You are preparing for a top-level meeting between the Minister of International Trade, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and senior business executives representing several multinational corporations as well as a large group of small- and medium-size enter
business
Description
Case
Study #1: Canada in the Global Business Environment
Canada: A trading nation?
You are
preparing for a top-level meeting between the Minister of International Trade,
the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and senior business executives representing
several multinational corporations as well as a large group of small- and
medium-size enterprises. The objective of the meeting is to discuss Canada’s
strategy in responding to the changing global business environment.
Expectations are high since everyone wishes to move beyond political
pronouncements and joint statements, to specific strategies and actions. The
Trade Canada Summit is raising expectations and all are committed to motivating
a call to action across major stakeholders engaged in international commerce.
While
Canadians like to refer to the country as a “trading nation”—partly because of
history and partly because of the large impact of trade on the Canadian economy
today, leading practitioners and senior officials recognize several truths:
• Canadian trade is highly concentrated in
import/export activities with the United States
• Certain industry sectors such as automotive
and resource-based businesses account for a disproportionately large amount of
Canada’s trade
• Intra-company trade—transfers of resources
between affiliated companies—is an important part of Canada’s “export” business
The hard
reality being confronted, and one which serves as a critical backdrop for this
meeting, is the realization that by current standards, Canada does NOT qualify
to be referred to as a trading nation. One point of agreement between all parties
is that Canada CAN and MUST do better.
Your
role
You are a
senior consultant engaged jointly by the Government and the private sector
stakeholders, to guide and facilitate the meeting and to assist in any agreed
follow-on actions. Your success will be measured by the degree to which theory
and principle are translated to practical, innovative recommendations and
actions, endorsed by all parties at the Trade Canada Summit.
© FITT 1 FITTskills:
Global Business Environment Case Study #1: Canada in the Global Business
Environment
