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.
1) TCS Case Study: Enbala helps the world energize efficiently:
2) Company Name and Product: Enbala-creating an energy future that is sustainable and balanced
1. In the PowerPoint Presentation, assuming that the company hires you to conduct research on how to export to a new market, Australia. You will conduct secondary and primary research and present the findings to the company in PowerPoint format. Create a PowerPoint file along with speaker notes, 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:
2. The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service:
3. FITT Trade Ready:
4. Canadian Business:
5. Maclean's:
6. Financial Post:
7. BNN Bloomberg:
8. McKinsey & Company:
1. 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 (Secondary Data and Primary Data) / Sampling
6. Implementation Plan (time and cost)
7. Data Analysis and Interpretation (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) Also, specify how the primary data will be collected
3) 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 |