Category: Business and Management : Business

Instructions: THE COMPANY ASSIGNED IS GOOGLE.
Step 1  Course Material and Research
You must research information about the specific company and the environment for this project. You are accountable for using the course materials to support the ideas, reasoning, and conclusions made. Course material’s use goes beyond defining terms and explains the ‘why and how’ of a situation. Using one or two in-text citations from the course materials and then relying on Internet source material will not earn many points on the assignment. A variety of source material is expected, and what is presented must be relevant and applicable to the topic being discussed. Avoid merely making statements but close the loop of the discussion by explaining how something happens or why something happens, which focuses on importance and impact. In closing the loop, you will demonstrate the ability to think clearly and rationally, showing an understanding of the logical connections between the ideas presented from the research, the course material, and the question(s) being asked.
Note: Your report is based on the research results performed and not on any prepared documentation. What this means is that you will research and draw your own conclusions that are supported by the research and the course material rather than the use of any source material that puts together any of the tools or techniques whether from the Internet, for-pay websites, or any pre-prepared document, video or source material. A zero will be earned for not doing your own analysis.
Success: The analysis is based on research and not opinion. You are not making recommendations, and you will not attempt to position the specific company in a better or worse light than other companies within the industry merely because you are completing an analysis on this particular company. The analysis must be based on factual information. Any conclusions drawn have to be based on factual information rather than leaps of faith. To ensure success, as stated above, you are expected to use the course materials and research on the specific company’s global industry and the specific company. The opinion does not earn credit, nor does it use external sources when course materials can be used. It is necessary to provide explanations (the why and how) rather than making statements. Avoid stringing one citation after another, as doing so does not show detailed explanations.
Step 2  Research 
In completing the report, you will use the chapters in the eBook as a guide and perform research on the same company as in Projects 1 and 2. Answer the required elements below in narrative form following the steps. 
Note: Your report is based on the research results performed and not on any prepared documentation. What this means is that you will research and draw your own conclusions that are supported by the research and the course material rather than the use of any source material that puts together any of the tools or techniques whether from the Internet, for-pay websites, or any document, video or source material. A zero will be earned for not doing your own analysis. 
Step 3  Specific Company for All Four Projects 
For this project, your instructor has specifically assigned each student to write an independent report on one specific company. The assigned company must be used for all four projects in this course. You cannot write reports on any other company different from the company specifically assigned by your instructor. Students who fail to use the specifically assigned companies from the list or use an unapproved company will receive a zero for the project. 
The company that your instructor has assigned to you will be used for this project.
Step 4  Preparation for the Project
Before you begin writing the report, you will read the following requirements that will help you meet the writing and APA requirements.  
You will be analyzing the selected company. When doing analysis, you are not merely making statements that may be cited. Instead, you will be supporting the statements made. “Support” is the process of explaining, discussing, and analyzing “why” and “how,” which is a higher-level critical analytical skill that is required for this class. Support is needed to do well on this project.
 Read the grading rubric for the project. Then, use the grading rubric while writing the report to ensure all requirements are met, leading to the highest possible grade.
Step 5   How to Set Up the Project 
The document has to be written in Word or RTF. No other format is acceptable. No pdf files will be graded. Use 12-point font for a double-spaced report. The final product is expected 10-12 pages. The final project may not be more than 12 pages, excluding the title page and reference page. Those items identified in the implementation and action plans should appear under the appropriate heading in the paper. Do no use an Appendix. 
Create a title page with the title, your name, date, the course number, the instructor’s name.
Create Topic Headings that correspond to exact sections of the project requirements. 
Use the following template using the headings to separate elements. Do not use bullets in your paper as the required format is in narrative format with indented paragraphs and no extra space between paragraphs.
Introduction
(The Introduction paragraph is the first paragraph of the paper and will describe to the reader the intent of the paper, explaining the main points covered in the paper.  This intent should be understood before reading the remainder of the paper so the reader knows exactly what is being covered in the paper. Therefore, write the introduction last to ensure all of the main points are covered.)
Alternative Strategy Generation
To generate a pool of strategies, you will look at the organization’s business-level strategy, corporate-level strategy, and global strategy. Then, using the information and data collected from your research and the analytical outcomes from (a) external factor analysis in your Project 1 and (b) internal factor analysis in Project 2, you will generate a pool of strategies.
Generate a minimum of three possible alternative strategies for the company. 
Identify and discuss cultural and organizational factors that should be considered in analyzing and choosing among the alternative strategies.
Strategy Prioritization 
Prioritize strategies and explain using the course material to support the reasoning – Use the tools learned in the course.
Strategy Selection 
Your strategy selection will be based on the use of the Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM). The QSPM produces a composite analysis. A composite analysis is one in which you will bring in a combination of relevant factors from the various analyses (EFE Matrix, IFE matrix, CPM matrix, SWOT, Grand Strategy Matrix, and QSPM). The QSPM is a tool that helps determine the relative attractiveness of feasible alternative strategies based on the external and internal key success factors.
Develop a Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM) analysis.   
Discuss the value of a QSPM analysis for strategy selection. Be specific. 
Strategy Implementation 
Recommend procedures for strategy implementation. 
Discuss who, what and how to implement the selected strategy or strategies at the corporate level, business-unit level, and functional level.
Strategy Evaluation
Use frameworks and tools discussed throughout the course. Support the reasoning and conclusions made. 
Discuss procedures for strategy review and evaluation
Discuss the appropriate evaluative measures (including who, what, when, and how at the corporate level, business-unit level, and functional level)
Discuss a corrective action plan (including who, what, when, and how) at the corporate, business unit, and functional levels.
Conclusion
Create a conclusion. The Conclusion is intended to emphasize the purpose/significance of the analysis, emphasize the significance/consequence of findings, and indicate the wider applications derived from the main points of the project’s requirements. Finally, you will conclude the findings of the external environment analysis.

QUESTION 1
In your own words, describe why investing in alternative energy can help avoid large reductions in the net energy supply. Explain the difference between early and late investment. Be as detailed as possible.
QUESTION 2
In your own words, list five (5) types of renewable energy sources that were discussed in class and/or are outlined in your book. Then choose ONE to explain in more detail. Include the pros and cons.  Be as detailed as possible in your essay.
QUESTION 3
In your own words, answer the following essay question: List the three areas in which people have the biggest impact on the environment according to the Union of Concerned Scientists that we discussed in class (review the slides for chapter 24). Then choose one to explain in more detail.
Answer these three questions

What are the major theories of motivation, and how do they explain the drive behind human behavior and goal attainment?

Forest farming is the cultivation of high-value crops under the protection of a managed tree canopy. In some parts of the world, this is called multi-story cropping and when used on a small scale in the tropics it is sometimes called home gardening. It is not just recreational harvesting or wild harvesting wild harvesting of native understory wood land plants without management; management is an essential part of forest farming. This approach to crop production intentionally uses both vertical space and the interactions of the plants and microclimate.
The intensity of forest farming production can vary depending on the producer’s goals, available markets, processing equipment and the site. Some examples of management activities include harvesting and scattering local seed; thinning out competing plants; additional site preparation for planting seeds, bulbs or plant starts; soil amendments for pH or fertility; constructed raised planting beds; pest control; and even fencing to keep out animals and poachers.

Forest farming is most often used on private lands to supplement family income. Because of the demand and high value of some of these plants they can no longer be found in many places within their historic native range. Wild harvesting of these plants is not allowed on public land in many areas, making forest farming an important option for meeting demand for these plants. Even if the plants of interest are not present in a woodland, the careful inspection of the understory woodland plants may identify other non-economic plants that are often found with these more desirable NTFPs. If so, this may indicate a good location to reintroduce and grow the desired NTFP. Additional benefits of this intensified production is the regular attention in the woods may help to spot and control invasive plants and pests as well as the reduced harvest pressure on wild plant populations that allows them to be reestablished in other woodlands in the region.

Read the article, Language as a Cultural Vessel in Online Servicescapes: Its Impact on Consumers’ Perceived Risk, Attitudes, and Behavioural Intentions.
Complete this assignment using the company you selected in Workshop One.
Write a three page paper in which you:
Describe, in-depth, the cultural communication barriers for your company to do business internationally.
Discuss specific strategies to adapt marketing communication about  your product in a particular country so that your communication is more aligned to the culture.
Use proper spelling, grammar, and APA formatting – with a title page, reference page, and at least three references.
For questions on APA Style, go to the APA Style Guide.

This is an essay exam. That means that answers should be outlined according to the parts of the question, they should include explicit references to the relevant texts, and they should be thorough. Each question will take about two pages of a double-spaced word document.
We’ve discussed the legal infrastructure of a commercial society, but what is the moral infrastructure? What sorts of values and habits must a commercial people embody, especially according to Weber and Hayek? What was Ferguson’s critique of Mandeville’s thoughts on the moral infrastructure of a commercial society?
How did Ferguson argue that Aristotle’s moral account was superior to Immanuel Kant’s? Many people assume that a commercial society is utilitarian, but Ferguson argued that utilitarianism is a failed ethic. Why?
What does the term ‘virtue’ mean? Choose three particular virtues of the business person that our readings discussed in detail. Describe them and how they apply to life in business. Give concrete examples. Can you practice one virtue without the others? Why or why not?
Please do not Use AI or Chat GPT, this is my final exam. Any other questions please let me know.
Week 5 Lecture Video: https://www.dropbox.com/s/8vgg2b6vb8vr9e0/Video%20Nov%2022%2C%2010%2000%2019%20AM.mov?dl=0
Lecture Week 6: https://www.dropbox.com/s/c71pwg2dgvau1b5/2021-11-29%2015.45.52.mov?dl=0

Review Module 12 in the International Business Online Resource.
Write a paper in which you identify and describe how the company you selected in Workshop One could accomplish local responsiveness using the global strategy, transnational strategy, and multidomestic strategy.
How do differences in the strength of pressures for cost reductions versus those for local responsiveness affect your selected company’s strategy?
Your paper should consist of at least three pages, use proper spelling, grammar, and APA formatting – and have a title page, three references, and reference page which are not included in the count.
For questions on APA Style, go to the APA Style Guide.
When you have completed your assignment, save a copy for yourself and submit a copy to your instructor using the Assignment submission page by the end of the workshop.

Briefly describe the market and client business you are focusing on and lay out key dynamics in your client’s industry.
What are your initial hypotheses about the top three opportunities and threats facing the industry? Could you pick one or two specific trends that in your opinion could significantly impact your client’s industry in the future? Finally, what questions would you be looking to ask the top management in your first meeting?
Now that you understand the importance of value creation and value capture, let’s bring these concepts back to your client. Please provide brief answers to the following questions:
What are your client’s key products or services?
Who are your client’s key customers?
How does your client address its customer’s needs through its product and service offerings?
How much value has your client created for its customers? How much value does your client capture?
What are the three key challenges that your client faces in value creation and capture? How are they planning to grow their business?
Analyze the value creation of one of your client’s key products/services considering the drivers of 1) buyer’s willingness-to-pay (WTP) and 2) total suppliers’ costs (TSC).
What is the impact of the key trend(s) that you identified in Week 1 on value creation in the industry? Consider both shifts in TSC and WTP. What are the specific impacts on your client? How well positioned are they for these shifts in value creation?
Based on the analysis of value and the trends you chose to focus on, identify a potential business opportunity for your client leveraging the trend(s) to create an enhanced value proposition for their customers.
Financial sheet:
For your client’s organisation, what assets are most significant on the balance sheet? What are the risks involved in managing these assets?
How has this asset make-up changed over the recent past? Ideally, use five years of data, but if fewer years are available then make do with that, be sure to include specific quantitative movements where necessary.
Why do you think the investment intensity in the various assets has evolved in this way?
How is the organisation financed – primarily equity, primarily debt, or a mix of both? Has this changed over the time period under evaluation? Please include a quantitative analysis. What are the risks involved with this approach?
Analyse the income statement with a focus on sales revenue, gross profit, and operating income. How and why have these figures changed over the period? Please include a quantitative analysis.
For the years presented in the Cash Flow Statements, how has the cash flow from the major categories (operating, investing and financing) behaved?
How do you interpret your client’s results from a cash flow perspective? How do you relate this to their results from an income perspective? What does this tell you about future risks and opportunities for the firm?
How would the potential business opportunity influence the operating and capitalising expenditures?
Now you have learned industry value chain and drivers of market size. Let’s go back to your client and answer the following questions:
Do an analysis of the CURRENT industry value chain, highlighting the impact from current trends in the industry. Conduct an additional analysis on the potential changes and impact on it by trend(s) you have chosen in Week One.
Who is your client’s top supplier? Has that changed in the past 5 years? Will that change given the trends in the industry?
What are the direct substitutes of your client’s products or services?
What are the distant substitutes coming from other industry or sector? What will make them become real threats to your client’s business?
What is the size of your client’s industry and what drives its market size?
Now you have developed a better understanding of your client’s industry, what are the three key opportunities which could help your client strengthen their position in their industry? Are they in line with the potential business opportunity you identified in week 2?
What are the two potential threats that may challenge the position of your client?
Share your thoughts on the potential market size for the chosen trend and the business opportunity that could be created thanks to it. (Hint: identify the measurements or indicators you could suggest to size the potential market).
Now you have learned industry value chain and drivers of market size. Let’s go back to your client and answer the following questions:
Do an analysis of the CURRENT industry value chain, highlighting the impact from current trends in the industry. Conduct an additional analysis on the potential changes and impact on it by trend(s) you have chosen in Week One.
Who is your client’s top supplier? Has that changed in the past 5 years? Will that change given the trends in the industry?
What are the direct substitutes of your client’s products or services?
What are the distant substitutes coming from other industry or sector? What will make them become real threats to your client’s business?
What is the size of your client’s industry and what drives its market size?
Now you have developed a better understanding of your client’s industry, what are the three key opportunities which could help your client strengthen their position in their industry? Are they in line with the potential business opportunity you identified in week 2?
What are the two potential threats that may challenge the position of your client?
Share your thoughts on the potential market size for the chosen trend and the business opportunity that could be created thanks to it. (Hint: identify the measurements or indicators you could suggest to size the potential market).
 
What are the key assumptions underlying your forecast? Identify four or five crucial ones. These can involve customer demand, competitors’ reactions, supplier factors, macro-economic forces that might vary globally, etc. Be creative, and do not limit yourself. What will their quantitative impact be?
Now, what are the two most crucial assumptions underlying your forecast?
For these two assumptions, calculate both optimistic and pessimistic scenarios.
Now is the final push! Based on an analysis of your client’s environment and trends prepare a strategic response for your client by identifying a business opportunity that would help them enhance the value proposition for their customers and differentiate themselves from their competitors in the future.
Please include the following to support your recommendation:
A brief description of your client’s current business.
What options can your client consider to differentiate? (industry and technology trends, challenges)
What is your recommendation? (identified business opportunity)
How would your recommendation help them achieve superior value creation and capture? (WTP, TSC, Five Forces analysis, market size etc.)
How would it fit your client’s overall strategy?
What is the expected financial impact of the recommendation on the client?
What is the expected non-financial impact of the recommendation on the client?
The next steps for your client to execute on your strategic plan.

Review Module 13 in the International Business Online Resource. NOTE: You are not required to complete the assignment at the end of the module.
Research the local business you selected in Workshop One and identify a new international marketplace that local business could enter.
Prepare an entrance strategy for this business that includes three basic decisions used to enter the market.
Write a three to four page paper using proper spelling, grammar, and APA formatting.  Include a title page and a reference page having at least three references.  The title and reference page do not count toward the page count.
For questions on APA Style, go to the APA Style Guide.
When you have completed your assignment, save a copy for yourself and submit a copy using the Assignment submission page by the end of the workshop.
Be sure to include your last name in the title of your document. For example, Amanda Smith would name her Workshop Two, Assignment 4 Word file SMITH-WS2A4.docx.