IBM 250 International Sales & Marketing Winter 2021 Research Project Introduction You must make and submit an International Sales and Marketing Plan. The plan must be for either the company you work for or a fictitious company of your choice. It must take an existing or new product or service from the country of your choice into an international market that is new to the company. The steps to follow are: 1. Select an organization, product or service and international target market. You can keep the product or service you designed last semester or you can choose a new one. Product choices need to be made and submitted by October 31. 2. Complete secondary research to gather information on trends, barriers and other key considerations when exporting the selected product or service to the selected target market. You will need this information to write the Situational Analysis and Market Analysis sections of the plan. If you have conducted and/or presented similar research for other courses, you may use it for this assignment. 3. Research additional information that will assist you in developing a feasible and comprehensive international sales and marketing plan. 4. Write the plan using the Evaluation Criteria as an organizational guide.

Project Guidelines There are several factors to keep in mind when developing your plan: Present a well-organized, logical project that reflects both descriptive and analytical abilities. Consider options and alternatives, make recommendations and explain your rationale for the selection. The process of arriving at a recommendation or conclusion can be more important, in some cases, that the recommendation itself. Structure the project in line with the Evaluation Criteria. Review the expectations related to each section of the project and ensure you address these thoroughly. Look carefully at the grading scheme. In general, if a section is worth twice as much as another, your project should reflect that proportion. Remember that these projects are your opportunity to demonstrate learning, understanding and retention of international trade concepts. Sometimes, considering an alternative and dismissing it (with supporting rationale) can be very effective in demonstrating an understanding of the material. Metrics and financials are important elements of any serious report or analysis. Descriptions are important and qualitative analysis is valuable when properly done. Choose sources carefully and ensure that your project is well-supported with data, metrics and financials. Also, be sure to quote the source of all information and references provided. Each project provides the opportunity to earn points for the "Overall Format" of the project (see Evaluation Criteria). With minimal effort and a little creativity, you can make your paper visually interesting. Use supporting graphics effectively, organize sections and titles to assist with flow and readability and review grammar and spelling. Pay attention to the quality and organization of your project.

Evaluation Criteria Criteria Maximum Score The plan should:

Executive Summary 5 Summarize the content of the plan and highlight key points and conclusions (Maximum one page) Organizational Profile 5 Detail information about the organization (real or fictional), including its history, location, mission, goals and values, as well as other relevant background information such as size, key products/services, experience in international markets and in the selected market (if applicable).