BUSI2701D Fundamentals of International Business

Assignment # 2 – Business Report:  Company Analysis

You are an analyst in the Industry Department of the government of a DEVELOPING nation (for this assignment, the particular country is not important).  Like many developing nations, the majority of your workforce is unskilled to semi-skilled, and your country is trying to develop an industrial base which will provide jobs and help raise the standard of living of the population.  However, your government is wary of letting foreign companies set up operations in your country that might harm, or treat unfairly, the country, its people or its resources.A number of companies have recently petitioned your government for permission to set up operations in your country.  You have been asked by the Minister of Industry to analyse your choice of any one of the companies on the list provided below.As this is an individual assignment, do not collaborate with others in completing the assignment.

Company List:

•           Fiat S.p.A.

•           General Dynamics

•           GlaxoSmithKline

•           Kroger

•           Nokia

•           Yum! Brands

The Minister is a very busy person so it is important that the report be written in a clear and concise manner.  It will be judged on the factual information it contains, the clarity of your argument and the depth of your analysis.  Please note that you should not try to gather data which supports only one side or the other of whether or not to give the company permission to proceed.  Rather, you should gather all the pertinent data and let your analysis guide you to the best recommendation.

The report is to be sevenpages maximum (double spaced, Times New Roman, 12 pt. font, 2.54 cm margins) plustitle page, references and appendices.The title page must contain your name, student number, name of course and professor, date, and the company you have chosen from the list provided.The first half page (maximum) of the report will be an executive summary of the report’s highlights, including your recommendation.  The remainder of the pages will cover the material noted in the rubric below with marks allocated as shown.  Please number the pages and use the items listed in the rubric as headings in your report. Submit your report on CU Learn. A paper copy is not required.

The report must cite at least six different sources.  Information sources could include the globalEDGE Website referred to in the Hill textbook (http://globaledge.msu.edu), Forbes Global 2000 (http://www.forbes.com/global2000/), the company’s own website and annual reports, the list of company databases provided on CU Learn,from business journals, business newspapers, business websites, etc.  Be wary of relying too heavily on any one source, especially a company’s own website as they will most certainly put a positive spin on all of the company’s activities.  Do not use Wikipedia as a source.

Ensure that all data is cited in APA Style. Guidelines for APA Style can be found at:http://www1.carleton.ca/sasc/ccms/wp-content/ccms-files/apa_style2.pdf. In this report, there should be few, if any, quotes.  If you do use a quote, ensure that it is in quotation marks and properly cited.  Keep in mind that if a quote is not in quotation marks and properly cited, it is consideredplagiarism.

Please note that Carleton University offers a Writing Tutorial Service through the Student Academic Success Centre which provides free face-to-face sessions to help you with your writing.  This may be especially helpful for those for whom English is a second language.  Information can be attained on their website (http://www1.carleton.ca/sasc/writing-tutorial-service/).

Assignment #2 Rubric

Databases with Company Specific Information

Provided by:  Trish O’Flaherty, Reference Services, Carleton Library

Please don’t hesitate to book an appointment with me for help on these databases or other library business resources.  You can email me at trish_oflaherty@carleton.ca  or ask for me at the Research Help Desk, Level 2 Library.

Canadian

• FP Advisor
  • First stop for Canadian companies.
  • Select Company Snapshots from left hand side
  • Key in company name and click on your company name
  • Look for Historical Report (if your company is a large company FP will provide aHistorical Report.)  Contains history and data on company from date of incorporation
  • Look for Corporate Analyzer – here you will find financial data for 7 years
  • Explore remaining table of contents for full picture of company
• SEDAR  – from the Ontario Securities Commission – find official documents such as 10k report (A form 10-K is an annual report required by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission).
• TSX-E Review – from the Toronto Stock Exchange

Global (includes Canadian data)

• Mergent Online
  Includes Mergent Industry Reports.  Excellent source for comparing companies within an industry

• EDGAR  Security Exchange Commission – find 10k etc.
  Factiva

• Best source for non-North American companies and news for all companies.
• For company data select Companies/Markets from top tool bar
• Click on Company
• Scroll down initial page and explore table of contents on left side.
• GMID
  • Provides company profiles plus data on size of industry by country, industry profiles, forecasting by country, etc.