INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DECISION-MAKING

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DECISION-MAKING Minor assessment Objectives of the minor assessment The aim of this assignment is to give students a chance to test their ability to apply the tools presented in the “International Business Decisi on-Making” course to the anal ysis of real-world business cases. Description of the assignment The minor assessment is centred around Bridgestone Annual Repo rt . Each student is expected to submit a case report, based also on the analysis of relevant background readings on top of the case study itself, addressing the following issues: ? Explain the importance of an effective decision-making process in achieving organisational objectives. ? Discuss the decision-making process at Bridgestone. ? Identify and discuss possible strategic and operational decisio ns made within the company. ? Describe and analyse briefly the tire industry and explain how its dynamics influence Bridgestone’s managers in making decisions. ? Apply time-series models to Bridgestone case study (e.g. provid e a 2-year moving average graph using sales data). This is an academic piece of wor k: your case report is expected to link theory and practice You should take care to ensure that the work you submit has a h igh standard of presentation. You must acknowledge all sources of information and evidence using the H arvard Referen cing System. The report will count for 25% of the final grade given for the “International Business-Decision-Making” course. 2 Structure of the assignment. Cover page. It includes the course name, the project title, the students’ f ull names, the lecturer’s full name and the submission date. Table of contents. It includes all the headings with appropriate page numbers, inc luding the References and the Appendices. Executive summary. Introduction. It introduces the reader to the case you are going to present. Analysis. (see under “Description of the assignment”) Conclusions. They draw key insights from the case analysis, summarize the ma in features of the company presented and propose future dev elopment for its business and o rganisational solutions. References. Format. The case report is expected to consist of approximately 2000 wo rds, not counting tables or inserts, introduction and conclusions. The report should be prepared as a neatly typed Word document (Times New Roman, 12 points), with double spacing and page numbering. Tabl es or data taken from other sources may be included in one or more Appendices. All sources must be refe renced in the text and a full list of references (including visited websites) must be provided, in compliance wi th the Harvard Referencing System. Deadline. Please submit a printed copy of your assignment to the lecturer and an electronic cop y via Turnitin by Week 6. Lateness policy. For each day of delay, 5 points will be subtracted to the grade you earned with your minor assessment (maximum 25 points). If you subm it your case report after 5 day s from the deadline, you will receive a grade of 0 (zero) for your minor assessment. 3 GENERAL GRADING CRITERIA (UNDERGRADUATE) Excellent work: 70% Above satisfactory work: 60% - 69% Satisfactorywork: 50 - 59% Below satisfactory work: 40% - 49% Failure: Below 40% Relevance 30% Excellent knowledge and understanding of material and an imaginative sense of its relevance across a range of issues, and context or policy situation; excellent use of course material and other relevant information to support argument Very good use of course material and other information; well chosen to support arguments relevant to question Competent use of course materials and other information to support most arguments Some use of appropriate course materials and experience to support arguments; capacity to identify relevance, but may be rather narrowly focused and miss out important areas Little or no sign of relevance Content 30% Independent and creative, and demonstrates clear thinking; ability to analyse and critically evaluate material Good knowledge and understanding of the material, across a broad spectrum, combined with an ability to evaluate, analyse and reflect on key issues Reasonable knowledge of the material and ability to draw upon more than one source for ideas; uses key themes well. Adequate understanding and use of course and other relevant material; mostly descriptive, but with some grasp of key course themes and issues and a capacity to discuss these in context Very limited knowledge and understanding and the issues involved Depth 30% A sensitive awareness of conflicting arguments and ideas and of their provenance. Clear grasp of implications. Well organised use of most of the major points with an ability to draw upon them creatively and critically; awareness of conflicting arguments and ideas and attempt to address them in context Capacity to grapple with conflicting arguments and ideas; beginning to draw together and synthesise ideas and perspectives from a range of theory Some attempt to address the conflicting arguments and ideas from the course, some signs of an attempt to take an evaluative, analytical and critical stance; some appropriate use of concepts, but with only limited evidence of independent thinking Lack of awareness of conflicting arguments and ides Structure 10% Excellent organisation of material; clear, logical flow of argument; good sign- posting throughout Good, clear framework and reasoned argument with evidence of careful thought Sensible use of major points integrated into the answer; logical flow of ideas is apparent Framework is apparent with an introduction, argument and conclusion, but the logical flow and coherence is not always consistent and may be difficult to follow Little or no evidence of planned structure and organisation