Government Overview (Central Intelligence Agency, 2019)
Government Type
Parliamentary republic
Political Leader(s)
Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo VARADKAR
Political Pressure (or opposition) Groups
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
Recent Changes in Governing Rule
Irish Republican Army or IRA (terrorist
group)
Families Acting for Innocent Relatives or
FAIR [Brian McCONNELL] (seek
compensation for victims of violence)
Families Against Intimidation and Terror or
FAIT (oppose terrorism)
Gaeltacht Civil Rights Campaign (Coiste
Cearta Sibhialta na Gaeilge) or CCSG
(encourages the use of the Irish language and
campaigns for greater civil rights in Irish
speaking areas)
Keep Ireland Open (environmental group)
32 Country Sovereignty Movement or 32CSM
(supports a fully sovereign Ireland
Rail Users Ireland (formerly the Platform 11 transportation promoters)
Ulster Defence Association or UDA (terrorist
group)
Varadkar became Prime Minister june 14, 2017
Corruption (Transparency International, 2019)
Bribe Index
Corruption Perception Index
OECD Anti-Bribery Convention
Control of Corruption
Rank: 18/180
Score: 73/100
The country I have chosen for the final project is Ireland. The reason I chose Ireland was because
my grandparents are from there though I have never been there I would love to visit.
( World atlas 2017)
Geographic Elements (Central Intelligence Agency, 2019):
Regional location
Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the
island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean,
west of Great Britain
Water access
Atlantic Ocean, Irish Sea, St George’s
channel, North Channel
Bordering countries
The Republic of Ireland shares a border with
Northern Ireland, which is part of the United
Kingdom.
Natural hazards or climate
Rare extreme weather events
Country Composition (Central Intelligence Agency, 2019):
Literacy rate
99% (15 and older)
Rate of urbanization
1.14% annual rate of change (2015-20 est)
63.2% urban population
Heavily populated cities
1.201 million DUBLIN (capital) (2018)
Major religions
Roman Catholic 78.3%, Church of Ireland
2.7%, other Christian 1.6%, Orthodox 1.3%,
Muslim 1.3%, other 2.4%, none 9.8%,
unspecified 2.6% (2016 est.
Educational data
4.9% of GDP (2014)
Age structure
0-14 years: 21.37% (male 554,110 /female
529,067)
15-24 years: 11.92% (male 306,052 /female
297,890)
25-54 years: 42.86% (male 1,091,495 /female
1,080,594)
55-64 years: 10.53% (male 267,255 /female
266,438)
65 years and over: 13.32% (male 312,694
/female 362,455) (2018 est.)
Business observations:
Ireland enjoys a strategic location on one of the major sea and
air routes between northern Europe and North America.
● The currents from the waters surrounding Ireland brings lots of
rainfall, especially along it's atlantic ocean coastline where it
rains just about daily.
● Irelands unemployment rate just dropped to 5.1% which is now
3% lower than the euro zone average of 8.5%.
●
Resources
The World Factbook: Ireland. (2019). Retrieved from
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/ei.html
World atlas Ireland. (2019). Retrieved from
https://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/ie2.htm#page
Hofstede’s Dimensions of Culture: Ireland (Hofstede, 2019)
Power Distance: score of 28
● low tolerance of inequality
● chain of command within
organizations is established for the
convenience of having someone to
report to
● Managers are easily accessible to
employees
● communication between employees
and managers is often informal and
participative
Individualism: score of 70
● individualistic culture
● managers expect employees to take the
initiative and be self-reliant
● base hiring and promotions on merit,
skill, and experience
Masculinity: score of 68
● masculine culture
● Value qualities such as competition,
achievement, and success within their
organizations and their everyday lives.
● tend to be very proud and boastful of
their successes
● Conflicts are resolved at the individual
level
Uncertainty Avoidance: score of 35
● okay with uncertainty
● embrace creativity
● always looking for new ways to
approach problems
Long-term Orientation: score of 24
● Normative
● respect tradition
● do not feel a strong motivation to save
for the future
● strive more for quick results rather
than achieving long term goals
● view change as somewhat suspicious
Communications (Central Intelligence Agency, 2019)
Language: English (official, the language generally used), Irish (Gaelic or Gaeilge) (official,
spoken by approximately 39.8% of the population as of 2016; mainly spoken in areas along
Ireland's western coast known as Gaeltachtai, which are officially recognized regions where Irish
is the predominant language)
Nonverbal language: The most common greeting is the handshake. Among close friends and
family, the Irish may hug and kiss each other on the cheek. Women will kiss both male and
female friends, while men kiss only female friends. When being introduced to the family, it is
customary to shake hands with older children as you would with adults.
Business Etiquette (“Ireland - Irish Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette,” 2019)
●
●
●
●
Shake hands with everyone in the room during introductions.
Handshakes should be firm and confident
Shake hands at both the beginning and end of the meeting
Expect meetings to commence with a period of small talk to build rapport before
proceeding with the agenda.
● Meetings may be structured or unstructured.
● Participation from everyone is expected to see the situation from all points of view.
Business observations:
● Irish people may have problems doing business people who do not like close
communication. In the country kissing is common. However, in other countries where
people do not hug or refer to shaking hands, Irish people may not fit well.
● Also, Irish people are likely to encounter problems when doing business with people who
are very good timekeepers. People from cultures that prefer starting meetings in time
rather than start with small talk may have to adapt to do business with Irish people.
● Matrix systems of the organization may be very applicable because it allows or easy
horizontal and up and down communication due to the low power distance index.
● Business people may also have problems implementing change due to the low future
orientation score.
References
Compare countries. (n.d.). Retrieved March 14, 2019, Retrieved from
https://www.hofstede-insights.com/product/compare-countries/
Ireland - Irish language, culture, customs and etiquette. (2019). Commisceo-Global.
Retrieved from https://www.commisceo-global.com/resources/country-guides/ireland-guide
The 6 dimensions model of national culture by Geert Hofstede. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://geerthofstede.com/culture-geert-hofstede-gert-jan-hofstede/6d-model-of-national-culture/
The World Factbook. (2018, February 01). The World Factbook: Ireland. Retrieved from
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ei.html
INT 113 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric
Overview
The final project for this course is the creation of a country analysis PowerPoint presentation that will answer the following prompt: What country-specific
information is important in the consideration of market entry? How do cultural differences impact business communication and decisions?
Your assessment for this course will require you to place yourself in the role of an international business professional. Imagine you work for an organization that
has decided it wants to enter a foreign market, but has not settled on the region or country. Your boss has received the directive to research some countries for
market entry and, in turn, has asked you to select a country and perform a country analysis for market entry. Your boss expects you to present your research and
general recommendations for market entry.
Keeping this scenario in mind, select a country other than the United States for your research. When selecting a country, consider the following:
What countries have you visited?
What countries would you like to visit?
Does your company maintain a presence in another country?
What is your heritage?
Once you have selected your country, you will begin your research on the relevant forces—including cultural, political, and economic—that could impact business
operations and decisions. You will then determine your final recommendations, communicating all in a PowerPoint presentation. The research will be
communicated in presentation format, giving you the opportunity to practice business communication skills.
Checkpoint submissions will be posted within Modules Three and Six, which will allow the opportunity for you to upload your project-in-progress for a
participation score. You should follow the Final Project Guide and use research incorporated into the weekly discussions to complete the checkpoints. Project
elements will be covered in the weekly discussions to scaffold learning and ensure quality final submissions. Your comprehensive final PowerPoint presentation
will be submitted in Module Seven.
In this assignment, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following course outcomes:
Apply macroenvironment business research to an analysis of international market conditions
Analyze the dimensions of culture as they apply to and inform market analyses and business communication
Examine market entry strategies and multinational business practices applicable to global organizations in preparation for market entry
Articulate the impact of forces of global trade for informing international business opportunities and determining risks
Prompt
Your country analysis should answer the following prompt: What country-specific information is important in the consideration of market entry? How do cultural
differences impact business communication and decisions?
Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed in consideration of your country of choice:
I.
Introduction and Country Choice
A. Rationale: Select your country and share why you chose your specific country for further analysis.
B. Location: In what region is your country located? Is the country landlocked or does it have water access? Describe the geography of the region
and include a map for visual impact.
II.
Macroenvironment: Address the following with respect to your chosen country.
A. Sociocultural Environment
i. Country Composition: What are elements of country composition that impact business decisions? Consider literacy rates, urbanization
rates, heavily populated cities, age structure, major religions, and educational data.
ii. Values and Communication: How do cultural values shape communication and behaviors? Highlight cultural norms that align with
Hofstede’s and/or Trompenaars’s cultural dimension models. Outline major languages and nonverbal communication. For example, you
could include nonverbal cues, physical contact, and body language.
iii. Business Etiquette: What are some behaviors in business that are driven by culture? Highlight five rules of business etiquette that are
pertinent in the region. For example, consider gift giving and greetings.
iv. Observation Deck: In what ways do sociocultural elements apply to business practices and market entry? For example, highlight cultural
issues that impact marketing or consider the following areas: employment, consumer demand, managerial approach, and business
etiquette.
B. Political–Legal Environment
i. Government and Ideologies: Who is the ruling political party and leader? Has there been a recent change in ruling parties? Does a large
opposition group exist?
ii. Corruption: How do unethical practices impact business? What are three measures of corruption that characterize risks in the market?
Explain your findings.
iii. Trade Regulations and Legal Considerations: What are four measures of government influence on trade and employment? Consider
sanctions, tariffs, labeling requirements, restricted items, or other barriers to trade, minimum wage rates, employment-discrimination
laws, or environmental regulations.
iv. Observation Deck: How would a company apply political and legal information to market-entry decisions and business practices? Make
an observation regarding political and legal risks or opportunities. For example, consider safety risks, additional costs, industry barriers,
high corruption rates, risky ideologies, and so on.
C. Economic-Infrastructural Environment
i. Economic Measures: What are some economic measures and development data that impact business? Include data on interest rates,
unemployment, inflation, GDP growth rate, exchange rates against the USD, exchange rate regime, GDP, labor force, major industries,
and FDI rates.
ii. Trade: Describe the important aspects of trade in your country of choice. Specifically, answer the following questions:
a. Trade partners: Who are the most significant trading partners? What percentage of trade do they fulfill?
b. Imports: What are major imports to the region?
c. Exports: What are major exports to the region?
d. Trade agreements: What are some important regional trade agreements (RTA) impacting the country? Who are the members of the
agreement?
iii. Transportation and Telecommunication: How does infrastructure impact trade? Identify major airports, seaports, railway stations,
internet users, mobile providers, and the Logistics Performance Index rating.
iv. Observation Deck: What economic and infrastructural elements apply to multinational business practices and market entry? For
example, consider ease of distribution, economic growth, and telecommunication barriers.
III.
Final Recommendations
A. Market Entry Strategies: Based on the research findings and your knowledge of market entry strategies gained in this course, which market
entry strategy is most attractive? Considering the risks, should the company enter this market?
B. Cultural Awareness: What specific cultural considerations should be addressed if the company were to enter this market?
Checkpoints
Checkpoint Submission One
In Module Three, you will submit your project-in-progress. Use the work completed in Modules One through Three discussions and transfer your work into the
Presentation Template document. This will cover the following critical elements of the final project: Rationale, Location, Country Composition, Values and
Communication, Business Etiquette, Sociocultural Environment Observation Deck, Government Ideologies, and Corruption. This checkpoint submission is for
participation credit only.
Checkpoint Submission Two
In Module Six, you will submit your project-in-progress. Use the work completed in Modules Four and Five discussions and transfer your work into the
Presentation Template document. This will cover the following critical elements of the final project: Trade Regulations and Legal Considerations, Political-Legal
Environment Observation Deck, Economic Measures, Transportation, and Telecommunication. This checkpoint submission is for participation credit only.
Final Submission: Country Analysis Presentation
In Module Seven, you will submit your country analysis PowerPoint presentation. It will include cultural, political, and economic research that may impact
business operations and decisions. You will determine your final recommendations, communicating all in your PowerPoint presentation. The research will be
communicated in presentation format, giving you the opportunity to practice business communication skills. It should be a complete, polished artifact containing
all of the critical elements of the final product. It should reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course. Your final submission will be graded
using the Final Project Rubric.
Final Project Rubric
Guidelines for Submission: Your PowerPoint presentation should be approximately 11 to 15 slides—not including the title slide and reference slide—with all
references in the most recently published APA format.
Critical Elements
Introduction:
Rationale
Introduction:
Location
Exemplary (100%)
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
rationale is exceptionally well
detailed or includes examples
to emphasize rationale
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
is exceptionally detailed or
informative
Sociocultural
Environment:
Country
Composition
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
includes substantive details to
illustrate country composition
Sociocultural
Environment: Values
and Communication
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
includes examples to support
the analysis
Sociocultural
Environment:
Business Etiquette
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
description is supported by
examples
Proficient (85%)
Provides detailed rationale for
country choice
Needs Improvement (55%)
Rationale is present but is
unclear and/or includes few
details
Not Evident (0%)
Does not provide rationale for
country choice
Value
3.04
Accurately illustrates the
location and geography of the
chosen country with a map for
visual impact
Accurately identifies elements
of country composition,
including literacy rates,
urbanization rates, heavily
populated cities, age structure,
major religions, and educational
data
Analyzes cultural norms of the
country that correspond to
Hofstede’s and/or
Trompenaars’s models and
describes the cultural values
that shape communication,
including major languages and
non-verbal communication
Describes five rules of business
etiquette pertinent to the
region
Illustrates the location and
geography of the selected
country with a map but with
gaps in accuracy
Identifies elements of country
composition but information is
limited or inaccurate
Does not illustrate the location
and geography of the selected
country with a map
4.6
Does not identify elements of
country composition
4.6
Analyzes cultural norms of the
country that correspond to
Hofstede’s and/or
Trompenaars’s models and
describes the cultural values
that shape communication but
analysis includes gaps in details
Does not analyze cultural norms
and values of the country
7.66
Describes five rules of business
etiquette pertinent to the
region but with gaps in accuracy
or key information
Does not describe five rules of
business etiquette pertinent to
the region
7.66
Sociocultural
Environment:
Observation Deck
Political-Legal
Environment:
Government and
Ideologies
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
shows keen insight into
applying sociocultural elements
to business practices of the
chosen country
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
explanation is supported as
necessary with sources or
examples
Political-Legal
Environment:
Corruption
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
provides examples to
contextualize explanation
Political-Legal
Environment: Trade
and Legal
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
including examples to highlight
accuracy of explanations
Explains four elements of
government influence on trade
and employment
Political-Legal
Environment:
Observation Deck
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
shows keen insight in
identifying risk and opportunity,
based on political and legal
research
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
description shows insight into
economic measures
Applies political and legal
research to business practices,
identifying risks and
opportunities
Economic: Economic
Measures
Economic: Trade
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
provides examples to support
the description
Applies sociocultural research
to business practices in the
chosen country
Applies sociocultural research
to business practices in the
chosen country but with gaps in
appropriateness or detail
Does not apply sociocultural
research to business practices
in the chosen country
5.75
Explains governing parties and
political ideologies in the
country, including research on
political leaders, opposition
groups, and any recent changes
to leadership
Accurately explains three
corruption measurements
Explains governing parties and
political ideologies in the
country but misses key
information or is inaccurate
Does not explain governing
parties and political ideologies
7.66
Explains corruption
measurements, but with gaps in
detail or accuracy
Does not explain corruption
measurements
4.6
Explains four elements of
government influence on trade
and employment, but with gaps
in detail
Applies political and legal
research to business practices,
identifying risks and
opportunities, but with gaps in
details or accuracy
Describes economic measures
of the country but with gaps in
detail
Does not explain four elements
of government influence on
trade and employment
7.66
Does not apply political and
legal research to business
practices
5.75
Does not describe economic
measures of the country
4.6
Describes aspects of trade in
the country but with gaps in
details
Does not describe aspects of
trade in the country
7.66
Describes economic measures
of the country, including
interest rates, unemployment,
inflation, GDP growth rate,
exchange rates, exchange rate
regime, GDP, labor force, major
industries, and FDI rates
Describes aspects of trade in
the country, including major
trading partners, list of
imports/exports, and details of
RTAs and member countries
Economic:
Transportation and
Telecommunication
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
supports description with
examples or illustrations
Economic:
Observation Deck
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
provides examples to support
the accuracy of application
Final
Recommendations:
Market Entry
Strategies
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
recommendation is
substantiated with research,
examples, or substantive detail
to show keen insight into
market entry
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
elements described
demonstrate keen cultural
awareness regarding market
entry in the country of choice
Submission is free of errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, and
organization and is presented in
a professional and easy-to-read
format
Final
Recommendations:
Cultural Awareness
Articulation of
Response
Describes infrastructural
elements that impact trade,
including major
airports/seaports/train stations,
internet users, mobile
providers, and a Logistics
Performance Index rating
Applies economic and
infrastructural research
elements to business practices
and market entry
Describes infrastructural
elements that impact trade but
with gaps in detail or relevancy
Does not describe
infrastructural elements that
impact trade
4.6
Applies economic and
infrastructural research
elements to business practices
and market entry, but with gaps
in detail
Provides market entry
recommendation but lacks logic
or applicability based on
previous research
Does not apply economic and
infrastructural research
elements to business practices
and market entry
5.75
Does not provide market entry
recommendation based on
previous research
5.75
Describes reasonable and
relevant elements of culture
that should be addressed during
market entry
Describes elements of culture
that should be addressed during
market entry but with gaps in
reason or relevancy
Does not describe elements of
culture that should be
addressed during market entry
7.66
Submission has no major errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
Submission has major errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
that negatively impact
readability and articulation of
main ideas
Submission has critical errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
that prevent understanding of
ideas
5
Provides logical, applicable
market entry recommendation
based on previous research
Total
100%
Country
Name
Country Analysis
Presenter’s Name
Introduction: Country Name
Rationale
Insert Map Here
Location and Geography
Sociocultural Environment
Country Composition
Sociocultural Environment
Values and Communication
Business Etiquette
Sociocultural Environment: Observation Deck
Business Observations
Political-Legal Environment
Government and Ideologies
Corruption
Political-Legal Environment
Trade Regulations and Legal Considerations
Political-Legal Environment: Observation Deck
Business Observations
Economic-Infrastructural Environment
Economic Measures
Trade
Economic-Infrastructural Environment
Economic-Infrastructural Environment:
Observation Deck
Business Observations
Final Recommendations
Market Entry Strategies
Cultural Awareness
References
Purchase answer to see full
attachment