Topic 1: Develop and maintain appropriate international business

networks
In this topic you will learn about the following:
 Build and maintain international business networks
 Identify opportunities and participate in international and Australian business
associations, trade fairs, conferences and professional development activities
 Use participation in international and Australian business associations, trade
fairs, conferences and professional development activities to establish and maintain a
network of support for the business and to enhance personal knowledge of international
markets
 Make face-to-face contact with overseas business associates and network
members
 Establish communication channels with international networking associates
 Provide input and seek and verify feedback

1.1a What are the opportunities international networks provide? Why it is important for
organisations to allocate time to build networks when intending to operate in the
international arena and why must they have policies and procedures that support
networking? (PAGE 2-3)

1.1b What existing international networks or contacts might be beneficial? How could they
benefit an organisation? (PAGE 4-5)

1.2 What opportunities can you identify that will allow an organisation to develop their
international networks when networking face to face and online? (PAGE 7-11)

1.3 Research LinkedIn and provide current statistics and facts on global usage and explain
what the benefits are for an organisation to build their online profile when networking
internationally. (CREATE A LINKEDIN ACCOUNT; RESEARCH)

1.4 Why is it important to identify and maximise, wherever possible, face-to-face contact
with overseas business associates and international business network members? (PAGE
12-14)
 1.5 What communication channels can be of use when contacting and maintaining contact
with international business network members? Explain why they are important? (PAGE 15-
17)

1.6a What are the advantages of providing appropriate input when networking and what
sort of input can you provide and why should you ask for feedback from networks? (PAGE
18-19)

1.6b How do organisational policies and procedures protect confidential or commercial

information when providing input and interacting with networking contacts? (PAGE 19)

Topic 2: Reflect social and cultural awareness in developing and

maintaining international business networks

In this topic you will learn about the following:

 Identify and note sources of information relating to social and cultural awareness,
communication styles and social mores appropriate to specific cultural groups within the
network
 Analyse and note sources of information relating to social and cultural awareness for
specific cultural groups within current and prospective network membership using available
information sources
 Use communication styles and social mores appropriate to specific cultural groups in
relating to individuals and groups within the network
 Regularly review your communications and relationships with network members

2.1 What internal and external sources of information might help you understand diverse
social and cultural groups and help with the application of cross cultural communication
theory? (PAGE 2-4)

2.2 Why is it important to identify, access and note sources of information relating to social
and cultural awareness for the groups within your networks? (PAGE 3-5)

2.3 Explain the communication styles and social mores (acceptable traditional customs and
usages of a particular group) of diverse networking partners? (PAGE 5)

2.4 What things should you take into consideration when reviewing the quality of your
communications and relationships with network members? (PAGE 6)
 Topic 3: Review own participation in international business networks

In this topic you will learn about the following:

 Analyse, quantify where possible and compare the costs and return value of participation
in international networks
 Quantify and document the value of outcomes derived from participation in international
business networks
 Analyse the value of outcomes derived from participation in international business
networks in comparison to costs of participation
 Make and implement decisions for increasing, maintaining or decreasing participation in
networks

3.1 What aspects of participation in international networks can be quantified, documented

and calculated in order to track, monitor and estimate participation costs? (PAGE 2)

3.2 Explain why it is difficult to analyse, quantify, document and compare the value of
outcomes derived from participation in international business networks with the costs of
participation? (PAGE 3)

3.3 List the values (the returns) and opportunities that are attributable to participation in
international networks. (PAGE 4)

3.4 What sort of decisions could you make and implement as a result of the review
process? (PAGE 5)

Topic 4: Additional Reading

On the following page you have been provided additional resources to support your learning
via video links and web links that relate to the unit you are currently studying.

4.1 Are there any legislative or regulatory applications relevant to international business
networks? (READ THE ARTICLES AND CONDUCT ADDITIONAL RESEARCH –
IDENTIFY RESOURCES)

4.2 Explain the principles of communication theory in the context of cross-cultural

communication. (READ THE ARTICLES AND CONDUCT ADDITIONAL RESEARCH –
IDENTIFY RESOURCES)
PROJECT A

You have been hired as a ‘Communications Strategist’. The new organisation you work for
needs you to develop a social and cultural awareness policy taking into account interaction
with networking contacts, providing input, asking for advice or support, and when sharing
information.
Include the impact of the COVID Pandemic in relation to social and cultural awareness and
how technology has become the leading source of communication. Consider how specific
cultural groups may be affected by the new normal when developing your social and cultural
awareness policy.
Guided Notes:

 Analyse information from a range of sources and identify the cultural and social
norms/ mores of current and prospective network members
 Consider specific cultural groups, their characteristics, values and communication
needs
 Include social and cultural awareness for building relationships and communicating
with network members
 Include the importance of interaction and communication without causing offence or
misunderstanding
 Consider how the COVID Pandemic has taken communication and networking online
 Include use of technology in the quality and successes of communications and
relationship building activities
 Include a review process on effectiveness, quality and successes of communications
and relationship building activities

GUIDELINES

The social and cultural awareness policy must cover and include:

 Specific cultural groups, their characteristics, values and communication needs

 Social and cultural awareness for building relationships and communicating with
network members
 The importance of interaction and communication without causing offence or
misunderstanding
 The impact of the COVID Pandemic
 Online communication and networking
  Use of technology in the quality and successes of communications and relationship
building activities
 A review process on effectiveness, quality and successes of communications and
relationship building activities

(TYPE YOUR ANSWER IN THE ANSWER BOX OR UPLOAD A DOC FILE)

PROJECT B
CASE STUDY
You will take this opportunity to reflect on the far-reaching and lasting effects of the COVID
Pandemic within international business.
 
TASK
In your role as a ‘Communications Strategist’ you need to build and present a case study to
management highlighting the benefits of video conferencing during the COVID Pandemic.
The organisation you work for needs to adopt technology as part of its new communications
strategy for staff and clients.
 
Develop a 2-page professional business case study on how video conferencing tools
such as Zoom, Google Hangouts and Microsoft Teams have assisted businesses
throughout the COVID pandemic to stay in touch.
Approach

 Introduction: set the stage by providing context for the situation.

 Challenge: discuss the key problem that businesses faced during the onset of the
pandemic in regard to communication.
 Solution: a basic overview of the video conferencing tools the business can utilize.
 Benefit: recaps the solution’s top advantages – why is it the right choice and what
are the statistics to support the choice.
 Result: the positive business outcome arising from video conferencing and its
benefits.

 
Develop your case study as per the example case study templates on the VENNGAGE
website as a reference on how to set out and present your case study in an engaging way
to management.
15+ Professional Case Study Examples [Design Tips + Templates] - Venngage
 
Guided Notes:
  The heading is the ideal place to put the most impactful information
 Use statistics based on research
 Use emotive, persuasive, or action-based language
 Make impactful statistics pop in your case study
 In a case study you should use icons to highlight areas of your research that are
particularly interesting or relevant
 Use data to make valuable points
 Provide short term and the long-term goals for the business to gain the best
understanding possible of the insights you provide
 Charts are an excellent way to visualize data and to bring statistics and information
to life
 Use bold and bright colors as well as
 Use contrasting shapes
 Use colors and fonts to create a professional looking case study
 Use simple icons to highlight your points
 Ensure important information stands out
 Identify the key takeaways from your research
 Use catchy language

GUIDELINES

Approach:
Students must use the following case study principles:

 Introduction: set the stage by providing context for the situation.

 Challenge: discuss the key problem that businesses faced during the onset of the
pandemic in regard to communication.
 Solution: a basic overview of the video conferencing tools the business can utilise.
 Benefit: recaps the solution’s top advantages – why is it the right choice and what
are the statistics to support the choice.
 Result: the positive business outcome arising from video conferencing and its
benefits.
Length:
2-pages
Design:
Ensure students produce their case study in an exciting and engaging format resembling
the examples on the VENNGAGE website:
15+ Professional Case Study Examples [Design Tips + Templates] - Venngage

(UPLOAD A PDF FILE)

PROJECT C
INDIVIDUAL VLOG ASSESSMENT
Vlogging helps you to reflect on the things you have learnt, and it allows you to share your
experiences with other students and lecturers. Your task is to create a video ‘report’ on the
Task below. This involves ‘telling a story’ about your new knowledge in relation to the
subject and giving an impression of the atmosphere.
  
TASK
Part 1
The new organisation you work for needs to grow its international online presence and
branding through a professional social networking site and does not know where to start!
In your new role as the ‘Communications Strategist’ you will produce a vlog pitching the
benefits of using a social networking site such as LinkedIn to senior management within the
organisation and outline an online international networking strategy that will benefit the
business.
You must also demonstrate in this vlog statistical facts that back up your choice of social
media for the organisation and include the type of budget they may expect to invest in this
new international online networking strategy to get the best ROI.
*Ensure you highlight important points in creative text within your vlog.
Part 2
Design and develop an exciting PowerPoint presentation of your ‘Social Media International
Networking Plan’ to support your vlog for management to review and upload as an
attachment with your video vlog.

UPLOAD (1) POWERPOINT AND (2) VIDEO VLOG