Research Paper

MGMT 490-101 EXTRA CREDIT ASSIGNMENT
The paper topic will focus on a multinational firm based or headquartered outside the U.S.A.
A list of approved companies can be found on the next page of this document.
You must choose a company from this list and advise me as soon as possible. It is first
come- first serve in the company choice and I may not allow duplications so choose wisely
and quickly.
Students may choose additional foreign companies not listed but the firm must be approved
prior to any work on the assignment.
The purpose of the paper is to evaluate how a foreign multinational company
operates, their global strategy and how they are, (or plan to), grow their business
globally and in the U.S.
Specifically, the term paper needs to cover these major topics areas:
Identify the company, describe their products and services, provide a brief history with any
significant events or actions, and it must answer the following questions:
1. Are they truly a multinational organization? Which strategy do they follow: International,
Multinational, Global, or Transnational? Why?
2. How is the company organized? What is its organizational architecture (by divisions; is it
centralized or decentralized, which division is responsible for the U.S.)?
3. What is the company’s global competitive advantage (why would someone buy the firm’s
products or services)?
4. Identify the major competitors? Who should they be worried about and why? How do they
sell or distribute their products and services globally (identify distribution channels; do they
use regional or company offices, independent distributors, strategic alliance partners, etc.)?
5. Overall company’s strategy for global growth. What are management’s priorities? What
was the company’s initial mode of entry (FDI) and what is the company’s present foreign
growth strategy? Has it changed over time (localization versus globalization)? Be advised:
This is not the company’s mission statement.
6. How are they creating value? (Do they seek low unit cost of production, differentiation or
a combination of both)?
7. How do they address entry barriers such as culture, government restrictions, trade
policies, etc., Do they operate in stable or unstable political economies?
8. How do they handle exchange rate risk and repatriation of profits?
9. What are the greatest challenges/competition/risks they will face in the next 5-10 years?
10. Are they financially stable and profitable? Is profit growth sustainable? If not, why? The research paper should be double spaced and using a 12 point font. Documents should
be proofed and spell checked. I do not want to see any spelling or grammatical mistakes.
Please cite references at the end of the paper.
Approved companies for the paper:
Acer (Taiwan)
Adidas (Germany)
Ali-Baba (China)
Alstom (France)
Barclays PLC (UK)
British Petroleum (UK)
BYD Group (China)
Cannon (Japan)
CEMEX (Mexico)
Embrarer (Empressa Brasilerira de Aeronautica SA) (Brazil)
Group Danone (France)
GlaxoSmithkline (PLC (UK)
Fiat (Italy)
Geely Automobile Holdings (owns Volvo) (China)
Hutchinson Whampoa (Hong Kong)
IKEA (Sweden)
INDITEX (owns Zara)(Spain)
Kao (makes Jergens lotion) (Japan)
Lego Holding A/S (Denmark)
Lenovo (China)
LG (South Korea)
L’Oreal (France)
Lukoil (Russia)
Maersk Sealand (Denmark)
Nestle (Switzerland)
Novartis (Switzerland)
Nokia (Finland)
Panasonic (Japan)
(Royal) Phillips (Netherlands)
Puma (Germany)
RESMED (Australia)
Research in Motion (Canada)
Samsung (South Korea)
Sanofi-Aventis (France)
Shiseido (Japan)
Siemens (Germany)
SONY (Japan)
SWIRE (owns Cathay Pacific Airlines)(Hong Kong)
The Tata Group (owns Jaguar and Land Rover)(India)
TESCO (UK)
Unilever (UK)
Vale Mining (Brazil