International Management

Coursework – 2010

Please read the following carefully and also follow the guidelines
provided in the module handbook.

Please select TWO of the four proposed topics:

1. The Eastern European banking market: Market entry

strategies
Compare and contrast the expansion of Raiffeisen International and
UniCredit into the Eastern European banking market since 1995. In
particular, address the following issues: (1) speed of expansion; (2)
impact on revenue growth; (3) impact on costs and profits; (4)
modes of market entry.

Support your arguments by analyzing company and market data. I

expect that you use tables and figures to provide evidence for your
argumentation.

Sources (available online):

 Use the CEE Reports (Raiffeisen International) to get market
data
 Annual reports of UniCredit and Raiffeisen International
 Related academic literature (see UWE library sources)

2. The global life insurance business: Diversification and

market entry
Compare and contrast the expansion of Generali and ING since
1995. In particular, address the following issues: (1) speed of
expansion; (2) impact on revenue growth; (3) impact on costs and
profits; (4) modes of market entry.

Support your arguments by analyzing company and market data. I

expect that you use tables and figures to provide evidence for your
argumentation.

Sources (available online):

 Use the Swiss Re Sigma Report to obtain market data (see
www.swissre.com)
 Annual reports of Generali and ING
 Related academic literature (see UWE library sources)

3. Sustained competitive advantage through outsourcing?

Dell was founded in 1984 by Michael Dell and offered a unique
concept by selling computers directly to customers. Since the early
days of the PC, the industry and technology changed, which
affected Dell’s position and future growth potential. You have to
address the following issues: (1) Discuss the history of Dell focused
on products and services offered; (2) discuss the importance of
outsourcing and the consequences for costs and revenues; (3)
analyze Dell’s international expansion; (4) discuss the long-term
development of revenues, costs and profits based on annual
reports. You find additional information on the company in annual
reports and other sources including academic publications.

Support your arguments by analyzing company and market data. I

expect that you use tables and figures to provide evidence for your
argumentation.

Sources (available online):

 Use the annual reports
 Check for industry reports (UWE library online database;
Marketline)
 Related academic literature (see UWE library sources)

4. Google’s business portfolio and corporate strategy:

Portfolio management
You are asked to assess the portfolio strategy of Google since 2000
using public information on the products offered and acquired
business units. Using the portfolio tools discussed in the lecture, you
have to develop your view on the complex portfolio mix and its long-
term potential. In addition, you have to consider strategic moves of
competitors that might block further expansion. You have to
address the following issues: (1) develop a method to map Google’s
business portfolio; (2) define and discuss the areas of key
competence; (3) discuss and critically apply the ‘Strategic fit’
theory; (4) analyze and discuss the strategic moves of Google’s
competitors and Google’s best response.

Support your arguments by analyzing company and market data. I

expect that you use tables and figures to provide evidence for your
argumentation.

Sources (available online):

 Use the annual reports
 Check for industry reports (UWE library online database;
Marketline)
 Related academic literature (see UWE library sources)
Submission Date: 7th June, 2010

Additional guidelines for the referral coursework

For the assignment the word limit is 3,000±10% [Roughly 1500

words for each question]. All words after this limit will be
disregarded. There must be a word count at the end of your case
work. Any attached appendices or photocopies of tables will be
ignored - so don’t include them - but note that I do expect tables /
graphs / diagrams in this assignment (embedded in the main text).
Each table, graph or diagram will count as 25 words.

Your case work should have page numbers, be in 12 point typeface

with 1.5 line spacing. There must be a bibliography, with works
listed in alphabetical order, though this is not included in the word
count. Primarily the bibliography should contain the material that
you have cited in the text; long lists of works not cited in the text do
not impress. All quotations should be appropriately attributed, as
should key facts and views obtained from others. The citation
method used must be the Harvard system (described on the
library’s web-site), and you should be careful to include page
numbers in your citations where necessary; for example, when
using quotations the citation must have the exact page number/s,
viz: (Bloggs, 1998: 34). Your case work may be submitted in a
simple folder so long as the assignment cover sheet can still be read
without opening the folder, but our preference is that you submit
your essay without any folder/cover, just stapling the cover-sheet to
your work.

Marking Criteria for the Coursework and Exam

Examiners will pay particular attention to five criteria (listed in order

of importance):

1. Extent to which the question has been answered: to include,

was the set question answered? What was the scope of the
answer (depth and breadth)? Was the question answered in
sufficient detail (within the limits of the word count)?
2. Quality of the argument and reasoning involved: was there
argument and evaluation, or at the other end of the scale just
the presentation of information?
3. Use and manipulation of concepts, methods and/or data (the
latter being of particular importance in the assignment).
4. Style, to include clarity of expression, organization and
structure.
5. Presentation, to include all aspects of referencing, citation,
bibliography, and layout (and other aspects identified in the
assessment rubric).
Plagiarism

You are reminded that all assessments are governed by the Rules
and Regulations set out in the Student Handbook 2009 – 2010,
section ‘Assessment and Examining’. You should ensure that your
work does not include plagiarism. Fundamentally you should ensure
that in your essays you identify your source of information, data,
and ideas by the inclusion of in-text citation. Where you use the
direct words of others you must identify it as a quotation by means
of opening and closing quotation marks, viz: “The structural
evolution approach had its roots in one of the most influential
evolutionary models of enterprise, Alfred Chandler’s Strategy and
Structure” (Westney and Zaheer, 2001: 351). Equally the exact
source of all data tables must be similarly identified at the base of
each table.
“Plagiarism is passing off
someone else’s work, whether
intentionally or unintentionally,
as your own for your own
benefit” (Jude Carroll, A Handbook
for Deterring Plagiarism in Higher
Education, (Oxford: OCSLD, 2002),
p. 9.).

We address the requirements of academic writing in Seminar 5. In

assessing this module it is assumed that you attended Seminar 5,
and that you have read the following article, which will be supplied
at the seminar: Sue Burkill and Caroline Abbey, “Avoiding
Plagiarism”, Journal of Geography in Higher Education 28:3, 439 –
446. We also assume that you have read a copy of the BBS
document, “Doing it Right – Good Practice in Academic Writing for
Undergraduate Students”.

English Language and Academic Writing Support

See Student Handbook 2009 – 2010 for further information.

Disability Resource Centre

If it is appropriate for you, the DRC can provide advice on:

• arranging dyslexia and other support needs

• availability of special equipment for disabled students
• special needs of disabled students in classroom and exam
situations
Disability Resource Centre, Centre for Student Affairs, University of
the West of England, Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol
BS16 1QY

You can call in at their office: Room 1E22, Frenchay Campus

Telephone: 0117 344 2564
Minicom: 0117 344 3644
Fax: 0117 344 2935
E-mail: sasas@uwe.ac.uk

You should also consult the section in the Student Handbook 2009 –
2010, headed ‘The provision of special arrangements for
assessment of students with disabilities and specific learning
difficulties.’

Dr XXXXX
8 March 2010
IM coursework 2010