SYNTHESIS OF CLASS KNOWLEDGE (SCK) MINI-PROJECT (Instructions from the Syllabus) The SCK analysis will concern your selected nation's business development potential. Our College of Business is accredited and part of retaining this status is demonstrating students have experienced two essential employment skills—analytical research work and presentation. The SCK Mini-Project grade will reflect the written content, grammar usage, and presentation quality, as expected in a 3000-level class. Although the assignment is worth 2.5%, it is a synthesis activity; therefore, it should demonstrate a thorough understanding of the semester’s work. Excluding a documented emergency concerning yourself and/or a dependent, late submissions will not be accepted. To ensure that everyone analyzes a different country, during Week 1, students will register for a specific nation in a discussion board forum. Given that this class concerns international business, the U.S. and Mexico cannot be selected, because they are our most familiar markets. Select a nation and over the semester analyze its business environment, as assessed by topics studied (ethics, prevailing legal and economic issues, etc.). Throughout the semester, there will be several Analysis Questions/assignments that will be a specific question to assist with SCK development. The analysis should use some content from at least 3-4 textbook chapters and if applicable related current business news event(s). On the due date, post a Project PowerPoint presentation using course terminology, concepts, and theories that analyze the following: • data indicating the nation in relation to the global economy (e.g., economic data; prevailing economic, political, legal systems, cultural, and ethical issues variables), • relevance in regional trade group(s), • specific nation-level competitive resources and capabilities, and • specific recommendations for the nation to improve their investment environment. The presentation content criteria are as follows: • Each slide title should include the analyzed nation’s name and the specific class topic used for analysis (e.g., China: Corruption). For example, the content of that slide will be the data and analysis statements (e.g., the last five years of Transparency International’s corruption data about China and several analysis statements of whether or not China is consistently creating or prohibiting an investment friendly environment). • The last analysis slide is a summary that provide one or two recommendations to improve the issues identified in your analysis. • The last slide will include the References (format: Wall Street Journal, Name of specific article, July XXXXXXXXXX • Use text and graphics; no Prezi, verbal recording, or embedded video. Review slides to ensure that they look professional. When the slides are posted, state your nation’s name in the Subject line. • Excluding Cover and Reference slides, there should be at least 4 and not more than 10 slides. • Reflect on your learning. What did you learn that surprised you? Have you changed your view of the nation? In what way? • Since this is a synthesis of knowledge, simply posting a copy of previous work without demonstrating a fusion of nation-specific data and course concepts, will result in earning no greater than a “C”. Examples of respected news sources are the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Fortune, or The Economist; other respected quality sources are listed in the textbook p. 31 & 33. For this course, please be advised that citing Wikipedia and blogs will not be considered an acceptable source. QUESTION AND ANSWER (Q&A) REGARDING SCK MINI-PROJECT Q: Are we simply using our old discussion and "improving" them or "rephrase" them into slides? A: Here is what the assignment states: “Since this is a synthesis of knowledge, simply posting a copy of previous work without demonstrating a fusion of nation-specific data and course concepts, will result in earning no greater than a “C”.” Q: You mentioned, "simply posting a copy of previous work without demonstrating a fusion of nation-specific data and course concepts, will result in earning no greater than a “C”". Does this mean that we should not have or include our previous work? A: It means that relying on your previous work - without going further to integrate new knowledge and synthesis of learning, will not earn you a grade higher than a “C”. Q: If so, are we allowed to use the same citations or we need completely new sources? A: If the reference sources meet the criteria set out in the rubric that we have been using for the weekly discussion analysis and are timely and relevant to the analysis of the topic being covered in the SCK, then use them. Q: For the project would you like for us to use APA format for the citations as we have for the previous analysis discussion forums? A: Yes Q: Is there a minimum amount of references that we need to use? A: Yes, four plus the textbook for full points; see the rubric XXXXXXXXXXQ: You gave examples of the type of data to include in the PowerPoint which are economic data; prevailing economic, political, legal systems, cultural, and ethical issues variables. Can we do a slide for each one of these, so for example: Slide 1- Economic data: Italy Slide 2- Prevailing Economic: Italy Slide 3- Political: Italy and so on (These all have the nation’s name and the specific class topic) Or what other specific class topics do you think we should discuss in the PowerPoint since there are so many topics? A: You may certainly do it in that manner. Keep in mind, however, that if you review the questions and the content of the chapters covered this semester, there are additional important factors that we covered in the chapters that were not the consider them in your SCK. If you look at the description there are 4 key areas: 1. data indicating the nation in relation to the global economy (e.g., economic data; prevailing economic, political, legal systems, cultural, and ethical issues variables), 2. relevance in regional trade group(s), 3. specific nation-level competitive resources and capabilities, and 4. specific recommendations for the nation to improve their investment environment. Depending on what country you have studied some of these areas are going to be much more important than others in terms of assessing the country’s current business environment. For example, to respond to the first category - the nation in relation to the global economy - you might want 3 separate slides, one each on the political, legal, and economic systems, and then you might have only 1 slide each for the remaining 3 areas - regional trade, competitive resources and recommendations. Or, you may think the relevance of your country’s nation level competitive resources and capabilities requires two slides. As long as you don’t have more than 10, excluding the Cover and Reference slides. Also, note that there are topics, such as culture, that were involved in at least three different discussion questions. You would want to cover these different aspects of culture in one slide, not separately as distinct topics. That is the critical part of the assignment - bringing the ideas together and seeing how the topic bridges different aspect of doing business globally. Q: The examples you used in the syllabus are those topics we could use if we wish or those are the ones you want us to use? A better question is if we can use the same topics as our discussions? A: See the answer to the question above which should answer this question as well XXXXXXXXXXI have included at the end of this document, a list of the discussion questions that we have covered. They may help you recall the material and Chapters considered. Q: Is this a group project or an individual project because from what I understood after reading the syllabus that this is an individual project; however, on the Forum Description it states, “I suggest you meet as a team…”? A: This is an individual assignment. I believe the mention of the team was to suggest questions from your discussion group. Q: Is there a minimum amount of references that we need to use? A: Yes, four plus the textbook for full points; see the rubric. Q: For the project would you like for us to use APA format for the citations as we have for the previous analysis discussion forums? A: Yes Q: On the syllabus you mentioned to format the references as follows (Wall Street Journal, Name of Article, Date). With this at hand, how would you want us to organize the references on the last slide? Would you like it to be in alphabetical order or how exactly? A: Follow APA format. They would be listed in alphabetical order according to APA format. Q: For my analysis statements, I am citing some articles and government websites. Therefore, how should I do the in-text citations for those? Do I just put the title of the article? A: For our purposes, treat those statements on the slides you prepare the same way you would a paragraph in a written document. There are various online sites that provide information on the APA format. (Use the 7th edition.) Here is one that can be useful: For in-text citations - https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formattin g_and_style_guide/in_text_citations_the_basics.html For references - https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formattin g_and_style_guide/reference_list_basic_rules.html And, for online resources: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formattin g_and_style_guide/reference_list_electronic_sources.html XXXXXXXXXXWeekly Discussion Analysis questions: Week 12 Select a specific company that conducts operations globally and analyze their marketing activity in at least two different countries with significantly different cultures. Week 11 Regarding the human resource policies in the nation that you are investigating this semester, analyze at least one prevailing culture-based issue there that specifically impacts business operations in that country. Provide a specific, documented example. Week 10 Regarding the nation that you are investigating this semester, identify a foreign company that has expanded operations into that market, analyze its organizational structure, and determine if this is a realistic, successful strategy. Explain why it is or is not, a realistic, successful strategy. Week 9 Based on the Royal Dutch Shell case (in the Box - Economic Perspectives), select an oil company or oil-dependent country economy and analyze their strategic response to the long-term impact of lower oil prices. Evaluate the firm’s mission statement or nation’s policies as to whether or not their strategic position has a positive shareholder or stakeholder perspective. Be sure to consider the economic, social and environmental aspects. Please note that you are not discussing the case itself. Week 8 “The growth of the global economy and individual nation’s economies is dependent upon FDI largely by MNEs. Regarding the nation that you are investigating this semester, analyze this nation’s business-friendly and/or prohibiting policies and that position’s influence over FDI for the last 5 years. Do you think they are successfully drawing the right kind of investment that makes the country more sustainable? Explain. Week 7 This week you will be working as a team to develop your response to the analysis question. Each of you will analyze the nation that you are investigating this semester based on the concepts of ethics, transparency, and social responsibility and their impact on business in those nations. You will each write a brief paragraph on your country (no more than 300 words each) and then include two additional paragraphs as a group which compare (demonstrate what similarities exist) and contrast (what significant differences exist) among the countries in your group. In your individual paragraph include: 1) Your country's rating on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for XXXXXXXXXXSee the textbook chapter for information on the index.) and 2) At least one specific example for your country - either from business or from government - that demonstrates and highlights your nation's approach to ethics and social responsibility XXXXXXXXXXCite and use at least one reference/resource per country in addition to the CPI. In the submission add your name at the end of the paragraph you have submitted to the group post. Week 6 Based on China’s One Child Policy case (p. 147) analyze and forecast specific economic and societal results of this national policy and compare those findings with the nation that you are analyzing this semester. Week 5 Regarding your nation's rankings per the Hofstede and Trompenaar dimensions, analyze how the cultural dimensions have influenced business practices and government policy. Week 4 Based on the Europe an Union case (p XXXXXXXXXXand review Exhibit 3.7 (p. 74), as a quick overview of the E.U. & U.S. marketplace, analyze the consequences that some E.U. countries did not adhere to all membership policies. Defend the BREXIT nation’s (e.g., England, Scotland, & Northern Ireland) decision to leave the E.U. Week 3 The global economy is dependent upon Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Based on the World Investment Report Summary of a specific nation's FDI activity, analyze that nation's economic development future and the ensuing business-related consequences within the framework of a relevant trade theory. Week 2 The globalization process will continue. Given the anti-globalization arguments, trade policy development, and trade bloc creation discussed in the textbook and in current news, analyze briefly the issues created, include at least one international institution’s success to facilitate global economic development, and provide at least two recommendations to firms and their sustainable competitive success (e.g., go beyond reciting statements from the textbook). Week 1 Read the Syllabus Synthesis of Class Knowledge (SCK) section. By Sunday 11:59pm, in this forum register for a nation to analyze this semester for your SCK MiniProject. There will be several analysis week questions to assist your SCK development. Over the semester, retain a copy of your work, so you can easily compose the submission, because once a week closes, you will not be available to retrieve posted work.