The document outlines the process and requirements for an international business plan project. Students will work in teams to choose a product/service and country, research the market opportunity, and develop a business plan. The plan will include an executive summary, introduction, competitor analysis, company structure selection, risk management, pricing strategy, financial projections, measures of success, and conclusion. Students must present their plan to the client and submit a written report following APA format. The project aims to develop research, planning, writing, and presentation skills for international business.

1. Team projects
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PLAN

2. Overview
This project practically applies the
coursework from IBM300-2:
1. Choose a “resume-building” scenario
(existing or new venture):
2. Students will work in teams of four or five
3. Agree as a team on the country where you
want to introduce your Product/Service

3. Overview
4. Conduct an initial discovery process to
understand the best way to market your
product/service
5. Develop an International Business Plan:
Write and present your recommended
solutions.

4. Overview
The objectives of the assignment are to:
Demonstrate project management planning skills
Exercise research methodologies to identify possible
solutions
Write and present a persuasive International Business Plan
Add value to the potential client/Decision Makers with
quality, in-depth research, and a well-supported
recommended solution(s)
Deepen understanding and appreciation for the role of IB

5. Team Selections: Initial
Decision by 3-June
Team
#1
Team
#2
Team
#3
Team
#4
Team
#5
Team
#6
Team
#7
Team
#8
Team Leader
Team
Secretary
Country
Product
/ Service
Team’s
Name

6. Project Plan (20 points) –
Due 12-May, NLT Noon
Define the research problem and establish
research objectives
Project mission
Timeline and milestones (for each team member)
SMART goals
1. Team Leader – Email the project plan
2. All team members – Upload your specific
SMART goals to Connect

7. Meeting Minutes
On-Going
Each time the team meets template
needs to be updated and added to the
Team’s Google Drive.
Share your team’s Google Drive/OneDrive
with the Professor

8. Presentation (50 points) –
May 31st & June 2nd
15 – 20 minute in-class presentation (to the client if
possible) that is worthy of the boardroom
Professional business attire for student teams is
required.
Each student must present a portion of the
presentation; it is recommended that each student’s
portion be approximately the same length.
Each student will choose a “working” title
A rubric showing the criteria used to grade the
presentation will be added to Blackboard

9. Written Report (50 points) –
May 31st & June 2nd
This report length is between 2,500 and 4,000 words (not including the Title
Page or References) or about 10 to 16 pages
Strict adherence to APA format
The paper should cite at least 5 different external scholarly sources (journal
articles, books. etc.). Additional references can come from other sources such
as trade magazines/periodicals, video/audio presentations, commercial sources
or other legitimate academic resources). Extensive citations from the textbook
are required also.
The paper is due at the time of the presentation. Please refer to the Project
Folder in Connect/Blackboard for additional details
Each student will upload in Connect the portion of the paper that he/she
worked on. Use file naming protocol.
The team leader will email me the final paper and presentation by noon the
day of the presentation and bring a hard copy of the final paper on the day of
the presentation.

10. Pier Review(20 points) –
Due by June 2nd
Details will be added to the Project Folder In
Connect/Blackboard

11. Keys to Success
1. Understand your role as an effective team member
ASAP – Buckenmyer, J. (2000). Using teams for class
activities. Journal of Education for Business, 76, 98–
107.
2. Select a group leader and identify your role as a
member of the team ASAP.
3. Select a name for your team ASAP.
4. Decide on meeting times and place ASAP.
5. Meet and/or conduct a conference call with the
client and each other within five business days of
assignment.

12. GLOBAL BUSINESS
PLAN
THE PROCESS

13. Global Business Process
1. Executive Summary
The executive summary appears first in the
paper, but it is the last section written. The
executive summary is a 100 to 300-word
summary of the main points of the paper. A
person reading the executive summary should
be able to understand the conclusions of the
paper’s author(s), even though he/she would
need to read the body of the paper for
supporting evidence.

14. Global Business Process
2. Introduction (250-500 words): Identifying
Global Business Opportunities (Chapters 2-5)
You will conduct a preliminary assessment of geographic,
economic, social-cultural, and political-legal factors that
create your business opportunity feasible in the country
chosen. Also, you should consider how technology could
enhance your business opportunity by expanding
possibilities for production, marketing, and distribution
of goods and services.
a) Other Research:
◦ Use Porter’s Diamond
◦ Use Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions

15. Global Business Process
3. Analyzing International Competitors
(250-500 words): (Chapter 4)
a) POTENTIAL COMPETITORS
Identify companies that have business activities similar (or related) to the business opportunity you are
proposing; and operate in the country that you are considering for your international business
enterprise.
b) COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES
Discuss the competitive advantages of these companies. (For example, some companies may gain a
competitive advantage as a result of access to raw materials, others may gain an advantage through
the use of technology for production and distribution or as a result of a well-known brand name.)
c) INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIES
Compare the international business strategies of these companies. Do these companies make use of
standardized products/services and operating policies? Or, do they use a strategy that is adapted to
various foreign markets?

16. Global Business Process
4. Selecting Company Structure (250-500 words):
(Chapters 12-14)
a) STRATEGIC PLANNING
Develop strategic objectives that communicate major goals related to:
◦ product (or service) offerings,
◦ target market and customer benefits,
◦ financial aims (market share, return on investment),
◦ employee satisfaction, and
◦ social contributions.
(Strategic goals are commonly stated in a manner that can be measured objectively, such as “to
provide households with clean drinking water at a moderate price.”)
b) ENTRY MODES
Analyze different global business entry modes that a company might select when planning
international business activities. Compare the benefits, costs, and risks associated with using
exporting, turnkey projects, management contracting, licensing, franchising, contract manufacturing,
joint venture, and wholly-owned subsidiaries

17. Global Business Process
5. Managing International Financial & Business Risks (250-
500 words):
a) ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL RISKS
Identify key areas of uncertainty related to level of economic development, infrastructure, and changing
economic conditions in the country being considered for business operations. (A weak infrastructure or
volatile currency increases the risk of doing business in a foreign market.)
b) SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RISKS (Hofstede)
Discuss customs, traditions, and social values in your proposed location that could create risks for the
enterprise. (Religious beliefs or the role of family can affect uncertainty when starting and implementing an
international business operation.)
c) POLITICAL AND LEGAL RISKS
Analyze the uncertainty that might be created by political stability, corruption potential, and business
regulations. (Required labeling, tariffs, or ownership restrictions may be encountered in various nations.)
d) RISK MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES
Compare various risk reduction strategies available when doing business in other countries. (Common risk
management methods include insurance, diversification of product line, strategic alliances with local partners,
and employing local managers.)

18. Global Business Process
6. Selecting an International Pricing Strategy (250-500
words): (Chapters 15-16)
a) THE ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT
Identify economic factors (personal income level, inflation rate, taxes) that might influence pricing
decisions in this country. (In many countries, people may not be able to afford products that are
considered minor purchases in industrialized nations.)
b) COST ANALYSIS
Estimate production costs and other business expenses that would be encountered when offering this
product or service. (The total cost of providing an item must include both direct production costs as
well as administrative and overhead expenses.)
c) DEMAND ANALYSIS
Analyze the potential demand for this product (or service) based on the current and expected market.
(As a product gains in popularity or a country’s economy improves, demand for various items is likely to
expand.)
d) COMPETITOR ANALYSIS
Compare your pricing plans with those of any competitors that may be providing identical or similar
products or services.

19. Global Business Process
7. Determining Organizational Financial Results(250-
500 words):
a) REVENUE SOURCES
Identify and estimate amounts for product (or service) sales for various market segments. (For
example, some companies sell both to consumers and businesses. A heating company may sell
furnaces to homeowners as well as to companies.)
b) OPERATING COSTS
List and estimate operating expenses necessary for producing (or obtaining), storing, marketing, and
distributing the product (or service) for this business enterprise.
c) START-UP COSTS
Review your start-up cost estimate. Suggest any revisions based on additional information or
expanded knowledge of planned business operation.
d) PROFITABILITY
Describe an expected profit level for this global business venture based on economic conditions,
competition, the size of the operation, and the market environment of the country. (Most new
business activities take two, three, or more years before becoming profitable. Many ventures never
earn a profit and either cease operations or a revised plan is implemented.)

20. Global Business Process
8. Measuring International Business Success (250-500
words): Asking for approval!
a) FINANCIAL GAINS
Identify potential profit levels and other measures of financial success for this global business operation.
(Commonly considered measurements of financial success include profits, return on investment, market share,
sales growth.)
b) ECONOMIC BENEFITS
Discuss positive economic contributions that this business operation might have for the host country.
(Economic benefits may include improved infrastructure, creation of jobs, more efficient use of natural
resources, or increased personal income.)
c) SOCIAL BENEFITS & COSTS
Determine improvements to the country’s society that might result from the company’s global business
activities. (Positive social results might include improved employee training, expanded health care and other
benefits for workers, or additional housing facilities.). Describe the potential drawbacks for the host country
that might result from this business venture. (Social costs of global business operations may include pollution,
reduction in natural resources, or changes in traditions.)
d) CONCLUSION
Considering all the benefits, restate what you are asking for and why the “board of directors/client” should go
ahead and approve the project.