Week 7 learning
activity
General instructions:
Research, apply and answer in your own words with
appropriate reference(s) and in-text citation(s) to this week’s readings,
videos, and/or examples from current events to support the position and/or
rationale.
Label your responses specifically “Learning activity 1”, and
“Learning activity 2”.
Write in 250 words at least for initial response. Due
Thursday.
Write in 75 words for each follow-up response (at least 2
follow-up responses for each learning activity) by expanding the discussion
topic substantively and explore other possibilities and/or solutions, thereby
enriching class learning. Due Sunday.
Each week there are 2 learning activities. Each learning
activity requires 1 initial response, and 2 follow-up postings. Hence, for 2
learning activities of each week, 2 separate initial responses and 4 follow-up
postings in total are required to meet the discussion requirements.
Week 7 Learning
Activity 1
Case study:
RJR formed a joint venture with Gallaher Group PLC in 2002
to produce and sell a limited variety of American-blend cigarette brands that
will be marketed in France, Spain, Italy, and the Canary Islands. The company,
known as R.J. Reynolds – Gallaher International Sarl, is based in Switzerland.
RJR has a large global presence, with subsidiaries in 57 countries including
Finland, Vietnam, Poland, and Tanzania. RJR now controls nearly 4 percent of
the international cigarette market and has witnessed a 75 percent global sales
increase since 1990.
Global sales now account for 41 percent of the tobacco sales
for RJR. RJR purchased a majority share of the Tanzanian Cigarette Company in
1995 for $55 million. This was the largest single investment in the country
since it achieved independence in1961. The Dar Es Salaam plant was quickly
renovated and will soon produce 4 billion cigarettes per year, making it one of
the largest producers in Africa. RJR’s facilities also operate in Turkey where
they account for half of the country’s exports. (David, 2005, p.430)
Reference:
David, F.R. (2005). Strategic management: Concepts and cases
(10th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall.
Step 1: Initial response
1. Illustrate the difficulties of establishing and managing
a subsidiary in terms of strategic ethical considerations – not only because of
differences in corporate (organizational) cultures, but also in national
cultures and laws.
2. Explain in your own words why RJR prefers to work with a
local partner to establish a joint venture rather than simply acquiring a
company in another country. Support your rationale, based not only on ethical
considerations, but also on other external factors that you have learned
throughout this course.
You are required to use the appropriate APA formatted
scholarly reference source and corresponding in-text citations in all your
postings.
Step 2: Follow-up postings
You may use one (or a combination) of the following approaches,
and you are not limited to these approaches:
Comment on the position(s) of your fellow learner(s).
Support or disagree with the explanations of your fellow
learner, and explain why.
Respond to the additional question(s) posted by the
instructor to the whole class.
Week 7 Learning
Activity 2
Case study:
A leading-edge U.S. computer firm announced from the
headquarters in the United States that a new product would be available to its
Japanese customers in October 1988. This official announcement was communicated
through the corporate communication channel to the management at its Japanese
subsidiary. This availability date was later postponed by 4 months and then
postponed again several times. All the subsequent delays were communicated
officially to the management at its Japanese subsidiary once any of the
subsequent unexpected supply chain management disruptions were uncovered by the
US headquarters. The employees at the Japanese subsidiary were furious about
this chain of events and humiliated at having to inform their customers about
these delays. Later, a key sales manger was so ashamed of his company’s
behavior that he left the company. (Carroll & Gannon, 1997, p. 117)
Reference:
Carroll, S. J. & Gannon, M.J. Ethical dimensions of
international management. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Step 1: Initial response:
1. Assume that you are a member of the strategic planning
committee that intends to design the ethical standards for the international
human resource management of your company.
2. Interpret what you think have caused the reactions of the
Japanese sales manager as mentioned in the Case Study. How are the personal
ethics and corporate ethics interpreted differently (a) in the USA, and (b) in
Japan?
You are required to use the appropriate APA formatted
scholarly reference source and corresponding in-text citations in all your
postings.
Step 2: Follow-up postings
You may use one (or a combination) of the following
approaches, and you are not limited to these approaches:
Comment on the position of your fellow learner’s posting.
Recommend alternative approaches for fine-tuning
international human resource management strategy to reflect the intercultural
(socioeconomic) considerations and legal systems.
Make alternative recommendations with reference to this
week’s readings, other research findings and/or examples from current events.
Respond to the additional question(s) posted by the
instructor to the whole class.
