Example essays
Essays, reports and presentations from the MIB in Grenoble
I have uploaded a number of the essays, reports and presentations I completed during my MIB at Grenoble. Hopefully, this will help prospective students have an idea of what sort of questions they will be asked during their studies. During my MIB course (September 2006 to May 2007), there were lots of group projects and presentations and they formed a significant part of the continuous assessment. Below are just a few examples of coursework I completed.
International Marketing
Entering the retail sector in Central Europe: Tesco's expansion into the Czech Republic - This report was written for our International Marketing lecturer TC Melewar in the first semester. This report was written as a piece of group coursework with Séverine Delaporte (from France), Ilona Jurrenová (from the Czech Republic), Lizhu Ren (from China) and myself (from the UK). This report examines the role that Central and Eastern European countries play in the increasingly international strategies of retail companies. This report focuses specifically upon the Czech retail environment and how Tesco has successfully entered the market by adapting its market offering for Czech consumers. It is demonstrated that Tesco has been successful within the Czech Republic by adopting a multi-format strategy and by focusing upon consumer needs through offering low-cost and localised products. Subsequently, empirical evidence is analysed which shows that UK consumers perceive Tesco to be too large and too powerful, whereas Tesco is in its Honeymoon period with Czech consumers because since the move away from Communism, retailers are seen as fulfilling the capitalist dream. Finally, the extent to which consumption within Central and Eastern European countries and the extent to which a truly European consumer exists is critically assessed.
Information Systems
Brady corporation case study analysis - This report was for the Information systems module in the first semester for our lecturer Jie (Jeff) Yan. The report is essentially an analysis of the Brady Corporation. Analysing the case of the Brady Corporation, it is shown that the internet and information systems have brought many conveniences to Brady, its distributors and customers. The internet also provided Brady with the opportunity to bypass intermediaries to sell directly to the customer. Nevertheless, Brady focused upon end customer service by keeping their distributors and leveraging their technological capabilities to better serve the needs of both their customers and distributors. In concurrence with Porter (2001) the internet can be used a complement to traditional business activities and distribution channels.
RFID Powerpoint presentation - I worked on this presentation with Ashish Khalkho, Erik Sjobeck, and Siva Ilangovan. This presentation was made as part of my Information Systems for Jie (Jeff) Yan in the first semester. This presentation looks at what RFID technology is, where it is being used, how it affecting the supply chain of many business, how it will affects customers in the future, discusses some concerns about RFID technology and concludes with how RFID technology will affect management. The original powerpoint presentation included three short video clips, if you would like to download the presentation with video clips, click here to download it as a zip file.
Managing Technology
This presentation was made for the Managing Technology course with Professor Dr. Peter Augsdorfer in the second semester. This presentation discusses an emerging technology which has helped the development of commercial space travel. The technology of feathering the wings of spaceships is discussed as to the technology itself, its advantages and disadvantages and subsequently the implications of such technology.
This PDF file was the accompanying handout which was prepared and distributed to go along with the presentation on the feathering design used in space crafts.
Economics
Technology, economic change, competition, price and revenue - This essay was written for Nick Foster on the Economics course in the first semester of the MIB. This essay answers the following questions relating to technology and economic change: In what ways might government contribute to improving the knowledge networks within an economy?
Critically review the proposition that in the future, those countries that set the standards within IT development will be the countries that wield economic power. What role has technology transfer played in the development of emerging nations? Use examples. The essay then addresses the subsequent questions relating to competition, price and revenue: Why might a restaurant charge very high prices for wine and bottled water and yet quite reasonable prices for food?
Why are clothes with designer labels so much more expensive than similar 'own brand' clothes from a chain store, even though they may cost a similar amount to produce?
Using the example of the bus sector, explain what is meant by price and non-price competition. If you were the Chief executive of a bus company which of the two alternatives would you adopt? Give reasons for your choice.