3. Section A: Short Answer Questions
ANSWER ONLY 6 – worth 10 (18 min) marks each (60 total – 1hr 48min)
– Question 1: The International Business Environment (Weeks 1 & 2)
– Question 2: Culture in International Business (Week 3)
– Question 3: Theories of International Trade and Investment (Week 4)
– Question 4: The Regulatory Framework (Week 5)
– Question 5: Foreign Direct Investment and the Multinational Enterprise
(Week 6)
– Question 6: Cooperation among Nations (Week 7)
– Question 7: Entry Strategies for Internationalising (Week 10)
– Question 8: Globalisation and International Business (Week 11)
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4. Section B: Essay Questions
ANSWER ONLY 2:
1 from each section!
Worth 20 (36 min) marks each (40 total - 1hr 12min)
– Question 1: Foreign Exchange and the International Monetary
System (Week 8)
– Question 3: The Structure and Strategy of International Business
(Week 9)
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5. Common Pitfalls
Not answering question
Not providing examples
In section 2 ,answering questions from the same topic
Not answering the required number of questions
Avoid these!
28th February 2011Presentation title 5
6. PRACTICE EXAM
The practice exam is a carbon copy of the
structure of the final exam.
Familiarise yourself!
Actually do it, under timed conditions!!
Think of other questions that may be asked in the
actual exam..
28th February 2011Presentation title 6
7. 7
Read the question carefully
Look for key words
Address all components of the question
- They will all be assigned marks
Provide examples
No need for an essay structure – JUST MAKE IT
CLEAR, Bullet points are also fine
WE don’t need you to reproduce the exact
textbook definition!
Answering Short Answer Questions
8. ANSWERING ESSAY QUESTIONS
Must use a more formal essay style of writing.
Do not try to spill out everything you know!!
Remember to look back at the question and ensure
you stay on track.
Remember to clearly number your questions.
Which section? Which question number?
Mark question number on exam cover
Begin a new question on a new page.
Make sure your writing is readable!!
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9. 9
Use reading time well
– Understand what the question is asking
– Choose which questions you will answer
– Think of examples
If you don’t know, guess!
– You cant lose marks, only gain them!
Relax!!!
10. 10
Plenty of case studies in the text book
Also throughout they mention many others!!
When you are writing your revision notes,
include examples and how they can be used
to support each topic.
EVERY Exam question requires examples.
Don’t make up examples!
WHERE TO FIND EXAMPLES??
11. 11
What is a political economy?
– Political, economic, and legal systems of a country are
interdependent
Political systems
– Collectivism (socialism, communism) vs. individualism
– Democracy vs. totalitarianism (communist, theocratic, right- wing,
and tribal)
Economic systems
– Command
– Market
– Mixed
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
ENVIRONMENT
12. 12
Legal systems
– Common, civil, and theocratic law
Important issues for international business
– Contract law
– Property Rights and Corruption
– Protection of Intellectual Property
– Product Safety and Liability
Economic development
– GNI, PPP, HDI
Transition economies
– Attractiveness, costs, risks
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
ENVIRONMENT
13. 28th February 2011Presentation title 13
A system of values and norms that are shared among a group of people
and that when taken together constitute a design for living.
Elements of Culture
– Religion
– Political Philosophy
– Economic Philosophy
– Education
– Language
– Social Structure
Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions
Changing Cultures
– Cultural Convergence
– Cultural Divergence
Society and Nation State
CULTURE
14. 28th February 2011Presentation title 14
THEORIES OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE
What is free trade?
Classical country-based trade theories
– Mercantilism
– Absolute Advantage
– Comparative Advantage
Modern firm-based trade theories
– Product Life Cycle Theory
– New Trade Theory
– Porter’s National Competitive Advantage
15. 28th February 2011Presentation title 15
Why Governments Intervene in Trade:
Political
– Protecting jobs and industries
– National security
– Retaliation
– Protecting consumers
– Furthering foreign policy objectives
– Protecting human rights
Economic
– Infant industry
– Strategic trade policy
THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
16. 16
THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
How Governments Intervene in Trade:
– Tariffs
– Subsidies
– Import Quotas
– Voluntary Export Restraints
– Local Content Requirement
– Administrative Policies
– Anti-dumping policies
The World Trade Organisation
– Purpose
– Benefits
– What do the critics say?
17. 17
FDI and the MNE
What is FDI / What is an MNE?
Forms of FDI
– Greenfield Investment
– Mergers and Acquisitions
Why Choose FDI over other modes of entry?
Benefits/Costs of FDI to home and host nations
Political Ideology
– Radical view
– Free Market View
– National Pragmatism
18. 18
COOPERATION BETWEEN NATIONS
What is economic integration?
Different types of economic integration
– Bi-lateral, multi-lateral, regional, international
Why pursue economic integration?
– Nation-state perspective
– Business perspective
Trade related concepts
– Trade creation, diversion, and deflection
Different levels of economic integration
– Free trade area, customs union, common market, economic union,
and political union.
19. 19
What is the Foreign Exchange Market?
– Currency conversion
– Insure again foreign exchange risk
Types of Foreign Exchange Systems
– Floating
– Pegged
– Dirty float
– Fixed
Role of the IMF
Monetary union
Influences on exchange rate
FOREIGN EXCHANGE AND THE
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY SYSTEM
20. How Internationalisation
Improves Profitability
– Market Expansion
– Location Economies
– Experience Effects
– Subsidiary Competencies
Pressures of the Global
Market
– Local Responsiveness
– Cost Reductions
Strategies for International
Business
– International
– Localisation
– Global Standardisation
– Transnational
Structures for
International Business
– VERTICAL VS HORIZONTAL
– International Divisional
– Functional
– Product
– Worldwide Area
– Matrix
28th February 2011Presentation title 20
STRATEGY AND STRUCTURE
21. 21
Which market?
When to enter?
On what scale?
How to enter?
– Exporting, turnkey projects, licencing,
franchising, joint ventures, FDI
– Consider core competencies
– Pressures for cost reduction vs. local
responsiveness
Countertrade
ENTRY STRATEGIES
22. 22
GLOBALISATION
What is globalisation? Production and Market, Interconnected
and Interdependent economy.
Drivers of Globalisation
– Declining trade barriers
– Technology
– Environmental standards
– Civil society
– Culture
Global governance and institutions
– WTO, IMF, UN, World Bank
Debate on Globalisation (Preble article)
– Jobs
– Inequality and poverty
– National sovereignty and cultural diversity
– The natural environment
24. Presentation title 24
SHORT ESSAY:
Question: Identify the three types of economic systems. Explain the
differences and similarities between them. Use valid examples in your
answer.
The three economic systems are: Command Economy, Market Economy
Mixed Economy. They are different from each other with respect to
“ownership”, “role of government” and “type of government system”.
Free Market Command Mixed
Resources are owned
privately. The consumers
and firms decide the
allocation of resources.
Government has no
control over the
economy. E.g. USA
Resources are owned by
the government. The
government decides the
allocation of resources;
that is what to produce,
how to produce and for
whom to produce. Firms
are not very efficient as
they do not earn profits.
E.g. Soviet Union, Cuba
Resources are owned
both privately and by the
government. Important
sectors like
health,medical,education
are under the government
and less important ones
are under private
ownership. Eg.India
25. Part B: Long Essay
Question: When expanding globally firms are subjected to two main
types of competitive pressures. What are these? How do these
competitive pressures influence the type of business strategy used by
firms? Discuss using real life examples.
Answering Strategy:
1. UNPACKING
1. Two pressures: Cost and localisation and examples
2. Influence on Business strategy: 4 strategies
3. Examples
2. STRUCTURING
3. WRITING UP
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26. INTRODUCTION: Firms undertake internationalization and enter global
markets in order to increase their profitability and profit growth firms. In
the global environment they are faced with two main competitive forces:
(1) pressure for cost reduction and (2) pressure for local
responsiveness. Both these competitive pressures impact business
strategy.
BODY: Define the two terms.
Business strategy depends upon the relative strength of these
competitive pressures.
International (LL), Localisation (LH), Global standardization (HL),
and Transnational (HH)
E.G. :Xerox, Cars, Intel, Caterpillar
CONCLUSION: Businesses should therefore carefully consider the
competitive forces operating I the global market and then devise and
implement a suitable strategy. They should also be cognizant of the
dynamic nature of these competitive pressures and make necessary
adjustments in business strategy.
28th February 2011Presentation title 26
Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions
Individualism vs. Collectivism
Power Distance
Uncertainty Avoidance
Femininity vs. Masculinity
Short-term / Long-term Orientation
Indulgence vs. Restraint