Group Assignment (20%)

General guidance and requirements:

- Write a report for one of the topics listed below. For report format, you may refer to the link:
http://library.bcu.ac.uk/learner/writingguides/1.02%20Reports.htm.
- Total number of words (excluding appendices): 2000 words +/-10%
- Group 1 to 5: Choose one topic among topics 1 to 4
- Group 6 to 10: Choose one topic among topics 5 to 9
- Each group submits one written report and presents at class (with slides) at the assigned date.

Group Assignment Topics

Topic 1 - Political Systems (Group 1)
Explain and compare two dimensions of the political system of US and Philippines and
their implications for MNEs.
Suggested main ideas:
- Identify democracy level (versa totalitarian level) of each country and explain with
evidence as details as possible for your findings and conclusions
- Identify individualism level (versa collectivism level) of each country and explain with
evidence as details as possible for your findings and conclusions
- Provide implications for a VN MNE if the MNE intend to choose one of two countries
for its international business expansion basing on political factor only. Which country
should the firm choose to invest basing on political factor, ignoring other factors?

Topic 2 - Economic system (Group 2)

Explain and compare economic system of France and Chile and their implications for
MNEs.
Suggested main ideas:
- Identify economic system of each country and explain with evidence as details as
possible for your findings and conclusions (historical context, if necessary)
- Provide implications for a VN MNE if the MNE intend to choose one of two countries
for its international business expansion basing on economic system factor only. Which

1
 country should the firm choose to invest basing on economic factor, ignoring other
factors?

Topic 3 - Legal Issues (Group 3)

Analyze and compare the level of property right in two countries China and US. Which
country should the firm choose to invest basing on legal factor, ignoring other factors?
Suggested main ideas:
- What is property right protection and how this issue has implications for business
- What is the level of property right protection in two chosen countries (pay attention to
Intellectual Property Rights Protection/ Enforcement (EU, WTO, country report…)
- Draw conclusion whether the Vietnamese firm should choose which country to invest.
and summarize some important notes for this firm.

Topic 4 - Culture
One Vietnamese firm intends to invest in either Japan or Germany (Group 4); France and
Korea (Group 5). Investigate the culture of two countries and assess the costs, benefits and risks
from cultural differences for this firm. Which country should the firm choose to invest basing on
cultural factor, ignoring other factors?
Suggested main ideas:
- Discuss why culture can have effect on firm’s operation
- Indicate core cultural values and norms in each country that may affect the costs and
benefits of the firm
- Compare culture dimensions between VN and Japan; between VN and Germany; between
VN and other countries
- Draw conclusion whether the Vietnamese firm should choose which country to invest and
summarize some important notes for this firm about potential impact of cultural factors on
the firm’s operations.

Topic 5 – International Trade

2
 A Vietnamese firm has planned to export products (wooden furniture, seafood, ...) to a
EU (Group 6), US (Group 7). What are trade policies of foreign government for imported this
product (tariffs, quotas, other barriers ...)?
Suggested main ideas:
- Indicate the potential export for this product.
- Export situation of exporting this product from Vietnam to that market
- Trade policies of foreign government for imported this product (explain reasons if
possible)
(Using data from ITC tools (http://www.intracen.org/default.aspx)

Topic 6 – International Trade (Group 8)

A Vietnamese firm has planned to import products (food, steel, car...) from a foreign
market. What are trade policies of Vietnam government for imported this product (tariffs, quotas,
other barriers ...)?
Suggested main ideas:
- Import situation of importing this product of Vietnam
- Trade policies of Vietnam government for imported this product (explain reasons if
possible)
(Using data from ITC tools (http://www.intracen.org/default.aspx)

Topic 8 – FDI (Group 9)

Investigate policies of a foreign government (Indonesia, Brazil, EU, China...) for FDI.
(Using Policy framework for investment – OECD; Investment Policy – UN)

Topic 9 – FDI (Group 10)

Investigate policies of Vietnam government for FDI. (Using Policy framework for
investment – OECD; Investment Policy – UN)