Posted: September 13th, 2017

Information & decision making challenges in newly industrialized countries.

Paper, Order, or Assignment Requirements

Assignment 1:

Information & decision making challenges in newly industrialized countries.

Task: To be completed individually
Marks: 20% of unit total 
Deadline: Week 5 – uploaded Sunday by 5pm
Word limit: 1500 (excluding the reference list)

Assignment description
The Asia Pacific region encompasses some of the largest newly industrialized countries, which provide some of the biggest growth opportunities for international businesses. However, decision making in these markets is often difficult due to the poor quality of information available. Conducting market research in emerging markets also poses significant challenges for companies. This assignment requires you to select three (3) of these challenges. For each you must describe the challenge and consider the implications it poses to reliable results and effective decision making.

NB. Some of the early lesson activities will help you to progress with this assignment. Also before starting the assignment please read the associated resources on Blackboard. 

This first assignment provides an opportunity to reflect on some important themes covered in the first four lessons. While it is relatively short it still counts for 20% of the unit marks – part of the assignment learning outcome is to promote skills in clear and concise writing – please therefore do not exceed the word limit. 

Purpose
The assignment will:

• Get you thinking about a contemporary and growing concern for marketing managers.

• Develop your understanding of decision making risks and the potential barriers to reliable market research. 

• Require you to critically evaluate the implications of these barriers 

• Help develop skills in desk research (library and Internet search), collating, presenting and interpreting information, as well as the ESSENTIAL SKILL of accurate referencing. 

• Develop your skill in writing concisely and to the point.

Assignment tasks
International marketing research presents the international marketing manager with many potential barriers to obtaining reliable and accurate market information. These include aspects such as:
• Availability and reliability of research resources and suppliers
• Selecting appropriate data collection methodologies
• Research costs variations

Not to mention a host of related macro and environmental differences relating to:
• Political and legislative issues
• Basic infrastructure
• Cultural differences
• Social and market structure differences 
• Communication and technology difficulties
• Accessibility

In this assignment you must first choose three potential pitfalls of conducting research in emerging markets. For each, you should describe the challenge and then consider the risk it poses to effective decision making.

How to structure your writing
• Cover page – Please include a cover page containing the following:
• Title: “as per the assignment heading on page 1”
• Student name and ID number
• Unit title and code
• Tutor name
• Date & total word count (excluding cover page and reference list). 
• Introduction – Write about 150 words on the increasing significance of emerging markets and international marketing research, as well as introduce your paper.
• Pitfalls / risks of research in emerging markets – Write about 400 words on each of three pitfalls. 
• Conclusion – Write about 150 words summing up the importance of overcoming the pitfalls of emerging market research and reducing associated decision making risks. 
• Word limit – There is a considerable amount to cover, so it is important that you clearly introduce the focus of your assignment and then write clearly and concisely within the specified word limit. at the end of each section please state the number of words you have used. Word limit – at the end of each section state the number of words you have used. At the start of the assignment please also indicate the total number of words, which should not exceed 1500 words. NB the reference list does not count toward the word limit.
• Finally insert your ‘References’ list using a recognized referencing format such as APA or Harvard – (For example, the ‘Harvard quick guide’ provides a useful summary http://www.swinburne.edu.au/lib/researchhelp/harvard_quick_guide.pdf). 
• For this assignment it is anticipated that you will use a minimum of six different references that include relevant journal articles. 
• Please write in a professional manner with a clear structure and appropriate headings, properly spell checked and proof read.