MGT 405 – Option #1: International Issue Examination

Select an organization that operates internationally but which has had controversy or widely-recognized problems. For example, Wal-Mart has expanded into South Korea only to find that Wal-Mart products were not wanted; Shell Oil continues to battle allegations of benefiting from corrupt political bodies in foreign locations; and the United Nations has been criticized for its ineffectiveness in war-torn countries. Your Portfolio Project will be a position paper of 10-12 pages, not including the reference and title pages, that includes an examination of the following: The management issue. The following components and how they impact the organization: external environment factors, cultural dynamics, strategy and structure. A description of the theories that apply to the international management of the organization and the handling of the specific issues. A substantiated opinion regarding the organization’s management of the issues, in other words, has the organizational management been effective in its facilitation of the organization’s position in the global landscape? Why or why not? Given the future of international management, include thoughts on how management can prepare to deal with or conclude the issues. Your project should adhere to the following standards: Your Portfolio Project should be 10-12 pages long, not including the required title and reference pages, and formatted according to the CSU Global Writing Center . (Links to an external site.) Include a minimum of five scholarly sources (the CSU Global Library is a good place to find these sources). Employ in-text citations and references that adhere to APA formatting. Utilize the Business Management Administration Library Guide. The Library Guide is available via the following link to serve as a great resource in this course for you. International Business Library Guide: http://csuglobal.libguides.com/intbus (Links to an external site.) Week 2 Deliverable: In Week 2 you will submit the name of an organization and a description. See the Portfolio Project Milestone and grading rubric in the Week 2 folder for more information. Week 5 Deliverable: In Week 5 you will submit an outline to your instructor for review. Be sure to touch base with your instructor early in the week if you have any questions or concerns about this assignment. Create an outline for your Portfolio Project that includes identification of the organizational issues you have selected and how the theories and frameworks covered so far in class apply and why the organization expanded internationally. Incorporate the following three topics in your outline: External environmebcqnt factors. Cultural dynamics. Strategy and structure.

Expert Answer:

One organization that operates internationally and has faced controversy is Nike. Nike has been accused of poor labor practices in its factories located in foreign countries, specifically in Asia.

Management issue: Nike has faced criticism for its treatment of workers in its foreign factories, including low wages, long working hours, and poor working conditions.

External environment factors: Nike operates in a global market, and must consider the economic and political conditions in the countries where it has factories. The company has faced pressure from consumers and advocacy groups to improve labor conditions in its factories.

Cultural dynamics: Nike’s foreign factories are often located in countries with different cultural norms and values regarding labor practices. This can create challenges for the company in terms of managing its workers and addressing cultural differences.

Strategy and structure: Nike has faced criticism for its reliance on subcontractors to manufacture its products, which can make it difficult for the company to monitor and address labor practices in its supply chain. The company’s decentralized structure may also contribute to challenges in addressing issues in its foreign factories.

Theories that apply: The theories of global corporate social responsibility and stakeholder management can be applied to Nike’s handling of labor issues in its foreign factories.

Opinion: Nike has faced criticism for its management of labor issues in its foreign factories, and the company has taken steps in recent years to address these issues. However, there is still room for improvement in terms of ensuring fair and ethical treatment of workers in Nike’s global supply chain.

Future considerations: In order to effectively address labor issues in the future, Nike should consider implementing more robust monitoring and reporting systems in its foreign factories and increasing transparency in its supply chain. The company should also prioritize stakeholder engagement and consider the impact of its actions on all stakeholders, including workers and communities in foreign countries.