Managerial Economics

JWI 515: Managerial Economics Course Guide

© Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University. JWI 515 – Assignment 2 (1198) Page 1 of 5

Assignment 2: Executive Brief (Weight: 12%) Due by Sunday, midnight of Week 4

Instructions In Assignment 2, you will analyze the data collected in your GUIDES Worksheet. Now that you have researched the economic conditions of the target country, using the Indicators and other resources, you are ready to make a recommendation. You will present your conclusions and proposed next steps in a 3 to 4-page Executive Brief. In this document, you summarize your key findings, recommend a course of action, and provide a rationale for your proposal. Your home country data is an important benchmark for interpreting the data on the target country which you have been researching. Use the prompts below to analyze your findings and decide on the best next steps. Make notes on your response to each prompt, so as to clarify your ideas. As an Executive Brief is a succinct business communication, it is helpful to work through your data and refine your conclusions before writing the document. When you are ready to proceed, use the Sample Outline provided at the end of the Instructions to structure your assignment document.

1. Economic Conditions in your Target Country:

o Describe the overall economic health and business trends in the target country

o What three Indicators helped most in assessing the target country’s economic health? Why?

o What stage of the business cycle is your industry in for the target country?

o What does this imply for growth opportunities for your company in the target country?

2. Recommended Option:

o Based on your research, what is the best next step for your company in the target country? Choose ONE of the recommendations below:

 Enter new market in target country  Do Not enter new market in target country  Expand existing market presence in target country  Plan for withdrawal from the market in target country

o What is the rationale for your recommendation, based on your research?

o What two Indicators helped most in assessing the business outlook for your company and its industry in the target country? Why?

JWI 515: Managerial Economics Course Guide

© Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University. JWI 515 – Assignment 2 (1198) Page 2 of 5

Professional Formatting Requirements

• Typed, double-spaced, professional font (size 10-12), include headings and subheadings, with one-inch margins on all sides

• In place of a Cover page, provide the following heading at the top of Page One of your Executive Brief:

 TO: Insert Professor’s Name  FROM: Insert Your Name  DATE: Insert Date Submitted  RE: Managerial Economics 515 – Assignment 2 – Executive Brief

• Include a References page that enables the reader to locate original sources. Application and analysis of

course materials and resources are expected, and additional research is welcome

• The References page is not included in the required length

JWI 515: Managerial Economics Course Guide

© Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University. JWI 515 – Assignment 2 (1198) Page 3 of 5

Executive Brief – Sample Outline

Use the following Outline of sections to organize the body of your Brief. Use the underlined headings as section headings in your memo. Use the prompts in each section to make sure you include the required content.

TO: Your Instructor FROM: Your Name DATE: Submittal Date RE: Managerial Economics 515 – Assignment 2 – Executive Brief

Introduction (Address the following)

Specify your home country, target country, company and the industry it operates in Give an overview of the task you have done researching Indicators and explain its purpose

Target Country Economic State (Address the following)

Describe the economic health and business trends of your target country What three Indicators were key in assessing the target country’s economic health? Why? What stage of the business cycle is your industry in for the target country? What does this data imply for growth opportunities for your company in the target country?

Recommendation (Address the following)

Choose ONE of the following options to recommend:

 Enter new market in target country  Do Not enter new market in target country  Expand existing market presence in target country  Plan for withdrawal from the target country’s market

Briefly explain the rationale for your recommendation, with reference to your research

What two Indicators were key in assessing the business outlook for your company and its industry in the target country? Why?

References

JWI 515: Managerial Economics Course Guide

© Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University. JWI 515 – Assignment 2 (1198) Page 4 of 5

RUBRIC: Assignment 2: Executive Brief

CRITERIA Unsatisfactory Low Pass Pass High Pass Honors

1. Describe the overall economic health and business trends of your target country.

Weight: 20%

Does not describe the overall economic health and/or business trends of the target country.

Partially describes the overall economic health and business trends of the target country.

Satisfactorily describes the overall economic health and business trends of the target country.

Very good description of the overall economic health and business trends of the target country.

Exemplary description of the overall economic health and business trends of the target country.

2. What three Indicators helped most in assessing the target country’s economic health? Why?

Weight: 20%

Identifies fewer than three indicators that helped in assessing the target country’s economic health and/or does not explain why they helped.

Identifies three indicators that helped in assessing the target country’s economic health and partially explains why they helped.

Identifies three indicators that helped in assessing the target country’s economic health and satisfactorily explains why they helped.

Identifies three indicators that helped in assessing the target country’s economic health and provides a very good explanation of why they helped.

Identifies three indicators that helped in assessing the target country’s economic health and provides an excellent explanation of why they helped.

3. What is the business cycle stage in your industry in the target country? Explain its implications for growth opportunities.

Weight: 15%

Does not identify the business cycle stage for the industry in the target country and/or does not explain its implications for growth.

Identifies the business cycle stage for the industry in the target country and partially explains its implications for growth.

Identifies the business cycle stage for the industry in the target country and satisfactorily explains its implications for growth.

Identifies the business cycle stage for the industry in the target country and provides a very good explanation of its implications for growth.

Identifies the business cycle stage for the industry in the target country and provides an excellent explanation of its implications for growth.

JWI 515: Managerial Economics Course Guide

© Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University. JWI 515 – Assignment 2 (1198) Page 5 of 5

CRITERIA

Unsatisfactory

Low Pass

Pass

High Pass

Honors

4. Select an appropriate recommen- dation and explain its rationale, based on your research.

Weight: 20%

Does not select an appropriate recommendation and/or does not clearly explain its rationale with reference to the student’s research.

Selects an appropriate recommendation and partially explains its rationale, with adequate reference to the student’s research.

Selects an appropriate recommendation and satisfactorily explains its rationale, with good reference to the student’s research.

Selects an appropriate recommendation and provides a detailed explanation of its rationale, with very good reference to the student’s research.

Selects an appropriate recommendation and provides an exemplary explanation of its rationale, with excellent reference to the student’s research.

5. What two Indicators helped most in assessing the business outlook for your company and industry in the target country? Why?

Weight: 15%

Identifies fewer than two indicators that helped in assessing the business outlook for the company and industry and/or does not explain why they helped.

Identifies two indicators that helped in assessing the business outlook for the company and industry and partially explains why they helped.

Identifies two indicators that helped in assessing the business outlook for the company and industry and satisfactorily explains why they helped.

Identifies two indicators that helped in assessing the business outlook for the company and industry and provides a very good explanation of why they helped.

Identifies two indicators that helped in assessing the business outlook for the company and industry and provides an excellent explanation of why they helped.

6. Clarity, logic, writing mechanics, and formatting.

Weight: 10%

Multiple mechanical errors; much of the text is difficult to understand or the text does not flow; fails to follow formatting instructions.

Several mechanical errors make parts of the text difficult for the reader to understand; the text does not flow; the discussion fails to justify conclusions and assertions.

More than a few mechanical errors; text flows but lacks conciseness or clarity; assertions and conclusions are generally justified and explained.

Few mechanical errors; text flows and concisely and clearly expresses the student’s position in a manner that rationally and logically develops the topics.

Few to no mechanical errors; text flows and concisely, clearly, and exemplarily expresses the student’s position in a manner that rationally and logically develops the topics.

JWI 515: Managerial Economics Course Guide

© Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University. JWI 515 – Assignment 1 (1198) Page 1 of 4

Assignment 1: GUIDES Worksheet (Weight: 10%) Due by Sunday, Midnight of Week 3

Overview

In Assignment 1, you will learn how to collect economic data, using Economic Indicators that are readily available to consumers online. Economic Indicators are key statistics or metrics used to study the status of the overall economy, industry segments, and specific companies. To help you learn how Economic Indicators work, JWMI has created a GUIDES Worksheet, which will take you step by step through the process of collecting the data needed for both Assignment 1 and Assignment 2. You will use the Worksheet provided in your course to research key economic information about TWO countries: a target country that you select and your home country. The target country is a potential overseas location for your current company (or a company of interest) to expand its business, either by increasing an existing division located there or by entering a new market. For most students, your home country is the United States, but for international students, it is your country of residence. Exceptions are possible if you have a unique situation – contact your Professor.

Use your current company and its industry for context. If your company is not currently operating globally, imagine that it is considering entry into one of the markets below. It is your task to assess the economic conditions in relation to your company’s unique profile and needs, so as to assess whether expansion into the potential overseas market makes sense for your business.

Choose ONE of the following countries as the target country for this assignment:

• Bahrain • Canada • Chile • Ethiopia • Germany • Hungary • Ireland • Japan

• Mexico • Russia • South Africa • South Korea • Thailand • Turkey • United Kingdom

JWI 515: Managerial Economics Course Guide

© Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University. JWI 515 – Assignment 1 (1198) Page 2 of 4

Instructions Download and save your GUIDES Worksheet in Week 1. Complete the entries in the GUIDES Worksheet during Weeks 2 and 3. All the required data can be found on the Trading Economics or Doing Business websites (links below).

§ Access the Trading Economics website at http://www.tradingeconomics.com § Access the Doing Business website at http://www.doingbusiness.org

TIP: To locate Economic Indicators not found on the Trading Economics website main landing page, click the INDICATORS drop-down menu at the top of the page, to see the full list of available Indicators. Week 1: Download and save your GUIDES Worksheet:

§ Review the instructions for Assignment 1 § Download and save your GUIDES Worksheet as an MS Word document § Use this format for your filename: LastName_FirstName_JWI515_GUIDES_Worksheet.docx

e.g. Doe_John_JWI515_ GUIDES_Worksheet.docx Week 2: Complete the following sections of the GUIDES Worksheet:

o Section G (GDP & Growth) o Section U (Unemployment & Utilization) o Section I (Inflation & Interest rates)

Week 3: Complete the following sections of the GUIDES Worksheet:

o Section D (Debt & Deficits) o Section E (External balances & Exchange rates) o Section S (Savings & Investment)

Submit your completed GUIDES Worksheet document (All Sections – G, U, I, D, E, and S) in Week 3.

JWI 515: Managerial Economics Course Guide

© Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University. JWI 515 – Assignment 1 (1198) Page 3 of 4

RUBRIC: Assignment 1: GUIDES Worksheet

CRITERIA

Unsatisfactory

Low Pass

Pass

High Pass

Honors

1. Complete the GUIDES Worksheet: Section G

Weight: 15%

Section G is not submitted or the data does not reflect accurate information. The student demonstrates no understanding as to whether or not the Indicators are representative of Economic health.

Section G is partially complete and/or the information is not always accurate. The student demonstrates minimal understanding as to whether or not the Indicators are representative of Economic health.

Section G is satisfactorily complete. The information is mostly accurate. The trend description is mostly adequate. The student can identify in a majority of cases whether or not the Indicators are representative of Economic health.

Section G is complete. The information is accurate. The trend descriptions contain mostly relevant, helpful information. The student is mostly able to accurately determine whether or not the Indicators are representative of Economic health.

Section G is exemplarily completed. The information is accurate, complete, and provides concise details that accurately describe the economic trends. The student is always – or almost always – able to accurately determine whether or not the Indicators are representative of Economic health.

2. Complete the GUIDES Worksheet: Section U

Weight: 15%

Section U is not submitted or the data does not reflect accurate information. The student demonstrates no understanding as to whether or not the Indicators are representative of Economic health

Section U is partially complete and/or the information is not always accurate. The student demonstrates minimal understanding as to whether or not the Indicators are representative of Economic health

Section U is satisfactorily complete. The information is mostly accurate. The trend description is mostly adequate. The student can identify in a majority of cases whether or not the Indicators are representative of Economic health.

Section U is complete. The information is accurate. The trend descriptions contain mostly relevant, helpful information. The student is mostly able to accurately determine whether or not the Indicators are representative of Economic health

Section U is exemplarily completed. The information is accurate, complete, and provides concise details that accurately describe the economic trends. The student is always – or almost always – able to accurately determine whether or not the Indicators are representative of Economic health

3. Complete the GUIDES Worksheet: Section I

Weight: 15%

Section I is not submitted or the data does not reflect accurate information. The student demonstrates no understanding as to whether or not the Indicators are representative of Economic health.

Section I is partially complete and/or the information is not always accurate. The student demonstrates minimal understanding as to whether or not the Indicators are representative of Economic health.

Section I is satisfactorily complete. The information is mostly accurate. The trend description is mostly adequate. The student can identify in a majority of cases whether or not the Indicators are representative of Economic health.

Section I is complete. The information is accurate. The trend descriptions contain mostly relevant, helpful information. The student is mostly able to accurately determine whether or not the Indicators are representative of Economic health.

Section I is exemplarily completed. The information is accurate, complete, and provides concise details that accurately describe the economic trends. The student is almost always able to accurately determine whether or not the Indicators are representative of Economic health.

JWI 515: Managerial Economics Course Guide

© Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University. JWI 515 – Assignment 1 (1198) Page 4 of 4

CRITERIA

Unsatisfactory

Low Pass

Pass

High Pass

Honors

4. Complete the GUIDES Worksheet: Section D

Weight: 20%

Section D is not submitted or the data does not reflect accurate information. The student demonstrates no understanding as to whether or not the Indicators are representative of Economic health.

Section D is partially complete and/or the information is not always accurate. The student demonstrates minimal understanding as to whether or not the Indicators are representative of Economic health.

Section D is satisfactorily complete. The information is mostly accurate. The trend description is mostly adequate. The student can identify in a majority of cases whether or not the Indicators are representative of Economic health.

Section D is complete. The information is accurate. The trend descriptions contain mostly relevant, helpful information. The student is mostly able to accurately determine whether or not the Indicators are representative of Economic health.

Section D is exemplarily completed. The information is accurate, complete, and provides concise details that accurately describe the economic trends. The student is always – or almost always – able to accurately determine whether or not the Indicators are representative of Economic health.

5. Complete the GUIDES Worksheet: Section E

Weight: 20%

Section E is not submitted or the data does not reflect accurate information. The student demonstrates no understanding as to whether or not the Indicators are representative of Economic health.

Section E is partially complete and/or the information is not always accurate. The student demonstrates minimal understanding as to whether or not the Indicators are representative of Economic health.

Section E is satisfactorily complete. The information is mostly accurate. The trend description is mostly adequate. The student can identify in a majority of cases whether or not the Indicators are representative of Economic health.

Section E is complete. The information is accurate. The trend descriptions contain mostly relevant, helpful information. The student is mostly able to accurately determine whether or not the Indicators are representative of Economic health.

Section E is exemplarily completed. The information is accurate, complete, and provides concise details that accurately describe the economic trends. The student is always – or almost always – able to accurately determine whether or not the Indicators are representative of Economic health.

6. Complete the GUIDES Worksheet: Section S

Weight: 15%

Section S is not submitted or the data does not reflect accurate information. The student demonstrates no understanding as to whether or not the Indicators are representative of Economic health.

Section S is partially complete and/or the information is not always accurate. The student demonstrates minimal understanding as to whether or not the Indicators are representative of Economic health.

Section S is satisfactorily complete. The information is mostly accurate. The trend description is mostly adequate. The student can identify in a majority of cases whether or not the Indicators are representative of Economic health.

Section S is complete. The information is accurate. The trend descriptions contain mostly relevant, helpful information. The student is mostly able to accurately determine whether or not the Indicators are representative of Economic health.

Section S is exemplarily completed. The information is accurate, complete, and provides concise details that accurately describe the economic trends. The student is always – or almost always – able to accurately determine whether or not the Indicators are representative of Economic health.