University of California, Riverside

1. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management

1. Insurance in Latin America. Traditionally, insurance has been a lower priority in many Spanish speaking cultures because there has been less of an inclination to prepare for contingencies. Yet, as these economies are maturing, the need is increasing, and there may be quite a growth market. For an insurance company of your choice, please suggest:
   1. The country or countries that might be most promising.
   2. Which kind(s) of insurance might be the most effective emphasize first, and which ones might come later?
   3. What kinds of promotional messages and forms might you use?
2. The Euro. Recently, the most members of the European Union have implemented the Euro, the uniform currency between members. One interesting outcome is that firms have tended to round down—rather than up—their prices. For a firm of your choice, what kinds of promotional messages and/or activities should be sent or held by the firm to address the advent of the Euro? (Note: On the one hand, consumers may perceive a benefit from increased competition between firms and subsequent lower prices, but some Europeans may also feel that the "personality" of their countries may be threatened).
3. Coca Cola. Recent events associated with the World Trade Center and Pentagon bombings and the Afghan war has aroused anti-American sentiment in much of the World. One of the companies that has felt this most strongly is Coca Cola, which is in many ways the symbol of the U.S. around the World. What might be some appropriate campaigns around the World to address this?
4. McDonald’s. Same as #4, for McDonald’s.
5. Dealing with anti-Israeli prejudice. Although Israel is not directly involved in the Afghan situation, the recent conflict has exacerbated anti-Israeli feelings in much of the World. Israeli firms are "between a rock and a hard place" in the sense that any active campaign promoting the firm as a "good citizen" may backfire by bringing attention to the Israeli status of the firm. For an Israeli firm of your choice, are there any promotional activities that might be appropriate in the current situation in a location of your choice?
6. Introducing a product of your choice to a country of your choice. Is there a product that does not appear to currently sell much in a country of your choice? What might be some ways to "jump start" the diffusion of the product there, and what should be your long term objectives?
7. Tricon Global Restaurants, Inc., owns KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell. Although KFC and Pizza Hut have done relatively well internationally, Taco Bell has much less of a presence outside the U.S. Mexican food is popular, however, in many countries, and other restaurants—often local ones rather than big chains—abound in many European countries. What might be behind Taco Bell’s lack of international presence, and what might be some opportunities?
8. Airline of your choice. International air travel has taken a beating lately, both because of the sluggish global economy and because of increased concern about terrorism and travel safety. As a result, many airlines have a large number of unsold seats. For an airline of your choice, please suggest one or more promising target and destination countries and what might be offered to make a package appealing.
9. Firm and issue of your choice.