Identify important contemporary management issues in a global and international context through the analysis of media reporting and public documents.

Learning outcomes and assessment criteria specific to this assignment:
On completion of the assignment, students should be able to demonstrate their ability to:

1. Identify important contemporary management issues in a global and international context through the analysis of media reporting and public documents.

2. Critically apply conceptual and theoretical material to contemporary global management issues through the analysis of case material.

3. Insightfully address management issues with global significance and recognize the cultural sensitivity of those issues.

4. Question solutions that different cultures are likely to adopt to address management issues with global significance.

Assessment Brief

Required task

The students are required to answer one question (of their choice) from the following eight:

Theme 1: Globalization

Question: Does globalization threaten to make us all the same or does it open new, hybrid forms of culture? Discuss and analyze, applying suitable models, focussing on the impact on business.

Theme 2: Culture

Question: Choose two countries that appear to be culturally diverse. Critically compare the business culture of those countries utilizing models and theory.

Theme 3: Ethics

Question: What are the implications for international business where there are significant differences in the ethical system of that country? This should take the form of a case study analysis of one country and one multi-national
company (MNC)

Theme 4: Sustainability

Question: The expectations and demands of society and government have made it strategically vital for companies to adopt practices and create products that strive to protect the natural environment. Discuss and critically analyse this statement, utilising a case study of a company that has an international presence.

Theme 5: Crisis Management

Question: Critically compare and analyse the crisis management response of two governments (one from the Occident, one from the Orient) to the 2020 outbreak of the corona virus. Focus on the impact on business.

Theme 6: Global Warming and Climate Change

Question: What is the impact of climate change on business and how should corporate management respond? Compare and contrast your answer through an appropriate case study of two businesses of your choice.

Theme 7: Gender

Question: Would the business world become better if it became matriarchal? Critically analyze this question using models and theory.

Theme 8: Corporate Social Responsibility

Question: Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is an opportunity for corporations to benefit in multiple ways by operating with a perspective broader and longer than their own immediate, short-term profits.

Some critics argue that CSR distracts from the fundamental economic role of businesses and others argue that it is nothing more than superficial window-dressing. Discuss and critically analyze this statement, applying a comparative case study approach.