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Assignment Brief
Individual Assessment (2.000 words, 60% of module mark)
Students are expected to select one MNC and develop a report that critically
evaluates the MNC’s activities on any two of the following topics:
(1) Financialization, (2) IN 4.0 and IN5.0, (3) Regionalisation, (4) Climate Change
The report should demonstrate understanding of the key academic debates and
theories for and against the selected topics as well as the implication for businesses
by referring to relevant real-life examples. Importantly, the report should demonstrate
an understanding of how their selected MNE influence or is influenced by other
international organisations, states, social movements etc.
*The work should contain appropriate and meaningful references to the key readings
of the specified weeks. To score high marks, the report must be well structured, clearly
argued drawing on key theories discussed on the module while showing signs of
originality and independent research. Discussion should be well focused and written,
supported by independent research, with all materials well utilized and properly cited.
The -individual report should consist of the following 3 sections. For each section
suggestions are provided on what students could cover but these are not restrictive.
Theories, frameworks, and tools are outlined which are useful to encourage critical
thinking and deeper engagement with the subject area, however the choice of which
ones to use is up to you. What you need to bear in mind is that each topic has certain
expectations, that you need to meet. You are not allowed to use Apple for this
assignment, as it is used during the seminars for this module.
(1) Introduction (300 words max)
Ideally the introduction should cover three aspects:
Introduction of the MNE you have selected, its industry, products, and countries in
which the firm operates. Briefly state the activities the company currently undertakes
to deal with or tackle the two topics you have selected for analysis.
(2) Main body- discussion/analysis (700 words per topic, 1400 words in total)
Should be organised thematically. You could have one subheading for each of the
topics to be evaluated, and then each topic could be organised into sub-themes. Each
paragraph under each topic needs to make a point and then information gathered from
your research into your firm can be used to illustrate, evaluate or back up that point.
You need to bring in relevant theories to strengthen your arguments. You could start
with an example from your firm, show how this links with theory and the conclusion
you are making. However, it is good practice to announce earlier on the point you are
making, so that the marker/reader does not need to second guess this until the end of
the paragraph. The discussion needs to be coherent.
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(3) Conclusion (300 words max)
Here you should provide new and additional solutions/ recommendations for
the organisation based on your analysis Evaluate these suggestions- Why do
you these solutions will work for your firm
Some topic specific suggestions
Financialization and Corporate Governance
You are expected to:
– Conduct a detailed and critical assessment of a selected MNCs approach to
corporate governance, with a specific focus on the influence of financialization.
– Analyse whether or how the MNCs governance structures and decision-making
processes are shaped by financialization trends, considering the implications of this
for stakeholders, sustainability, and long-term value creation.
– Support your discussion/analysis with relevant citations, including high quality
academic sources
Additional Suggestions:
– With the support of relevant theories, e.g., stakeholder or shareholder theories,
identify the prevalent corporate governance perspective utilised by your chosen
MNC.
– Drawing on the key indicators of expanding assets and debt, augmenting
assets structures and shareholder value maximisation, critically discuss
corporate financialization in the context of your chosen MNC.
– Drawing on key theories or ideas, e.g., GVC, GWC, GIC, GPN you can critically
discuss whether or how financialization influences power asymmetries between
your chosen MNC and other smaller firms or subsidiaries in the global
production network.
–
IN 4.0 and/or IN 5.0
You are expected to:
– Conduct a thorough and critical assessment of your selected MNCs implementation
of IN 4.0 or 5.0 technologies.
– Critically discuss the implications of IN 4 or IN 5.0 for your chosen MNC as well as
society from different perspectives such as economic, social, and environmental.
– Support your discussion/analysis with relevant citations, including high quality
academic sources.
Additional Suggestions:
– You could draw on relevant theories, e.g., stakeholder, triple bottom line theory
etc and the literature on digital globalisation to explore the economic, social and
environmental implications and risks associated with digitalisation for your
chosen MNC.
– For the economic evaluation, you could research your firm to identify whether
and how it implements IN 4.0 or IN 5.0 technologies in its operations, as well
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as the implications of this for its competitiveness. You can draw on theories
such as OLI paradigm, resource-based view etc to critically explore
opportunities and risks that exist for your firm by utilising these technologies.
– For the social or ethical evaluation, you can research your firm to identify
whether there are any implications on employees, communities, and other
stakeholder groups.
– You could also evaluate the environmental impact of the firm’s implementation
or lack of implementation of these technologies.
Regionalisation
You are expected to:
– Conduct a comprehensive and critical assessment of a selected Multinational
Corporation’s (MNC) operations post-Brexit.
– Draw on relevant theories, such as globalisation, deglobalisation, regionalisation etc
to explore some drivers of Brexit; and to examine how your chosen MNC has
adapted/responded to the changes following the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from
the European Union.
– Support your discussion/analysis with relevant citations, including high quality
academic sources
Additional Suggestions
– Drawing on relevant literature, explain the international strategy currently employed
by your MNC.
-Analyse the economic implications of Brexit on the MNC’s operations, including
changes in trade dynamics, tariffs, and market conditions.
– Evaluate the strategic adjustments made by the MNC in response to Brexit,
emphasizing supply chain restructuring, market diversification, and regulatory
compliance.
– Examine the impact of Brexit on the MNC’s relationships with European and global
partners, customers, and stakeholders.
– Explore perspectives on regionalisation or regional strategies employed by your
chosen MNC.
Climate Change
You are expected to:
-Undertake a thorough examination of the MNC’s impact on climate change,
considering its global operations, supply chain and overall environmental
strategy/initiatives/actions.
-Draw on relevant theories e.g., legitimacy theory, stakeholder theory, institutional
theory, resource-based view, etc to discuss the initiatives taken by your selected MNC
with respect to climate change.
-Support your discussion/analysis with relevant citations, including high quality
academic sources
Additional Suggestions
– Explore whether or how your firms’ activities enable greenhouse gas emissions.
– Consider the firm’s carbon footprint, energy consumption and waste management.
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-Conduct a thorough analysis of the MNC’s current environmental policies and climate related initiatives – such as GHG reporting practices, sustainability practices. Critically
discuss the strategy adopted by the firm for GHG reporting, e.g. standardized, not
standardized etc
– Investigate the MNC’s response to regulatory frameworks and international
agreements addressing climate change.
– Consider the MNC’s approach to innovation and technology adoption for sustainable
practices as well as any green FSAs developed by the firm
– Critically examine any controversies or shortcomings in the MNC’s climate change
efforts