research presentation

INSTRUCTIONS FOR INDIVIDUAL PROJECT – INTL725

Research Report (20%) due Week 6

PowerPoint Presentation (20%) due Week 13

This is an applied research for a specific Canadian company. Please choose one case study from the success stories provided from the website link below. Also, choose 5 markets (countries), and your professor will select one among the 5 for you.

1. TCS: Title and link of TCS case study - Duha Group helps the world find its colours https://www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/stories-histoires/2019/CPTPP-duha.aspx?lang=eng

2. Company name and product - Duha Group, colour marketing tools and colour systems.

3. Current export market(s). - Australia, Brunei, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam

1. In the Research Report, you will identify 3 main points that can add value to the company. For example: Which new markets can they export to? What are the trends in this sector? Is there a trade agreement that benefits the company? How can the company increase their competitive advantage in their new and existing markets? (Please note: you can still choose a country that the case study indicates that they have already exported to.)

2. In the PowerPoint Presentation, assuming that the company hires you to conduct research on how to export to a new market (chosen by you / 5 and select by your professor). You will conduct secondary and primary research and present the findings to the company in PowerPoint format. Create a PowerPoint file, and record your presentation: click Slide Show, then Record. (Please note: In case your PowerPoint does not allow to record, you can use Zoom to record. PowerPoint slides and your video are required in the recording. If your video is too large, you can put it on OneDrive; see instructions on page 4. Students are responsible for making sure the OneDrive link works, i.e., “Anyone with the link can view.” Audio recording is not accepted.)

You should choose a market and a sector (i.e. topic) that you know well and are likely to specialize in your future career.

Students cannot choose the same case study. Please join the discussion board in order to know what case studies are available or unavailable.

For your research, use the following Canadian sources plus journal articles (eCentennial online library) and Industry Canada data.

1. Export Development Canada: https://www.edc.ca/

2. The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service: https://www.tradecommissioner.gc.ca/

3. FITT Trade Ready: http://www.tradeready.ca/

4. Canadian Business: https://www.canadianbusiness.com/

5. Maclean's: https://www.macleans.ca/

6. Financial Post: https://business.financialpost.com/

7. BNN Bloomberg: https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/

8. McKinsey & Company: https://www.mckinsey.com/ca

1. Research Report

Number of Sources Required (At least 6 sources including TCS source)

· Canadian sources: Go to Canadian sources above and search your key words (instead of using Google)

· One journal article: From eCentennial --> Library resources --> A-Z databases --> Business Source Complete, then search your key words (instead of using Google)

· Industry Canada data: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/tdo-dcd.nsf/eng/Home

Identify 3 main points you want to make that can add value to the company (and other companies in the same market and sector). For example: Which new markets can they export to? What are the trends in this sector? Is there a trade agreement that benefits the company? How can the company increase their competitive advantage in their new and existing markets?

Report Format

· 3 pages of text (typewritten, single-spaced, 12 font size, Times New Roman)

· Include cover letter, related charts, graphs, photos and references

Outline

· Cover letter (addressing the company)

· Title of your paper

· Abstract: This section is often written in italics

· Key words: provide 4 to 8 key concepts in your research

· Introduction

· Background

· (Point 1)

· (Point 2)

· (Point 3)

· Conclusion

· Page of references

Useful Hints

· The abstract is a summary of the whole paper, i.e., one can just read the abstract to know the main content of your paper.

· The title is a summary of the abstract, i.e., one can look at the title to know the main issues you discuss in the paper.

· The first sentence of a paragraph is often the summary of the paragraph. Each paragraph should have only one main point, and should be about 1/3 to ½ of a page in length.

· Do not change key words or terminologies, which can happen when students use online translation. For example, “interior design” should not be paraphrased as “inside framework”, because this would change the meaning of the sentence and affect your marks for writing and content.

Compliance with the Academic Honesty and Plagiarism Policy

Penalty will be applied as follows:

· Using a source without acknowledging it (even when the student paraphrased and did not copy word-for-word): 20% deduction per source.

· Plagiarizing one sentence (or almost a sentence): 10% deduction per sentence.

· Plagiarizing one paragraph (or almost a paragraph): 50% deduction per paragraph.

· Listing a source that you did not use (in-text citation or page of references): 10% deduction per source.

· Using work from other students: 75% deduction.

Lateness Penalty

· 20% for each day late after the deadline (including weekends).

Report Template

· See template posted.

Research Report Sample

· See sample posted.

· Please note: The report sample is example for format purposes only, not for content.

2. PowerPoint Presentation

PowerPoint format (one slide each). Please see the sample provided.

1. Introduction (first and last names only, no ID).

2. Background on the Product/Service

3. Business Opportunities

4. Research Objectives

5. Methodology / Sampling

6. Implementation Plan (time and cost)

7. Data Analysis and Interpretation (2-4 slides)

8. Business Recommendation

9. Conclusion

10. References in APA format (at least 10 sources)

· At least six reputable Internet sources from at least four different organizations

· At least one business journal article

· At least one book (you can use our textbook)

Length: 4 – 5 minutes

Please note:

· Each research objective needs to include:

1) the specific data to be collected by the researcher: “to determine average consumer spending per year on fruits” rather than “to determine demand for fruits” (“demand” is not specific; how do you measure “demand”?)

2) the purpose of / reason for collecting such data: “in order to develop a pricing strategy for fruit products in the market”

· Methodology and sampling need to be specific:

1) secondary data: include the names of the sources you will use

2) primary data: include details on who you will interview, conduct focus groups, your samples, etc.

· Each source listed in References needs at least one in-text citation.

· Feel free to have up to 15 slides.

PowerPoint Presentation Sample

· See sample posted.

· Please note: The report sample is example for format purposes only, not for content.

Marking Rubric for Individual Research Report (20%).

Late penalty: 20% per day.

Criterion	A+ level 5 points	A level 4 points	B level 3.5 points	C level 3 points	D level 2.5 points	F level 0 - 1 point
PROFESSIONAL SOURCES	Used required sources and 4 or more additional professional sources.	Used required sources and 1 - 3 additional professional sources	Used required sources.	Used most (two- thirds) of the required sources and/or unverifiable sources.	Used only 1-3 required sources and/or unverifiable sources.	Did not follow instructions on professional sources; OR did not provide sources; OR plagiarized sources (put in source(s) that you did not use).
APA	Used in-text citation properly at least once for each source; used References properly without errors; provided proper sources for figures/graphs.	Used in-text citation properly at least once for each source; used References properly with 1 - 2 errors; provided proper sources for figures/graphs.	Used in-text citation properly at least once for each source; used References properly, with 3 - 5 errors; provided sources for figures/graphs.	Used in-text citation for most sources; used References properly, with 6 - 9 errors; OR did not provide proper sources for figures/graphs.	Used in-text citation only a few times; OR used References with 10 or more errors.	Did not use in-text citation; OR provided links only in the References section; OR did not provide a References section.
CONTENT	Selected an excellent topic; provided an effective literature review, with strong analysis and logical reasoning.	Selected an excellent topic; provided a thorough literature review, with good analysis and logical reasoning.	Selected a good topic; provided a good literature review, with good analysis and logical reasoning.	Selected an acceptable topic; provided some literature review, with some analysis and acceptable logical reasoning.	Did not follow instructions in selecting a topic; OR did not provide a proper literature review and/or analysis, with errors in logical reasoning.	Did not follow instructions on content; OR did not provide a proper literature review and analysis, with serious errors in logical reasoning.
WRITING EFFECTIVE- NESS	Used good template; wrote clearly and effectively, with consistency in font, spacing, and formats.	Used good template; wrote clearly and concisely, with consistency in font, spacing, and formats; 1 - 2 typo errors.	Used satisfactory template; wrote clearly, with consistency in font, spacing, and formats; 3 – 5 typo errors.	Used acceptable template; did not write clearly, with some consistency in font, spacing, and formats; 6 - 9 typo errors.	Did not use satisfactory template; OR did not write clearly, without consistency in font, spacing, or formats; 10 or more typo errors.	Did not use satisfactory template; AND/OR did not write clearly, with many serious errors; OR plagiarized.

Marking Rubric for Individual PowerPoint Presentation with Video Recording (20%).

Late penalty: 20% per day.

Criterion	A+ level 5 points	A level 4 points	B level 3.5 points	C level 3 points	D level 2.5 points	F level 0 - 1 point
PROFESSIONAL SOURCES	Indicates sources excellently	Indicates sources effectively	Indicates sources with no errors	Indicates sources adequately	Indicates a few sources only OR with many errors	Does not indicate sources
CONTENT · Research objectives, methodology, and sampling · Data analysis, interpretation and business recommendation	Excellently presents research objectives, data analysis and recommendat ion	Effectively presents research objectives, data analysis and recommendat ion	Sufficiently present research objectives, data analysis and recommendati on	Adequately presents research objectives, data analysis and recommendati on	Present research objectives, data analysis and recommendati on acceptably	Does not clearly present research objectives, data analysis and recommendation
POWERPOINT QUALITY	Attractive, effective, easy to follow, no errors	Attractive, easy to follow, no errors	Attractive, easy to follow, only a few errors	Attractive, easy to follow, many errors	Not attractive, many errors	Not attractive, difficult to follow, many serious errors
ORAL PRESENTATION (articulation, proper rate & pronunciation, good posture, eye contact, enthusiasm, confidence)	Excellent	Effective	Good	Adequate	Acceptable	Inadequate