Assignment Questions

International Business Environment

Each question carries 10 marks

1. Some experts argue that the cultural and political factors in the LDCs have stronger influence on
the business environment than in the highly industrialized countries. Comments on that
assumption and explain how it affects the foreign business strategy?
2. What makes the leading corporations and even mid – sized companies to conduct business in the
LDCs instead of concentrating on the rich and highly demanding markets in the OECD? List the
motivating factors?
3. List and explain the most likely advantages and disadvantages of having to manage a company in
an industrialized country (management of the internal environment)?
4. Describe the main elements that characterize consumer behavior in the industrialized counties
and elaborate on the ways businesses adjust their approach to consumers to adapt to these
elements?
5. How does the legal environment affect the international business? How should the international
managers address the various legal challenges in different countries?
6. Explain the key factors that lead to different levels of socio- economic development at a national
and regional level. Discus how the level of development modifies the business opportunities and
practices?
7. The globalization is seen as a growth engine and vice versa-as a major threat of the economies of
the developing countries. In your opinion, how does globalization effect the international business
today and what are the expected outcomes in the short run and in the long run?
8. Describe Trompenaar’s value dimensions and discuss their use international business?
9. How do multinational corporations –MNCs-get involved in international business? How do they
differ from small business?
10. Provide examples of success stories and failures of entry strategies in the LDCs ?
 Marketing Communication
Each question carries 10 marks

1. Advertising encourages the underprivileged to aspire for unaffordable lifestyles. Discuss the
merits and demerits of this.

2. What is surrogate advertising? Where is it used? What are the commonly used
surrogates? Suggest a few surrogate options for Manikchand Gutka.
3. Celebrity advertising is the easy way out for advertising specialists. Discuss the pros and
cons of using this approach.
4. What scenario would you foresee with 3G coming into India in terms of advertising?
Which sectors do you think can benefit on this wave?
5. Of all the advertising campaign in recent times, which would be your favourite? On a
scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate it on these parameters
6. a) Communication b) Media Choice c) Execution/ Delivery d) Recall.
7.   What do you mean by extendibility of a campaign? Why and how important is this to
the brand?
8. Give an example of one brand that has successfully reinvented itself to sustain its
market share.
9. Do you think print advertising is losing its importance? Discuss.
 Business Marketing
Each question carries 10 marks

1. Explain the major difference between consumer and industrial marketing.

2. Mention major micro and macro environmental factors for company/industry analysis.

3. Describe the Webster and Wind Model of Organizational Buying Behaviour.

4. Describe different types of relationships between buying and selling firms.

5. Describe the various segmenting variables for an Industrial market.

6. What changes are needed in the marketing strategy when a product enters the maturity stage
from the growth stage of product life-cycle?

7. Explain why business channels are usually shorter than the channels used in consumer goods
marketing.

8. Explain the major communication media or tools used in business marketing.

9. Compare B2C and B2B e-commerce.

10. Why does the pricing of a product vary between two countries?
 Marketing Strategy
Each question carries 10 marks

1. Explain in detail types of Generic Competitive Strategy of Michael Porter.

2. Explain in detail the steps followed for developing a new product.
3. Explain with illustrations, the various parameters to be considered for successful
implementation of media strategy.
4. Describe briefly the steps involved in creating a Marketing Plan.
5. What is Strategic Alliance? What are the various kinds of alliances? Explain with illustrations.
6. Describe in detail cost oriented and market oriented pricing strategies adopted by companies.
7. Explain in detail the various strategies adopted to segment a consumer product.
8. Describe the various methods adopted for formulating the strategies
9. What is the importance of STP (Segmentation, Targeting and Positioning) in marketing strategy
and explain each of them with an example.
10. Describe the pricing strategy adopted during the introduction of a new product.
Financial Strategy
 International Finance
Each question carries 10 marks

1. Based on exchange rate between US and India, Forecast the exchange rate for six months from
today by considering interest rates in both countries.
2. Consider forward exchange rates between two countries along with to calculate spreads and %
of spread from a newspaper quotes.
3. Find Newspaper Quotes for foreign exchange rate and workout locational arbitrage
opportunities.
4. Find Newspaper Quotes for foreign exchange rate and workout triangle arbitrage opportunities.
5. Consider forward rates and interest rates of any two countries and workout arbitrage
opportunities as part of interest covered arbitrage.
6. Write a brief note on EXIM policy in India.
7. Narrate the working capital management issues in an MNC in India.
8. How currency swaps can be used as risk hedging? Explain with an example by considering the
newspaper quotes for foreign exchange and interest rates of those countries.
9. What is exchange rate? Consider exchange rate quotes from a newspaper and workout the
Inverse quote and cross rate for the quotes.
10. What is exposure? What are the various types of exposures an MNC will have to face in
general?

1.
 Mergers & Acquisitions
Each question carries 10marks

1. Discuss in detail industry life cycle with applicability to M & A

2. Discuss in detail the 5S model.
3. Explain in detail Demerger
4. What is managerial efficiency theory? What are the negatives of this theory? How is it different
from differential efficiency theory?
5. What is conglomerate merger? Illustrate with an example. What are the benefits of such a
merger?
6. Explain due diligence in detail
7. What is financial synergy? What are the negatives of this theory?
8. How do you address HR issues in an M & A exercise? It encompasses.
9. What is the JV? What are the advantages & disadvantages?
10. What are the methods of valuation?