Business communications principles and practices

Business Communications

The purpose of the research report is to determine the business potential of the Malaysian market.

Malaysia is a modern economy, one of the Asian tigers, and the country is known for its rich cultural tapestry of Malay, Chinese, Indian and indigenous peoples.

million (43rd)

GDP

$416 billion (30th)

GDP capita

$14,700 (77th)

Economy

palm oil, petroleum, logging, manufacturing

Languages

Malay, English, Chinese & Indian languages

Religions

Muslim (60%), Buddhist (20%), Christian (9%), Hindu (6%)

Capital

Kuala Lumpur

Currency

ringgit (3.01 MYR = $1)

AUDIENCE: The target audience for this report will be the company's executives, who must decide to invest in Malaysia or not.

TOPICS to INVESTIGATE: Economic opportunities, legal/political environment, human resources, key cultural differences, key business contacts, potential barriers to entry, potential local partners, market characteristics.

METHODS and RESEARCH: Many sources including primary research. Secondary sources can include: CIA World Factbook, Geert Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions, Knol@Google, the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority, contacts at the Malaysian Embassy, books on the country such as Malaysian Economics and politics in the new century by Colin Barlow and Francis Loh. Other valuable resources are major news agencies, which run stories on specific issues relating to the country, such as Reuters. International agencies also publish profiles, including the United Nations and the IMF. Lastly, another good source is the Transparency International Global Corruption Report.

QUALIFICATIONS: The author of this report is well-qualified to do so on the basis of extensive experience in research, a global perspective, high quality writing skills and a general knowledge of the Asia-Pacific region. The author has project management experience that will allow the research to be brought in on time and under budget. In addition, the author has a strategic focus that will allow not only for current opportunities to be illuminated but future ones as well.

WORK SCHEDULE:

Tasks

1

Create outline, background research, set out research budget, assemble staff

2

Economy, political, legal environment; identify potential partners

3

Travel to Malaysia for interviews with potential partners, discussion with gov't officials

4

Summarize findings, prepare pro-form budgets, market entry strategies, presentation

Malaysia is a fantastic opportunity for this company -- we cannot afford to pass this by!

Sources:

Geert Hofstede Cultural Dimensions: Malaysia. (2009). Retrieved April from http://www.geert-hofstede.com/hofstede_malaysia.shtml

CIA World Factbook: Malaysia. (2011). Retrieved April 3, 2011 from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/my.html

Malaysian Industrial Development Authority. Retrieved April 3, 2011 from http://www.mida.gov.my/en_v2/

Transparency International. Retrieved April 3, 2011 from http://www.transparency.org/publications/gcr

Ranasinghe, D. & Sing, L. (2007). In new business climate, Malaysian ringgit to shine. Reuters. Retrieved April 3, 2011 from http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/01/16/us-malaysia-ringgit-idUSSP21937420070116

. (2009). Retrieved April 3, 2011 from http://knol.google.com/k/accounting-kl-management-services/malaysia-s-political-investment/zldh5amdpvqb/30#

Embassy of Malaysia, Washington. Retrieved April 3, 2011 from http://www.kln.gov.my/web/usa_washington/home

United Nations. (2002). Johannesburg Summit: Country Profile Malaysia. Retrieved April 3, 2011 from http://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/wssd/malaysia.pdf

IMF. (2011). Malaysia and the IMF. Retrieved April 3, 2011 from http://www.imf.org/external/country/mys/index.htm

Barlow, C. & Loh, F. (2003). Malaysian Economics and politics in the new century.