be observed. You must do relevant additional research (apart from accessing the information on websites of the company) to successfully complete your analysis. Your assignment length must be between 2500 and 3000 words maximum. Any assignment that exceeds 3000 words will be penalised. Option 2 - (Write a research paper on a selected topic relevant to Global Strategic Management): Select one of the following topics as a topic for your research paper: 1. Managing global uncertainty. 2. Growth and risk management in emerging markets. 3. Labour productivity and talent management. 4. The increasing role of governments. 5. The five of innovation attibutes that could shape global business. 6. Globalizations critical imbalances. 7. Theproductivityimperative 8. Emerging markets are riding the virtuous growth cycle. 9. The often contradictory demands of driving economic growth and providing the necessary safety nets to maintain social stability have put governments under extraordinary pressure. Explain. 10. Explain how complex flows of capital, goods, information, and people are

creating an interlinked network that spans geographies, social groups, and economies in ways that permit large-scale interactions at any moment. This expanding grid is seeding new business models and accelerating the pace of innovation. Is it a destabilizing cycles of volatility more likely? 11. Does globalization apply additional heat? How will distinctly national entities govern in an increasingly globalized world? 12. It has been widely accepted that developing global strategies requires incorporation of three strategic perspectives, namely industry, resources and institutional perspectives. However recent debate identified innovation as a key competitive advantage. Does this means development of global strategies should now include innovation as the fourth perspective of strategy? Explain. Students can also choose another topic not mentioned in the above list. In this case the student must obtain an agreement from the subject coordinator regarding the suit the suitability of the topic and the amount of work required. Length of the assignment not more than 2500 words maximum. 1. The challenges for Multinational Corporation in China. 2. How the reduction in the dominance of government-owned businesses could improve competitiveness in India. 3. Social innovation. 4. Global forces shaping the future of business and society.

Marking Criteria: Reflective use of information and method of analysis (10 marks):

As you work through the assignment you will draw on information /data provided in the questions. When answering a particular question you should make clear which information/data you are using and explain any important assumptions that are made in relation to the data used and the analysis you carry out. Use of relevant literature (5 marks): Although your experience and views are of course valuable an essential component of an academic piece of work is appropriate use of literature to support and inform your work. For this assignment the course text is considered to be adequate. However, you may draw on other sources if you wish. Academic writing standard (5 marks): Your aim should be to produce well structured, clear and concise writing, with correct referencing using the Harvard method. Substance of answers (10 marks): You answers should be of an appropriate length, fully address the questions and demonstrate an appropriate quantum of work (both quality and quantity). Avoid over- long, incoherent, rambling answers.