WEEK 4: DIALOGUE hong kong

Week 4: Dialogue

Students will be responsible for answering weekly discussion questions posted under Discussion Board on Blackboard. The initial posting to each question is due no later than 11:59 pm on Thursday and responses to classmates’ postings no later than 11:59 pm on Sunday night.

There are five websites which will provide starter information on which to develop your discussion points for International Business below. Two are diverse rankings lists; the other three are to assist you with research:

Rankings Lists:

Forbes’ List: http://www.forbes.com/best-countries-for-business/list/#tab:overal

World Bank Lists: http://www.ibtimes.com/international-business-opportunities-trends-top-countries-consider-214068

Research Sources:

http://export.gov/ccg/index.asp

http://globaledge.msu.edu/global-insights/by/country

http://www.operationworld.org/countries-alphabetically

Some of the countries are ranked high on the Forbes’ list of countries for doing business; while these same countries are ranked lower on the World Bank list. It will be up to you to discern why the discrepancy. Each week we will review a country and answer the following questions:

1. What would make this country an attractive region or market in which to enter, depending on the type of opportunities your firm is considering? What are cultural influences, including customs and business etiquette in this international market, will affect business practices?
2. If you were to want to start trading with this country, with what type of entry strategy would you begin?

3. What kinds of local representation or institutional support would you need available to you to help you navigate any unforeseen obstacles and explain the laws and contract provisions in order to conduct business and protect your assets?
4. What are some of the limitations (economic, infrastructure, technological) in establishing this exchange relationship (for example, currency fluctuations, or import/export timelines)?
5. What opportunities and limitations are there for communicating the gospel of Jesus Christ? What would be a focus for prayer? Be sure to review the Operation World link above.

Weekly Discussions	Forbes’ Rank and Name	World Bank Top Ten
Week 1	#1 Denmark	Top Ten Ease of Doing Business
Week 2	#3 Norway	Top Ten Ease of Doing Business
Week 3	#8 Singapore	Top Ten Fastest Growing Economies; Lowest Trade Restrictiveness
Week 4	#11 Hong Kong	Top Ten Lowest Trade Restrictiveness
Week 5	#25 Israel	Top Ten Lowest Trade Restrictiveness
Week 6	#54 Turkey	Top Ten Lowest Trade Restrictiveness
Week 7	#94 China	Top Ten Fastest Growing Economies
Week 8	#103 Burkina Faso	Top Ten Fastest Growing Economies; Real Trade Growth