Writing Assignment #3 Part A (case-based writing):
Instructions: Part A of the writing assignment #3 is based
on a comparative analysis between the Amazon’s decision about where to locate
its second major headquarters and the similar decisions undertaken by other
major firms about the location or relocation of their headquarters/ major
facilities abroad. There are several articles you can read before answering the
following questions in as much detail as you can (suggested article links are
provided next to the questions below); however, feel free to do additional
research to gain insights and examples to include in your write-up. Answer
the following questions as fully as you can, applying the various concepts and
terms learned throughout this course. You can keep answers to each question
to 1-3 paragraphs but there is no limit for Part A of this writing assignment.
1.
Summarize what you believe were the most
important considerations for Amazon in choosing a location for their HQ2.
(Suggested articles: https://www.brookings.edu/research/amazon-hq2-how-did-we-get-here-what-comes-next/;
https://www.washingtonian.com/2019/06/16/the-real-story-of-how-virginia-won-amazon-hq2/)
2.
Compare how Amazon’s decision-making could have
differed if they were looking for a location outside of the United States.
3.
Compare and contrast Amazon’s decision-making
process to decisions made by other major companies such as Sony, Burger King,
Lucky Strike, etc. in where to move their headquarters as well as other major
facilities. (Suggested article: https://theconversation.com/why-big-businesses-move-their-headquarters-around-the-world-tax-talent-and-trepidation-110913)
4.
Many major companies have operations worldwide
and are able to move facilities with relative ease. Sony, for example, moves
its operations from country to country on a regular basis. Why is it relatively
easy for them to do so? (Suggested articles: https://www.fdiintelligence.com/article/25759;
https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/23/business/sony-europe-hq-brexit-netherlands/index.html)
5.
Share your thoughts on how your thinking has
evolved on this topic between writing assignment #1 (choosing a strategic
location for your company) and writing assignment #3 Part A (comparing and contrasting real-life
decisions made by major companies such as Amazon and Sony on where to locate
their operations). How did subsequent chapters of the textbook (post-writing
assignment #1) help evolve your knowledge on this topic?
Writing Assignment #3 Part B (brief answers to a series
of final questions):
Instructions: For each open-ended question below, covering
the material in the textbook, succinctly summarize your responses. A few sentences
per question would suffice. Please limit responses to each question to a single
paragraph. (Many of the questions below could be written about at length, but
since you need to limit your answers to a single paragraph, please focus
your responses on the most important few factors and considerations, based on
your readings and research.)
1.
On balance, do you think outsourcing undertaken
by major American companies (ex., Apple) is a good thing or a bad thing for the
American economy? Explain your reasoning.
2.
What is “ African Socialism” and how might it
differ from “socialism” in general? See
textbook. What key historical events contributed
to the development of the “African socialism”?
3.
Why do you think certain Eastern European
countries such as Poland and the Baltic States (Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia),
etc. have had such strong economic growth in their post-Communist era? In
comparison, why have some of the other countries in the region continued to
struggle in their economic development after the collapse of the Soviet Union (ex.,
Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, etc.)?
4.
If you were in a position to advise a Western
company that was considering doing business in Saudi Arabia or another Middle
Eastern country for the first time, what would your advice be? Describe the key
historical and religious influences that affect values and culture in the Middle
East and what the similarities and the differences are with the Western values
and culture.
5.
What is a Friedman doctrine (see textbook), and
what would it suggest about the decisions by major companies such as Microsoft
to go carbon negative over the next one or two decades? What are the negative
externalities to this type of decision and how could a balanced approach be
undertaken by major companies in helping combat climate change?
6.
Review the international trade policies
undertaken by South Korea from the late 1950s onward. Based on South Korea’s
successes and mistakes in international trade, what advice would you give to a
developing nation today?
7.
The steel industry has a long history of asking
for, and getting, tariff protection from foreign competitors. Why do you think
this is the case? How would you extrapolate this logic to similar protections
for the agricultural sector in the United States?
8.
In which cases does it make sense to pursue
foreign direct investment through entering a joint venture in a foreign country
and in which case does it make sense to do so by running operations through a
wholly owned subsidiary? Why did Starbucks pursue differing strategies for FDI
depending on the country they were expanding into?
9.
What are the pros and cons of regional economic
integration? Why did the majority of the British citizens support Great
Britain’s exist from the European Union (Brexit)?
10.
Review the current and projected exchange rates
between Japanese yen and U.S. dollar. Your company needs to make a payment of
1-million Japanese yen in six months. Identify the spot and forward
exchange rates between the two currencies. What factors influence your
decision to use each? How many dollars must you spend to acquire the amount of
yen required?
11.
Review the differences between the IMF’s Global
Financial Stability Report published in 2022 (Global
Financial Stability Report | April 2022 (imf.org)) and the one from 5 years
ago (Global
Financial Stability Report October 2017: Is Growth at Risk? (imf.org)). How
do the important financial issues and considerations differ between these two
reports (2017 and 2022)? What are your own thoughts on the key trends we can
expect over the next five-to-ten years?
12.
Discuss your thoughts on the following
hypothetical scenario: In a world of zero transportation costs, no trade
barriers, and nontrivial differences between nations with regard to factor
conditions, firms must expand internationally if they are to survive. Do you
agree, disagree, and why?
13.
If there was such an analytical framework as a
degree of “global connectedness” within any given country, and if countries
could be ranked in this way, how would you describe a country that is among the
most globally connected countries in the world? Where would United States fall
in that type of ranking and which country would take one of the top spots, in
your opinion?
14.
Review the recent list of top franchising
companies in the world put together by the Entrepreneur magazine (https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/topglobal/2021).
Study the top companies on the list and describe their business model, in your
own words. Start with defining what a business model is and how it can differ
between companies. What are some unique qualifications companies with
franchise-based business models look for when pursuing an international
business expansion strategy? See
textbook for helpful examples.
15.
How does higher education affect the balance of
trade in the world? Please describe in your own words. See textbook for helpful explanations and
conduct own research.
16.
What are
the potential benefits associated with using blockchain technology to account
for the flow of goods through a globally dispersed supply chain? How might blockchain
technology increase the “ethical sourcing” of products in the global supply
chain?