Essex Business School University of Essex
Spring Term, 2022-2023
BE268 International Business and Strategy
Individual Essay (100% of the total mark)
You are expected to write an essay of no more than 2,000 words.
All submissions must be presented in typescript (MS Word format), 12pt, 1.5 line spacing. Date of Submission:
Please refer to FASER for submission deadline.
Please read the additional notes below carefully.
Assignment Topic: Internationalisation Path of Amazon.com, Inc.
- Critically examine:
- Amazon’s international growth motivations. – 20 marks
In this answer you are expected to define internationalisation as a process (using reliable and reputable resources, such as modules’ core texts or journal articles in the field of international business and management) and to show critical understanding of Amazon’s growth motivation; students are expected to support their discussion with reference to the relevant theoretical frameworks (Uppsala framework/ OLI paradigm) and up-to-date, reliable sources of evidence.
- Amazon’s pattern of international growth (in terms of mode of entry and geographical expansion). -15 marks
In this answer you are expected to examine key milestones of international growth by Amazon, critically analyse company’s geographical presence and its change over time; students are expected to support their discussion with evidence from the relevant journal articles, up-to-date, reliable sources of evidence.
- Amazon’s value chain configuration in the last decade – 15 marks
In this answer you are expected to critically examine changes in Amazon’s primary and secondary value chain activities over the last decade; you are expected to support their discussion with up-to-date, reliable sources of evidence.
- Advantages of the current internationalisation strategy adopted by the company – 15 marks
In this answer you are expected to critically examine company’s current internationalisation strategy, examine the advantages of their current strategy and support your discussion with up-to-date, reliable sources of evidence.
- Can you think of any potential threats Amazon may face in the future? How might they respond to such threats? -20 marks
In this answer students are expected to examine potential threats Amazon might face in the future. These could be related to, but not exclusive competitive pressures or resource availability pressures. You are expected to propose a potential response to identified threats and to support their discussion with up-to-date, reliable sources of evidence.
- Evidence of the evaluation of the literature and data sources – 15 marks.
This should be presented as one-paragraph reflection (before the Conclusions section) on the use of the source of evidence in the assignment. You are expected to reflect on the quality of the evidence and examples used.
Guidance Notes:
The individual assignment is expected to cover the following issues:
- Clear reference to literature on theories/approaches to internationalisation, give clear reference to literature from reliable sources;
- Identification of motivations, mode of entry and geographical expansion of Amazon, give clear reference to literature from reliable sources;
- Identification of value chain activities and future risks, give clear reference to literature from reliable sources;
- Identification of international business strategy adopted by Amazon in the context of the examples explored in the assignment, give clear reference to literature from reliable sources;
- Reference to examples/illustrations (either based on reliable, reputable and relevant secondary sources information) to show the process as to how the different approaches to international strategy and practices work.
An essay (of no more than 2,000 words, plus/minus 10 per cent, excluding References List) should demonstrate the knowledge and critical understanding of the literature on the key aspects of international business strategy. Students should demonstrate a critical understanding of the external/internal contexts within which international businesses operate. The essay is designed to test the conceptual, analytical and written communication skills of the students.
The essay structure should clearly outline an introduction, main argument, conclusions and well as the evidence of the evaluation of the literature and data sources.
Notes: Writing an assignment
An introduction to an essay should address itself directly to the question or topics you have been asked to discuss.
The main section of the essay should outline the argument(s) that describe your response to an essay question. It might be an idea or a notion which explores in a discursive manner. In this case the order of the topics being examined forms the structure of the essay argument.
The conclusion of an essay should draw together all the previous points of your argument into one general statement, which is then directly related to the essay topic or the question you have been answering.
Students are required to show evidence of an extensive use of various well established and reputable literature sources (i.e. journal articles, books and other reliable, reputable and relevant sources of information).
Harvard Referencing Style Examples:
Reference List:
· Book
Fisher, R., Ury, W. and Patton, B. (1991). Getting to yes: Negotiating an agreement without giving in. 2nd ed. London: Century Business.
· Edited Book
Bressler, L. (2010). My girl, Kylie. In: L. Matheson, ed., The Dogs That We Love, 1st ed. Boston: Jacobson Ltd., pp. 78-92.
· Journal Article
Dismuke, C. and Egede, L. (2015). The Impact of Cognitive, Social and Physical Limitations on Income in Community Dwelling Adults With Chronic Medical and Mental Disorders. Global Journal of Health Science, 7(5), pp. 183-195.
· Articles from Newspapers
Weisman, J. (2015). Deal Reached on Fast-Track Authority for Obama on Trade Accord. The New York Times, p.A1.
· Magazines
Davidson, J. (2008). Speak her language. Men’s Health, (23), pp.104-106.
· Articles from online resources
Messer, L. (2015). ‘Fancy Nancy’ Optioned by Disney Junior. [online] ABC News.
In-Text Citations
- In the main text:
One of the main motivations for western firms to go into counter trade is the low-cost sources of production and raw materials for use in the firm’s own production (Okoraofo, 1994).
OR
Okoraofo (1994) suggests that one of the main motivations for western firms to go into counter trade is the low-cost sources of production and raw materials for use in the firm’s own production.
· Direct quote from an article or text:
One of the main motivations for western firms to go into counter trade is the “low-cost sources of production and raw materials for use in the firm’s own production” (Okoraofo, 1994: 74). OR
Okoraofo (1994: 74) suggests that one of the main motivations for western firms to go into counter trade is the “low-cost sources of production and raw materials for use in the firm’s own production”.
· If a quotation extends more than one page:
One of the main motivations for western firms to go into counter trade is the “low-cost sources of production and raw materials for use in the firm’s own production” (Okoraofo, 1994: 74- 75).
· When referring to two or more authors:
According to Knight and Yorke (2003: 10) meta-cognition includes three senses as: “knowing what you know, knowing how it can be used and knowing how you get new knowings”.
OR
Meta-cognition includes three senses including the things we know, knowing how to utilise these things and knowing how we can obtain new knowledge (Knight and Yorke, 2003).
Solomon et al. (2006) state that consumer behaviour includes disposal of purchased products. OR
Consumer behaviour is defined as “the study of processes involved when individuals or groups select, purchase, use or dispose products, services, ideas or experiences to satisfy needs and desires” (Solomon et al, 2006: 6).
BE268: Learning Outcomes
- Obtain a critical understanding of international business and strategy and theoretical approaches in this domain;
- Critically assess and analyse global market opportunities for expansion of firms;
- Understanding and critique different modes/forms of international expansion;
- Obtain a critical understanding of how processes of internationalisation apply to SMEs and international new ventures;
- Obtain a critical understanding of strategy and organisation in the international firms;
- Obtain critical understanding of global sourcing;
- Critically assess and analyse opportunities for expansion in emerging and transition economies.
EBS Marking Scheme
EBS Assessment Criteria
Learning outcomes from courses across the school were mapped on to indicative learning outcome statements from the QAA for each level of study. Combining and streamlining these, the Working Group developed the following overarching learning outcome descriptors.
| QF LEVEL & STAGE | COMPREHENSION | RESEARCH | ANALYSIS | PRESENTATION | |
| Evidence of subject | Evidence of ability to | Explanation and | Communication of | ||
| knowledge; | locate, extract and | evaluation of | ideas, structure, | ||
| appropriate | analyse evidence from | appropriate | referencing. | ||
| understanding of | appropriate sources; | argument and | |||
| theories and | evidence of | evidence | |||
| concepts. | independent learning | ||||
| and study skills | |||||
| LEVEL 4 | Introductory level of | Ability to locate and | Argument based on | Well-structured, | |
| subject knowledge | incorporate appropriate | appropriate | coherent and | ||
| and understanding. | evidence. Appropriate | examples and | effective | ||
| Basic understanding | planning, structure, | evidence. | communication. | ||
| 1ST | |||||
| YEAR | of relevant theories | style, etc. | Acknowledgement of | ||
| UG | and concepts. | sources and | |||
| appropriate | |||||
| referencing | |||||
| LEVEL 5 | Evidence of | Ability to locate, extract | Evidence of analysis | Ability to present a | |
| intermediary level of | and integrate evidence | and explanation with | focused argument | ||
| subject knowledge | from multiple sources. | reference to relevant | with analysis and | ||
| and understanding. | Evidence of developing | empirical sources | commentary. | ||
| 2ND | |||||
| YEAR UG | Evidence of a developing | autonomous study skills | and theoretical concepts. | Correct referencing incorporating | |
| understanding of the | material from a | ||||
| nature and limitations | variety of | ||||
| of relevant concepts | appropriate | ||||
| and theoretical ideas. | resources | ||||
| LEVEL 6 | Evidence of in-depth | Ability to synthesise, | Evidence of critical | Critical, imaginative | |
| knowledge and | integrate and evaluate | analysis and | evaluation of | ||
| understanding. | material from a variety | evaluation with | arguments and | ||
| Critical evaluation of | of appropriate sources. | reference to relevant | ideas. Correct | ||
| relevant theoretical concepts and ideas. | Evidence of independent thinking and insight. | theoretical ideas and debates. | referencing including a wide range of academic resources. | ||
| FINAL YEAR UG | |||||
| LEVEL 7 | Specialist subject | Evidence of ability to | Evidence of critical | Ability to synthesise | |
| knowledge and | undertake independent | analysis integrating | ideas to form a | ||
| understanding. | research in order to | relevant empirical | coherent argument. | ||
| Critical evaluation, | source appropriate | and theoretical | Evidence of full and | ||
| integration and | evidence. Advanced | material. | accurate referencing | ||
| development of | level specialist study | including evidence of | |||
| PGT | relevant concepts and | skills | independent | ||
| theoretical ideas. | research |
Get expert help for BE268 International Business and Strategy and many more. 24X7 help, plag free solution. Order online now!
