What the seminar should include (as appropriate to the subject matter):
1. Introduction, outline the topic, background theory, recent developments, how you researched/ prepared the seminar.
2. Main findings, explanation and analysis of the subject matter, cause and effect relationships, who gains- who loses, discuss practice by businesses or state actors in relation to the subject. Besides published (secondary) sources, students are encouraged to interview business people, managers or officials to get their current view.
3. If you recommend a particular action or policy, give your arguments to persuade the audience (or decision maker) that your advice is sound.
4. Provide a list of references used as sources of information
5. You are encouraged to use transparencies or overheads
Assessment of Business Environment Seminars is based on two dimensions- content and delivery.
1. Content (Evidence of research, thought, analysis, evaluation)
Marks will be awarded for:
• Evidence of quality and quantity of work
• Use of multiple secondary sources
• Comprehensive treatment of the topic
• Analytical approach – go beyond explaining the facts
• Integration of your ideas on the topic, evaluation of the process
• What are the implications? What should be done?
Suitable topics for seminars include:
• Matters of relevance to business organisations, management or competition
• Trends or significant developments in the business environment
• Issues or theory in your studies that interest you, or are relevant to your career or employment plans.
Possible seminar topics: please choose any one from the topic listed below which will suit you.
Code Seminar title or topic
1. Choose a particular business: what should it do to survive the recession?
2. Business opportunities in China, India or new EU member states
3. How can productivity be raised in a service provider e.g. hotel, bank, restaurant
4. How productivity can be raised in indigenous manufacturing
5. Apply Value Chain Analysis to a business and draw conclusions
6. Best practice in outsourcing or current Irish trends in outsourcing
7. The role of a receiver appointed to a company that is unable to meet its debts
8. New competition in Ireland’s electricity market: an assessment
9. Business implications of RTE’ move to digital TV- Shoreview
10. Outlook for Irish farming with further reform on the horizon.
11. Outlook for Irish food processing during the current supermarkets’ price war.
12. Opportunities and challenges facing Cork Airport
13. Roads and schools built by PPP, - the pros and cons for consumers, taxpayers and other stakeholders.
14. Is there a better way (than HSE) to manage the health services?
15. Assess the role of the Financial Services Regulator
16. The Vita-Cortex sit-in explained
17. Choose a sector that is hit hard by the recession: car dealers, auctioneers, newspapers... Explore how they could manage to come through it
18. Debate the view that Ireland’s Bankruptcy laws should be relaxed
19. A business evaluation of NAMA
20. Evaluate the use of the social media as a promotional tool for an SME