LCBS5042 Business Across Cultures Assignment November 2021

IMPORTANT: TO PASS THE ASSIGNMENT YOU MUST:

Use the Essential Readings for this module as your primary reference sources. These are found on Blackboard under ESSENTIAL READINGS. Any and all additional, independently researched sources that you use must meet the requirements for being reliable academic sources (as explained in the lecture on BB: How to Pass the Assignment).
Show rigorous acknowledgement of sources in the form of a) in-text reference citations and b) a reference list.
Make sure you follow the Guidelines for writing the assignment on p.2 of this document.

Assignment brief:

Part 1. Critically assess the Hofstede and Trompenaars models of national culture.

Part 2. Use ONE of the case studies listed below to discuss how a specific cross-border business venture was impacted by cultural differences, as follows:

Referring to the Hofstede and Trompenaars models of national culture, assess and explain how national culture may have influenced the actions and behaviours of the organisations, and the outcome of the venture.

Write a short conclusion

Case study choices: Choose one of the following cross-border ventures as a case study:

Upjohn (American) and Pharmacia (Swedish) merger
BenQ (Taiwanese) and Siemens (Germany) merger
Daimler-Benz (German) and Chrysler (American) merger
Ford (American) acquisition of Jaguar (British) compared with Tata (Indian) acquisition of Jaguar.
Volvo (Swedish) and Renault (French) merger
Amazon (American) market entry into China
Tesco (British) market entry into Japan
Marks & Spencer (British) compared with Zara (Spanish) market entry into China

Or: use a cross-border venture of your own choice as a case study. (We recommend in this case that you discuss your choice with one of your lecturers beforehand).

Length: 3,000 words

Turnitin Submission: 14 November 2021 at 12.00 mid-day.

Follow the Guidelines for each part of the essay below :

Guidelines for completing each part of the essay:

Introduction

1 short paragraph in which you summarise:

how the essay will be structured
why the topic is relevant,
what are the main arguments or points you will make.

Tip: Write the introduction last, after you’ve written the rest of the essay. Once you are happy with the body of your essay and you’ve thought about the conclusions you want to make, it will then be much clearer in your mind how to introduce the entire essay.

Part 1: Critically assess the Hofstede and Trompenaars models of national culture

For EACH model:

Explain the context in which the model was developed: by whom, to serve what purpose?, how was the data collected and from whom/where was it collected?
Explain each of the dimensions of culture in the model: give a good, clear definition of each dimension (using reliable sources, so that you are sure to be accurate!).
Use the countries in your case study as examples to explain how things are likely to work in these countries on some of the culture dimensions. For example, if one of the countries in the venture scores low on Power Distance (Hofstede) or high on Particularism (Trompenaars), don’t just give the score; also explain the likely impact of a low or high score on the way business is conducted in that country.

Next: Explain the main criticisms or limitations of the models: (This could be done for each model separately or both together)

Critiques have often centred on How? From whom? and When? the data was collected.

How? Consider the methodology used and its limitations.
From whom? How representative is the population sampled?
When? How long ago was the data collected and how has the world changed under the impact of globalisation, mass migration, and the impact of ‘superdiversity’ on notions of national culture?

Base your discussion on critiques found in reliable academic sources.

Part 2. Choose ONE of the case studies above to discuss how a specific cross-border business venture was impacted by cultural differences, as follows:

Referring to the Hofstede and Trompenaars models of national culture, assess and explain how national culture may have influenced the actions and behaviours of the organisations, and the outcome of the venture.

First: In 1 short paragraph:

Introduce the venture you’ve chosen to analyse (the case study you selected from the list).

Give a short, clear summary of the key events and outcomes of this venture.

Save your words for what comes next … your analysis through the lens of culture.

Explain how the models you discussed in Part 1 help us to understand what happened in this venture:

What main challenges in this venture were posed by differences between the countries involved on dimensions of national culture?

In thinking about the challenges, use what you know about the national cultural tendencies of the 2 (or 3) countries involved in the venture. How different or similar are they on the dimensions of culture?

NB: Use statistics from the Hofstede’s country comparison website and the Trompenaars & Hampden-Turner book or Alex Morgan’s PPT slides as evidence.

How do you think these different (or similar) cultural tendencies could have impacted the key events and outcomes in this venture?
Do you think that cultural differences were taken into account by the organisations?
Were adaptations made to accommodate different approaches arising from national culture orientations?
Or were differences in dimensions of national culture not understood, at the cost of the venture?

Conclusion

1 paragraph presenting a few well-thought-through conclusions:

How useful, in your opinion, are the Hofstede and Trompenaars models of national culture in helping to explain successes or failures in the venture you chose to analyse? Critically evaluate.
How do the two models compare in usefulness, in your opinion?

Leicester Castle Business School

Assignment Feedback Sheet

LCBS5042 Business Across Cultures

Student:

Grade:

Marked by:

Note: this mark is provisional and subject to adjustment by examiners in accordance with the university’s assessment procedures.

Marking Criteria:

1 Use of literature and mastery of content

2 Ability to inter-relate and critically evaluate sources

3 Application of theory to business practice

4 Coherence of the assignment

5 Accurate referencing and quality of writing

Please note that Criteria 1-3 are weighted more heavily than Criteria 4 and 5 in the marking.

Each marking criterion below has been broken up into key elements. Feedback on your essay with regard to each of each of these is given as follows:

Excellent: E Good: G Satisfactory: S Poor: P Very poor: VP

1. Use of literature and mastery of content

Rating	E	G	S	P	VP
Refers to a range of literature relevant to the topic
Uses the literature, with appropriate acknowledgement, to support points/claims made
Shows understanding of key terms, theories and issues covered in the module
Shows a reasonable balance between breadth and depth of discussions

2. Ability to inter-relate and critically evaluate sources

Rating	E	G	S	P	VP
Summarises sources accurately and appropriately
Provides a critical evaluation and analysis of materials read
Evaluates claims made in the literature in relation to business issues
Shows ability to integrate and inter-relate material from different sources in relation to points in the discussion

3. Application of theory to business practice

Rating	E	G	S	P	VP
Identifies and explains a strong and relevant example
Connection between the example and theory is well thought through and expressed
Clearly demonstrates the impact of culture on individuals and how culture as a group phenomenon (national and corporate) can be used by and for individuals
Clearly demonstrates how leaders can use theory and models to inform the adaptation of their organisation’s culture.

4. Coherence of the assignment

Rating	E	G	S	P	VP
Clearly structured with a hierarchy of sections and paragraphs
Shows sound, well supported argumentation
Creates well-connected logical flow
Provides justified conclusions with independent analysis

5. Accurate referencing and quality of writing

Rating	E	G	S	P	VP
Organisation, including headings, paragraphing, tables, appendices (if relevant).
Correct citation conventions are used for citing within-text and in bibliography
Writing style is fluent, clear, using academic register
Accurate spelling, grammar and punctuation

Additional comments

Want a similar task completed for you? Worry no more! Simply place your order at myessaydoer.com by clicking on the ORDER NOW option.

Assess the Hofstede and Trompanaars models of national culture

Part 1. Critically assess the Hofstede and Trompenaars models of national culture.

Part 2. Use ONE of the case studies listed below to discuss how a specific cross-border business venture was impacted by cultural differences, as follows:

Referring to the Hofstede and Trompenaars models of national culture, assess and explain how national culture may have influenced the actions and behaviours of the organisations, and the outcome of the venture.

Part 2. Choose ONE of the case studies above to discuss how a specific cross-border business venture was impacted by cultural differences, as follows:

Referring to the Hofstede and Trompenaars models of national culture, assess and explain how national culture may have influenced the actions and behaviours of the organisations, and the outcome of the venture.