International Business Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory 7 Assignments
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/
Assignment 1:
Deliverable 1 – Factors Affecting International Business Expansion
Competency
Determine relevant factors allowing international business to succeed in a particular region or country.
Instructions
Review the case study above and prepare the necessary document as explained below.
Use the following website as a starting point for research on this project:
In addition, you may likely need to do some additional research to help complete this project.
Please choose from one of the following countries to expand into: Japan, Brazil, India, Liberia, Ukraine, or Thailand.
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory (RMCF) has hired you as a consultant to help them with a planned expansion into a new market. Your role is to help facilitate this expansion into a new country/region, and to point out options and possible hurdles the company will face that they aren’t aware of. Write a report to the Chief Operations Officer (COO) and outline the overall business environment for the expansion, including the following:
- Choose a country or region for the expansion, considering the details of the case study.
- Identify the four relevant factors that will affect an expansion into this new market in a positive way.
- For each factor identified, identify how these factors will directly benefit RMCF in its expansion into the new market.
- What are at least two obstacles will need to be overcome in this expansion effort, and what is the recommendation to overcome them?
- Ensure your report has an introduction properly describing the general scenario of what it will address, and then a conclusion wrapping up your points and what you addressed in the report.
| F | F | C | B | A |
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| No Pass | No Pass | Competence | Proficiency | Mastery |
| Not Submitted | Does not identify four factors affecting the expansion into the new market. | Identifies a defined market to expand into, and also lists four factors that will affect the expansion into the new country/region. | A market is defined with some background on why it was chosen. Additionally, the four factors reviewed provide some analysis on why they will aid RCMF in the expansion effort. | Market selection is fully supported with information from case and outside resources detailing reasoning for making choice of new market. Detailed explanation provided on what the four factors are that will aid in expansion, and brings in outside research to support the assertions. |
| Not Submitted | Does not link factors to RMCF and how it will aid company in their expansion effort. | Shows how the four factors will positively impact RMCF in their effort to expand. | Leverages some outside research beyond case study to show impact on factors in the RCMF expansion. | Provides direct linkages on how factors identified will aid RCMF in expansion efforts, and utilizes outside resources to support analysis used for this. |
| Not Submitted | Does not identify obstacles that will need to be overcome in the expansion effort.
No introduction or conclusion, or very little included in them. |
Identifies at least two obstacles to overcome, and also provides a strategy for doing this.
The introduction and conclusion adequately addresses the factors addressed in the body of the report. |
Describes the two or more obstacles and provides rationale and some outside evidence as to why they will impede the expansion of RCMF, and also describes in some detail what strategies will work to overcome them.
The introduction and conclusion are substantial and are comprehensive in reviewing what was covered and to be covered in the report. |
Describes two or more obstacles to overcome, and provides detailed rationale and outside support a nd research supporting why these will be obstacles, and provides detailed reasoning on what needs to be done to overcome them with outside research supporting strategies to overcome obstacles.
The introduction and conclusion are comprehensive, and additionally fold in analysis as to why the student made particular conclusions or chose the points covered in the report. |
Assignment 2:
Deliverable 2 – Market Entry Methods for International Expansion
Competency
Analyze the right market entry method(s) for a given company for a particular region.
Instructions
Review the case study above and prepare the necessary document as explained below.
Use the following website as a starting point for research on this project:
In addition, you may likely need to do some additional research to help complete this project.
Please choose from one of the following countries to expand into: Japan, Brazil, India, Liberia, Ukraine, or Thailand.
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory (RMCF) has hired you as a consultant to help them with a planned expansion into a new market. Your role is to help facilitate this expansion into a new country/region, and to point out options and possible hurdles the company will face that they aren’t aware of. Write a business memo to the Director of New Business (DNB) outlining the overall business environment for the expansion, including the following:
- Indicate what the expansion strategy method should be for the country or region of your choosing.
- Identify three different factors that would support your entry strategy that you choose for your particular country or region and explain why they will beneficial.
- For the market entry method you choose, discuss two disadvantages to using this method for the expansion.
- Ensure your report has an introduction properly describing the general situation of what it will address, and then a conclusion wrapping up your points and what you addressed in the report and validating the market entry method you choose for RMCF.
| F | F | C | B | A |
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| No Pass | No Pass | Competence | Proficiency | Mastery |
| Not Submitted | Does not identify a market entry method or a country/region for expanding into. | Identifies a specific market entry method strategy for the country/region chosen for the project./td> | A market entry method is chosen for the particular country or region chosen, and some background information is provided as to why this method is being used. | The market entry method chosen for the country or region for expansion is fully supported with analysis and outside research backing up choice of method that was selected. |
| Not Submitted | Does not discuss three advantages to the market entry method chosen. | Identifies the three advantages for using the chosen market entry method for the country/region chosen. | In discussing the three advantages for the market entry method chosen, provides sound reasoning and explanation as to why this method is being used for RMCF. | The three advantages for the market entry method chosen are fully supported with sound analysis and outside research backing up why this is the best method for RMCF. |
| Not Submitted | Does not identify two disadvantages for the market entry method chosen. | Identifies at least two obstacles to overcome for this market entry method for the chosen country or region. | Describes the two or more obstacles and provides rationale and some outside evidence as to why they will impede the expansion of RCMF, and also describes in some detail what strategies will work to overcome them. | Describes two or more obstacles to overcome for the market entry method, and provides detailed rationale and outside support and research supporting why these will be obstacles, and provides detailed reasoning on what needs to be done to overcome them with outside research supporting strategies to overcome obstacles. |
| Not Submitted | No introduction or conclusion, or very little included in them. | The introduction and conclusion adequately addresses the factors addressed in the body of the report. | The introduction and conclusion are substantial and are comprehensive in reviewing what was covered and to be covered in the report. | The introduction and conclusion are comprehensive, and additionally fold in analysis as to why the student made particular conclusions or chose the points covered in the report. |
Assignment 3:
Deliverable 3 – The Role of Culture and its Effect in International Business
Competency
Analyze the role of culture and its impact on international business for a particular country or region.
Instructions
Review the case study above and prepare the necessary document as explained below.
Use the following website as a starting point for research on this project:
In addition, you may likely need to do some additional research to help complete this project.
Please choose from one of the following countries to expand into: Japan, Brazil, India, Liberia, Ukraine, or Thailand.
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory (RMCF) has hired you as a consultant to help them with a planned expansion into a new market. Your role is to help facilitate this expansion into a new country/region, and to point out options and possible hurdles the company will face that they aren’t aware of. Write a cultural assessment report to the Director of Human Resources and outline the overall business environment for the expansion, including the following:
- Review the cultural aspects that need to be considered with the expansion into the new country or region.
- Identify how the company culture and the business of selling chocolate will work with the culture of the target market you will expand into.
- Identify and discuss at least two strategies that RMCF will need to adopt in order to effectively do business in the new country or region
- Ensure your report has an introduction properly describing the general situation of the target country and what the general culture is like, and then a conclusion wrapping up your points and what you addressed in the report and validating the strategies to deal with the target market culture in general.
Grading Rubric
| F | F | C | B | A |
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| No Pass | No Pass | Competence | Proficiency | Mastery |
| Not Submitted | Does not address how the company culture will work with the target market culture that currently exists. | In general talks about the culture of the company, and how that culture will work with the country or region that RMCF expanded into. | Does some analysis on the culture of the company, and does some linkage to how it will work in the target market that RMCF is expanding into. | There is detailed analysis and support on what the target market culture is like, and in addition, outside research is evident as supporting information is provided to illustrate the backdrop the company will be expanding into. |
| Not Submitted | Does not discuss strategies for dealing with cultural differences between RMCF and the target market. | Identifies and generally discusses two different strategies for dealing with the target market culture. | Identifies and goes into detail on how the two strategies that will be used by RMCF will work in the next market for expansion. Provides reasoning on why these strategies will be effective in this case. | There is fine detail on the strategies that RMCF will adopt to make the business work well in the market that they are expanding into. In addition, there is analysis explaining why these strategies will work, and draws comparisons to similar types of companies how these strategies worked well for these companies. |
| Not Submitted | No introduction or conclusion, or very little noted in those areas. | Provides an introduction looking at the target market culture, and also a conclusion reviewing points and strategy recommendations made. | The introduction provides a detailed look at the target market, and what the culture is like in general when companies are looking to expand into that market. Conclusion provides details on the strategies that RMCF will use, and why they will work best in this scenario. | The introduction provides a robust look at what the cultural environment is like in the target market, and there are some points made on general issues that will need to be addressed by RMCF. In addition, the conclusion is comprehensive and provides a detailed look at what strategies are recommended for success by RMCF, and how these strategies will ultimately work to make the transition into the target market work effectively. |
Assignment 4:
Deliverable 4 – Methods for Marketing, Recruiting, Leading, and Human Resource Management
Competency
Select proper methods for marketing, recruiting, leading and human resource management within an international business.
Instructions
Read the above case study and prepare the necessary documents as explained below.
Use the following website as a starting point for research on this project:
In addition, you may likely need to do some additional research to help complete this project.
Please choose from one of the following countries to expand into: Brazil, India, Japan, Liberia, Thailand or Ukraine.
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory International (RMCF) has hired your consulting firm to outline The Marketing Mix by product mix and product categories for the introduction of RMCF products into a new country/region of your choice. In addition, in preparation for entering the new market set forth a recruiting campaign in order to get personnel in place. Coupled with the recruiting campaign will be determining the scope of Human Resource Management in leading, training and development, and compensation. Read the above case study and any additional research needed to create your analysis. In your analysis, be sure to include the following:
- Introduction to your findings.
- Identify The Marketing Mix by product mix, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, creams, caramels, nougats, nuts and product categories, chocolates, fudge, and novelties for entry into the country/region.
- Develop policies and procedures for recruiting managers for foreign assignment.
- Examine ways to provide diversity training as a leadership development opportunity, a training and development program, a program on how to appraise performances, and provide compensation and benefits information to all employees of RMCF and their franchisees.
- Based on your findings, prepare a report to the Vice President of Marketing and the Vice President of Human Resources of RMCF.
- Conclusion of your findings.
Grading Rubric
| F | F | C | B | A |
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| No Pass | No Pass | Competence | Proficiency | Mastery |
| Not Submitted | Introduction does not provide an overview to findings of analysis. | Introduction provides an overview to findings of analysis. | Introduction provides an overview of the analysis and used direct examples from the case study. | Introduction provides an overview of the Marketing Mix, policies and procedures for recruiting managers for foreign assignments, and ways to provide diversity training as a leadership development opportunity, a training and development program, a program on how to appraise performances and provide compensation and benefits information to all employees of RMCF and their franchisees. and provided strong examples from the case and outside supportive research. |
| Not Submitted | Does not identify the Marketing Mix by product mix and product category. | Correctly identifies the Marketing Mix by product mix and product category for entry into the country/region. | Correctly identifies the Marketing Mix by product mix and product category for entry into the country/region in a clear and direct manner with strong supportive research. | Correctly identifies the Marketing Mix by product mix and product category for entry into the country/region in a clear and direct manner using specific examples from the case study and additional research. |
| Not Submitted | Does not develop policies and procedures for recruiting managers for foreign assignment. | Correctly develops policies and procedures for recruiting managers for foreign assignment. | Identifies the policies and procedures for recruiting managers for foreign assignment by using specific examples from the case study. | Identifies the policies and procedures for recruiting managers for foreign assignment by using specific examples from the case study and additional research. |
| Not Submitted | Does not examine ways to provide diversity training as a leadership development opportunity, a training and development program, a program on how to appraise performances and provide compensation and benefits information to all employees of RMCF and their franchisees. | Correctly examines ways to provide diversity training as a leadership development opportunity, a training and development program, a program on how to appraise performances and provide compensation and benefits information to all employees of RMCF and their franchisees by using examples from the case study. | Identifies the ways to provide diversity training as a leadership development opportunity, a training and development program, a program on how to appraise performances and provide compensation and benefits information to all employees of RMCF and their franchisees by using specific examples from the case study. | Identifies the ways to provide diversity training as a leadership development opportunity, a training and development program, a program on how to appraise performances and provide compensation and benefits information to all employees of RMCF and their franchisees by using specific examples from the case study and additional research. |
| Not Submitted | The conclusion does not summarize the Marketing Mix, policies and procedures for recruiting managers for foreign assignments, and ways to provide diversity training as a leadership development opportunity, a training and development program, a program on how to appraise performances and provide compensation and benefits information to all employees of RMCF and their franchisees. | The conclusion clearly summarizes the Marketing Mix, policies and procedures for recruiting managers for foreign assignments, and ways to provide diversity training as a leadership development opportunity, a training and development program, a program on how to appraise performances and provide compensation and benefits information to all employees of RMCF and their franchisees. | The conclusion clearly summarizes the Marketing Mix, policies and procedures for recruiting managers for foreign assignments, and ways to provide diversity training as a leadership development opportunity, a training and development program, a program on how to appraise performances and provide compensation and benefits information to all employees of RMCF and their franchisees using strong supportive examples from case study. | The conclusion clearly summarizes the Marketing Mix, policies and procedures for recruiting managers for foreign assignments, and ways to provide diversity training as a leadership development opportunity, a training and development program, a program on how to appraise performances and provide compensation and benefits information to all employees of RMCF and their franchisees in a thorough and thoughtful manner and relates it all to the case study and additional research to support the plans. |
Assignment 5
Deliverable 5 – Different Forms of International Investment
Competency
Describe and categorize the different forms of international investment.
Instructions
Read the above case study and prepare the necessary documents as explained below.
Use the following website as a starting point for research on this project:
In addition, you may likely need to do some additional research to help complete this product.
Please choose from one of the following countries to expand into: Brazil, India, Japan, Liberia, Thailand or Ukraine.
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory International (RMCF) has hired your consulting firm to make a recommendation on which category of international investment the company should pursue. Prepare a report to the CFO with your analysis and recommendation for the entrance of RMCF into the country/region that you have chosen. Read the above case study and any additional research needed to create your analysis. In your analysis, be sure to include the following:
- Introduction to your findings.
- Compare and contrast the two categories of international investment, Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
- Identify the numerous factors; supply, demand, and political, that may influence the company’s decision regarding the choice between FPI and FDI.
- Based on your analysis, detail the pertinent decision-making criteria, your recommendation and prepare a report to the CFO of RMCF as a conclusion of your findings.
Grading Rubric
| F | F | C | B | A |
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| No Pass | No Pass | Competence | Proficiency | Mastery |
| Not Submitted | Introduction does not provide an overview to findings of analysis. | Introduction provides an overview to findings of analysis. | Introduction provides an overview of the analysis and used direct examples from the case study. | Introduction provides an overview of the international investment theories and factors that may influence the decision and provided strong examples from the case and outside supportive research. |
| Not Submitted | Does not compare and contrast the two categories of international investment. | Correctly compares and contrasts the two categories of international investment. | Correctly compares and contrasts the two categories of international investment in a clear and direct manner with strong supportive research. | Correctly compares and contrasts the two categories of international investment in a clear and direct manner using specific examples from the case study and additional research. |
| Not Submitted | Does not identify the numerous factors that may influence the company’s decision regarding the choice between FPI and FDI. | Correctly identifies the numerous factors that may influence the company’s decision regarding the choice between FPI and FDI. | Identifies the numerous factors that may influence the company’s decision regarding the choice between FPI and FDIby using specific examples from the case study. | Identifies the numerous factors that may influence the company’s decision regarding the choice between FPI and FDIby using specific examples from the case study and additional research. |
| Not Submitted | The conclusion does not summarize your pertinent decision making criteria on FPI versus FDI along with the numerous factors that may influence the company’s decision. | The conclusion clearly summarizes your pertinent decision making criteria on FPI versus FDI along with the numerous factors that may influence the company’s decision. | The conclusion clearly summarizes your pertinent decision making criteria on FPI versus FDI along with the numerous factors that may influence the company’s decision using strong supportive examples from case study. | The conclusion clearly summarizes your pertinent decision making criteria on FPI versus FDI along with the numerous factors that may influence the company’s decision in a thorough and thoughtful manner and relates it all to the case study and additional research to support the plans. |
Assignment 6:
Deliverable 6 – The Nature of International Organization Design
Competency
Examine the nature of international organization design and how international organizations manage the control function.
Instructions
Read the above case study and prepare the necessary documents as explained below.
Use the following website as a starting point for research on this project:
In addition, you may likely need to do some additional research to help complete this project.
Please choose from one of the following countries to expand into: Brazil, India, Japan, Liberia, Thailand or Ukraine.
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory International (RMCF) has hired your consulting firm to outline an organizational plan and design which clearly details the reporting structure from the perspective of the franchisee to corporate within the country/region of your choice. Prepare a report to the Vice President of Human Resources with your organizational plan and design for the entrance of RMCF into the country/region that you have chosen. Read the above case study and any additional research needed to create your analysis. In your analysis, be sure to include the following:
- Introduction to your findings.
- Analyze which international organizational design, product, area, functional or customer meets the specific goals and fits into the strategic plan of the company.
- Identify the various techniques for control within the organization and determine how these techniques tie to the company’s strategy for expansion of their franchises.
- Based on your analysis, detail the organizational design with how the control function ties into the company’s strategy, and prepare a report to the Vice President of Human Resources of RMCF.
- Conclusion of your findings.
Grading Rubric
| F | F | C | B | A |
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| No Pass | No Pass | Competence | Proficiency | Mastery |
| Not Submitted | Introduction does not provide an overview to findings of analysis. | Introduction provides an overview to findings of analysis. | Introduction provides an overview of the analysis and used direct examples from the case study. | Introduction provides an analysis of the organizational design, and the various techniques for control and provided strong examples from the case and outside supportive research. |
| Not Submitted | Does not analyze which international organizational design meets the specific goals for the company. | Correctly analyzed which international organizational design meets the specific goals for the company in a clear and direct manner. | Correctly analyzed which international organizational design meets the specific goals for the company in a clear and direct manner with strong supportive research. | Correctly analyzed which international organizational design meets the specific goals for the company in a clear and direct manner using specific examples from the case study and additional research. |
| Not Submitted | Does not identify the various techniques for control within the organization. | Correctly identifies the various techniques for control within the organization. | Identifies the various techniques for control within the organization by using specific examples from the case study. | Identifies the various techniques for control within the organization by using specific examples from the case study and additional research. |
| Not Submitted | The conclusion does not detail the organizational design with how the control function ties into the company’s strategy. | The conclusion clearly details the organizational design with how the control function ties into the company’s strategy. | The conclusion clearly details the organizational design with how the control function ties into the company’s strategy using strong supportive examples from case study. | The conclusion clearly details the organizational design with how the control function ties into the company’s strategy in a thorough and thoughtful manner and relates it all to the case study and additional research to support the plans. |
Assignment 7:
Deliverable 7 – Making the Decision to Expand
Competency
Based on all research and work done prior, create a presentation to convince decision makers of the RMCF of the soundness for expanding into a new market that you have chosen.
Instructions
Review the case study above and prepare the necessary document as explained below.
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory(RMCF) has hired you as a consultant to help them with a planned expansion into a new market. In this final step, you need to create a PowerPoint presentation that will be presented to the CEO and board of directors for the RMCF. In this presentation, you need to include the major points covered in the previous modules, and use this information to present a cogent, logical argument for making the expansion into the country or region of your choice. Remember, your goal is to convince the CEO and board of directors that this move will work out for RMCF both from a business point of view and also affect their bottom line in a positive way. You can assume they have read your previous reports, but feel free to bring up major points or information from them to help support your presentation.
Based on the case study and other research you conduct:
- Create a PowerPoint presentation that will be seen by the CEO and board of directors of RMCF.
- Assume that you will be delivering the presentation, and understand that these people have access to your previous reports that you have written on various points of this expansion.
- Based on the major points presented in your previous report, you need to create a compelling business case for executing the expansion into the market of your choice. Your PowerPoint should contain the following points in it as you make your overall recommendation in the presentation:
- Factors important in the expansion
- Market expansion method chosen
- Role and effect of culture in the expansion
- How recruiting, marketing, and human resource management will come into play
- Role of investment in the international business
- How group dynamics will factor in the expansion
- Detail the organizational design and how the control function ties into the company’s strategy
- Ensure your PowerPoint has an introduction and conclusion. The conclusion should provide a strong recommendation and an overall strategic reason for making this expansion into the country or region you are choosing.
- Be sure to follow normal conventions for creating slides, work on keeping verbiage to a minimum on them, and utilize the speaker notes area as the place where you will write out your reasons and verbiage that you will use in the presentation and for each slide.
Grading Rubric
| F | F | C | B | A |
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| No Pass | No Pass | Competence | Proficiency | Mastery |
| Not Submitted | Presentation does not utilize information from previous reports. | The PowerPoint presentation leverages some information from previous reports, basic facts are brought forth from them. | The PowerPoint presentation leverages a good amount of information from the previous reports. There are specific links to particular reports that are referenced in different slides. | All points brought up in the PowerPoint are fully referenced to the previous reports written in other modules. In addition, there is additional research done to fold these points into a stronger position for expansion recommendation being made into the new target market. |
| Not Submitted | There is not an overall recommendation made utilizing a strategic reason why this expansion is good for RMCF. | There is an overall recommendation made as to why RMCF should expand into the new target market. | An overall recommendation is made as to why RMCF should expand into the new area. The recommendation builds on information from the previous reports and then combines them into an articulate argument. | The overall recommendation is fully supported by previous research and work done in the previous modules. Additionally, the recommendation synthesizes and combines this data into an easily understood recommendation that includes all elements that will be germane for RMCF as they expand into the new country or region. |
| Not Submitted | There is little supporting verbiage in the speaker notes for each slide. | There is solid verbiage used in the speaker notes to support and back up the points that are brought up on each slide. | The written notes used in the speaker notes are comprehensive, and there is some evidence of additional outside research that was done to support the strategic recommendation made to the CEO and board members. | The written speaker notes are detailed and fully align with the points made on each slide. There are references made to the previous reports, and also new research is folded in that supports the overall recommendation to the decision makers at RMCF. |
