Assessment Task: An individually written essay with a focus on the energy industry bromadlla
Weighting: 100% Word count: 2,000 words
The energy industry is technological-intensive and highly globalized, with operations, networks of production and transportation spanning continents. Energy use is increasing due to a growing world population and rising consumption. Simultaneously, climate change and environmental degradation call for innovative forms of energy production and usage processes and businesses that face highly-established competition from the nuclear sector and importantly, carbon fuels (oil, gas and coal). Thus, pressing social, economic and political debates have important implications for international relations and international business.
Using appropriate academic theory (including models) and real-world case examples.
Discuss the following:
Part A:
Analyse the global macro (external) environment of the energy industry, focusing on the opportunities available and threats they face in the current business environment
What strategies might global energy firms pursue to gain competitive advantage?
Part B
With the new wave of surging demand for cleaner alternative sources of energy, how might you advise a new start-up (energy firm) looking to provide alternative sources of energy globally? In your opinion, what would be the best way for the start-up to internationalise?
Corporate Social Responsibility is critical to the sustainability of global businesses. Using appropriate theories/models, discuss how energy firms can be socially responsible. How can non-compliance to CSR by an energy firm affect their global operations (sales, marketing and supply chain)?
