Contemporary Developments in Business and Management

Pre-exam Preparation
a) Choose an organization or industry-sector based in or operating in a country or countries with which you are familiar. * b) Consider all the topics covered in the module pack and prepare notes on how these topics relate to your chosen organization and/or industry-sector. c) In each case consider how the various factors have impacted on or could impact on your chosen organization and/or industry-sector. d) Consider in greater depth one of the following themes:

a) Increased international financial integration
b) Competitive environment
e) Prepare notes in English on all of the above comprising no more than 10 sheets (therefore 20 sides – double-sided) of A4 white paper with handwritten (or typed in font size 8) notes. Your notes should include a clearly identified summary of your chosen organization or industry sector. (No more than 500 words) You will be able to take these notes into the examination room and they must be handed in with your examination paper. *In the case of a large organisation or industry-sector it is permissible to confine your answers to part of the organisation or industry-sector.

Examination
You will be asked a series of questions based on your studies of the module pack and factors in the broad external environment as applied to your chosen organization or industry. You are allowed to take into the examination your own notes (see details above), the module pack, a textbook of your choice and a paper translation dictionary. You should refer to your notes, the module pack and the main text but you should not merely copy them as you will be expected to apply and expand upon them in relation to the questions asked. Your answers should be as clear, as applied and as up-to-date as possible. (Sample paper and marking scheme attached.) Part 1 – Answer 5 out of 10 (weighting 50%)

1. In relation to your chosen organization and/or its industry sector explain in general terms what meant by the various PESTLE categories? Give organization/industry-specific examples.

2. The main aim of the World Trade Organization is to encourage the expansion of international free-trade. How have the activities of the WTO affected your chosen organization and/or firms in your chosen industry sector?

3. How does your chosen country rank in terms of “ease of doing business” and how does this affect your chosen organization and/or firms in your chosen industry?

4. Consider a major multinational enterprise (MNE) in your chosen industry. How do its multinational operations help the firm to compete?

5. How do differences of culture between countries or within a country affect the operations of your chosen organization or of firms in your chosen industry sector?

6. How does your chosen country score in terms of democracy and how does this affect your chosen organization and/or firms in your chosen industry

7. If disputes arise across national boundaries about the interpretation and/or implementation of contracts how can they be resolved?

8. Consider the outcome of the Copenhagen conference on climate change (2009) from the viewpoints of individual consumers, society in general, governments and your own company or industry.

9. In relation to your chosen organization or industry sector what in your opinion are the most important and/or difficult ethical issues.

10. Interest rates are the price of borrowing money. How might changes in interest rates affect your chosen organization and/or industry? (10 marks) Part 2 questions (weighting 50%) In relation to your chosen organization or industry sector and answer all questions in one of the following sets of questions.

Set 1, International financial integration
a) What are some of the main ways in which increased financial integration has affected business?

b) Analyse how increased financial integration has impacted on your chosen organization or industry?

c) Critically evaluate how your chosen organization or industry has responded to and/or should respond to increased financial integration.

Set 2, Competitive environment
a) What are some of the main elements within a changing competitive environment?

b) Analyse some of the main effects of the changing competitive environment on your chosen organization or industry.

c) Critically evaluate how your chosen organization or industry has responded to and/or should respond to the effects of the changing competitive environment.

Examination Questions: Up to three hours
Part 1 Answer 5 out of 10 questions (weighting 50%) 1. In relation to your chosen organization and/or its industry sector explain in general terms what meant by the various PESTLE categories? Give organization/industry-specific examples.

2. The main aim of the World Trade Organization is to encourage the expansion of international free-trade. How have the activities of the WTO affected your chosen organization and/or firms in your chosen industry sector?

3. How does your chosen country rank in terms of “ease of doing business” and how does this affect your chosen organization and/or firms in your chosen industry?

4. Consider a major multinational enterprise (MNE) in your chosen industry. How do its multinational operations help the firm to compete?

5. How do differences of culture between countries or within a country affect the operations of your chosen organization or of firms in your chosen industry sector?

6. How does your chosen country score in terms of democracy and how does this affect your chosen organization and/or firms in your chosen industry.

8. If disputes arise across national boundaries about the interpretation and/or implementation of contracts how can they be resolved? (10 marks)

[Give marks for knowledge, relevance, explanation and application. Up to 3 marks for knowledge and relevance, up to 3 marks for explanation, up to 3 marks for application to the chosen organization or industry, and up to 1 mark discretionary mark for the overall clarity, up-to-datedness and/or originality of the answer.]

9. Consider the outcome of the Copenhagen conference on climate change (2009) from the viewpoints of individual consumers, society in general, governments and your own company or industry.

10. In relation to your chosen organization or industry sector what in your opinion are the most important and/or difficult ethical issues.

Part 2 questions (weighting 50%) In relation to your chosen organization or industry sector and answer all questions in one of the following sets of questions. Set 1, International financial integration

a) What are some of the main ways in which increased financial integration has affected business?

Give marks for knowledge and relevance (also clarity, up-to-datedness and originality). Relevance: Up to 3.5 marks for some relevant material but mostly irrelevant material. 4.0-4.5 marks for a broadly relevant answer but with a significant amount of irrelevant material. 5.0-5.5 marks for an overall relevant answer with a small amount of irrelevant material. 6.0-6.5 marks for a directly relevant answer.

Knowledge:
Up to 3.5 marks for a limited understanding of a narrow range of material 4.0-4.5 marks for basic understanding of the material.
5.0-5.5 marks for a fair understanding of the material.
6.0-6.5 marks for substantial understanding of the material. Knowledge and relevance:
14.0–20.0 marks for a directly relevant answer which demonstrates a very good understanding of the material. An overall excellent answer with a significant degree of up-to-datedness and/or originality at the top of the range. b) Analyse how increased financial integration has impacted on your chosen organization or industry? (max. 20 marks)

Give marks for analysis/explanation and application (also clarity, up-to-datedness and originality). Analysis/explanation:

Up to 3.5 marks for description rather than analysis/explanation 4.0-4.5 marks for mostly description but with some attempt at analysis/explanation. 5.0-5.5 marks for mostly analysis/explanation but with a substantial dependence on description. 6.0-6.5 marks for good analysis.

Application:
Up to 3.5 marks for a general answer with little application to the chosen organization or industry 4.0-4.5 marks for an answer which is mostly applied to the chosen firm or industry but with a significant amount of general rather than applied material. 5.0-5.5 marks for an applied answer with a small amount of general rather than applied material. 6.0-6.5 marks for a very well applied answer.

Analysis and application:
14.0 -20.0 marks for an analytical and applied answer which is an overall excellent answer with a significant degree of up-to-datedness and/or originality at the top of the range.

c) Critically evaluate how your chosen organization or industry has responded to and/or should respond to increased financial integration.

Give marks for critical evaluation (also clarity, up-to-datedness and originality). Up to 3.5 marks for some attempt at critical evaluation but mostly descriptive or irrelevant material. 4.0-4.5 marks for a significant amount of critical evaluation but with a significant amount of descriptive or irrelevant material. 5.0-5.5 marks for an overall critically evaluative answer with a small amount of descriptive or irrelevant material. 6.0-6.5 marks for a well-focussed and critically evaluative answer. 7.0-10.0 marks for a very well-focused answer which provides in insightful critical evaluation. An overall excellent answer with a significant degree of up-to-datedness and/or originality at the top of the range.

Set 2, Changing competitive environment
a) What are some of the main elements within a changing competitive environment?  Give marks for knowledge and relevance (also clarity, up-to-datedness and originality). Relevance:

Up to 3.5 marks for some relevant material but mostly irrelevant material. 4.0-4.5 marks for a broadly relevant answer but with a significant amount of irrelevant material. 5.0-5.5 marks for an overall relevant answer with a small amount of irrelevant material. 6.0-6.5 marks for a directly relevant answer.

Knowledge:
Up to 3.5 marks for a limited understanding of a narrow range of material 4.0-4.5 marks for basic understanding of the material.
5.0-5.5 marks for a fair understanding of the material.
6.0-6.5 marks for substantial understanding of the material. Knowledge and relevance:
14.0–20.0 marks for a directly relevant answer which demonstrates very good understanding of the material. An overall excellent answer with a significant degree of up-to-datedness and/or originality at the top of the range.

b) Analyse some of the main effects of the changing competitive environment on your chosen organization or industry. (max. 20 marks) Give marks for analysis/explanation and application (also clarity, up-to-datedness and originality). Analysis/explanation:

Up to 3.5 marks for description rather than analysis/explanation 4.0-4.5 marks for mostly description but with some attempt at analysis/explanation. 5.0-5.5 marks for mostly analysis/explanation but with a substantial dependence on description. 6.0-6.5 marks for good analysis.

Application:
Up to 3.5 marks for a general answer with little application to the chosen organization or industry 4.0-4.5 marks for an answer which is mostly applied to the chosen firm or industry but with a significant amount of general rather than applied material. 5.0-5.5 marks for an applied answer with a small amount of general rather than applied material. 6.0-6.5 marks for a very well applied answer.

Analysis and application:
14.0-20.0 marks for an analytical and applied answer which is an overall excellent answer with a significant degree of up-to-datedness and/or originality at the top of the range..

c) Critically assess and evaluate how your chosen organization or industry has responded to and/or should respond to the effects of the changing competitive environment. (max.10 marks) Give marks for critical evaluation (also clarity, up-to-datedness and originality). Up to 3.5 marks for some attempt at critical evaluation but mostly descriptive or irrelevant material. 4.0-4.5 marks for a significant amount of critical evaluation but with a significant amount of descriptive or irrelevant material. 5.0-5.5 marks for an overall critically evaluative answer with a small amount of descriptive or irrelevant material. 6.0-6.5 marks for a well-focussed and critically evaluative answer. 7.0-10.0 marks for a very well-focused answer which provides in insightful critical evaluation. An overall excellent answer with a significant degree of up-to-datedness and/or originality at the top of the range.