Internet Assignments

Students:

Included here are some internet/case assignments that you can use to review or that your instructor may give as assignments. Your instructors have been given the answers to these questions and may choose to give them out to you or not.

This case is designed to:

• Expose you to a number of Internet sites that provide valuable information about international business.

The Internet is a valuable resource for anyone involved in international business. It has no domestic boundaries and provides extensive information on the many aspects of doing business in the international arena. With so much information available, however, finding what you're looking for can sometimes be both daunting and frustrating.

The answers to the questions below can be found at Internet sites around the world. Some of the answers are be easy to find; others will require you to be creative as you search the various sites. To help in your search, a suggested site is included with each question. Answers to many of the questions, however, can be found at multiple sites. Feel free to be creative as you answer the questions below!

1. The International Trade Administration of the US Department of Commerce provides a section that is useful for businesses that would like to grow internationally. One of the links "Want Your Business to Grow in Your Current Markets?" provides information on seven things that will help businesses to grow. What are these seven things? Go here to find out: http://www.ita.doc.gov/FS_Growintbus.html
2. The World Development Indicators is the World Bank's premier annual compilation of data about development. World Development Indicators 2000 includes 800 indicators in 85 tables, organized in six sections: world view, people, environment, economy, states and markets, and global links. The tables cover 148 economies and 15 country groups with basic indicators for a further 58 economies. The World View section states that a sixth of the world's people produce what percent of the worlds goods and services and receive what percent of the world's income? Go here to find out: http://www.worldbank.org/data/wdi/worldview.htm
3. What countries presently make up the European Union? Go here to find out: http://www.eurunion.org/
4. How will the Internet likely impact the global economic prospects of developing countries in 2001? Go here to find out: http://www.worldbank.org/prospects/gep2001/
5. What is the proper way to present a business card to a Japanese businessman? Go here to find out: http://ciber.bus.msu.edu/busres/Channel/businesscard.htm
6. Assume that when you graduate from the University, you'd like to work overseas. Pick a country outside the U.S. that you might like to work in. What country did you pick? Where can you find information about jobs in your field that are available in this country? Go here to find out: http://fisher.osu.edu/ciber/International/internatframe.htm
7. What are the ten benefits of the WTO trading system? Go here to find the answer: http://www.wto.org/
8. Where is Singapore located? What are its official languages? Go here to find out: http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html
9. In how many countries does the Coca Cola Company operate? Go here to begin your search. http://www.hoovers.com/
10. What is the cover story in the current issue of The Economist? Go here to find out: http://www.economist.com/