BA SEMESTER 4

International Business – Sample Questions

TO BE ATTEMPTED
Q/No QUESTIONS COVERED IN
BY STUDENT AFTER
Ford Case Study
1. Discuss – and justify – what you feel to be the main auto industry (global) drivers, together with the
corresponding generic marketing strategies and key success factors that the major suppliers should
possess, if they are to be successful.
1 Lecture 1 Lecture 1
2. Discuss the rationale behind Ford’s ‘2000 globalisation plan’ and comment on performance over the
period 1994 to 2004.
3. Drawing upon relevant issues from the case, recommend and defend a possible future marketing
strategy (or strategies) for Ford.
Dell Case Study
Debate the following options:
2 Option 1: Dell could simply leave Brazil altogether Lecture 2 Lecture 2
Option 2: Dell could stay in Brazil but go to another state
Option 3: Dell should stay put and negotiate with the new Governor
Pizza Hut in Brazil Case Study
1. What are the location-specific advantages that Brazil has to offer? How do these advantages differ
from those offered by other markets in Latin America? Should Pizza Hut put more of its efforts in
expanding in Brazil or somewhere in South-East Asia? Why?
3 2. What dimensions of local political and economic environment have an impact on Pizza Hut’s success Lecture 3 Lecture 3
in Brazil in volume, revenues and profitability? How could a change in those dimensions affect Pizza
Hut’s success?
3. Why did Pizza Hut decide to purchase some stores in Brazil instead of continuing to expand through
issuing franchises? What are the strengths and weaknesses of this strategy?
4 Globalization can be defined as “the inexorable integration of markets, nation-states, and Seminar 1 Lecture 1
technologies…in a way that is enabling individuals, corporations, and nation-states to reach around the Topic Lecture 2
world farther, faster, deeper, and cheaper than ever before.” This is evidenced by the dramatic growth Lecture 3
of international trade over the last several decades. Seminar 1
Discuss the strategic and environmental reasons why firms expand internationally.
 Identify and explain the strategic and environmental reasons why firms expand internationally. Lecture 1
Seminar 1 Lecture 2
5
Topic Lecture 3
Seminar 1
Explain how the decision to undertake FDI can be influenced by supply factors, demand factors, and Lecture 1
political factors. Seminar 1 Lecture 2
6
Topic Lecture 3
Seminar 1
Identify and explain the major challenges a firm is likely to face when marketing internationally. Lecture 1
Seminar 1 Lecture 2
7
Topic Lecture 3
Seminar 1
What are the basic issues a firm must confront when choosing an entry mode for a new foreign market? Lecture 3
Please explain the likely major advantages and challenges the firm might experience, if engaged in Seminar 2 Lecture 4
8
exporting. Topic Lecture 5
Seminar 2

Porter notes that “Firms, not individual nations, compete in international markets.” How does this Lecture 3
statement help to explain some of the major challenges facing MNEs? How do the determinants of Seminar 2 Lecture 4
9
national competitive advantage help explain how companies can maintain their economic Topic Lecture 5
competitiveness? Seminar 2

Illustrate how the four determinants of national competitive advantage help explain how companies Lecture 3
can maintain their economic competitiveness. Seminar 2 Lecture 4
10
Topic Lecture 5
Seminar 2
11 International marketing is the process of identifying the goods and services that customers outside the Seminar 3 Lecture 6
home country want and then providing them at the right price and place. In the international Topic Seminar 3
marketplace this process is similar to that carried out at home, but with some important modifications
 to adapt marketing efforts to the needs of the specific country or geographic location.
What are the major challenges a firm is likely to face when marketing internationally?

Explain the various approaches to international recruitment and selection.

Seminar 3 Lecture 7
12 What approach might be most appropriate given the increasing globalisation of work?
Topic Seminar 3

1. What are the main advantages and disadvantages of the ethnocentric, polycentric, and
geocentric approaches to staffing policy? When is each approach appropriate?
2. Research suggests that many expatriate employees encounter problems that limit both their
Seminar 3 Lecture 7
13 effectiveness in a foreign posting and their contribution to the company when they return
Topic Seminar 3
home. What are the main causes and consequences of these problems, and how might a firm
reduce the occurrence of such problems?

What challenges is the firm likely to face when it relies on external sources to provide essential Lecture 8
components, parts and other production inputs. Seminar 4 Lecture 9
14
Topic Seminar 4

Identify and explain five factors, which make emerging markets attractive for international business?
Lecture 10
Seminar 4
15 Lecture 11
Topic
Lecture 12
Seminar 4
Why are emerging economies important considerations for foreign investors? Lecture 10
Seminar 4 Lecture 11
16
Topic Lecture 12
Seminar 4
17 Explain, using appropriate research, how the following agency contributes to the development of Seminar 4 Lecture 10
international trade: Topic Lecture 11
 The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global international organization dealing with the rules
of trade between nations. At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of Lecture 12
the world’s trading nations and ratified in their parliaments. The goal is to help producers of goods and Seminar 4
services, exporters, and importers conduct their business
Explain, using appropriate research, how the following agency contributes to the development of
international trade:
Established in 1964, UNCTAD promotes the development-friendly integration of developing countries
All Lectures
19 into the world economy. UNCTAD has progressively evolved into an authoritative knowledge-based Seminar 4
Seminars 1,2,3
institution whose work aims to help shape current policy debates and thinking on development, with a
particular focus on ensuring that domestic policies and international action are mutually supportive in
bringing about sustainable development.
Read the attached case study, and answer the following questions:
1. What was the key weakness that Škoda was able to identify?
2. What strength did Škoda use to turn its brand weakness into an opportunity?
3. How has Škoda strategically addressed external threats? All Lectures
20 Seminar 4
4. What in your view are the important benefits of using a SWOT analysis? Seminars 1,2,3