INTRODUCTION

This Term Project provides you with the opportunity to:

1.      Understand the trends and underlying factors that influence the global business environment, and,

2.      Apply skills taught in the course by researching and analyzing the trading relationships between Canada and two other target markets. 

This will be done by working individually:

1.     select two target markets; SWEDEN and THAILAND

2.     perform a comprehensive market overview of each target market, including an assessment of the following issues within the context of their relevance to international commercial activities:

a.       the social, economic and political situation,

b.      transportation, financial, judicial and telecommunications infrastructure,

c.       trading situation generally including import, export and investment activity, and market entry barriers and risks;

3.     illustrate and comment on each market’s trading relationship with Canada

4.     do a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) assessment for each market

5.     analyze and assess the viability of each market to support a future trading relationship with Canadian importers, exporters and investors based on past and present information, trends, and what you think the future could hold.

The most successful international businesses follow a similar approach in constructing and maintaining trading relationship profiles providing their key employees with an up-to-date analysis of existing and potential target markets.  The trading relationship profile serves as a valuable reference in developing or changing market development plans. 

This is a major class assignment to be prepared in accordance with the course policies of the School of Business and the Department of Marketing-Management Studies.   

The Project marks will be allocated as follows:

(i)                 Phase One (Check-In One) includes the following Major Sections of the Report:

Introduction, Market Analysis, Economic Analysis, Market Audit and Competitive Market Analysis, and Risks and Barriers.

40 Points

(ii)               Phase Two, includes the following Major Sections of the Report:

Import Analysis, Export Analysis, CSR, Conclusion and Executive Summary

45 Points

Note:  There will also be a question on the mid-term and/or final exam related to this term project, which is not included in the 85 possible point’s marks for the Term Project, but does affect your final mark.

Please use APA styling and use ” ” and create a foot note. 

The key requirements of this assignment are as follows:

1.   Project Composition:  Individually; there are no free rides in this project and your mark will reflect your work!

2.   Length:  The body of the Term Report must be between 20 – 25 typed pages using 1.5 spacing, and a size 11 font.  Additional information such as graphics, tables, maps, statistical information, etc should be added as appendices.   

3.    Presentation and on line posting:  A typed one page presentation overview, using 1.5 spacing, and a size 11 font, must be submitted as presentation.  PowerPoint slides can be used as a visual support for your presentation; you must use a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 5 slides in the presentation.   Your presentation must be posted on Blackboard at least 24 hours before the assignment dude date. 

After posting your Presentation, please read your classmates’ posts and select only one to comment what you learned from your classmate job.  Please do not post any comment in your classmate’s job if somebody did it before you.

4.   Project Deadlines are as follows:  (Late penalties will be applied)

Check-in Phase 1                                                                                          Week 8

Project Due – Written Report,                                                               Week 12

Presentations                                                                                                                   Week 12

5.   The Term Project must be professionally presented.  It should include the structure outlined below. 

6.      Analysis is central to this Report.  You must demonstrate the relevance of all information presented by determining why that information is important and how that information impacts the trading relationship, especially the implications of significant changes over time.  Doing this level of analysis requires independent thought on your part, not merely cutting and pasting from, or the summarizing of, online resources.

Individual subjects are presented as examples for you to include in your report. 

Note that this list can include but is not limited to the subjects listed below.  You must choose the ones that are relevant to and appropriate for your target market, company and product.  Be creative.

Project Launch/Work Plan/Approvals – INITIATING THE TERM PROJECT

A. Select the target markets – which are SWEDEN and THAILAND

Introduction and Executive Summary

Prepare a two page executive summary on the entire project.  The Executive Summary serves the purpose of introducing the project to a Board of Directors and CEO of a company that may be interested in the trade potential of that country. It should outline what the project is about and include a short paragraph on each of the major subjects and an overall analysis of that country. 

The Executive Summary is to be written after all the other sections are completed.

The following sections of the Report will contain information that can be easily obtained from a variety of sources, including reliable websites.  You must properly cite all of these sources, as previously mentioned in the Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty Section on page 2 of this Outline. 

However, citing sources properly is not enough to earn a passing mark on this Report.  Simply cutting and pasting from, or summarizing, your sources is not acceptable. 

You are required to analyze the information you collect for and present in your report.  You must state why it is important to the trading relationship and what the implications could be if that information changes over time.

Market Analysis

Highlight the key points about the country’s a person should know about to do business in that country.  In particular, emphasize points that would relate to importing and exporting activity. Some points to include might be:

• political stability and business climate;

• geographical issues (climate, location, topography, etc.);

• legal system as it applies both to doing business in the country and

  protection of intellectual property;

• regional cultural variation;

• business customs and practice;

• religion and culture;

• language;

• attitude to foreign investment and repatriation of funds;

• tax system;

ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

Refer to the general economic data that would give a business person a clear picture of the economic soundness of the country.   You should consider such issues as:

·         Population both growth and distribution

·         GNP

·         Per capita income and family income

·         Distribution of Wealth

·         Transportation infrastructure

·         Communication infrastructure

·         Working conditions

·         Counter trade activities

·         Foreign aid

·         Labor force

·         Inflation rate

·         Available technologies and/or R&D

MARKET AUDIT AND COMPETITIVE MARKET ANALYSIS

 The purpose of this section is to provide an understanding of the capability of that country to compete internationally.  You may wish to consider such issues as:

·         Principle industries

·         Foreign investment

·         Exports, imports, trade balance

·         Consumer/customer buying habits

·         advertising media availability, costs, types

Risks and Barriers

This section should describe and discuss the nature of the barriers to market entry and the risks of doing business in the target market. In this section you would also identify the ways of overcoming these barriers and risks. The types of risks and barriers you should consider are:

·         Country Risks                              

·         Market risks

·         Product risks

·         Commercial risks

·         Barriers to market entry

·         Barriers to market acceptance

IMPORT ANALYSIS

·         Major products imported

·         Historical (5 years) import performance

·         Principal countries imported from

EXPORT ANALYSIS

·         Major products exported

·         Historical (5 years) export performance