INSTRUCTIONS FOR INDIVIDUAL PROJECT – INTL725

Research Report (20%) due Week 6

PowerPoint Presentation (20%) due Week 13

This is an applied research for a specific Canadian company. Please choose one case study

from the success stories provided from the website link below. Also, choose 5 markets

(countries), and your professor will select one among the 5 for you.

TCS: https://www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/stories-

histoires/index.aspx?lang=eng&category_categorie=CPTPP

1. In the Research Report, you will identify 3 main points that can add value to the company. For example: Which new markets can they export to? What are the trends in this sector? Is

there a trade agreement that benefits the company? How can the company increase their

competitive advantage in their new and existing markets? (Please note: you can still choose

a country that the case study indicates that they have already exported to.)

2. In the PowerPoint Presentation, assuming that the company hires you to conduct research on how to export to a new market (chosen by you / 5 and select by your professor). You

will conduct secondary and primary research and present the findings to the company in

PowerPoint format. Create a PowerPoint file, and record your presentation: click Slide

Show, then Record. (Please note: In case your PowerPoint does not allow to record, you

can use Zoom to record. PowerPoint slides and your video are required in the recording.

If your video is too large, you can put it on OneDrive; see instructions on page 4. Students

are responsible for making sure the OneDrive link works, i.e., “Anyone with the link can

view.” Audio recording is not accepted.)

You should choose a market and a sector (i.e. topic) that you know well and are likely to

specialize in your future career.

Students cannot choose the same case study. Please join the discussion board in order to know

what case studies are available or unavailable.

For your research, use the following Canadian sources plus journal articles (eCentennial online

library) and Industry Canada data.

1. Export Development Canada: https://www.edc.ca/ 2. The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service: https://www.tradecommissioner.gc.ca/ 3. FITT Trade Ready: http://www.tradeready.ca/ 4. Canadian Business: https://www.canadianbusiness.com/ 5. Maclean's: https://www.macleans.ca/ 6. Financial Post: https://business.financialpost.com/ 7. BNN Bloomberg: https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/ 8. McKinsey & Company: https://www.mckinsey.com/ca

1. Research Report

Number of Sources Required (At least 6 sources including TCS source)

• Canadian sources: Go to Canadian sources above and search your key words (instead

of using Google)

• One journal article: From eCentennial –> Library resources –> A-Z databases –>

Business Source Complete, then search your key words (instead of using Google)

• Industry Canada data: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/tdo-dcd.nsf/eng/Home

Identify 3 main points you want to make that can add value to the company (and other

companies in the same market and sector). For example: Which new markets can they export

to? What are the trends in this sector? Is there a trade agreement that benefits the company?

How can the company increase their competitive advantage in their new and existing markets?

Report Format

• 3 pages of text (typewritten, single-spaced, 12 font size, Times New Roman)

• Include cover letter, related charts, graphs, photos and references

Outline

• Cover letter (addressing the company)

• Title of your paper

• Abstract: This section is often written in italics

• Key words: provide 4 to 8 key concepts in your research

• Introduction

• Background

• (Point 1)

• (Point 2)

• (Point 3)

• Conclusion

• Page of references

Useful Hints

• The abstract is a summary of the whole paper, i.e., one can just read the abstract to

know the main content of your paper.

• The title is a summary of the abstract, i.e., one can look at the title to know the main

issues you discuss in the paper.

• The first sentence of a paragraph is often the summary of the paragraph. Each

paragraph should have only one main point, and should be about 1/3 to ½ of a page in

length.

• Do not change key words or terminologies, which can happen when students use

online translation. For example, “interior design” should not be paraphrased as “inside

framework”, because this would change the meaning of the sentence and affect your

marks for writing and content.

Compliance with the Academic Honesty and Plagiarism Policy

Penalty will be applied as follows:

• Using a source without acknowledging it (even when the student paraphrased and did

not copy word-for-word): 20% deduction per source.

• Plagiarizing one sentence (or almost a sentence): 10% deduction per sentence.

• Plagiarizing one paragraph (or almost a paragraph): 50% deduction per paragraph.

• Listing a source that you did not use (in-text citation or page of references): 10%

deduction per source.

• Using work from other students: 75% deduction.

Lateness Penalty

• 20% for each day late after the deadline (including weekends).

Report Template

• See template posted.

Research Report Sample

• See sample posted.

• Please note: The report sample is example for format purposes only, not for content.

2. PowerPoint Presentation

PowerPoint format (one slide each). Please see the sample provided.

1. Introduction (first and last names only, no ID).

2. Background on the Product/Service

3. Business Opportunities

4. Research Objectives

5. Methodology / Sampling

6. Implementation Plan (time and cost)

7. Data Analysis and Interpretation (2-4 slides)

8. Business Recommendation

9. Conclusion

10. References in APA format (at least 10 sources)

• At least six reputable Internet sources from at least four different organizations

• At least one business journal article

• At least one book (you can use our textbook)

Length: 4 – 5 minutes

Please note:

– Each research objective needs to include:

1) the specific data to be collected by the researcher: “to determine average

consumer spending per year on fruits” rather than “to determine demand for fruits”

(“demand” is not specific; how do you measure “demand”?)

2) the purpose of / reason for collecting such data: “in order to develop a pricing

strategy for fruit products in the ___ market”

– Methodology and sampling need to be specific:

1) secondary data: include the names of the sources you will use

2) primary data: include details on who you will interview, conduct focus groups,

your samples, etc.

– Each source listed in References needs at least one in-text citation.

– Feel free to have up to 15 slides.

PowerPoint Presentation Sample

• See sample posted.

• Please note: The report sample is example for format purposes only, not for content.

Marking Rubric for Individual Research Report (20%).

Late penalty: 20% per day.

Criterion A+ level 5 points

A level 4 points

B level 3.5 points

C level 3 points

D level 2.5 points

F level 0 – 1 point

PROFESSIONAL

SOURCES

Used required

sources and 4 or

more additional

professional

sources.

Used required

sources and 1 – 3

additional

professional

sources

Used required

sources.

Used most (two-

thirds) of the

required sources

and/or

unverifiable

sources.

Used only 1-3

required sources

and/or

unverifiable

sources.

Did not follow

instructions on

professional sources;

OR did not provide

sources; OR plagiarized sources

(put in source(s) that

you did not use).

APA

Used in-text

citation properly at

least once for each

source; used

References

properly without

errors; provided

proper sources for

figures/graphs.

Used in-text

citation properly

at least once for

each source; used

References

properly with 1 –

2 errors; provided

proper sources for

figures/graphs.

Used in-text citation

properly at least

once for each

source; used

References

properly, with 3 – 5

errors; provided

sources for

figures/graphs.

Used in-text

citation for most

sources; used

References

properly, with 6 –

9 errors;

OR did not

provide proper

sources for

figures/graphs.

Used in-text

citation only a

few times;

OR used

References with

10 or more errors.

Did not use in-text

citation;

OR provided links

only in the

References section;

OR did not provide

a References

section.

CONTENT

Selected an

excellent topic;

provided an

effective literature

review, with

strong analysis

and logical

reasoning.

Selected an

excellent topic;

provided a

thorough

literature review,

with good

analysis and

logical reasoning.

Selected a good

topic; provided a

good literature

review, with good

analysis and logical

reasoning.

Selected an

acceptable topic;

provided some

literature review,

with some

analysis and

acceptable logical

reasoning.

Did not follow

instructions in

selecting a topic;

OR did not

provide a proper

literature review

and/or analysis,

with errors

in logical

reasoning.

Did not follow

instructions on

content;

OR did not provide a

proper literature

review and analysis,

with serious errors

in logical reasoning.

WRITING

EFFECTIVE-

NESS

Used good

template; wrote

clearly and

effectively, with

consistency in

font, spacing, and

formats.

Used good

template; wrote

clearly and

concisely, with

consistency in

font, spacing, and

formats; 1 – 2

typo errors.

Used satisfactory

template; wrote

clearly, with

consistency in font,

spacing, and

formats; 3 – 5 typo

errors.

Used acceptable

template; did not

write clearly, with

some consistency

in font, spacing,

and formats; 6 –

9 typo errors.

Did not use

satisfactory

template;

OR did not write

clearly, without

consistency in

font, spacing, or

formats; 10 or

more typo errors.

Did not use

satisfactory template;

AND/OR did not

write clearly, with

many serious errors;

OR plagiarized.

Marking Rubric for Individual PowerPoint Presentation with Video Recording (20%).

Late penalty: 20% per day.

Criterion A+ level 5 points

A level 4 points

B level 3.5 points

C level 3 points

D level 2.5 points

F level 0 – 1 point

PROFESSIONAL

SOURCES

Indicates

sources

excellently

Indicates

sources

effectively

Indicates

sources with

no errors

Indicates

sources

adequately

Indicates a few

sources only

OR with many

errors

Does not indicate

sources

CONTENT

– Research

objectives,

methodology, and

sampling

– Data analysis,

interpretation and

business

recommendation

Excellently

presents

research

objectives,

data analysis

and

recommendat

ion

Effectively

presents

research

objectives,

data analysis

and

recommendat

ion

Sufficiently

present

research

objectives,

data analysis

and

recommendati

on

Adequately

presents

research

objectives,

data analysis

and

recommendati

on

Present

research

objectives,

data analysis

and

recommendati

on acceptably

Does not clearly

present research

objectives, data

analysis and

recommendation

POWERPOINT

QUALITY

Attractive,

effective,

easy to

follow, no

errors

Attractive,

easy to

follow, no

errors

Attractive,

easy to

follow, only

a few errors

Attractive,

easy to

follow, many

errors

Not attractive,

many errors

Not attractive,

difficult to

follow, many

serious errors

ORAL

PRESENTATION

(articulation, proper

rate & pronunciation,

good posture, eye

contact, enthusiasm,

confidence)

Excellent

Effective

Good

Adequate

Acceptable

Inadequate