Global Business Environment

Assessment Task – Tutorial Questions Assignment

Unit Code: HC3031

Unit Name: Trends in the Global Business Environment

Assignment: Tutorial Questions

Due: Week 13 (Tuesday 23rd of February, 2021, 11:59 pm)

Weighting: Total Mark 50 = 50%

Purpose: This assignment is designed to assess your level of knowledge of the key topics

covered in this unit

Unit Learning Outcomes Assessed:

1. Discover, analyse and evaluate social, economic, political, and technological trends

both in particular countries and across the globe.

2. Analyse and evaluate trends to assess how these trends may impact on business in

general or on a specific organisation.

3. Apply research skills to assist clients to evaluate social, economic, political, and

technological trends.

4. Demonstrate familiarity with the academic literature on the macro environment and a

capacity pursues life-long learning.

5. Demonstrate the capacity to write persuasive reports containing sound

recommendations, in preparation for a career in business or government.

Description: Each week students were provided with three tutorial questions of varying

degrees of difficulty. These tutorial questions are available in the Tutorial Folder for each week

on Blackboard. The Interactive Tutorials are designed to assist students with the process, skills

and knowledge to answer the provided tutorial questions. Your task is to answer a selection of

tutorial questions covered over Week 2 to Week 11 inclusive. The assessment contains 6

questions. Answer all 6 questions.

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Students who cite a minimum of 12 peer-reviewed academic articles (in total) in the text to

support their assertions, and list all references appropriately at the end of the report using

Harvard referencing style may receive higher marks than those who do not cite relevant

materials.

The questions to be answered are:

Question 1 (7 marks)

(Week 3)

How do Gannon’s cultural metaphors differ from how Hofstede uses culture to classify

countries? (Support your arguments with key research findings on diversity management).

Answer this question in 300 words.

Question 2: (7 marks)

Week 5

Which do you think would be more effective for shaping long-term ethical behaviour in an

organisation: a written code of ethics combined with ethics training or strong ethical

leadership? Which would have more impact on you? Why? (Support your arguments with key

research findings on organisational ethics). Answer this question in 300 words.

Question 3: (11 marks)

Week 5

A business executive once said, ‘A company’s first obligation is to be profitable. Unprofitable

enterprises can’t afford to be socially responsible’. Define the concept of ‘corporate social

responsibility’ and how to evaluate it along with economic, legal, ethical and discretionary

criteria. In your opinion, what are some difficulties in understanding social responsibility in

today’s organisations? (Support your arguments with key research findings on CSR in

contemporary organisations). Answer this question in 300 words.

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Question 4: (11 marks)

Week 6

Identify a multinational enterprise (MNE) that has operating facilities in your neighborhood

or state. Determine the national origin of that company and its motive for choosing your state.

(Support your arguments with key research findings). Answer this question in 300 words.

Question 5: (7 marks)

Week 11

Today’s companies are rewiring their organisations for creativity and innovation. Businesses

must develop improved production technologies, create new products and services desired in

the marketplace, implement new administrative systems and upgrade employees’ skills. How

can organisations establish a climate and culture for creative thinking and what are

some leadership practices that enhance innovation? (Support your arguments with key

research findings). Answer this question in 300 words).

Question 6: (7 marks)

Week 7:

Compare and contrast the following organisational structures: functional structure, product

structure, market structure, and geographical region structure. Which type of company often

adopts hybrid structures? (Support your arguments with key research findings). Answer this

question in 300 words).

Submission Directions:

The assignment has to be submitted via Blackboard. Each student will be permitted One

submission to Blackboard only. Each student needs to ensure that the document submitted

is the correct one.

Academic Integrity

Academic honesty is highly valued at Holmes Institute. Students must always submit work that

represents their original words or ideas. If any words or ideas used in a class posting or

assignment submission do not represent the student’s original words or ideas, the student must

cite all relevant sources and make clear the extent to which such sources were used. Written

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assignments that include materials similar to course reading materials or other sources should

include a citation including source, author, and page number.

In addition, written assignments that are similar or identical to those of another student in the

class is also a violation of the Holmes Institute’s Academic Conduct and Integrity Policy. The

consequence for a violation of this policy can incur a range of penalties varying from a 50%

penalty through to suspension of enrolment. The penalty would be dependent on the extent of

academic misconduct and the student’s history of academic misconduct issues.

All assessments will be automatically submitted to Safe-Assign to assess their originality.