For this assignment, students will select an organization and assess the option to expand the reach of its operations and/or services into a new country. Suggestions for the company will be provided by the instructor that students can choose from or students can select their own scenario to work on upon the instructor's approval. Students should complete the following steps:

1. External assessment:Students should utilize tools such as PESTLE Analysis to assess the external factors within the new region of interest. The output of the assessment should help to develop an in-depth understanding of external forces and variables that might influence the company's business within the host region to varying degrees. Variables should be specific and preferably, quantifiable. Examples include ease of conducting business, licensing, hiring practices and policies, credit and banking, taxes, contract enforcement, trading across borders, culture, demographics and psychographics, market readiness, infrastructure and technology, economic conditions, politics, and legal factors.
2. Strategy formulation and key task identification:Using the results of the external assessment, students should formulate 2-3 alternative strategies to facilitate a successful expansion. Students are required to clearly indicate those external factors that informed and guided the formulation of the alternative strategies. For each alternative strategy, students should define at least two (2) key tasks that facilitate the implementation of the strategy upon completion.
3. Structure selection:Strategy shapes structure. Students should select and justify an appropriate structure (top-down, bottom-up, or both) for at least three (3) tasks identified in the previous step.

Take Vinfast Vietnam as an example, and follow the outline below

Title: Expanding VinFast's Operations into a New Country: Assessing External Factors and Developing Strategies

I. Introduction - Briefly introduce VinFast as the selected organization - Explain the purpose of the assignment: to assess the option of expanding VinFast's operations into a new country

II. External Assessment A. PESTLE Analysis 1. Political factors 2. Economic conditions 3. Sociocultural factors 4. Technological factors 5. Legal factors 6. Environmental factors B. Assessing External Forces and Variables 1. Ease of conducting business 2. Licensing requirements 3. Hiring practices and policies 4. Credit and banking systems 5. Taxation policies 6. Contract enforcement 7. Trading across borders 8. Cultural considerations 9. Demographics and psychographics 10. Market readiness 11. Infrastructure and technology availability III. Strategy Formulation and Key Task Identification A. Alternative Strategies 1. Strategy 1: Market Entry through Joint Venture 2. Strategy 2: Exporting to the New Country 3. Strategy 3: Acquiring a Local Company B. External Factors Influencing Strategies - Clearly indicate how specific external factors informed and guided the formulation of each strategy C. Key Tasks for Strategy Implementation 1. Strategy 1: - Key Task 1: Identifying potential joint venture partners and conducting due diligence - Key Task 2: Negotiating and finalizing partnership agreements 2. Strategy 2: - Key Task 1: Analyzing export regulations and customs requirements - Key Task 2: Establishing distribution channels in the new country 3. Strategy 3: - Key Task 1: Conducting a thorough target company analysis - Key Task 2: Planning and executing the acquisition process IV. Structure Selection A. Top-Down Structure - Justify the use of top-down structure for one of the identified key tasks B. Bottom-Up Structure - Justify the use of bottom-up structure for another identified key task C. Combination of Structures - Justify the use of a combination of structures for the third identified key task V. Conclusion - Summarize the key findings and recommendations for VinFast's expansion into the new country - Highlight the importance of considering external factors and selecting appropriate structures for successful implementation of the strategies