Posted: September 9th, 2015

Expansion strategy of Santander where they do not exist

Using Santander’s retail banking* as a case study, (http://www.santander.com/csgs/Satellite/CFWCSancomQP01/es_ES/Corporativo.html?leng=en_GB) prepare an individual report that:

1. Identifies a potential target market for Santander’s retail banking’s future international expansion strategy. (This means that you must not choose a market already served by Santander’s retail banking; doing so will result in failing this assignment).
2. Identifies the macro-environmental characteristics of this market.
3. Critically analyses the key strategic issues the firm faces in expanding into this market (opportunities and threats in the firm’s external environment plus strengths and weaknesses in the firm’s internal environment).
4. Recommends actions to be taken to ensure that this strategic international expansion is a success for the firm.

You are strongly advised to structure your report in the same order as the assignment tasks set out above.
Remember to include a list of references used at the end of the report (presented Harvard style).

As of 24/06/14, Santander operates in the following countries:
(http://www.santander.com/csgs/Satellite/CFWCSancomQP01/en_GB/Corporate/Individual-Customers.html)

Argentina
Austria
Brazil
Chile
Denmark
Finland
Germany
Italy
Mexico
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Spain
UK
Uruguay

This assessment assesses how well you can do the following (as outlined in the module specification):
• Critically review the strategy of an organisation in light of international business issues, applying relevant theories and concepts
• Produce a creative strategic solution to a business problem for an organisation facing diverse challenges, taking into account the firm’s external and internal environments
This assessment assesses how well you can do the following (as outlined in the module specification):
• Enhance and apply planning, organising, decision-making and time management skills appropriate for use in an organisational context.
• Experiment and develop personal initiative and responsibility in undertaking complex investigations in the solving of organisational problems and issues.
• Critically analyse and apply key ideas and concepts via comprehensive research relevant both to the subject area and to professional practice in the field.
• Use terminology associated with the subject area accurately and in a way, which demonstrates sophisticated knowledge and understanding.
• Develop and enhance both individually and collaboratively effective written and oral communication skills for both specialist and non-specialist audiences.