International Business Essay Questions
1.. Identify the five cultural dimensions identified by Geert Hofstede and describe them indicating their importance in international business.
2.. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of various modes of entering foreign markets.
3.. Why do we have international strategic alliances? What are the forms and their respective advantages and disadvantages? ----------------
4.. Consider a firm facing a make-or-buy decision, Provide 2 potential benefits and 2 risks that the firm may face from outsourcing. Similarly, provide 2 potential advantages and 2 disadvantages of in-house production. 5.. Explain the Gini Index (or Coefficient) and discuss how it is calculated and used.
6.. When presented with a scenario, indicate how one might act according to various approaches to Social Responsibility.
7.. What are the five forms of economic integration and how do they differ? 8.. List and explain the 4 strategic alternatives multinational corporations may adopt in their attempt to balance the 3 sources of a firm's international competitive advantage. What determines which strategy is appropriate? 9.. What are the main structures of the EU and what are their functions?
1. What are the five dimensions of culture?
1. Social Orientation: Individualism vs Collectivism
Social Orientation is the person’s belief about the relative importance of of the individual and the group to which the person belongs.
Individualism is the cultural belief that the individual comes first (ex. US, canada, UK…) * high self respect and independence * own carreers before that of the company * compensation according to the individuals achievement, the fairness of the compensation is determined by whether or not the objective is achieved * swithcing employers often * search for higher paying jobs even if they are not as secure on the long term
Collectivism is the belief that the group comes first (ex. Mexico, Taiwan, Pakistan) * People are expected to put the good of
2.. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of various modes of entering foreign markets.
3.. Why do we have international strategic alliances? What are the forms and their respective advantages and disadvantages? ----------------
4.. Consider a firm facing a make-or-buy decision, Provide 2 potential benefits and 2 risks that the firm may face from outsourcing. Similarly, provide 2 potential advantages and 2 disadvantages of in-house production. 5.. Explain the Gini Index (or Coefficient) and discuss how it is calculated and used.
6.. When presented with a scenario, indicate how one might act according to various approaches to Social Responsibility.
7.. What are the five forms of economic integration and how do they differ? 8.. List and explain the 4 strategic alternatives multinational corporations may adopt in their attempt to balance the 3 sources of a firm's international competitive advantage. What determines which strategy is appropriate? 9.. What are the main structures of the EU and what are their functions?
1. What are the five dimensions of culture?
1. Social Orientation: Individualism vs Collectivism
Social Orientation is the person’s belief about the relative importance of of the individual and the group to which the person belongs.
Individualism is the cultural belief that the individual comes first (ex. US, canada, UK…) * high self respect and independence * own carreers before that of the company * compensation according to the individuals achievement, the fairness of the compensation is determined by whether or not the objective is achieved * swithcing employers often * search for higher paying jobs even if they are not as secure on the long term
Collectivism is the belief that the group comes first (ex. Mexico, Taiwan, Pakistan) * People are expected to put the good of