External Business Challenges

Order Description

Choose one of the organisations from the list below and examine the key external factors affecting the business by applying the PESTEL framework for one of the emerging markets. This should include a detailed situation analysis using theory to underpin your discussion.
Examine the key drivers of globalisation and how these have impacted upon the business at present.
Identify TWO challenges and TWO opportunities presented by the external environment which may impact on the business in the future.
Choose one organisation to base your report on: Either Nando’s, Tesco, McDonald’s, Dyson or Nokia.

TESCO

Choose one of the organisations from the list below and examine the key external factors affecting the business by applying the PESTEL framework for one of the emerging markets.  This should include a detailed situation analysis using theory to underpin your discussion.
Examine the key drivers of globalisation and how these have impacted upon the business at present.
Identify TWO challenges andTWO opportunities presented by the external environment which may impact on the business in the future.
Choose one organisation to base your report on:  Either Nando’s, Tesco, McDonald’s, Dyson or Nokia.
SPECIFIC COURSEWORK GUIDELINES
Report structure and guidance
1.    Title page
The report should have a cover page with a title, the name of the organisation your name and date.  The title should leave the reader in no doubt as to the subject of the report. A lengthy and specific heading is more beneficial than a short and vague one. For example: “Nokia: Opportunities and Challenges in the Turkish Telecom Market” as opposed to: “Report on Nokia”.

2.    Contents page
This should be a separate page on which the sub headings are listed along with the corresponding page number aligned neatly.

3.    Introduction
State what country you will be considering and the purpose of the report- for example:
The purpose of the report is to examine the key external factors affecting Nokia operating in Turkey and to identify the opportunities and challenges faced by Nokia in the Turkish telecommunications market.
Introduction to the country, size, growth, population, economic trends.
4.    PESTEL analysis and key drivers of globalisation
Here you need to examine any external factors that are relevant.  For example, do government regulations present opportunities or challenges, if so what are these?  What about the technological environment – for example, with Nokia you need to discuss the technological environment of the telecommunications industry.  For culture you should apply appropriate academic theory- e.g. Hofstede’s dimensions when describing the culture and how this impacts business managers when doing business in this country.

Is the government attracting companies to export to its country?   What are the incentives, if any?  What are the challenges?  What is the political system of the government and does this enable foreign business transactions or does the government impose trade barriers or other trade restrictions or incentives?  You must link your discussion to appropriate theory such as trade policy instruments and trade blocs.

Other examples you could consider:
•    Political freedom/democracy or at least with respect to trade
•    Stability – political & economic.
•    Low barriers/tariffs to trade.
•    Large & expanding GDP/GNP.
•    Well defined & transparent legal system.
•    Protection of property rights/intellectual property rights.
•    Perception of psychic, sociocultural distance

Do not give your own thoughts and opinions – your work must be supported by relevant sources of information and linkage to theories and concepts as provided in your lecture notes and from the recommended reading and other relevant sources of information.
Opportunities and Challenges
Here you will consider the attraction for the business to expand into the country.  Is it to access new markets, FDI, access to resources such as cheaper labour or raw materials etc.? We all know that call centres have been set up in India and also there is a high supply of software engineers.  What are the opportunities and challenges presented by the country?  Are there any changes in social mobility that present an opportunity for businesses?  Do you have any economic data you could provide in your report- for example data on consumer spending or income?  You need to again, link your discussion to appropriate academic concepts.  In all cases you must use relevant sources of information to support your lines of discussion.

What are the impacts of future external challenges?
Here you need to demonstrate an understanding of how the external challenges impact the organisation. For example, the business may have more of a responsibility towards the environment, or adapt better technology to improve it systems, or the business could be at a financial risk due to a weak currency.

Note:  You need to only TWO opportunities and TWO challenges in your overall findings.

5.    Conclusion
This part of the report consists of a summary of the main findings. It should contain nothing for which there was no evidence/discussion in any part of the report above.

6.    Referencing
When you write about the relevant theoretical aspects of management, ensure that you reference your work correctly using UCB academic writing conventions, as explained in your Student Handbook.

7.    Application of theory
Higher marks will be awarded to work that shows a sound knowledge and convincing application of theories to practical business scenarios.   The ability to contrast relevant aspects of alternative approaches and theoretical models of international business will attract higher marks for analysis/synthesis.

8.    Sentence structure, grammar and spelling
Avoid long and complicated sentences (not longer than 15 –20 words).
Check your work for spelling and avoid silly mistakes like incorrect spelling of the name of the organisation.  Also remember that in a formal report you must write in the 3rd person and use formal language so that the report reads as a professional piece of work.

9.    Report making Summary:
Make absolutely clear to yourself what has to be reported on.
Consider mapping out a suitable structure for your report in advance of any research or writing.
Decide on suitable ways of obtaining the required information.
Having obtained reliable information, articulate your findings in a logical manner using appropriate headings to guide the reader.
Ensure that your report is proof read for: grammar, syntax and spelling errors.
Ensure that your report follows UCB guidelines regarding: margins, font style, line spacing, headers/footers etc
Module Learning Outcomes:

1. Examine key drivers of globalisation.
2. Understand the opportunities and challenges presented by the external business environment.
3. To demonstrate an understanding of the impacts of future external challenges.