Starbuck failure in Australia
b) the psychological factors driving their decisions, including
– “commitment to internationalisation” manifested in preference for certain entry modes
– lessons from past experiences (fear/confidence in the face of international uncertainty)
– general attitude towards risks and rewards (“financialization”)
A good idea is to divide your paper into two halves:
1. Analysis of choices made what was done, how and above all why
2. Analysis of alternatives: what was not done and above all, why it wasn’t done
How do I produce high quality work that merits a 70% or above grade?
By linking analysis of decision-maker behaviour to the theoretical concepts developed as part of the curriculum, then analysing critically to what extent observed behaviour and motivations corroborated or conversely disproved theory, while offering implications for robustness of theory.
This is an international business (IB) assessment where you accumulate points applying IB concepts and theories accurately. Avoid the trap of writing a general strategy or marketing paper, for which few points can be awarded. Avoid mere descriiptions: you need to say why decision-makers undertook the measures they did rather than devoting much wordcount to the actual measures they took.
Be sure to apply to your objects of study the MNE theories that we are learning, including:
– economic and policy attitudes in host (and home) countries
– horizontal vs. vertical move and what that says about desire for control
– Uppsala theory (“psychic distance”, incrementalism) vs. Network theory
– How decision-makers’ position in the organisation affects their mindset
Assessment rational: Critical analysis of IB actions and motivations in light of existing theory
Programme outcomes/learning outcomes met
· Apprehend corporate internationalisation motivations in a systematic manner
· Analyse factors underling different internationalisation process decisions
· Rationalise variety of international value chain strategies
Knowledge and skills to be assessed:
· Judgement – students are actively encouraged to develop arguments both in favour of and against some of the major themes that abound in an international business environment. They must show and awareness of the contradictions between these themes, and of the cognitive framework within which actors made decisions.
· Research – Students are left free to develop their own sources of information.
Marking criteria
1. Content. You must deal with your topic in a well-rounded manner, touching upon all major issues and possible analyses of decision-makers’ actions and motivations
2. Critical analysis. Once you have demonstrated your understanding of the various issues at stake, you are strongly encouraged to manifest a capacity for independent thinking, i.e., to try to surmise the “psychological” factors affecting managers’ decision-making above and beyond what you might read in your references. Simple approval of current actions must be avoided
3. Presentation Please submit your case study with appropriate referencing via Turnitin etc. Bulky appendices are unwelcome. Be concise: devote little wordcount to describing situation and maximum wordcount to analysis. A bullet point format is not only acceptable but often advisable.
4. Research. References are welcome to the international business theories that we studied in class but also to others attesting to your own independent reading.
5. Relevance. REMEMBER – This is an IB assessment where you accumulate points applying IB concepts and theories. Avoid the trap of writing a general strategy or marketing paper, for which few points can be awarded.
