International Business Coursework Assessment (SOE09102)
Coursework Brief
Sainsburys plc, a major British supermarket chain has appointed you as a consultant. The company is considering investing overseas as global expansion is perceived at this time to be a potentially important element of the company’s long-term strategic goals. In particular Sainsburys have been looking closely for some time at a number of diverse markets including China, Greece, Australia and Canada. In order to help with their decision making, management at Sainsburys have requested that you compile a report regarding the attractiveness of ONE of these locations based on potential return on investment.
For your coursework you must evaluate the opportunities and risks presented by the given location of your choice. Based on your analysis, what would you recommend i.e. to invest or look for other options? Please ensure that you give reasons for your recommendation.
Please note that you must select only ONE country to investigate. For example, do not write a report comparing the four countries.

Allocation of Marks
Presentation and structure (5%)
Analysis of political, economic, cultural and ethical risks in the country selected (30%)
Identification and evaluation of business opportunities (30%)
Use of appropriate examples of companies to support arguments (10%)
Conclusion and recommendations based on findings. Do you recommend that the company you are representing should invest? Which market entry strategy would you propose? Ensure your findings and recommendations are consistent with the foregoing analysis (20%)
Referencing (Harvard Style) (5%)
….
Length: Minimum 2500 words and a Maximum of 3500
References: A minimum of 10 appropriate references all of which are cited in your bibliography.
Submission date: Wednesday 4 November 2015 by 3pm (Submit to the box outside room 1/53)
-Also ensure you submit to Turnitin
Late Submission
Please note that late submission will be penalized unless a valid extension has been agreed with the module leader. Submissions in excess of the above word limit will also incur penalty. Assignments submitted after the above time will be capped, i.e. subject to a maximum mark of 40%. Submission after one week will be awarded a zero mark. However if you think you have a valid reason for late submission you should see your module leader to instigate a Mitigating Circumstances procedure where you will be asked for documented evidence of reasons for lateness and your case will be considered by the Business Schools Mitigating Circumstances Board.

Coursework Assessment Feedback
Student Name: Date Submitted:
Matriculation Number:Date Marked:
Module: International Business (SOE09702)

Assessment Category Fail Acceptable Good Very-good Excellent Marks awarded
Presentation and Structure (5%)
Analysis of political, economic, cultural and ethical risks in the country selected (30%)
Identification and evaluation of business opportunities (30%)
Use of appropriate examples of companies to support arguments (10%)
Conclusion and recommendations. Based on decision to invest or not, entry strategy proposed, with overall findings based on the foregoing analysis (20%)
Appropriately cited and referenced (5%)

Comments on Submission
Overall Mark %Marked by:

Guidance notes
Some general points on the coursework assignment in relation to allocation of marks.
The analysis you conduct should always be in the context of what your findings mean for Sainsburys plc as a company and the impact it may have on them.

1.Presentation and Structure (5%)
Your report should be typed with a font size 12, 1.5 spacing and it must look professional. Paragraphs in the document should be justified. The report needs to be well-structured, divided into numbered sections that correspond logically to the coursework brief. Include an overall introduction and conclusion.

2.Analysis of political, economic, cultural and ethical risks in the country selected (30%)
In relation to the country risk analysis you should consider/address the following issues in your analysis including:
What form of political system exists? (totalitarian/democratic); what kind of economic policies exist? (Government controlled/regulated/free market); what kind of social system? (regulated/controlled by govt. /individual freedoms).
…the Root Model, applied (optional) in terms of instability risk; ownership/control risk; operations risk; transfer/repatriation risk.
What incidence of cultural/ethical risks exist, as evidenced by the existence of fundamental cultural differences between host and home (UK, in this case) countries such as the extent of govt. influence in business, the significance of religion, the existence of an ethnic mix, the degree of toleration of differences, the extent of censorship of information.
Ethical issues as bribery/corruption, poor working conditions/low wages, oppression of minorities, environmental damage.

3.Identification and evaluation of business opportunities (30%)
In relation to the analysis of business opportunities you should consider/address the following issues in your analysis including:
Evaluation of income levels (in terms of poor/middle class/rich elites), demographics, education systems.
Consumers buying habits, degree of domestic/other foreign competition
Whether foreign industrial products/service provisions are in (rising) demand in the country.
Whether the country is a free market economy and of the degree of government welcome afforded to foreign investors.

4.Use of appropriate examples of companies to support arguments (10%)
In relation to the use of corporate examples of businesses to support your argument you might consider/address the following issues in your analysis:
Which companies can be identified as having been either successes or failures in the country selected for the analysis?
Further corporate examples to illustrate particular points, say, in respect of negotiation with governments/involvement in bribery issues/alliance formation with (or acquisition of) domestic companies, management of local work-forces.

5.Conclusion, recommendations and proposed market entry based on findings (20%).
In relation to the conclusion, recommendations and proposed market entry strategy you might consider/address the following issues in your analysis including:
Do you recommend that the company you are representing should invest? Has the country got more opportunities than risks clearly, your conclusion has to be consistent with the analysis which you have done, so that you can provide reasons for your choice of country into which the British retailer should invest. You should reinforce the recommendation with advice as to the market entry strategy which should be chosen.
In terms of proposing a market entry strategy while this section carries only 20% of the marks you should consider what method of entry might be most appropriate for the recommended country as an opportunity to enhance your overall answer.
You should use examples to support your comments e.g. foreign company X has successfully used a joint venture/alliance with a local retailer, or cite a foreign company which has acquired a local operator but remember that market entry may not always take only one form (as with Tesco in some Asian countries, with wholly owned subsidiaries, alliances, and acquisitions all being used).

6.Referencing (Harvard Style) (5%)
Be careful with your referencing of external material, to avoid accusations of plagiarism.
The report should