BRIEFING FOR ASSESSMENT TASK 2 (INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT)

Module Title: International Business Environment

Assessment Title: Individual Written Assignment
Individual/Group: Individual
Weighting: 60%
Submission Date:

Students are required to produce an individual, essay-style assignment. This will be

submitted at the end of the module and there will be a choice of questions related to key
module topics (see below). The assignment will be worth 60% of the module marks.
Questions for individual assignment Answer ONE of the following essay questions:
1. Global patterns of production, trade and consumption in the consumer electronics
industry were traditionally dominated by the ‘core Triad’ nations and their firms. Analyse
the extent to which this dominance been eroded by Emerging Economies over recent
decades and account for any observed changes.
2. Explore and discuss the various ways in which current patterns of global production
and trade in the oil and gas industry have been shaped by national governments and supra-
national organisations.
3. Describe and account for the increasing importance of global production networks
in the textile and clothing industry over recent decades.
4. To what extent, and in what ways, has the geography of either the European or
North American automotive industry (choose one region only) been impacted by processes
of regional economic integration.
Further guidance and instructions
• You are expected to engage with relevant academic literature and concepts in your
essay. The topic reading list provides a useful starting point for your research and
reading but you are expected to search for and use additional sources.
 • All of the essay questions focus on a particular industry. The relevant chapter in
Dicken’s Global Shift is a natural place to begin your research (the electronics industry

is not covered in the 2011 version but was partially covered in the earlier 5th edition).
You are also expected to locate additional information (using reputable Internet
sources).
• Please ensure that you reference your work correctly throughout. Failure to
acknowledge the source of ideas and information may constitute plagiarism.
• You are encouraged to include relevant figures, tables and other exhibits as
supporting evidence. However, these should be presented in a professional manner (as
you would see in a book or journal article – i.e. numbered consecutively, given a
meaningful title and with the source clearly identified) and they must be discussed in
the text of your essay.
• Clearly state the full question you have answered on the front page of your
assignment.
• The length of the assignment is 12 pages (plus or minus 10%, not including
bibliography). Students should note the exact number of pages on the front page of
their assignment, along with the chosen topic. Each answer should be in report
format. Please respect the page limit - excessively long submissions may be penalised.

• Assignments should be word-processed using Font 13 with 1.5 line spacing. This
will make it easier for tutors/markers to read your essay and annotate comments on the
draft.
• Please proof read your work before submission. Check your spelling and grammar.

Please read and carefully consider the following assessment criteria for this task
before preparing your essay (also see the assessment criteria grid on the next page):
1. Understanding of the question and the range and relevance of material included in the
 answer.
2. Evidence of research on the chosen industry, leading to the identification and analysis
of key industry patterns and trends.
3. Evidence of engagement with the relevant academic literature, along with
understanding and effective use of key academic concepts.
4. Overall coherence of answer (e.g. clarity and logic of structure, coherence and quality
of writing) and persuasiveness of arguments.
5. Quality of presentation and use of correct citation and referencing conventions.