Critical analysis is an important part of a research project. This individual assignment focuses more on the analysis part of a research project. This means that you do not need to spend much time on collecting data and processing them. Rather, you only need a sufficient amount of data and information, and use your analytical skills, critical thinking and writing skills to perform a critical analysis on the topic selected.This is a basic research and an academic report is required.
According to the Melbourne Business School Library (2008), critical analysis is “the synthesis of data and theory to construct a causal argument about a problem”. This source also indicates that studentsneed to demonstratethe following in a critical analysisproject:
• “depth of insight into the topic,
• independent thinking, and
• a well-organized, well-reasoned, clearly written report.”
Overall, it suggests that students need to avoid a report with “long descriptions and very low analytical content.”
Instructions:
- Choose a topic as instructed in Weeks 2 and 3 classes for a basic research.
- Search for data and information to find 3 main points you would like to make, using the 12 sources below, the Library (journal articles), Trade data online (statistics), and other reputable sources.
12 International Business Sources
- Export Development Canada https://www.edc.ca
- The Trade Commissioner ServiceCanada http://tradecommissioner.gc.ca
- Government of Canada, CPTPP and CETA
- Invest in Ontario https://www.investinontario.com
- Canadian Intellectual Property Office https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr04499.html
- TFO Canada http://www.tfocanada.ca/ (for importing)
- FITT Trade Ready http://www.tradeready.ca/
- Canadian Business https://www.canadianbusiness.com/
- Maclean's https://www.macleans.ca/
- Financial Post https://business.financialpost.com/
- BNN Bloomberg https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/
- McKinsey & Company https://www.mckinsey.com/ca
Find journal articles: Click on "Library Resources", go to "Business Source Complete" or other databases, search key words of your product and country of choice.
Find statistics from Industry Canada: Trade data online http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/tdo-dcd.nsf/eng/Home (to find statistics on a product or industry).
Purpose: With this basic research, students can contribute to the general knowledge on certain international business issues. If possible, students can make this an applied research, where a specific Canadian company can see that you have analytical skills, critical thinking, an understanding of the global marketplace, etc. and might consider hiring you as an intern, consultant, or employee. If you conduct an applied research, please include a cover letter written for the company.
Students are expected to follow a three-step process. - Step 1 (Weeks 3, 4 – abstract, main points, bibliography, 2.5% each): Choose a topic, and read as many professional sources as possible on this topic. Send to eCentennial Dropbox.
- Step 2 (Week 5 – Progress Report 5%): Complete a first draft in Word and send to eCentennial Dropbox. I will provide comments on eCentennial.
- Step 3 (Week 6 – Final Report 5%): Submit a final reportin Word, 3-4 pages, to e-Centennial Dropbox. Late penalty is 20% per day.
Required sources (at least 10):
- At least six reputable Internet sources from at least four different organizations
- Three business journal articles from at least two different journals
- One printed book (such as the textbook)
Reputable Internet sources:
• The Economist (www.economist.com)
• The United Nations, World Bank
• McKinsey Quarterly
• CIA
• Global Affairs Canada (www.international.gc.ca)
• Canada’s newspapers and magazines: The Global and Mail, National Post, MacLean’s
• US newspapers and magazines: Forbes, Time, Foreign Affairs
• Europe: BBC
Reputable business journals: available on Library online databases
Harvard Business Review
California Management Review
International Business & Economics Research Journal
Strategic Management Journal
Academy of Management Review
Management Research Review
Journal of Global Marketing
Journal of International Business Studies
Journal of International Business Research
Research in International Business and Finance
Corporate Finance Review
Corporate Reputation Review
Business Horizons
Asian Business & Management
Journal of Business Ethics
Journal of International Business Ethics
Journal of Law, Business and Ethics
… and many others.
Final Report Format(in addition to a cover letter)
3-4 pages, in addition to cover letter, cover page, charts, graphs, photos and bibliography, single-spaced, in the following order: title, abstract, key words, main points of analysis, bibliography. Use APA referencing style.
TITLE OF YOUR PAPER
Abstract: This section is often written in italic.
Key words: provide 4 to 8 key concepts in your research
Introduction
Background, or Literature Review
(Point 1)
(Point 2)
(Point 3)
(Further Analysis, if necessary)
Future Research
In this section, discuss the limitations of your research and suggest future research directions.
Conclusion
Bibliography
Useful Hints:
• The abstract is a summary of the whole paper, i.e., one can just read to abstract to know the main content of your paper.
• The title is a summary of the abstract, i.e., one can look at the title to know the main issues you discuss in the paper.
• The first sentence of a paragraph is often the summary of the paragraph.
Complying with the Academic Honesty and Plagiarism Policy
Penalty will be applied as follows:
- Using a source without acknowledging it (even when the student paraphrased and did not copy word-for-word): 20% deduction per source.
- Plagiarizing one sentence (or almost a sentence): 10% deduction per sentence.
- Plagiarizing one paragraph (or almost a paragraph): 50% deduction per paragraph.
- Plagiarizing one source in the References section of another work: 10% deduction per source.
- Using report file(s) from previous students: 75% deduction.
Students cannot choose the same topic.