What particular aspect of the contemporary GBE for my sector am I focusing on?

Guidance Note | Summative Assignment

Formative Task

An important theme to emerge across group presentations concerned the complexities of the global business environment (GBE)—in the sense that one size does not, necessarily, fit all, so to speak!  Indeed, in analysing MNE strategies, patterns of operations, and practices across a range of different economic sectors and international contexts (ILO2), presentations demonstrated that these complexities—in the form of diverse informal and formal structures and arrangements as well as processes and developments—had presented various (and often contrasting) opportunities and challenges for MNEs across the examined sectors. Consider, for example, differences in the nature and extent of localisation-standardisation pressures on MNE operations and practices presented through, for instance, different cultural and legal aspects. Likewise, the influence on patterns of operations and practices of variations in production costs and health and safety, employment rights, and/or pollution abatement regulations as a result of, for instance, different in the economic and political environments of different locations.

Connecting Formative and Summative Elements

The four-dimensional GBE framework introduced in this Unit—i.e., culture and society, economic, political, and legal—provided a broad lens for exploring aspects in the contemporary GBE (‘dimensional aspects’ hereafter) that might explain the international operations and business practices of MNEs within a chosen sector. However, as identified by many groups in the formative presentation task, not all prescribed elements within a GBE dimension (nor, indeed, each of the four dimensions themselves) appeared equivalent, or indeed relevant, as possible explanatory factors for MNE operations and practices when confronted with the empirical reality of a given sector. Moreover, as well as prioritising different aspects of MNE operations and practises, many groups prioritised different dimensional aspects as the principle explanatory factor(s). This was an important experiential learning outcome from the formative task and one that provides the basis for the individual summative assignment.  It was also why no two groups within a seminar class were permitted to choose the same sector.

As outlined in the Assignment Brief (available on our Unit’s BB VLE), the individual summative assignment requires you to draw on academic scholarship in a critical evaluation of potential changes to the contemporary GBE for your chosen sector and the possible implications of these changes for the sustainability of the existing operations and practices of MNEs (ILO1, ILO2, ILO3). In this respect, the scope of your individual summative assignment will be directed by the dimensional aspects, aspects of MNE operations and practices, and the relationship between them identified in your group formative task (ILO4).

Your individual summative assignment therefore requires you to focus on a particular dimensional aspect of the contemporary GBE that explains an aspect of MNE operations and practices in your chosen sector. On this basis, you are required to (critically) evaluate potential changes within this dimensional aspect and the possible implications of these changes for the sustainability of your identified aspect of MNE operations and practices in your sector. [N.B: change is not necessarily inevitable, can take many different forms, can arise through many different processes, and across varying timeframes. Indeed, your critical evaluation might, conversely, lead you to propose continuity for the dimensional aspect and, as a result, your chosen aspect of MNE operations and practices. It is also worth remembering Mintzberg’s notions of ‘egotistic’ and ‘hindsight’ bias when qualifying any suggestions of ‘unprecedented’ change (introduced in our Unit’s pre-recorded Introduction lecture)]]

Next Steps: #1 - Establishing Focus

As outlined above, your individual summative assignment requires you to focus on a particular dimensional aspect of the contemporary GBE that explains an aspect of MNE operations and practices in your chosen sector.

Key questions to consider in this regard:

What particular aspect of the contemporary GBE for my sector am I focusing on?

Which particular aspect of MNE operations and practices am I focusing on?

A further question to consider, and one linked to an element signposted in the collective feedback and comments on the formative presentation task (available on our Unit’s BB VLE), relates to:

How might this dimensional aspect explain this aspect of MNE operations and practices in my chosen sector?

Directed by the parameters presented through your consideration of these questions, the title of your (critical) evaluation of potential changes within your particular dimensional aspect of the GBE for your chosen sector and the possible implications of these changes for the sustainability of your chosen aspect of MNE operations and practices will resemble something along the lines of the following examples:

Example A: Evaluating the sustainability of [chosen aspect of MNE operations and practices] in the advent of [chosen dimensional aspect]: The case of the [chosen sector]

Example B: Evaluating the impact of [chosen dimensional aspect] on the sustainability of [chosen aspect of MNE operations and practices] in [chosen sector]

For the purposes of illustration, examples of aspects of MNE operations and practices that might be inserted into the above examples could be cheap labour operations, environmentally friendly packaging, or localised HR practices by MNEs, while dimensional aspects could, for example, relate to issues of cultural distance, regional trade agreements (RTAs), different political and economic systems, and so on. The dimensional aspects and aspects of MNE operations and practices will nevertheless stem from the formative task and your consideration of the aforementioned questions.

Please note, that while looking to provide some agency in shaping the focus of your summative assignment, and thus scope for exploring (relevant) themes in line with your interests, the central task for the individual summative assignment remains the same for everyone:

to draw on academic scholarship in a critical evaluation of potential changes to the contemporary global business environment for their chosen sector and the possible implications of these changes for the sustainability of the existing international division of labour and operations and practices of MNEs in the sector’ (Assignment Brief, available on BB VLE)

Next Steps: #2 - Finding (Academic) Literature

Establishing the focus of your individual summative assignment (Next Steps: #1 – Establishing Focus) will also direct the academic (or ‘scholarly’) sources (i.e., academic journal publications and monographs)—as opposed to non-academic, ‘popular’ sources—for the required critical evaluation of potential changes to your chosen dimensional aspect and the possible implications of these changes for your chosen aspects of MNE operations and practices (see, for example, Distinguish between Popular and Scholarly Journals).

An overarching aim of this assignment is to develop your understanding of more student-directed forms of inquiry and in using available tools for conducting literature searches—important elements for your studies at Bristol. To this end, this short video introduces you to using Business Source Complete. While the keyword examples (a.k.a. “search terms”) used in the video may differ from those you will be considering, you will nevertheless be able to apply the principles it introduces to your own literature search.

https://xerte.bris.ac.uk/play.php?template_id=5625#page

[N.B: In conducting your literature search, you may not find relevant academic sources relating specifically to your chosen dimensional aspect and aspect of MNE operations and practices WITHIN your particular sector] 

You are expected to include a minimum of three academic sources in your critical evaluation of potential changes within your chosen dimensional aspect of the GBE for your sector and the possible implications of these change for the sustainability of your chosen aspect of MNE operations and practices.

Additional information and guidance:

Macat (2 Feb 2016). What is Critical Thinking? (VIDEO)  https://youtu.be/HnJ1bqXUnIM

University of Bristol  (n.d.). Study Skills (WEBSITE)

https://www.bristol.ac.uk/students/your-studies/study-support/study-skills/

University of Greenwich (27 April 2021). How do I search for information? (WEBPAGE)

https://www.gre.ac.uk/articles/ils/how-do-i-search-for-information

Structure

In your individual summative assignment, you will need to identify the chosen dimensional aspect of the GBE and chosen aspect of MNE operations and practices focused on, addressing any required introductory and definitional issues, before considering how this dimensional aspect explains this aspect of MNE operations and practices in your chosen sector. For this, you may choose to draw on (select) sources and data points used in your formative task for support.

Based on academic sources identified in your search (Next Steps: #2 - Finding (Academic) Literature), against this backdrop you should present your critical evaluation of potential changes to the chosen dimensional aspect of the contemporary GBE for your chosen sector and the possible implications of these changes for the sustainability of your chosen aspect of MNE operations and practices. Further information and guidance, including on critical writing and essay writing, are provided through the above University of Bristol Study Skills portal (link above).

FAQs

Can we use materials from the group presentation in our individual summative assignment?

As indicated above (Structure), yes. However, you must ensure: (1) that these are attributed to the original source, (2) where necessary, included in your own words and correctly cited (if quoting directly from an original source), and (3) such inclusions are not merely cut and pasted from the group’s slides.

How many references should we use?

As indicated above (Next Steps: #2 - Finding (Academic) Literature), you are expected to include a minimum of three academic sources in your critical evaluation.

Can we use companies as examples?

As outlined in the collective feedback and comments on the formative presentation task (available on our Unit’s BB VLE), companies can, indeed, provide useful illustrations and data points, particularly when considering aspects of MNE operations and practices. However, when using companies in this way, you do need to be mindful of not presenting a company case study in your assignment at the expense of the required sectoral considerations.  

Do we need to include a bibliography?

Yes, including any academic and non-academic sources used.

Which referencing style should we use?

The Harvard Referencing Style is the recommended system (guidance available here).