Trade and Technology

BUS8320 Global Business Environment Case Study #1: Trade and Technology Value – 5%

You and a colleague have just been hired by Unique Greetings, the largest manufacturer and distributor of customized greeting cards in Ireland. Having just received your FITT Certified International Trade Professional designation, you are thrilled to have landed the position of International Marketing Manager for Unique Greetings. Your dual specialization in international business and information technology make this your dream job and you are grateful for this opportunity to launch Unique Greetings into the world of international business.

The president of the company has tasked you with your first assignment. She explains that the company received a large order last month from a major Australian retail chain that found Unique Greetings via the Internet. The president was amazed that a country as far away as Australia could be a target market and has decided that pursuing international business should be one of the company’s major strategies going forward. Although the international marketing budget is quite limited, the president is convinced that the best strategy is to develop an “E-Business Plan”. She has set 50,000 Euros aside and wants you to use this money to hire a website developer to re-design the company’s website. You have 3 months to make this happen. The president has asked you to come back to her within two weeks with your preliminary recommendations for the company’s “E-Business Plan”.

How exciting! Not only can you use your international trade expertise, you are also an avid user of technology and have developed some of your own websites in the past. You are concerned about the president’s suggestion to use the $50,000 Euros budget to hire a website developer. Many companies make the mistake of allocating too large a portion of the budget to graphics and bells and whistles, whereas you know from experience that high quality content is the priority in establishing a company’s online presence. This may become one of the key recommendations to the president when you submit your preliminary report in 14 days.

Part One: Development of an E-Business Plan

As you are new to the company, the first step is to get to know the business as well as you can. In order to assess the requirements for the company’s online presence, you will need to become intimately acquainted with the products and services, systems and processes, personnel and management team, marketing and distribution channels, as well as budgeting and accounting procedures. The following are the results of your research:

Evaluation of current website:

• Current website is primarily an “electronic brochure”

• There is no functionality to allow online purchasing transactions

• Good product photos can readily be used

• Website is in English only

Rationale for e-business

• Increase international customer base

• Facilitate online transactions

• Keep international marketing costs to a minimum

Management and personnel

• Limited knowledge of best uses of technology in business systems and processes • View technology as risky business—putting product photos on the web increases chances of violation of

intellectual property rights

Exceeds Expectations Meets Expectations Needs Improvement

Question 1 • Provides clear and sound advisement based on thoughtful analysis

5

• Provides sound advisement based on thoughtful analysis

4 3

• Recommendations may be unclear, lack of supportive analysis

2 1 0

Question 2 • Identifies ten distinct issues, each stated clearly and concisely

10 9

• Identifies ten distinct issues • Some overlap and/or some issues

are not clearly identified

8 7 6

• Identifies some issues • Issues have not been clearly or

concisely defined

5 4 3 2 1 0

Question 3 • Table of contents is clear, concise and provides thoughtful recommendations that demonstrate a high-level understanding of course content

5

• Table of contents is clear, concise and provides thoughtful recommendations that demonstrate a solid understanding of course content

4 3

• Table of contents may be missing key topics

• Lack of thoughtful analysis

• Superficial connections, if any, among course materials

2 1 0

Style • • Report is written in clear, concise and professional manner

• Minor, if any issues with spelling and grammar

5 4

• Report is unclear • Writing is unprofessional

• Issues with spelling and grammar detract from overall readability

3 2 1 0

Total /25

• Have limited time to learn about new ways of doing business

Marketing Strategy

• Good marketing and distribution throughout wholesale and retail chains in Ireland

• No knowledge of international distribution channels or competitors

• No knowledge of international pricing, fluctuating currencies, etc.

Technical

• Hardware and software is adequate • Investment in an e-business platform will be required

Accounting systems

• Have just converted to an automated accounting system—unsure whether an interface can be built into the e-

commerce platform

• Accounting staff not familiar with options for international payment

• Who will look after export documentation?

Logistics and order fulfillment

• International shipments will require special packaging and labeling • Need to consider supply chain outsourcing options, e.g. fulfillment through shipping companies

Part Two: Report

Based on your findings, above, create a report (no longer than 1000 words) addressing the following:

1. How should you address the president’s suggestion that the entire budget be spent on a website developer?

2. Make a list of 10 issues the organization will need to address 3. Set up a draft Table of Contents for the organization’s E-Business Plan

Your completed work must be submitted to the Dropbox on or before beginning of class 8 February.

Evaluation

A Note on Avoiding Plagiarism

“Written or other work which a student submits in a course shall be the product of his/her own efforts. Plagiarism, cheating, or other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited. Cheating means the misrepresentation by the student of his/her performance in a college setting” (Conestoga College, 2013). For more information on this policy, please visit: http://www.conestogac.on.ca/registrar/rightsresponse/responsibility.jsp and/or come speak with me.

To avoid plagiarism, be sure to cite your sources using the APA style. Should you require further information and/or assistance using the APA style guide, please visit the Learning Commons, the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) at: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/owlprint/560/ or come see me. Late Penalty

Unless otherwise stated, or in the event of extenuating circumstances*, late work will not be accepted.

*Must be communicated prior to the deadline.