Module Code: SM9633
Module Title: International Business and Innovation
Distributed on: TBC Hand in Date: TBC
Instructions on Assessment:
Tesla was ranked by Forbes as the World’s most innovative company in 2015.Tesla Motors is an automotive company, which was established in 2003 by a group of Silicon Valley engineers, including Elon Musk (founder of PayPal). On 7th March, 2019, Tesla Motors signed an agreement with Chinese authorities to build a factory in Shanghai, this factory would be Tesla’s first outside of the US (BBC, 2019).
Based on the case of ‘Electric carmaker Tesla entering China’, students are required to produce a 3000 words (+10%) academic report to address the questions below by using relevant academic theory and concepts. Answers MUST be adjusted and supported by sufficient self-collected research data.
Reference
BBC News (2019), ‘Electric carmaker Tesla has signed an agreement with Chinese authorities to build a factory in Shanghai’. Retrieved from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44789823
*Additional suggested resources covering aspects of the case have been posted on Blackboard as a start
QUESTIONS
1.Professor Dunning (1977) proposed the well-known ‘eclectic paradigm’, including ownership-specific advantages (O); Location advantages (L) and Internalisation advantages (I). Applying OLI framework, and using appropriate analytical tools, critically discuss and answer the following questions:
a)To enter foreign markets, the MNE must possess some sort of ownership-specific advantages. What ownership advantages can give Tesla Motors a competitive advantage over local electric carmakers in China? How can these contribute to Tesla’s success in China? (20 marks)
b)What location-specific advantages is Tesla motivated to exploit from China, and why has Tesla Motors decided to build a factory in Shanghai? (15 marks)
c)How could Tesla Motors effectively internalize their ownership-specific advantages (identified in part a) in China (e.g. protect and use its ownership advantages in the host country)? (15 marks)
2.Considering the importance of informal institutions (e.g. cultures, value and norms) for international business, critically discuss how national cultural differences can bring both barriers and competitive advantages for Tesla Motors operating in China? What cross-cultural management approach should be taken by Tesla to acquire cross-cultural competence when operating in China? (25 marks)
3.Drawing upon relevant academic literature, critically discuss what type(s) of innovation strategy Tesla Motors adapted. What are the benefits and challenges of building a local innovation network in China for Tesla Motors? (25 marks)
Important note about ARTA regulations
Students are expected to be familiar with the all Academic Regulations. All students should be aware which regulations relate to their programme of study.
If you have any difficulties in understanding the regulations you should consult your Programme Leader, Faculty Registry team or Personal Tutor. You may also seek independent advice and support from the Students’ Union Advice & Representation Service (su.advice@northumbria.ac.uk).
1.10 Responsibilities of students
1.10.1. It is the responsibility of the student to attend scheduled classes and carry out prescribed learning activities for the programme on which they are registered. The student is also expected to know when work is due to be submitted and when and where examinations are scheduled.
1.10.2. All assessment components in modules contributing to the programme must be completed. If a student fails to attend/submit any assessment in a module, the Examination Board will deem the student to have failed the module, unless there are approved extenuating circumstances relating to that particular assessment component 1.
1.11. Academic Misconduct
Students are expected to observe University regulations, which define and proscribe cheating, plagiarism and other forms of academic misconduct. They are also required to take reasonable precautions to guard against unauthorised access by others to their work.
1ARTA and the Student Guide to Extenuating Circumstances Affecting Assessed Work are available from: https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/about-us/university-services/academic-registry/quality-and-teaching-excellence/assessment/guidance-for-students/
Word limits and penalties for assignments
If the assignment is within +10% of the stated word limit no penalty will apply.
The word count is to be declared on the front page of your assignment and the assignment cover sheet. The word count does not include:
Title and Contents page
Appropriate tables, figures and illustrations
Quotes from interviews and focus groups.
Reference list, and Bibliography
Appendices, and Glossary
Please note, in text citations [e.g. (Smith, 2011)] and direct secondary quotations [e.g. “dib-dab nonsense analysis” (Smith, 2011 p.123)] are INCLUDED in the word count.
If this word count is falsified, students are reminded that under ARTA regulation, this will be regarded as academic Misconduct.
If the word limit of the full assignment exceeds the +10% limit, deduction of 10% of the total marks available for the assessment (i.e.100%) shall be deducted from the assessment mark. For clarity: a piece of work which would have scored 65% but that has a word count greater than 10% of the prescribed word limit will be allocated 55%; a piece of work which would have scored 45% but that has a word count greater than 10% of the prescribed word limit will be allocated 35%.
The following format should be used throughout: Times New Roman, 12 point font, double spaced, consecutive page numbers
Submission of Assessment:
All assignments must be submitted via the Electronic Management Assessment (EMA) system. That is electronically via the blackboard in the assessment folder.
Marked assignments will be returned to students. It is advisable to retain a copy of your assignment for you own records. Your mark will be returned electronically.
*Please note that TurnItIn Similarity Reports issued to students from the Draft Folder only compare your assignment to previously submitted or published work; whereas the Final TurnItIn Similarity Report (sent to staff only) will also compare your work to that of your fellow students).
Late Submission of Assessment:
Students with Approved Extensions will find that a special Turnitin folder ‘Extension’ will be available to them after the normal deadline has expired.
Special ‘Late submission up to 24hrs’ Turnitin folder will be open on the eLP for 24 hours after deadline (please use this folder to submit your work after the deadline if you do not have an approved extension).
Under the prevailing ARTA regulations, where coursework is submitted without approval, after the published hand-in deadline, the following penalties will apply:
“For coursework submitted up to 1 working day (24 hours) after the published hand-in
deadline without approval, 10% of the total marks available for the assessment (i.e.100%)
shall be deducted from the assessment mark”.
Referencing your work
The essay should be fully referenced throughout using the APA style of referencing. The APA style (6th edition) of referencing uses the author’s name and the date of the publication. In-text citations give brief details of the work you are referring to in your text. References are listed at the end of the text in alphabetical order by the author’s name. The general format of an electronic journal reference in the APA style is shown below:
Coutu, D. (2009). Why Teams Don’t Work. Harvard Business Review, 87(5), 98-105. Retrieved 29th April 2016 from EBSCO http://searchebscohost.com
Author/s name and initials are listed first, followed by year of publication in brackets. Then there is the title of article and the journal where the article appears, which is in italics. Then state the volume and issue number (in brackets) along with the pages where article can be located. Finally add the date the article was retrieved and then the name of the database, followed by the web address. Wherever possible use the homepage URL rather than the full and extended web address.
For further information on why it is important to reference accurately go to the Referencing and Plagiarism topic in Skills Plus available from the Library website: www.northumbria.ac.uk/skillsplus
You will find other useful help guides on Skills Plus to help you with the skills involved in writing your assessments and preparing for exams.
For further information on the APA style of referencing see the Concise Rules of APA style and the APA website http://www.apastyle.org/learn or https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
Plagiarism and Cheating
Your attention is drawn to the University’s stated position on plagiarism. THE WORK OF OTHERS, WHICH IS INCLUDED IN THE ASSIGNMENT MUST BE ATTRIBUTED TO ITS SOURCE (a full bibliography and/or a list of references must be submitted as prescribed in the assessment brief).
Please note that this is intended to be an individual piece of work. Action will be taken where a student is suspected of having cheated or engaged in any dishonest practice. Students are referred to the University regulations on plagiarism and other forms of academic irregularity. Students must not copy or collude with one another or present any information that they themselves have not generated.
For further information on Plagiarism, see the Referencing and Plagiarism topic on Skills Plus.
www.northumbria.ac.uk/skillsplus
Mapping to Programme Goals and Objectives:
This assessment will contribute directly to the following Undergraduate programme goals and objectives. (Insert an ‘X’ in boxes where applicable, referring to Undergraduate Programme Specification Appendix X for mapping details)
1. Knowledgeable about the theory and practice of international business and management
Objectives:
Students will be able to:
X 1. Demonstrate current knowledge and understanding of the major functional areas of business.
X
2. Demonstrate current knowledge and understanding of specialist areas of business.
X 3. Demonstrate, through the application of knowledge to business contexts and scenarios, their abilities of analysis and synthesis.
2. Skilful in the use of personal, professional and managerial techniques and processes
Objectives:
Students will be able to:
X 1. Demonstrate the application of the following transferable skills: numeracy, literacy, communication and time management.
X 2. Demonstrate the managerial skills of customer needs recognition, problem solving and critical thinking.
X 3. Apply managerial and leadership techniques of team building, decision making and leadership.
3. Employable as graduates
Objectives:
Students will be able to:
1. In the context of securing graduate employment, demonstrate the skills of self presentation (through CVs, interviews and assessment centre testing).
2. Demonstrate an active awareness of the graduate employment market.
3. Demonstrate an active engagement with a range of graduate employers and professional bodies.
4. Aware of ethical issues impacting on business and professional practice
Objectives:
Students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding approaches to Corporate Social Responsibility and their impact on organisations and individuals.
2. Demonstrate a personal response to an ethical or governance business dilemma.
X 3. Demonstrate an understanding of different perspectives towards business ethics including shareholder, stakeholder and critical approaches.
Assessment Criteria (NBS)
General Assessment Criteria
Trait 0 – 29 30 – 39 40 – 49 50 – 59 60 – 69 70 – 79 80 – 100
Knowledge and Understanding Poor grasp of topic concepts or of awareness of what concepts are. Minimal awareness of subject area. Knowledge is adequate but limited and/or superficial. Sound comprehension of topic. Knowledge base is up-to-date and relevant, but also may be broad or deep. Knowledge and understanding is comprehensive both as to breadth and depth. Exceptional scholarship for subject.
Structure and Alignment Failure to apply relevant skills. Work is inarticulate and/or incomprehensible. Communication of knowledge frequently inarticulate and/or irrelevant. In the most part, description/ assertion rather than argument or logical reasoning is used. Insufficient focus is evident in work presented. Reasoning and argument are generally relevant but not necessarily extensive. Awareness of concepts and critical appreciation are apparent, but the ability to conceptualise, and/or to apply theory is slightly limited. Higher order critical appreciation skills are displayed. A significant ability to apply theory, concepts, ideas and their inter-relationship is illustrated. A mature ability to critically appreciate concepts and their inter-relationship is demonstrated. Clear evidence of independent thought. Presentation of work is fluent, focused and accurate. Outstanding ability to apply, in the right measure, the skills necessary to achieve highly sophisticated and fluent challenges to received wisdom.
Module Specific Assessment Criteria
SM9633 – International Business and Innovation / Assessment Criteria
Trait 0 – 29 30 – 39 40 – 49 50 – 59 60 – 69 70 – 79 80 – 100
Knowledge and Application of Theory to Produce Analysis to the case (50%) No use of theoretical concepts, framework or theory. Purely historical description. Generic. Sparse or inaccurate use of theoretical concepts, framework or theory. Purely historical description and / or speculation. Mostly general. Minimal use of some single theoretical concepts, frameworks or theory. Some errors in application. Much description and assertion but focusing mostly on the case. Some use of the taught theory, applied with varying skill. Produces acceptable analysis of the case in question but still relies on description. A good use of appropriate theories, sometimes applied together, applied correctly to produce analytical conclusions entirely focused on the case. Very good use of a range of combined theories and concepts, applied well to produce high quality analysis of the case. Excellent use of a wide range of combined theories and concepts, some not taught in the lectures, applied in a sophisticated manner to produce original analysis of the case and beyond.
Research of a Case – Quality of the Collected Data and Analysis of the Data in Relation to the Selected Case (50%) Vague and superficial. Irrelevant. Insufficient research has been conducted. Understanding of the case is incomplete. Minimal use of a narrow range of easily available sources with no critical awareness demonstrated eg relies on corporate websites. Some use of a range of different sources to investigate and analyze the case. A good and appropriate use of a range of sources to help explain and analyze the case. Evidence of criticality in the use of information. Very good range of sources used in an intelligent and critical manner to develop a very good analysis of the case. Sophisticated use of a wide range of (types of) sources and some critical appreciation of their value in analyzing the case.
Note: For those assessments or partial assessments based on calculation, multiple choice etc. Marks will be gained on an accumulative basis. In these cases, marks allocated to each section will be made clear.
Students must retain an electronic copy of this assignment and it must be made available within 24 hours of them requesting it be submitted.
