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Portfolio Assignment Unit Choices
Unit #
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2
Assignment Type
Case Study
Map (Geography)
(Presentation)
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3
Research (Resource File)
(Report)
4
Research (Balance of
Trade – Mathematics)
(Report)
5
Research (Economic
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1
Assignment
Globalization at General Electric
Use the library or Internet to prepare
a map poster that shows locations of
the major trading partners of the
United States or country of your
choice. Use http://globaledge.msu.edu
Start a file of articles, information
and materials on a country and a
company involved in international
business. Obtain information of that
country related to:
 geography
 history
 government
 culture
 government
 economy
For the company file include:
 list of products sold in
different countries
 examples of ways the company
adapted to different societies
 other information about its
foreign business activities
 Use as one source:
http://globaledge.msu.edu
Directions
Textbook, p. 42-43. Read case & answer 4 questions
Use poster board to paste or draw your map. Make the
map big & colorful enough so students in the back row
can see your information in class.
Use the following sources of information and materials
to create your files:
 reference books (encyclopedias, almanacs,
atlases
 current articles from newspapers, magazines, &
online sources
 current company news and financial
information from the company’s Web site and
annual report
 graphs, tables, photos, advertisements,
packages, and other visuals from online sources
for the country and the company
 printed and online materials from companies,
airlines, travel bureaus, government agencies,
and other organizations involved in
international business
 interview of people who have lived in, worked
in, or traveled to that country.
Prepare a one-page typed summary or give a 2-3
minute oral report about your country and company.
Plan to add things to your files throughout the course.
Select a country other than the
In an Excel table state the 3 yearly imports & exports
United States. Research the major
totals. Calculate the difference between the country’s
imports & exports of that nation for 3 total exports & imports and the percentage change in
most recent years.
exports & imports from previous years. Use Excel and
chart the totals and percentage changes.
Select a country other than the
Create 3 graphs – one for GDP, one for Per Capita
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Income, & one for Unemployment Rate – that
compares these over 3 most recent years. Use Excel to
create your graphs.
Answer the following questions based on your data:
1. How has the level of economic conditions
changed for your country in recent years?
2. What do these changes mean for countries
involved in international business?
3. Are GDP, per capita income, & unemployment
related to each other in any way? If so, how so?
4. How could a company involved in international
business use this information to make better
company decisions?
Make the poster or display big enough so students can
see it from across the classroom.
Conditions)
(Report)
United States. Obtain data for the
GDP, Per Capita Income,
Unemployment Rate for 3 most
recent years.
Poster (Factors of
Production – Science)
(Presentation)
Case Study
Research (Assessing
Political Risk & Legal
Restrictions)
(Report)
Prepare a poster or display that
shows how the factors of production
are used to create a specific product
Wal-mart’s Foreign Expansion
Textbook, p. 126-127. Read case & answer 5 questions
Gather information on the investment Use the following sources of information and materials:
climate for your chosen country using
 http://globaledge.msu.edu/ and in the “Insight
the following topics:
Research by Trade Bloc” section, click down
1. Political stability of the
arrow to choose your country, click on the
country and possible civil
following links on the far left:
disruptions
2. Labor laws, labor costs, and
o “Introduction” – scroll down to ‘Quick
occupational safety laws
Links” and click on
3. Trade barriers or investment
 “Country Commercial Guide”
restrictions
(Trade Regulations)
4. Tax and other investment
 “U.S. Department of State –
incentives to foreign
Country Travel Information
companies
5. Laws concerning establishing
 “World Bank: Doing Business
or restricting investment
Indicators”
6. Other information you think is
o Risks
important for making an
 https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/theinvestment decision.
world-factbook/
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
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/ and scroll
down and click on “Investment Climate
Statement”, then click on your country.

Transparency International:
http://www.transparency.org/country

current company news and financial
information from the company’s Web site and
annual report
Research (Ethics in
International Business –
9 Chapter 4)
(Report – CPI for your
country)
10 Case Study
1 Case Study
2 Critical Thinking
(Country Focus)
In the Research Task section use
http://globaledge.msu.edu/ to
understand the Corruption
Perceptions Index (CPI)
Textbook, p. 156: Exercise 2
Google in China
The Ecuadorean Rose Industry
Country Focus: Moving U.S. White
Collar Jobs Offshore
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Investigate the duties and customs
procedures of one of the following
countries; Malaysia, Australia,
Taiwan, China, India, South Korea,
Singapore, or New Zealand.
Textbook, p. 160-161. Read case & answer 4 questions
Textbook, p. 197-198. Read case & answer 4 questions
Textbook, p. 181- Read Country Focus; Answer
questions on p. 196, “Critical Thinking and Discussion
Questions” #6 a-c.
State the information you find using the following
sources of information and materials:
 http://globaledge.msu.edu/ and in the “Insight
Research by Trade Bloc” section, click down
arrow to choose your country, click on the
following links on the far left:
Research (Law)
(Report if your country)
o “Introduction” – scroll down to ‘Quick
Links” and click on

“Country Commercial Guide”
(Trade Regulations, Customs and
Standards)

“U.S. Department of State –
Country Travel Information
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4
Map (Geography)
(Presentation)
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Critical Thinking
(Management Focus)
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Map (Geography)
(Presentation)
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8
Case Study
Research (Foreign
Exchange Market)
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Research
(The Changing Value of
Currencies)
(Report)
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Locate examples of multinational
companies in different countries.
Create a map showing where the
companies are based and the other
nations in which the companies
operate.
Management Focus: Foreign Direct
Investment by Cemex
Conduct research to obtain
information about various free-trade
agreements, such as the European
Union, MERCOSUR, and ASEAN.
Create a map that show the countries
involved in these organizations.
Starbuck’s Foreign Direct Investment
Use the Big Mac Index to compare
the PPP of countries based on the
price of a Big Mac.
Select a country, and research its
currency. Gather information and
answer the following questions:
1. What is the main monetary
used in the country? How is it
divided into other units?
2. Over the past couple of years,
what have been the economic
conditions of the country
(inflation, interest rates,
unemployment)? How have
these affected the value of the
currency?
3. How has the country’s balance
of payment affect the value of
Use poster board to paste or draw your map. Make the
map big & colorful enough so students in the back row
can see your information in class.
Textbook, p. 248- Read Management Focus; Answer
questions on p. 268, “Critical Thinking and Discussion
Questions” #3 a-e.
Use poster board to paste or draw your map. Make the
map big & colorful enough so students in the back row
can see your information in class.
Textbook, p. 315-316. Read case & answer 4 questions.
Textbook. Reread p. 320-321. Complete Exercise #2 on
p. 344 under “Research Task: The Foreign Exchange
Market”. Use the http://globaledge.msu.edu/ Web site
to find the actual currency values to make
comparisons.
Use http://globaledge.msu.edu Web site to find answer
the questions.
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10 Case Study
1 Critical Thinking
(Management Focus)
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Research
(The Strategy of
International Business)
Research
(Statistics)
(Report – use for your
country/product)
In the Research Task use the Forbes
Global 2000 rankings
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Critical Thinking
(Management Focus)
Use the U.S. Statistical Abstract or a
similar publication to explore data
about:
 the number of companies
 their size
 number of employees
 form or organization
 percentage of small businesses
in particular industries
 other statistical data
Management Focus: The
International Division at Wal-Mart
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Research
In the Research Task section use the
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its currency?
4. How have political factors
affected the value of the
currency?
5. Describe any exchange
controls used by the country.
6. What factors might affect
changes for this currency over
the next few months?
7. Graph the recent value of the
currency in relation to two
other major currencies (e.g.,
U.S. dollar, Japanese yen,
British pound, the Euro, Swiss
franc).
China’s Managed Float
Management Focus: Evolution of
Strategy at Proctor & Gamble
Textbook, p. 371. Read case & answer 6 questions.
Textbook, p. 431- Read Management Focus; Answer
questions on p. 433, “Critical Thinking and Discussion
Questions” #4 a-b (a).
Textbook, p. 433: Exercise 1. Include in your summary
your Web site source.
Use the following Web site or find a similar one on
your own to create a bar graph or pie chart for ONE
TYPE of data.
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/ (Statistical
Abstract)
Textbook, p. 444- Read Management Focus; Answer
questions on p. 472, “Critical Thinking and Discussion
Questions” #6 a-b .
Textbook, p. 472: Exercise 1. Include in your summary
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(The Organization of
International Business)
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Identifying Management
Skills & Organizational
Structure
(Rport)
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Critical Thinking
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Fortune’s annual survey of its
World’s Most Admired Companies
rankings. Write a 1-page Executive
Summary focusing on the topics of
“strategic and organizational”
success factors involved in this
survey.
Develop a Management Plan of your
company for a business in your
foreign country. Your plan should
answer the following questions:
1. What skills will managers
need to adapt to the social &
cultural environment of this
country?
2. Describe the management
style (autocratic,
participatory, or free-reign)
most appropriate for this
organization.
3. Explain which type of
organizational structure
(function, product, or
geography) would be most
appropriate.
4. Which of the organization’s
activities will be centralized
and which will be
decentralized?
5. What other management &
organizational decisions will
need to be adapted for
international business
operations?
Write a summary on the implications
of a company’s entry mode into a
your Web site source. Use MS Word to write your
Executive summary. You may use the Internet to
download Executive Summary templates.
Prepare a written summary using MS Word. Include
an organizational chart it show the structure of your
company’s organization.
Use some of the following resources as you develop
answers to the questions above. Be sure to list your
sources in your summary.
 journal articles in scholarly publications
 Web sites for companies in the industry of your
company
 magazine & newspaper articles profiling
businesses operating in the country you have
chosen
 job descriptions posted on job search Web sites
and on specific company Web sites
Textbook, Reread p 483-492. Answer question on p.
502, “Critical Thinking and Discussion Questions” #3.
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Critical Thinking
9
Research
(Entry Strategy and
Strategic Alliances)
*This information could be
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used for your Report.
10 Strategic Global Business
Operations
*This information could
be used for your Report
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foreign country in relation to control
over foreign operations & core
competencies.
Choose from 3 options on how a small
Canadian firm should enter the
European Community market for
their new medical products.
In the Research Task use
Entrepreneur magazines’s annual
publication rankings of the top 200
global franchisers seeking
international franchisees.
Provide a list of the top 10 companies
that pursue franchising as a mode of
international expansion.
Create a Strategic Business Plan for a
foreign company that you may
partner with in their country.
Includes the following information:
1. Describe how you chosen
company might have started
as a sole proprietorship or a
partnership. Explain the
factors that may have
influenced the owners’
decision to select this form of
business organization.
2. If the company becomes a
multinational corporation,
what benefits & problems
could result?
3. Describe appropriate
international business
opportunities for the
company. what products &
services would be most
Textbook: Reread p. 493-501.; Answer questions on p.
502, “Critical Thinking and Discussion Questions” #4.
Textbook, p. 503, Exercise #1. Study in detail one of the
top 10 companies on your list and provide a description
of its:
 business model
 international expansion pattern
 desirable qualifications in possible franchisees
 support & training typically provided by the
franchiser
Prepare a written report using MS Word.
You can use other options with visuals & information
to answer the assignment questions:
 create a poster
 create a display
 create a computer presentation
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appropriate for different
geographic regions? What
economic, cultural, legal or
political influences must the
company consider?
4. Which of the entry methods
(see Table 14.1, p. 491 of
Textbook) would be
appropriate for the company?
Why?
5. Explain the possible use of tow
or more of these methods for
getting involved in
international business
Research
In the Research Task section use
(Exporting, Importing, &
http://globaledge.msu.edu/ to
Countertrade)
understand exporting resources for
new exporters.
Critical Thinking
Explain vertical integration. Then
(Vertical Integration OR
with your company and your chosen
Buying Parts from
product, identify any operations you
Suppliers)
company has related to vertical
*This information could be
integration with your product and
used for your Presentation.
any parts it buys from suppliers to
make your product.
Research/Communications Using your company and product,
(Flow chart of your chosen create a FLOW CHART of the
product’s production
production process of your product.
process)
Include the following:
*This information could be
 resources used in input
used for your Presentation.
 activities involved in
transformations
 goods & services produces as
output
Critical Thinking
Describe each distribution strategy
(Distribution Strategy)
and then state the best one a company
Textbook, p. 549: Exercise 1. Include in your summary
your Web site source.
Textbook. Reread pp. 566-569. Use MS-Word to type
your answers. Use the Internet or the Library to
research your product and company.
Use appropriate software (WORD, Photoshop,
Illustrator) to create your flowchart). Use the Library
or Internet research to obtain information about your
product’s production process. List all your research
sources using MLA or APA formatting.
Textbook: Reread p. 586-589.; Answer questions on p.
606, “Critical Thinking and Discussion Questions” #3.
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Case Study
(Management Focus)
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Research
(Global Marketing and
R&D)
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Research
(Global Marketing and
R&D)
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Critical Thinking
(Types of Staffing Policy
in International Business)
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Research
(Accounting in Int’l Bus)
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10 Mathematics/Research
(Changing Price of Stock)
*This information could be
used for your Presentation.
should choose in relation to Q.#3 on p
606.
Levi Strauss Goes Local
Use the Internet to find the most
current ranking of global brands.
Identify the criteria that are used and
answer questions based on your
research.
From your research using The Global
Competiveness Report, state the
benefits & drawbacks of developing
R&D facilities in Asia to counter
recent competitor responses.
State the main advantages and
disadvantages of the following
approaches to international staffing:
1. ethnocentric
2. polycentric
3. geocentric
Use the comparator tool to identify in
which of the following countries the
historic cost principle of accounting is
considerably less reliable: Belarus,
Costa Rica, Egypt, Finland, Ghana,
Iceland, Paraguay, Thailand, &
Zimbabwe.
Use the rank countries tool and list at
least three other countries in which
the historic cost principle would not
be reliable.
In your foreign country, select a
company that issues stock (you can
use your chosen company if
appropriate) and prepare a GRAPH
Textbook, p. 600. Read case & answer questions on p.
607, #6 a-d..
Textbook, p. 607: Exercise 1.
Include in your report your Web site sources using
MLA or APA formatting.
Textbook, p. 607: Exercise 2.
Include in your report your Web site sources using
MLA or APA formatting.
Textbook. Reread pp. 616-609. Answer questions on p.
635, “Critical Thinking and Discussion Questions” #1.
Use MS-Word to type your answers.
Textbook, p. 659: Exercise 1.
Use the http://globaledge.msu.edu/ Web site to locate
the country comparator tool.
Type your answers in MS WORD.
Use the Library or Internet to conduct your research.
Use EXCEL to create your graph chart.
Include a list of your resources in your report.
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CHART showing the changing
closing price/share of its stock over a
3-week period.
Research news about the company
and economic conditions.
Prepare a short report explaining
how this news affected the company’s
stock prices.
Website sources:
http://globaledge.msu.edu/
http://www.executiveplanet.com/index.php?title=Main_Page
http://www.culturalsavvy.com/index.htm
http://iie.com/ - The Peterson Institute for International Economics is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan research institution devoted to the study
of international economic policy. Since 1981 the Institute has provided timely, objective analysis and concrete solutions to key international
economic problems.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html - provides information on the history, people, government, economy,
geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 267 world entities.
http://www.unzco.com/basicguide/ - Basic guide to exporting…the US Dept. of Commerce guide on how to export.
http://www.unzco.com/basicguide/c4.html - Basic guide to exporting… the US Dept. of Commerce guide on Methods/Channels for Exporting
http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/internationaltrade/index.html - US Small Business Administration – extensive
international trade information.