2-3 paragraphs for each question
1. Since the end of the Cold War there have been many theories advanced to describe the new political and economic order in the world. In the late 1990s Thomas Friedman came out with the book called "The World is Flat" in which he argued that the world was coming closer together due to the rapid pace of technology and the lowering to barriers on the movement of people and capital. Following 9/11 and wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, new theories for the world order claimed that rather than being flat, the world was characteried by a series of spikes that existed in many countries between the haves and the have-nots, the highly educated and mobile versus the poor and under-educated.
After reading this chapter I would like you to take either side of this argument. Why do you think the world is indeed flat or spiked. Read both sides of the debate at the end of the chapter and argue for either side. You must use concepts and citations from the text to explain your argument, as well as supporting evidence.
2. Geert Hofstede is one of the most important scholars in the area of work values. He studied work values in countries all over the world, creating five major dimensions that he used to compare work values across countries. Please describe Hofstede's Work Value Dimensions. Once you are done, go to the following website (http://geert-hofstede.com/countries.html), where it lets you compare two countries along Hofstede's dimensions. Select two countries and compare them. Pick one dimension and write one paragraph as to what you found in that comparison and why you think it is important.
You must use concepts and citations from the text to explain your argument, as well as supporting evidence.
3. Read the Chapter on World Economies. Please pick out and make the case for one country that is not yet considered an industrialized nation but based on data regarding trade, GDP, HDI, you believe it is right on the cusp of becoming an advanced, industralized country. So it is not there yet and all would agree but you believe it will make the leap soon.
4. There are many reasons driving companies to look to foreign markets for expansion. For this discussion I would like you to describe what you believe are the top three reasons why companies expand to international markets.
You are expected to use concepts from the text to support your response.
5. There are three types of strategies MNCs can use when expanding globally. Please explain each of these strategies and provide an example (not included in the text) of a company that adopts that strategy in their international business operations.
6. What is the process of becoming a global entrepreneur? Entrepreneurs are not just capitalists. There are also social entrepreneurs active in the global environment. What are social entrepreneurs and how do they use the global environment to expand?
Students must use concepts from the course text in their response and must respond to at least one other student's post to receive full credit for the forum.
7. Hiring expatriates to work in foreign operations is a difficult task for multnationals. There are many factors to consider. What type of expatriate would make a good fit for a MNC's operations in a foreign country? What are companies looking for in an expatriate employee to work overseas in one of its operations?
8. Multinational Corporations (MNCs) must consider how to sell their products from one market to the next. MNCs often customize their products to attract customers in different countries. What factors drive local customization of products? Also, please provide one example from the real world (not included in your course text) of a MNC localizing a product to appeal to local tastes and regulations.
1. Since the end of the Cold War there have been many theories advanced to describe the new political and economic order in the world. In the late 1990s Thomas Friedman came out with the book called "The World is Flat" in which he argued that the world was coming closer together due to the rapid pace of technology and the lowering to barriers on the movement of people and capital. Following 9/11 and wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, new theories for the world order claimed that rather than being flat, the world was characteried by a series of spikes that existed in many countries between the haves and the have-nots, the highly educated and mobile versus the poor and under-educated.
After reading this chapter I would like you to take either side of this argument. Why do you think the world is indeed flat or spiked. Read both sides of the debate at the end of the chapter and argue for either side. You must use concepts and citations from the text to explain your argument, as well as supporting evidence.
2. Geert Hofstede is one of the most important scholars in the area of work values. He studied work values in countries all over the world, creating five major dimensions that he used to compare work values across countries. Please describe Hofstede's Work Value Dimensions. Once you are done, go to the following website (http://geert-hofstede.com/countries.html), where it lets you compare two countries along Hofstede's dimensions. Select two countries and compare them. Pick one dimension and write one paragraph as to what you found in that comparison and why you think it is important.
You must use concepts and citations from the text to explain your argument, as well as supporting evidence.
3. Read the Chapter on World Economies. Please pick out and make the case for one country that is not yet considered an industrialized nation but based on data regarding trade, GDP, HDI, you believe it is right on the cusp of becoming an advanced, industralized country. So it is not there yet and all would agree but you believe it will make the leap soon.
4. There are many reasons driving companies to look to foreign markets for expansion. For this discussion I would like you to describe what you believe are the top three reasons why companies expand to international markets.
You are expected to use concepts from the text to support your response.
5. There are three types of strategies MNCs can use when expanding globally. Please explain each of these strategies and provide an example (not included in the text) of a company that adopts that strategy in their international business operations.
6. What is the process of becoming a global entrepreneur? Entrepreneurs are not just capitalists. There are also social entrepreneurs active in the global environment. What are social entrepreneurs and how do they use the global environment to expand?
Students must use concepts from the course text in their response and must respond to at least one other student's post to receive full credit for the forum.
7. Hiring expatriates to work in foreign operations is a difficult task for multnationals. There are many factors to consider. What type of expatriate would make a good fit for a MNC's operations in a foreign country? What are companies looking for in an expatriate employee to work overseas in one of its operations?
8. Multinational Corporations (MNCs) must consider how to sell their products from one market to the next. MNCs often customize their products to attract customers in different countries. What factors drive local customization of products? Also, please provide one example from the real world (not included in your course text) of a MNC localizing a product to appeal to local tastes and regulations.
