Worksheet #8
Fully revise and finalize your research report. Remember to
put your name on the cover, as well as the title you have chosen. High quality
reports should contain maps, graphs and illustrations too. It is vital that the
report answer the 4 basic questions set at the beginning: namely, where, why,
when and how has the TNC globalized?
Report Template
Note: This is only a guide to help you write your paper.
Don’t let it be a straightjacket (golden or otherwise)! Please bear in mind that
I have tried to make it as useful as possible to as many folks as possible. This
means it has some suggestions that may not apply to your own particular TNC. It
looks longer and more demanding than it actually is. So remember, it is meant to
be helpful, not intimidating.
AS YOU SIT DOWN TO WRITE EACH PART OF YOUR PAPER, LOOK AT
THE GUIDES FOR EACH SECTION DESCRIBED BELOW. AT THE END OF EACH SECTION GUIDE
THERE ARE A LIST OF QUESTIONS WHICH YOU MIGHT ALSO WANT TO USE AS A CHECK LIST
TO SEE IF YOU'VE LEFT ANYTHING OUT.
INTRODUCTION
In your introduction try to capture in the first paragraph
the ‘big story’ about your TNC’s global development. If the most interesting
thing about the TNC is its search for cheaper inputs and efficiencies, then
highlight some of the most dramatic moves it has made to access cheaper labor,
less expensive taxation regimes, a low cost subcontractor etc. If instead the
more interesting aspect of the TNC’s global strategy is its search for bigger
markets, list some of these and, if possible, capture with a few notable
statistics how they have increased in number and scale. If the TNC is working on
both of these fronts at the same time, then try to highlight how this adds up to
an overarching global strategy, or, failing that, how it might seem to
illustrate more general global trends. Be sure to explain why you think the TNC
is significant as an example of business trends in the context of economic
globalization.
In the second paragraph of the introduction outline the
nature of your research: what sources of information you considered, who you
successfully contacted, what big challenges you faced etc. In the third
paragraph outline the plan for the rest of the report. Detail what issues you
will discuss first, second, third etc. And note how this plan will enable you to
answer the main questions of where, when, why and how your TNC globalized. Use
this paragraph to note the time horizon over which you are discussing the TNC’s
evolving global development.
Checklist
What
particular processes of globalization does your TNC exhibit?
What are
the overall (meaning broad trends characterizing the particular practices of
your TNC’s globalization) where, why, when, and how?
FIRST MAIN SECTION [THE ‘WHEN’ AND ‘WHERE’ SECTION]
Start with the most compelling or remarkable aspect of your
findings. For example: over the last 10 years Starbucks has established 234 new
outlets in 16 countries; or, Nike’s global strategy has sought efficiencies and
cheaper inputs by sourcing more of its products from Southern China instead of
SE Asia. This paragraph should make clear both the ‘when’ and ‘where’ of the
developments that have interested you.
In terms of the ‘where’, this section would also be a good
place to use any maps you have been able to create. If you do this you could
then use the map to organize a more developed discussion of how the ‘where’ of
the TNC’s global strategy has evolved over the chosen period.
If the TNC’s geographical development has varied from one place to another, this section would also be a good place to discuss this.
Checklist
What time
period(s) during which your TNC globalized is your paper is addressing?
What
periods were times of global expansion?retraction? in terms of what...
production? market access?
What
social forces influenced the globalization of your TNC at this time
What have
the readings and lectures told you about what was happening in the global
economy and political restructuring at this/these time(s)?
Which
countries did the TNC locate in? What particular places in these countries?
What
countries does your TNC produce or manufacture their products in?
What
countries does your TNC sell their products to?
What
countries do they both market and produce products in?
Where do
the raw materials come from?
What is
the overall shape of the TNC's global chain of production?
SECOND MAIN SECTION [THE ‘WHY’SECTION]
Having introduced the where and when in the first section,
move on now to the why question. Try to explain what you have identified as the
key reasons for the TNC’s global expansion. (If there has been no global
development, then try and explain this instead). Begin by answering the why
question in the broad terms introduced in the course: has the TNC gone global
for market access or sourcing efficiency reasons? Then explain what particular
aspect of these rationales has appeared most important. In your explanation try
to explain too how this relates to the particular economic sector the TNC is
within. Perhaps cite Dunning’s table in this regard to clinch your explanation
with some academic authority. Be sure to note here any peculiarities of your TNC
that might make it break the mould and do things differently.
Consider also in this section (if it seems relevant) how
the changing global context has effected the TNC’s global development. How you
deal with this question will depend on what time horizon you have elected to use
to frame your analysis. For example if you are dealing with the last 10 years,
you may want to consider the difference between the boom years of the 90s and
the period since 2000. In any event, use this section to underline your
knowledge and understanding of how the TNC has changed according to changing
times and contexts.
This ‘why’ section may also be the time to discuss academic
articles that have dealt with the global economic and political factors
affecting your specific TNC. Examples might be academic discussion of the
effects on the TNC (or its general economic sector) of new free trade rules, or
the disruptive impact of a war or currency
crash.
Checklist
What
motivated your TNC to globalize: market access, or sourcing efficiency?
What
social contexts accompanied the globalization of your TNC? i.e .What were there
environmental regulations passed, did other companies within that industry also
globalize around the same time, did prices for the raw materials increase, did
wages increase, etc.
What have
the readings and lectures told you about these processes?
THIRD MAIN SECTION [THE ‘HOW’SECTION]
It should be quite easy to move now to the topic of ‘how’
your TNC has globalized. Has it used FDI? Or subcontracting systems? Or mergers
and acquisitions? Once you have identified the main strategies it has used,
attempt to outline some good examples of how it has done this in real places.
Ideally, include a map or table locating or listing these places. If you can
find a graphic illustrating one of its factories or retail outlets abroad
include that too.
If you have found other additional kinds of information,
you can now also nuance your account of ‘how’ the TNC has globalized by further
discussing its impacts on the people and places involved. Equally, you might be
able to outline here how the global strategy is viewed or implemented by
personnel within the TNC. Or you may want to cite its changing share price over
the years you are considering to illustrate how the TNC’s global developments
have been viewed by shareholders. If you can also list any of the pay rates for
any of the employees, so much the better. If you can highlight differences
between pay at the headquarters and pay and conditions in overseas factories,
and if you can comment on the reasons for these differences, it will be very
valuable.
If some remarkable external factors have also affected the
ways in which the TNC has globalized (for example, direct government support
from a western country) note that here. Or if the company has some special
feature that has made it globalize in a fairly unique way, then note that.
Checklist
Through
what methods did your TNC globalize: FDI, market merger, or subcontracting?
How does
your TNC market itself? Does it present itself as a globally mobile company?’
What type
of production chain does your company exemplify: i.e. buyer driven or
producer-driven commodity chain?
How has
your TNC been received in other countries? This is of particular interest to
TNC’s which have had activists target their activities, such as Chevron in
Africa
How have
your TNC’s earnings (quantitative growth)
and share prices reflected the globalization of your company?
What can
the readings and lectures tell you about these processes?
FOURTH MAIN SECTION [THE CATCH-ALL SECTION]
Use this last main section to try and interpret any notable
peculiarities of your TNC and its global development (or lack thereof). You
might also want to reflect here on why it has been difficult to track down data
on certain aspects of the TNC’s operations. Alternatively, you might want to use
this section to take up some questions or theories or arguments made in the
academic articles you found on the TNC. You should feel able to agree or
disagree with these arguments based on what you have discovered yourself.
However, only make claims you can back up with data, examples or other academic
references. You could also evaluate any comments on the TNC’s own website in the
same way. Likewise, you could use anything your wrote about the TNC’s use of
global imagery here too (unless you used it already in the introduction).
CONCLUSION
The conclusion should actually have a conclusion! What is
your main finding about the TNC? What stands out as the most interesting or
amazing or depressing or strange feature of its global development? What are the
most important factors that have shaped this development? How does it exemplify
more general global trends?
REFERENCES
Be sure these are in the correct style.
SUGGESTIONS FOR APPENDICES
If you have gone over the maximum word/page requirement
feel free to include extra material in appendices. For example:
maps of
production locations and market locations and at different times
graphs of
earnings over a period of time
graph of
share prices over time
graph of
production costs over time