Discussion

Requirements
Discuss the likely changes that will occur for China and its role in global value chains (GVCs) following the Covid-19 pandemic. You might discuss:
1. How foreign producers and consumers perceptions of China might change;
2. How Asian and other suppliers to Chinese assemblers and manufacturers might change their startegies;
3. Whether GVCs will change and how, for example, will it prompt reshoring, nearshoring, or a China+1 strategy/
4. How will Factory Asia be impacted by the pandemic?
5. How might Chinese firms react, will they seek to reduce dependence on overseas markets, will they move towards services which might be traded more easily, will they automate production processes to replace labour?
6. What policies might the Chinese authorities implement to reduce the damage to their economy and reputation?
7. How might foreign governments react to these events, will there be more state intervention in international business, more protectionism?
8. How might the efficiency imperative that drives globalisation change to incorporate greater resilience?
There are other impacts you might wish to discuss and I would like to see you link your analysis back to the ideas and concepts covered in the paper.
Programme learning goals
1. Be self-aware, critically reflective and ethical international business professionals
2. Be effective thinkers and problem solvers
3. Be effective communicators (written and oral)
4. Be able to apply international business to issues in professional international business practice
Paper learning outcomes
1. Critically reflect on and discuss the changing nature of the world economy and its implications for international business activity.
2. Critically reflect on and discuss the contemporary structure of the world economy, particularly developed and emerging economies.
3. Analyse the evolution of global value chains and international business strategies and how these have responded to changing conditions.
4. Critically reflect on and discuss the growth of externalised international business activity including outsourcing, offshoring, contract manufacturing and the rise of the global factory.