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