Thread:923P update (2)

As highlighted last week we have already started. Our intention is to get our drafts on or before the due dates. We have seen the lecturer's guide on EDS

Assignment 2 - guideline The assignment should not be longer than 10 pages, Times Roman 12, 1.5 line spacing. MTN wants to move its headquarters to Dubai. Microsoft develops its software in India. FIFA World Cup 2010 manufactured its merchandise in China. Brandhouse is building a brewery in Namibia. Volvo assembled cars in Botswana. Some SA manufacturers complete part of their value chain in Lesotho. The then Deputy President of SA wanted to grow the business process outsourcing industry to compete against India. Why? Because different countries offer varying advantages and disadvantages. Michael Porter talks about ‘Competitiveness of Nations’.

I get the impression that people are losing sleep on International Best Practices. Some are looking for a book or a journal with such a title. This is disturbing. Best practices are in every subject that is taught at the school, HR, Finance, strategy to name a few. As an example, it is good practise for a company to establish a JV with a domestic company in a foreign market due to lack of knowledge of the market. This aspect would appear in marketing, finance or strategy, even operations. Wal-Mart wants to enter SA and it is speculated that it might buy Massmart. Is it not a good practice to acquire an existing firm to minimise the risk? Last but certainly not least, I am inundated with calls from delegates asking various questions ranging from ‘Should we analyse Indonesia?’ to ‘Should we really interview someone who has been an expatriate?’ This has left me wondering whether the questions are not clear enough. Or delegates simply call lecturers when they get stuck in traffic. Or this has become a ‘culture’ to ‘confirm’ everything. The one question that has a potential to make me stop smoking grass and go for something much stronger is ‘What exactly are you expecting in this assignment?’ May I answer this question for generations to come please? I am expecting Answers. Well thought and researched answers. There is no one approach that is better than another as long as the key elements are addressed. I am looking for critical thinking one would hope to find at masters level. Unfortunately some of you have adopted the attitude ‘Pass and learn after the graduation’. We will have to sort that out in Strategy.