Research Proposal on "Management Problem Identification Expanding the Business Overseas"

Quoted Instructions for "Management Problem Identification Expanding the Business Overseas" Assignment:

Management Concepts

Literature Review and Report (30%) *****“ approx 1000 words

Students are required to write a Literature Review and Report based on a management problem, which they identify in a selected case study. This item of assessment is designed to enable students to develop their skills in problem identification and problem solving, critical thinking, research and report writing, as well as their understanding of the chosen topic. Students are required to identify one management problem related to an issue discussed in this course (ie. organisational structure, management ethics, management planning etc).

You MUST identify a management problem in:

Case 4: *****˜Expanding the business overseas*****

You must find at least ten refereed journal articles that are relevant to the management problem you have selected. In order to find appropriate sources, students will engage in library and internet searches for REFEREED journal articles, evaluate the standing of journals, identify the author*****s argument and compare it with the arguments of other authors in their research.

In writing their Literature Review and Report students must NOT use dot points.

You will NOT be provided with a question:

*****¢ When you are a manager no one is going to pay you to answer an essay question; they are going to ask you to write reports and research operational problems

You MUST:

*****¢ Identify one core problem or potential problem from the case (MAY BE POTENTIAL (ie FUTURE) PROBLEM

*****¢ Research by reading refereed journal articles

*****¢ Present two arguments and then decide which argument will solve the problem

*****¢ Provide recommendations to solve problems based on research

*****¢ Use APA referencing with page numbers!

*****¢ Use tables

A recommended structure is:

1. Introduction (1 paragraph)

This section should include the following components: a brief description of the research problem identified from the case and a rationale for investigating it, and a brief but clear statement of the argument to be developed in the Review (for example, a statement such as: *****˜This paper will argue that, in order to achieve higher levels of motivation and performance from their staff, the company needs to redesign the way work is organised and performed. Research indicates that the Hackman and Oldman (1980) model provides the best overall outcomes). The statement of argument becomes central to the development of your Review. It needs to be given some thought.

*****¢ Introduction

*****“ Very important *****“ most important part of report

*****“ Need to identify the problem AND your argument

*****¢ Company X suffers from poorly motivated staff. This paper argues that the adoption of new work methods, based upon the Hackman and Oldham model, would redress this problem

*****¢ This needs to be roughly 150-200 words

*****¢ The introduction needs to give reader very clear idea about what the paper is about

2. Literature Themes or Arguments (2-3paragraphs)

In this section, identify two arguments or themes in the research in relation to the identified problem. You will find, in all areas of research, at least two (and often more) perspectives or arguments on any issue. (For example, some researchers think extrinsic rewards such as money are the best way to motivate staff; others believe the key is having interesting and fulfilling jobs). You need to critically evaluate these arguments and work out which is the best supported and has the most application to your case. For each argument (or theme), address the following questions:

Which authors support or agree with a particular argument?

What evidence do they use?

Which authors disagree with this argument?

What evidence do they use?

3. Conclusion (1 paragraph)

Summing up your problem, the different perspectives you find and the perspective that you feel is best supported by the research you considered.

Further Literature Review and Report Advice

Suggestions for Identifying your Research Problem from Your Case Study

To complete your Literature Review and Report you must first identify a research problem or potential problem from one of the six nominated case studies listed above. In some of these cases everything may appear fine. But, a good manager is always looking for ways to improve even a good business. He/she is also looking for POTENTIAL problems that may threaten the business tomorrow and working out ways to combat these threats. In many cases, the problem you will choose to research will be a potential problem, rather than a current one.

In writing your Literature Review and Report, there is NO need for detailed research about the particular organisation in the case study. What we want you to focus on is research on the PROBLEM you identify. You are free to choose whatever problem you like (do just ONE problem).

It may be one of strategy, poor fit between organisation and strategy, leadership, motivation, the link between motivation and organisational performance, ethical dimensions of management, decision making processes, managing change, improving organisational culture, or any other research topic. While you are free to choose and research on any topic, you WILL need to briefly explain why you picked the research problem/topic you did.

SELECTED MANAGEMENT RELATED JOURNALS

1. Academy of Management Review *****“ Per HD28.A245

2. Academy of Management Journal *****“ Per HD28.A24:A

3. California Management Review *****“ Per HD28.C33

4. Journal of General Management *****“ Per HD28.J6

5. Management International Review *****“ Per HD28.M34:A

6. Management Science *****“ Per HD28.M38

7. Strategic Management Journal *****“ Per HD28.S75

8. Journal of Industrial Relations *****“ Per HD4811.J63

9. British Journal of Industrial Relations *****“ Per HD6951.B7

10. Industrial Relations *****“ Per HD6951.I5

11. Journal of Human Resources *****“ Per HD5701.J6

12. Relations Industrielles HD6958.5.R4

University Databases

*****¢ ABI Inform (Proquest)

*****¢ Emerald

*****¢ Business Source Premier

*****¢ Blackwell Synergy

*****¢ ***** Publication

*****¢ Check if the journals are refereed:

*****“ www.ulrichsweb.com/ulrichsweb/

Examples:

Referencing In-text

Some researchers (Hyder & Eriksson, 2005; Volery & Mensik, 1998) assert that alliance relationships must be well managed in order to be profitable. Volery and Mensik (1998) studied small and medium-sized Swiss enterprises (SMEs) to identify critical success factors for alliance relationships. They found that trust was a significant factor in managing such relationships. Hyder and Eriksson*****s (2005) long-term study of a strategic alliance between two airlines of the same region, found that factors, such as gaps in communication, were a possible cause of relationship failure.

Referencing List

Hyder, A.S., & Eriksson, L.T. (2005). Success is not enough: The spectacular rise and fall of a strategic alliance between two multinationals. Industrial Marketing Management, 34(8), 783-796.

Volery, T., & Messick. (1998). The role of trust in creating effective alliances: A managerial perspective. Journal of Business Ethics, 17(9/10), 987-994.

Case 4

MANAGEMENT DECISION: Expanding the business overseas

Imagine you have been the managing director of a successful management consultancy company for seven years. Originally based in Sydney, the company began as a small venture with just three qualified psychologists operating as consultants and producing management diagnostic tools for in-house corporate training and development programs. After its first three years, the company grew rapidly and expanded into software development. Its leadership profiling package was an astonishing success. The ease of use of this package, together with its self-assessment feature, proved to be a market winner. The profits generated from this product alone enabled you to set up offices in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane and Auckland.

By the end of 2008, you have more than 300 full-time employees on the payroll, and have retained a further 65 specialists on a fee-for-service basis. Business is booming, with projected demand for software products set to double in Australia and New Zealand over the next financial year. You wonder if the time is now right to expand your corporate interests even further by targeting the most promising markets in South-East Asia. You realise that this might prove to be something of a risk, and feel that you should initiate some careful market research before committing to such a specific expansionary strategic plan.

Your business instincts tell you that Singapore and Hong Kong offer the most promising opportunities for market penetration. The cultural sophistication of these two cities, along with their English proficiency and their reputations as world-class business centres, are all positive features. Several of the other senior executives on your team have suggested that the USA and Canadian markets would be more obvious immediate targets for expansion, followed by opportunities in the United Kingdom and France, predominantly because their cultural barriers would be minimal; however, these countries already have established markets for similar products.

(Davidson, Paul. Management: Australasian Edition, 4th Edition. John Wiley & Sons Australia, 11).

SUMMARY OF KEY POINTS from Chapter 6

International business has grown to be one of the most important features of the world's economy. Learning to operate within a global economy is an important challenge facing many managers today. Businesses can be primarily domestic, international, multinational or global in scope. Managers need to understand both the process of internationalisation and how to manage in accordance with a given level of international activity.

To compete in the global economy, managers must understand its structure. Mature market economies and systems dominate the global economy today. North America, the European Union and the Asia-Pacific region are especially important. Developing economies in Eastern Europe, Africa, Latin America and Vietnam are becoming increasingly integrated into the global arena. Developing nations such as India and China are expected to have significant impacts on the commercial strength of the Asia-Pacific region in the future. The oil-exporting economies in the Middle East are also very important.

Many of the challenges of management in a global context are unique issues associated with the international environmental context. These challenges reflect the economic, political-legal and cultural environments of international management.

Basic issues of competing in a global economy vary according to whether the organisation is a multinational, medium-sized or small organisation. In addition, the basic managerial functions of planning, organising, leading and controlling must all be addressed in international organisations.

(Davidson, Paul. Management: Australasian Edition, 4th Edition. John Wiley & Sons Australia, 11.7).



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