Imagine Yourself In A Job Firm That Does Business Inter

Unit 7imagine Yourself In A Jobfirm That Does Business Internationall

Imagine yourself in a job/firm that does business internationally. Your boss has determined that you will be moving out of the United States for a project assignment for a period of 1 year. Name a country in which you would like to work. What challenges would you face in this assignment?

In this assignment, you will be creating a PowerPoint presentation of the project plan that you have been creating throughout this course. As you are creating the presentation, you will draw on assignments that you completed in Units III, V, and VI. Be sure that you have incorporated any feedback that you may have received from your professor. You will also be including information from the knowledge gained in this unit regarding international projects since you have been advised that there is a possibility of the project being repeated in your company’s branch office in another country. Please choose a country for this assignment, and conduct some research on the country’s culture and environment. Create the presentation from the standpoint that you will be presenting your finished project plan to your stakeholders. Your presentation should consist of at least 15 slides, not counting the title slide and reference slide.

Your presentation should include the components listed below:

  • Title slide
  • Project name and project manager name (you)
  • Goals of the project (reason for undertaking the project/anticipated benefits)
  • Project cost estimates
  • Project structure (functional, matrix, or projectized) with a definition of the structure
  • People/departments involved in the project
  • Timeline for completion (start date/estimated completion date)
  • Work breakdown structure (WBS) of the project
  • Three of greatest risks in your project, their effects on the project, and your response to the risks
  • Parts of the project that will be outsourced
  • Six primary environmental factors that would affect the project when it is taken internationally
  • Description of culture shock that may be experienced by employees who go overseas to work on the project and strategies for coping with it
  • References slide

Some general guidelines to follow whenever preparing PowerPoint presentations are listed below:

  • Design your presentation with the back of the room in mind. It is important that everyone can easily see and read the content.
  • Select a professional-looking slide design (appropriate for the presentation/audience). White text on dark background is the easiest for the audience.
  • Use font size of at least 24.
  • Use color and graphics when appropriate.
  • Follow the 6 x 6 rule (no more than six lines per slide/no more than six words per line).
  • Utilize the Notes function to add your talking points.
  • Avoid complete sentences whenever possible; bullet points work best.
  • Add slide transitions to enhance the audience’s experience.
  • Make this a WOW presentation! Be sure that citations and references follow proper APA formatting. You must use at least three references for this assignment, one of which can be your textbook and two of which must come from the Online Library.

Paper For Above instruction

Effective international project management requires meticulous planning, cultural understanding, and strategic risk assessment. For this assignment, I have chosen Germany as the host country for a one-year international project due to its advanced technological infrastructure, stable economy, and strategic location within Europe. Germany’s cultural values, environmental policies, and business environment present unique opportunities and challenges that will influence project planning and execution. This paper details the project overview, structure, risks, outsourcing strategies, environmental factors, cultural considerations, and mitigation strategies related to culture shock, providing a comprehensive international project plan suitable for presentation to stakeholders.

Project Overview and Goals

The project aims to develop a new green energy solution tailored to European markets, leveraging Germany’s leadership in renewable energy. The primary goal is to design and implement an innovative solar technology that increases efficiency while reducing costs. Anticipated benefits include environmental sustainability, market competitiveness, and technological advancement for the company. The project’s success will position the firm as a pioneer in sustainable energy solutions within the European Union, aligning with global initiatives to combat climate change.

Project Cost Estimates and Structure

Estimated costs for the project include research and development ($2 million), expatriate and local workforce wages ($1.5 million), equipment and infrastructure ($1 million), and contingency funds ($500,000), totaling $5 million. The project structure will adopt a matrix model, facilitating collaboration across functional departments while maintaining clear authority lines. In a matrix structure, team members report to both project managers and departmental heads, allowing flexibility and resource sharing essential for international projects.

Stakeholders and Timeline

Key departments involved include R&D, engineering, supply chain, marketing, and local government agencies. The project is scheduled to commence in January 2024, with an estimated completion date of December 2024, providing a 12-month window for development, testing, and deployment. A detailed work breakdown structure (WBS) segments the project into phases including research, prototype development, testing, manufacturing, and market launch.

Risk Management

Three primary risks identified are:

1. Regulatory changes within Germany that could delay project phases.

2. Currency fluctuation impacting costs and budgeting.

3. Cultural misalignment affecting team collaboration and stakeholder engagement.

Proactive responses involve continuous regulatory monitoring, hedging financial risks, and cultural awareness training. Contingency plans include flexibility in project timelines and budget buffers to mitigate unforeseen delays or costs.

Outsourcing and Environmental Factors

The project will outsource manufacturing to specialized European contractors and engage local consulting firms to navigate regulatory environments. Six primary environmental factors affecting the project include political stability, environmental policies, technological infrastructure, legal framework, workforce skills, and socio-economic stability. These factors will drive strategic decisions, risk mitigation, and adaptive planning.

Cultural Considerations and Culture Shock

Employees traveling to Germany may experience culture shock characterized by differences in communication styles, work ethic, and social norms. Strategies to mitigate this include pre-departure cultural training, language onboarding, and establishing support networks. Encouraging cultural exchange and fostering an inclusive environment will ease adaptation and promote team cohesion.

Conclusion

In conclusion, managing an international project in Germany involves detailed planning across multiple dimensions—cost, structure, risks, environmental, and cultural factors. Through careful analysis, proactive strategies, and cultural sensitivity, the project can achieve its goals while fostering a productive and inclusive international team environment. This comprehensive plan aligns with best practices in global project management, ensuring the project's success and sustainability.

References

  • Kerzner, H. (2017). Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling. Wiley.
  • Hofstede, G. (2001). Culture's Consequences: Comparing Values, Behaviors, Institutions, and Organizations across Nations. Sage Publications.
  • Meredith, J. R., & Mantel, S. J. (2014). Project Management: A Managerial Approach. Wiley.
  • Schwalbe, K. (2018). Information Technology Project Management. Cengage Learning.
  • European Commission. (2022). Renewable Energy in Germany. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/energy/topics/renewable-energy_en
  • German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. (2021). Energy Policy in Germany. Retrieved from https://www.bmwi.de/EN/Topics/Energy/energy.html

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