Contents

• Executive Summary 2
• Introduction 3
• Case studies: Success and Failure 5
• Options for DBD 9
• Impact on DBD’s operations 11
• Evaluation 12
• Conclusion 13
• References 14
• Bibliography 16

Description

This report is based on the following requirement –
The Brief
DBD is a UK-based SME (Small-to-Medium size Enterprise) offering specialised IT solutions (e.g. management information systems) to corporate clients. With a turnover of around £1 millions for the last financial year, DBD employs 20 people including the owner and his spouse. The company is now in its tenth year of operation and has boosted a list of prestigious clients some are multinational companies. DBD is proud of its track record in developing innovative IT solutions which often exceed clients’ specifications including delivery and product support.
The company has a desire to expand its business overseas and is keen to explore the
possibility of developing joint ventures with partners in order to bid for technology-related projects in developing countries focusing primarily in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Middle-Eastern regions. However, it has little experience/knowledge in this area and has sought your service as consultants to advise the company the way forward. In particular, the company is keen to develop a better understanding of the potential opportunities and pitfalls associated with the formation of joint ventures with international partners.
The assignment
Acting as consultants to DBD, you are asked to prepare a consultant report discussing the enterprise and leadership issues normally associated with international joint ventures. Your work should focus on the operation/experience of two companies as case studies and the chosen companies should be based in the same developing country. One of the chosen companies should demonstrate a track record of being a successful enterprise, while the other a less successful (or unsuccessful) one. The discussion should be evidence based and the analysis should include wherever possible the application of the following tools: SWOT, PESTEL, CAUSE-AND-EFFECT and PORTER’S 5 FORCES. You should also include any two of the following topics in your investigation.
•Innovation management •Change management •Funding
•Intellectual properties •Technology roadmap •Organisation
•Product/customer support •Exit strategy •Accountability
Supported by good background research, the report should seek to integrate knowledge when discussing potential opportunities and challenges to be faced by DBD when embarking on a new international project. The scope of the analysis should be clearly defined, with constraints and assumptions clearly stated. Critical evaluation / discussion of the investigation should be supported by evidence in the form of well-researched real-life examples wherever possible. Sources of information must be properly cited throughout the report together with a list of references. The report should conclude with a set of recommendations with justifications (e.g. quantifiable business benefits) to support any development plan and/or proposed changes. submit a 3500-word joint report excluding tables, figures, references and appendices.