Regional Integration / Geopolitics Assignment

Regional Integration / Geopolitics Assignment

You can pick either one of the following for your assignment:

1.       The European Union

2.       The ASEAN

Some background information of these 2 major political/economic union are attached for your reference.



Sources:

•         The New Sick Man Of Europe – The EU: http://www.pewglobal.org/2013/05/13/the-new-sick-man-of-europe-the-european-union/



•         Understanding ASEAN: http://www.mckinsey.com/Insights/Public_Sector/Understanding_ASEAN_Seven_things_you_need_to_know?cid=other-eml-alt-mip-mck-oth-1405



Assuming you area Business Consultant advising the CEO of 2 companies on their strategic plan.

•         One company headquartered within the Region (EU or ASEAN), and

•         The other headquartered outside the Region (EU or ASEAN)



Pick your company from the Fortune Global 500, 2013 list. Preferably, you should pick the companies from the same industry. E.g. Boeing vs. Airbus, or Petronas vs. BP

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/global500/2013/full_list/



Your research and analysis should include at least the following:

•         A strategic review (e.g. SWOT and 5 forces analysis…etc.)

•         Financial performance (e.g. revenue, profitability, stock price, market share….etc.)

•         Shift in the industry’soperating and competitive environment

•         Identify geopolitical / economic issues currently facing this Regional Union (EU or ASEAN), for example:

o    EU – Ukraine, Southern European countries financial crisis, energy dependency on Russia…etc.

o    ASEAN – China/Japan dispute, America’s strategic regional rebalancing initiative, South China Sea island sovereignty dispute, free trade and human rights issues…etc.

•         Analysethe regional economic and geopolitical issues that impact the company’sperformance, for example:

o    Whether the Regional membership (and the lack of) positively or negatively impact their business performance within the REGION

o    Whether the Regional membership (and the lack of) positively or negatively impact their GLOBAL business performance

•         Any issues that pose new challenges / opportunities going forward

•         Your recommendation to resolve these issues and exploit the opportunities