Unit VIII Project BP&S

BUS 4302, Business Policy & Strategy 1

Course Learning Outcomes for Unit VIII Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:

8. Examine the process of implementing strategies across business operations. 8.1 Examine internal and external issues in a process of implementing strategies.

Course/Unit

Learning Outcomes Learning Activity

8.1 Unit Lesson Chapter 11 Unit VIII Project

Required Unit Resources Chapter 11: Global and International Issues Unit Lesson

Overview Welcome to our final unit for the course. During this unit, we will focus on the global impacts and issues related to strategic management. As previously discussed, the overall health of the United States economy is based on the global economy condition and outlook. Previous to globalization of the markets, each nation or geographic area had its distinct market areas and rarely interacted with other markets. This has drastically changed with the increase of air travel, communication capabilities, and overall reliance of a global based economy. In 2005, Thomas L. Friedman released his book The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century. In his book, Friedman tried to highlight the “flattening” of the world economy. His work attempts to help us gain a greater understanding of the impact that the growing middle class is having on the worldwide economy; Friedman discussed how the global supply/demand scenario we grew up with has changed, and he warned about the struggles the western world will have to adjust to the changes (Friedman, 2005).

Made in Everywhere Take a look around your house or apartment, and think about how many products are made in other countries and shipped into the United States. Clothing is a great example of a product that is made all around the world. Also, consider how many entities have developed, created, shipped, marketed, stored, and displayed the product you purchased. Even though the product may have been made overseas, that product does create and maintain jobs in the United States because of the distribution network. Take a look at the five largest companies in each country. What would happen if these companies decided to only place their product or service within their respective country? Would this cause severe economic losses and strategic challenges for the companies? The consequences could be stagnant growth, overbearing competition from competing entities, and a limited workforce.

Globalization Many of the firms located around the world are not always considered as specific country based, but are considered as international. Other corporations may be U.S.-based, or headquartered, entities but are aggressively establishing themselves in the international marketplace. A recent example is Uber

UNIT VIII STUDY GUIDE International Issues

BUS 4302, Business Policy & Strategy 2

UNIT x STUDY GUIDE Title

Technologies based out of California, which is a company that provides a technological medium that connects screened drivers with requesting riders. This service-based corporation has minimal overhead cost (services only) and is rapidly expanding to other countries. Competitors, such as taxi services, describe Uber’s platform as disruptive and not legitimate. Uber describes its service as an alternative customer choice in a market that does not give its consumers the freedom to choose service with the ease and reliability of a smartphone.

Corporate Taxes Most counties have a set tax rate for doing business in their country. Existing and prospective corporations consider these tax implications before setting up their entity in a country. The tax rates can vary throughout the world. Rates range from 5.5% up to 50%. The United States has a medium corporate tax rate in comparison of rates throughout the world, currently set at 21%. This rate is considered good for some corporations, thus increasing corporate investment in the United States. Other entities see the United States as a must-have market for their portfolio and are willing to pay almost any corporate tax rate.

Connecting the Dots We have covered a great deal of content. Your previous coursework toward your degree has provided you with skills and knowledge essential to future professional success. This class has asked you to begin to look at your future and strategically implement what you have learned. As you progress forward in your educational and professional endeavors, consider the strategy implications of each choice and decision you make. For example, is it realistic to try to complete an undergraduate degree in one year? A more realistic goal would allow four to five years to complete a program of this magnitude. Also, consider incorporating some of the tools that we learned about during our time together. A great example is the SWOT analysis and its practicality for major life choices. For example, if you are considering switching to a new employer, consider the (s)trength, (w)eakness, (o)pportunities, and (t)hreats of transitioning. In previous units, as well as in this unit, you have worked on an implementation plan for a company you selected. Within this unit, you will gauge the outlook for your company and its prospects for the future. When doing so, consider the previous investigation you have done for this course. If you were to combine the work from the previous units along with what you will add from this unit, you will see the full implementation plan. Consider how you would use plans such as this for your employer or your own business. This is a great opportunity for you to demonstrate your understanding of the concepts of strategic management and its application to organizations.

Reference Friedman, T. L. (2005). The world is flat: A brief history of the twenty-first century. Farrar, Straus &

Giroux. Suggested Unit Resources In order to access the following resources, click the links below. The chapter presentation below will provide you with additional information on this unit’s concepts. Access the Chapter 11 Presentation. Access the PDF version of the Chapter 11 Presentation.