 Librarian talk about Getting
Started! As you begin, narrow your topic to a size that you can manage. Consider keywords that will help you find the information you need. These can be names of people, events, or broader identifying terms. Use these keywords for locating information in the library catalog, electronic databases, and on the internet. Sample Keywords: Manufacturers, growers, plants, or other similar words combined with the product; specific company names such as BMW, Sony, Maanshan Iron & Steel, Hindalco; or a country name and the industry - China Steel, German automobiles. Choose
from these products: Automobiles, Steel, Beef,
Textiles, Computer Chips. |
Assignment:
Groups should consist of 4 to 5 persons. Each group is to research a product as assigned. No two groups may be assigned the same product. The purpose of this project is to learn how international concerns affect the product and the industries related to the product. Each group will turn in a written presentation of eight to ten pages that includes all the required items. Cover pages and works cited pages may NOT count as one of the eight to ten pages required. The finalized paper is to be turned in by one group member for the entire group. The group member will list all group members and the group name on the cover page. Groups should upload the paper on the assignment link. Each week, your group is to post on the discussion board at least one item or issue that your group found most interesting about your product. Be sure to include an explanation of the item and tell why your group found these to be interesting. Groups should then read and respond to each of the other group postings, noting the similarities, differences, or items that your group thinks is interesting in each of the other group presentations.Briefly explain the importance of each item.
1. General business environment Explain what the current environment is for your product.
a. Which are the countries that are the major producers?
i. How much of the product that is produced and traded by each?
b. Who are the major importers?
c. Who are the major industries that are dependent on this product?
d. What are some of the major companies that produce this product?
2. Culture concerns
a. What cultural influences impact the way this product is produced or sold?
b. How do they differ by country?
c. In what ways do these differences determine how the product is purchased or used by consumers or end users?
3. Politics and Law
a. What political risks do companies encounter when they produce or import this product?
b. What is the legal structure of the countries that are major producer of this product?
c. What, if any, international legal issues face this product today?
4. What is the level of economic development of the countries that are the major producers of this product?
a. What is the economic development level of the major importers of this product?
b. If the level of economic development between the producers and consumers is not similar, what types of issues or concerns does this cause?
Consider differences in Purchasing Power, Human Development, and National Production.
c. What is the level of education and productivity of the labor force of the countries who produce this product and those who import this product? What impact does that have?
5. What are the trade patterns of this product?
a. What are the benefits of international trade for this product and it’s producers and consumers? Include the volume of trade.
b. Do the major producers of this product have an absolute or a comparative advantage?
c. Does the New Trade Theory apply to this product? Why or why not?
6. Do governments intervene in the trade of this product? How and why?
a. What are the political, economic or cultural motives that determine the level of government intervention?
b. What methods do governments use to intervene – tariffs, quotas, embargos, administrative delays?
c. Has the WTO heard any major cases concerning this product?
7. What is the production pattern of this product?
a. Are most of the producers located in highly industrialized nations?
i. If so, which ones? If not, why not?
b. Do the major companies that produce this product use foreign direct investment? In what ways?
c. What are the reasons for FDI with this product?
d. What are the management issues for FDI concerning this product?
8. Do any of the regional economic integration areas trade heavily in this product? If so, which ones? NAFTA, EU, Pacific Rim, Other?
a. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?
9. How do the financial markets influence this product’s trade?
a. What are the currency concerns of the producers? Of the importers? Of the end users?
10. What are the major currencies that are used in the trade of this product?
a. Pick three major currencies that are important to the trade of this product. Are the values of each currency up or down from a year ago? How does this impact the trade?
11. What strategies are the producers currently using to increase or stabilize the amount of trade?
a. How were these strategies determined?
b. How do they differ from company to company or country to country?
12. How do the major producers analyze opportunities for this product?
a. What is the basic appeal of the product?
b. What is the national business environment of the producers and the end users?
13. What entry mode is most commonly used for this product? Which country or company uses this most often?
a. Are there other modes used as well? If so, what are they and who uses them?
14. Discuss how this product is marketed.
a. Are different strategies used in different countries? Is so, what are some examples?
b. Is counterfeiting a concern with this product? If so, how do companies address this?
15. What are the major production issues?
a. Where is the product produced? Why this location or area?
b. What are the key production concerns?
16. What are the hiring and staffing concerns for the production or sale of this product?
a. Are most of the employees the same nationality as the companies that product the product?
b. If the employees and employers are the same nationality and culture, how does the company keep an international focus?
c. If the employees and the employers are different nationalities and cultures, how does the company create a cohesive working environment?
17. What ethical issues do the producers or importers, or end users need to consider when trading this product? How do 1 or 2 of the major companies address these issues?
Additional Information
Choose 2 questions to answer about your product.
1. Have the producers of the product moved a large number of their manufacturing or productions sites to different countries within the last 5 years? If so, why?
2. Have technological advances within the last 5 years changed the way this product is produced or sold?
3. What impact has the backlash against globalization had on this product?
4. What ethical concerns are important in the trade of this product?
5. Have there been any significant “trade wars” over this product in the last 5 years?
6. Are there any national security issues concerning international trade of this product?
All 19 questions must be answered fully.
Your paper must include a cover page, and a bibliography or works cited page. These pages do NOT count as part of your eight to ten pages due.
Extra credit will be given for extra information such as power point presentations, additional information, extra charts and graphs, or other additional work that is reflected in the paper. All 19 required questions must be addressed before extra credit will be considered.
Librarian
Talk about Books!
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Use your library card to login to these
online journal databases. |
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Talk about the Internet! The Internet will be a wonderful source of original documents. Browse the sites we have suggested below. Remember, you do want to find reputable sites. Look at:
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| Librarian
Talk Support for a successful paper is more than finding the right resources. Putting it all together takes time and effort. Sometimes it takes additional help from the librarians or tutors. Please consider the following aids. |
