INTL 725 Group Project Summer 2018

Summary:
A key outcome of this course is that students be able to identify and evaluate international trade opportunities based
on research information. With this in mind groups are challenged to complete a market analysis, prepare a report of the
analysis and present their findings to the class. This project is worth 15% of your course grade.

Due Date:

Topic Choice Week 8 Sign-up in class, no duplications permitted

Report (10%) Week 12 Printed (hardcopy) due at beginning of class AND Uploaded to e-centennial digital
dropbox prior to class. Include the grading rubric with your hardcopy.
Presentation (5%) Week 12 PPT slides uploaded to e-centennial digital dropbox prior to class.
Presentations take place in class.

Late work will be penalized 10% per day. Failure to turn in the presentation or report will result in a zero (0)
on the assignment.

Details:
Imagine your team has been contracted to conduct some market research on behalf of Black Oak Brewing Company
(http://blackoakbeer.com/). The company is quickly growing and looking at new markets.

The company has requested that the market research report contain the following information:

 Description of Market Environment

o Political Stability
o Ease of doing business
o Currency risk
o CA trade relationship (both general and product specific)
 Target market identification (demographic information)
 Competitor Analysis
 Recommendations
o Market Entry
o Local adaptations (4Ps)

Groups can refer to the questions in Table 8.1 (FITT Chapter 8) as a guide for some of the questions they should seek to
answer (bear in mind that the table is not exhaustive).

Instructor: Melissa Jimeno

 INTL 725 Group Project Summer 2018

Required:

Division of Labor & Research Objectives – On a single page document groups should broadly identify what each member
will contribute to the project. In addition, each group should write three clear research objectives. Their project should
seek to answer the objectives identified.

Presentation – Assume the audience is a group of company representatives. You are not presenting all of the
information you researched; make the business case for or against market entry.

o 12-15 minute in-class professional presentation.

o Reference research sources throughout the presentation
o All group members must speak, but the length of speaking time can vary
o PPT should be in outline form

Report

o 12-15 pages
o Should include
 Cover Page
 Executive Summary (no more than 1 page)
 Table of Contents (With group members’ contributions identified).
 Introduction with Business Opportunity clearly explained
 Research Objectives
 Data Presentation/Analysis
 Recommendations
 Conclusion
 References
o APA Formatting (for citations and referencing as well as overall organization)
o Correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, flow of thought, clarity of ideas and creativity

Research:
The report and presentations should seek to integrate research from these sources:
o CIA World Fact Book (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/)
o Country Watch (http://countrywatch.com/home)
o The World Bank (http://www.worldbank.org/)
o Canadian Trade Data Online (http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/tdo-dcd.nsf/eng/Home)
o EDC (https://www.edc.ca/EN/Pages/default.aspx)

Reports much include a minimum of 15 reputable sources

References:
Anytime you refer to ideas that are not your own, you MUST refer to the source both in text and in the reference page
at the end of your essay.
Use APA referencing style when you write up your paper. Ensure that your paper contains a page for references. Refer
to http://www.apastyle.org/index.aspx or http://www.library.cornell.edu/resrch/citmanage/apa for more information
about proper citation.

Instructor: Melissa Jimeno

 INTL 725
Grading:
Each group will meet with me in week 10 to discuss their project. By this time each group should have identified key
aspects of their fictional Canadian company as well as which countries they are investigating. Each group should also
have a plan with regard to how work is to be divided.
Grading Rubric (Presentation)
Criteria Excellent (4)
Powerpoint
. Powerpoint is of
Slide
professional quality and is
Professionalism
aesthetically pleasing.
Powerpoint Powerpoint is well organized
Slide Content with no errors
Body of presentation is well
Flow
organized, is interesting and
easily followed.
Speaking style is strong, with
Style
good pace and clarity.
Professionally dressed and
maintains professional
Comportment
composure both while
speaking and while group
members are presenting.
Proper use of APA in-text
APA use
citations on slides.
Sources are used evenly and
Research appropriately throughout
the document. Sources
enhance presentation
Shows exceptional
consideration of the
relationship amongst the
Analysis
research, weighs different
vantage points or opinions,
and shows outstanding
balance in utilizing sources
Personal knowledge well
Knowledge
demonstrated
Timing
12-15 minutes
Total mark
Instructor: Melissa Jimeno
Group Project Summer 2018
Total
Good (3) Fair (2) Poor (1)
Marks
Powerpoint quality is fairly Powerpoint could be more
Powerpoint is of amateur
professional and is professional. Some aesthetic
quality.
aesthetically pleasing. problems.
Powerpoint is well organized Powerpoint is organized, but Powerpoint is poorly
with1-2 errors with 3-5 errors organized with many errors
Body of presentation is
Body of presentation is
mostly organized, is
somewhat organized. Needs Body of presentation is
interesting and easily
additional practice and disorganized
followed. Room for
effort
improvement.
Speaking style is fairly
Speaking style is fair; need to Speech lacks clarity, fails to
strong, with decent pace and
improve pace and clarity. communicate main ideas.
clarity.
Professionally dressed and Professionally dressed and
maintains somewhat maintains a somewhat
Not professionally dressed,
professional composure professional composure
fails to maintain professional
while speaking and while while speaking. Looks
composure.
group members are disinterested while group
presenting. members are presenting.
Mostly proper use of APA in- Decent use of APA in-text
Fails to properly use APA in-
text citations on slides (1-2 citations on slides (3-4
text citations on slides.
errors) errors)
Sources are incorporated
Sources are used evenly and into the document, but
Sources are not incorporated
appropriately throughout there is a lack of consistency
into the presentation.
the document with the presentation of
data.
Shows some consideration
of the relationship amongst
Does not fully demonstrate Fails to demonstrate any
the research, weighs
an understanding of the understanding of the
different vantage points or
research. research.
opinions, and shows some
balance in utilizing sources
Fails to demonstrate any
Personal knowledge Level of personal knowledge
understanding of the
somewhat showcased. unclear.
content being presented.
Less than or over specific Less than or over specific Less than or over specific
time by one minute time by two minutes time by three minutes
/40
 INTL 725
Grading Rubric (Report)
Criteria Excellent
Highlights reports most important
Executive points in a concise and clear
Summary manner. Less than one page in
length
Provides relevant information to
introduce the topic. Avoids a
Introduction
summarization of generic
information.
Business
Opportunity/ Research objectives are SMART and
Research well justified.
Objectives
Data is well integrated in to the
document. Tables/graphs and
Data Presentation
charts are used appropriately and
well explained.
Recommendations are clear and
Recommendations
well justified.
All of the sources that are used
support, extend, and inform, but do
not substitute the writer’s own
development of idea. The report
Use of Sources
combines material from a variety of
sources and doesn’t overuse
quotes. APA citation properly
executed.
The conclusion is strong and leaves
the reader with a solid
understanding the author's
position. Effective restatement of
Conclusion
the position statement begins the
closing paragraph. The conclusion
wraps up the essay in a thought-
provoking way.
Solid support and justification of
Organization and research objectives. Logical
structure sequence of ideas. Transitions are
effective.
Conventions and There are no grammatical, spelling
Format or punctuation errors.
Total Marks
Instructor: Melissa Jimeno
Group Project
Good
Highlights reports most important
points. Repetitive and wordy. Less
than one page in length
Adequately introduces the topic but
is weak, rambling, or inappropriate
for the flow of the essay.
. Research objectives are SMART
and somewhat justified.
Data is integrated in to the
document. Tables/graphs and
charts are used appropriately and
somewhat explained.
Recommendations are clear and
somewhat justified.
Most of the sources used support,
extend, and inform, but do not
substitute the writer’s own
development of idea. The report
doesn’t overuse quotes, but does
not always confirm to the required
APA format.
The conclusion is recognizable and
leaves the reader with some
understanding of the author’s
position. The author's position is
restated within the first two
sentences of the closing paragraph.
The conclusion wraps up the essay
adequately.
Some support for research
objectives. Transitions are mostly
appropriate. Sequence of ideas
could be improved.
There are 1 or 2 minor grammatical,
spelling or punctuation errors that
do not interfere with meaning.
Fair
Notes some key points. Repetitive
and wordy. Less than one page in
length
General and inadequately introduces
the specific topic. It veers off topic
and doesn’t flow with the overall
report.
Research objectives are unclear and
not well justified.
Data is not well integrated in to the
document. Tables/graphs and charts
are poorly explained.
Recommendations are made, but
may not connect well with the issues
at hand.
Uses relevant sources but lacks
variety and/or a skillful combination
of sources. Quotations and
paraphrases may be too long and/or
inconsistently referenced.
The conclusion is vague and does not
provide the reader with a clear
understanding of the author’s
position. The author's position is
restated within the closing
paragraph, but not near the
beginning. The conclusion doesn’t
wrap up the essay adequately.
Some signs of logical organization.
May have abrupt or illogical shifts
and ineffective flow of ideas.
There are 3 or 4 minor errors in
punctuation, grammar and/or
spelling which do not break the flow
for the reader.
Summer 2018
Total
Poor
Marks
No executive summary
included, or the summary fails 5
to provide a clear summary.
The introduction is off-topic
entirely or reads like a history 5
lesson.
Failure to present identifiable
5
research objectives.
Data is not well integrated in
to the document.
5
Tables/graphs and charts are
not explained or are unclear.
Recommendations have no
relationship with issues 10
presented.
Neglects important sources.
Overuse of quotations or
paraphrase to substitute
10
writer’s own ideas. (Possibly
uses source material without
acknowledgement).
There is no conclusion or
veers off topic – the paper just 5
ends.
Unclear organization and/or
the structure don’t justify
10
research objectives. No
transitions.
There are major errors in
punctuation, grammar and/or
5
spelling which interrupt the
flow for the reader.
60