COURSE

EPPM2033 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

SEMESTER 1 SESI 2022/2023
SET 1

TOPIC
IMPACTS OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON THE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
OPERATION OF SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZE ENTERPRISES IN MALAYSIA

COMPANY NAME
MUTYARA BEAUTY

LECTURER
PROF. MADYA DR. ZIZAH BINTI CHE SENIK

PREPARED BY
NAME MATRIC ID
BARATH A/L VIJAYAKUMARAN A188507
EVELLIN VOON JOHN A187277
FARIDAH NASUHA BINTI AFFA FAIZAL A187882
LEE LI FANG A187373
SITI SARAH BINTI AZMI A187800
TAN PEI YONG A186257
RAFI KENNAUFAL RASYAD A191076
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The success and final outcome of this project report required a lot of guidance and
assistance from many people and we extremely fortunate to have got this all along the completion
of this project report. Whatever we have done is only due to such guidance and assistance and we
would not forget to thank them. I respect and thank Mrs. Izdihar binti Mohd Noor, General Manager
of Mutyara Beauty, for giving us an opportunity to arrange a meeting for discussion about Mutyara
Beauty’s performance in international level during COVID-19 pandemic. We extremely grateful
to her for providing such a nice support by willing to spend her time despite of a busy schedule.
We are really grateful because we managed to complete this project report within the time with the
help of Mrs. Izdihar, who have provided all the informations we needed regarding Mutyara Beauty
for our project report.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 4

2.0 PROJECT PROFILES ......................................................................................................... 5
2.1 COMPANY BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................ 5
2.2 BUSINESS TYPE................................................................................................................................ 6
2.3 RESPONDENT’S PROFILE ............................................................................................................... 7
3.0 FINDINGS ........................................................................................................................... 8
3.1 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS OPERATION.................................................................................. 8
3.2 IMPACTS OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ........................................................................................... 10
3.3 PROBLEMS OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ....................................................................................... 12
4.0 DISCUSSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS ................................ 13
4.1 DISCUSSIONS .................................................................................................................................. 13
4.2 RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................................................... 15
4.3 CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................................................... 16
5.0 REFLECTIONS ................................................................................................................. 17
6.0 REFERENCES .................................................................................................................. 23
7.0 PRESENTATION SLIDES ............................................................................................... 24
8.0 INTERVIEW WITH RESPONDENT AND PRESENTATION VIDEO LINK .............. 30

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

Billions of people have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic that has spread around the
world. Additionally, this outbreak had detrimental effects on the world economy, industries, and
small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). According to Dr. Anthony Dass (2021), weak
economic and financial outcomes, demand reductions, supply chain disruptions, and the knock-on
impacts of unstable industries on employment are threatening the majority of economies, including
that of Malaysia.

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the commercial activities of SMEs around the
world are extremely significant. As we know, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are
extremely important to the majority of economies, particularly those in developing countries. The
most significant obstacles by the SMEs are the problems with cash flow, the need to shut down
operations, engage in retrenchment, and reduce a company's capacity for future expansion.
(Wahyudi, 2014). Small and medium-sized enterprises played in driving economic growth in
Malaysia. (Sana et al., 2020). Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) and micro-SMEs (which
together account for 98.5% of all firms in Malaysia) have been particularly affected during COVID-
19 pandemic. (SME Corporation Malaysia, 2020). Movement control, lockdowns, incarceration,
and social isolation are some of the measures governments are taking to protect against the
extraordinary public health and economic reactions (Craven et al., 2020).

The purpose of this research is to look into the international business operations in Mutyara
Beauty during COVID-19 pandemic. This objectives of this research will focus on the:
1. To identify how Mutyara Beauty handled the problems faced during Covid-9 pandemic.
2. To identify the impacts that faced by the Mutyara Beauty during COVID-19 pandemic.
3. To identify the problems faced by the Mutyara Beauty during COVID-19 pandemic.

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2.0 PROJECT PROFILES

2.1 COMPANY BACKGROUND

Mutyara Beauty (A Klasse Essentials Sdn Bhd) is a company that sells, imports and exports
health and beauty products. Mutyara Beauty also handles event management for internal events
related to the brand. A Klasse Essentials Sdn Bhd was started on 26th September 2016 and first
introduced Mutyara Beauty to the market on 20th April 2018 and continues to grow from strength
to strength until today. The ownership of the company is sole proprietorship and the structure of
the company is Sendirian Berhad (Sdn Bhd). For the history of Mutyara Beauty, to make the
products, they get the jamu recipe from Palembang by Tya Arifin. Muhammad Asyhraf bin Khalid,
the founder and board of director of A Klasse Essentials Sdn Bhd while Tya Ariffin, the founder
of Mutyara Beauty who has retired from her acting career and became a successful business owner.
Mutyara Beauty is a company located in Puchong, Selangor, Malaysia. The address of the company
is No 25, Jalan PPU 2A, Taman Perindustrian Puchong Utama, 47100 Puchong, Selangor. Mutyara
has 23 employees in their company and 2 directors. The website of Mutiara Beauty is
https://mutyara.com/ and the contact number is 012-792 9011 or email them through
sales@mutyara.com.

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2.2 BUSINESS TYPE

Mutyara Beauty is a company that is involved in food and beverages, viberages and health
supplements. The type of products that Mutyara sells are health supplements, health juice–based
products, using all traditional ingredients from her Indonesian roots. Product line is a group of
similar items that are sold by the same company under the same brand name. Companies sell
different lines of products under different brand names, trying to make them stand out so that
customers can use them better. For Mutyara, the product lines are food supplement, women
supplement and also health and beauty lines. The products’ competitive advantage are providing
solutions to women by bringing Jammu and Herbal remedies introduced in supplement. Compared
to medicine in pharmacy, this is Jammu modern, great cofunction in a healthier and effortless way.
The flagship product “Jamu Mutyara Gugusan Sumatra” is a healthy and delicious juice made of
fruits and herbs, made from the traditional recipes. Not only is it delicious with numerous health
benefits, it also creates a business opportunity for many home-based entrepreneurs.

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2.3 RESPONDENT’S PROFILE

In order to get the information of Mutiara Beauty about the international business operations
during COVID-19 pandemic, our group members had an interview session with the general
manager. The respondent’s name is Mrs. Izdihar binti Mohd Noor and she is a female. Mrs.
Izdihar’s age is 36 and her qualification is BSc. (Hons) in Chemistry. Her position in the company
is a general manager and she works around 4 years with Mutyara Beauty (A Klasse Essentials Sdn
Bhd). She has 12 years’ experience working in the health and beauty industries. She is experienced
in product development and brand management by managing a few local brands in the market, such
as Mutyara, SimplySiti, BeauSiti and also BeauTyra. Besides, she has successfully developed and
launched more than 200 products actively selling in the market. To get in touch with the respondent,
may contact her through phone number 013-399 0028 or email her at iz.aklasse@gmail.com.

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3.0 FINDINGS

3.1 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS OPERATION

International business is described as any economic activity or transaction that crosses barriers into
diverse international locations and areas regarding corporations, organisations, individuals, or
authorities institutions. In different words, international business refers to any industrial
movements which are completed to inspire the switch of merchandise, offerings, resources, human
beings, ideas, and generation throughout worldwide borders. International business takes place in
lots of distinct formats. The motion of merchandise throughout international locations inclusive of
exporting, importing, and alternate is certainly considered one among them. Mutyara Beauty, the
company we interviewed, declared as a born global company as said that the corporation's first
foray right into a foreign market was in 2019 that is in much less than three years after established
and now making plans to export to Indonesia in 2023.

Currently Mutyara Beauty enters the Singapore and Brunei marketplace to release
enterprise into new markets through providing items or offerings in every other nation. However,
there are numerous techniques a corporation would possibly input the worldwide marketplace,
inclusive of direct export, licensing, overseas agents and distributors, joint ventures, strategic
alliances, and foreign direct investment. These marketplace front approaches for overseas markets
range from each other in phrases of costs, risk, execution difficulty, and capacity rewards. The
marketplace access approach utilized by the company Mutyara Beauty is exported through
neighborhood partners, and it has taken around four years to complete. Exports can open up new
markets or make bigger current marketplace, raise sales and income and might even provide the
chance to benefit a substantial part of the global marketplace. Exporting organizations diversify
their markets to lessen enterprise risk. The percent of the worldwide sales of the corporation

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become 26 %. Internationalization allows Mutyara Beauty in sales and brand focus which means
greater human beings recognise approximately Mutyara Beauty than before. Additionally, potential
clients are much more likely to come to be unswerving customers withinside the destiny after they
pay attention approximately Mutyara Beauty through word-of-mouth advertising from present day
customers.

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3.2 IMPACTS OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The COVID-19 pandemic has ended in a tremendous loss of human existence across the world,
posing an unheard of task to public health, meals systems, and the workplace. The pandemic has
had a devastating effect on the economic system and society. As of 2022, COVID-19 pandemic
continues to be persevering with robust over the globe and its outcomes had been widespread,
influencing numerous elements of widespread society in addition to the worldwide economic
system, culture, ecology, and politics. During the COVID-19 situation, Mutyara Beauty didn’t have
an effect on a whole lot rather they tripled their sales for the neighborhood marketplace due to the
fact they may be already robust in virtual structures. Mutyara Beauty has used communique
equipments like Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/mutyarajamuHQ/), WhatsApp, and
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/mutyarabeauty/?hl=en) to speak to customer over the
internet. Customers and other clients ought to communicate to the employer through this social
media. Digital platforms offer possibility for organization leaders to reimagine their organisation
with the intention to offer higher reports for clients, workers, and surroundings companions at the
same time as additionally reducing costs.

The achievement of a virtual platform isn't always depending on the technology that contain
the platform or the execution. The platform's achievement is contingent on customers embracing
it. Due to COVID-19 human beings are spending manner extra time online than ever before and
inspiring people to make money working from home as the brand new norm. As a commercial
enterprise owner, Mutyara Beauty takes gain of those instances with the aid of using the use of
powerful virtual advertising techniques strategies to hook up with their goal group, capacity
customers on line from numerous demographics and places. Connecting with customers includes
extra than truely conversation. A systematic method to constructing connections that pass past the
unique transaction is connecting. While connection is part of it, there may be a whole lot extra to
it. Why is communique crucial? Because unswerving clients are critical to the achievement of a
corporation and have a tendency to be related customers.
Additionally, it's miles extra cost-powerful and rewarding to maintain an present purchaser
as opposed to get new ones. Connected customers won't want to be persuaded to return; as a
substitute, they achieve this voluntarily. They may purchase extra regularly and help your employer
with the aid of using spreading the word. Mutyara Beauty additionally didn’t have an effect on a
whole lot of their global operations. They nonetheless can supply their merchandise as standard to
Singapore and that they simply want to put together office work for it to be done. In conclusion,

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COVID-19 does now no longer have an effect on their export marketplace. Before the COVID-19
pandemic, Mutyara Beauty turned into doing excellent in manufacturing scale and export graph
and that they controlled to increase each elements at some point of COVID-19 pandemic and grew
their company.

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3.3 PROBLEMS OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The problems that Mutyara Beauty needed to face in its operations at some point of COVID-19
pandemic was labour. Labour refers back to the variety of human beings hired withinside the
economy in addition to the quantity of attempt they use up in developing merchandise and services.
Labour is assessed into numerous categories, which include unskilled labour, semi-professional
labour, and professional labour. The maximum fundamental stage of information is unskilled
labour that doesn't require education. Although it is commonly guide labour, like farmworkers, it
may additionally be carrier jobs, like housework personnel. The following class is semi-
professional labour, which may also name for a few formal education or training. Jobs in production
are one illustration. Although semi-professional labour does now no longer necessitate vast training
or specialised talents, it does call for extra talent units than an unskilled labour position. Semi-
professional people have finished their excessive college education however have now no longer
made it all of the manner through university to acquire a degree.

Mutyara Beauty dealt with the problems with COVID-19 pandemic via way of means of
work from home for two years and half months. The COVID-19 pandemic made work from home
as the brand new manner of operating. Due to the pandemic, many personnel and organizations had
been pressured to all at once and unpreparedly transition to remote work. Working from home may
also have regarded like a advantage reserved for freelancers earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic.
There at the moment are plenty extra full-time people who have had revel in operating remotely or
in a hybrid capacity. In assessment to conventional work patterns, this method has drawbacks and
has a huge have an impact on on each organizations and humans. When critical organizations can
begin operating from the office, the staff works few days in office and few days work from home.
Mutyara Beauty plans for nowadays was to relook again on the method of virtual and having
product brick and mortar for year 2023 due to the fact it'll be one-of-a-kind post-covid as compared
to pre-covid and during covid. Retailers having as a minimum one bodily location are called "brick-
and-mortar" shops. Brick-and-mortar organizations permit clients to bodily input and store whilst
the usage of all in their senses, instead of relying simply on pictures and textual descriptions.
Department shops, supermarkets, hair salons, fast food restaurants, or even the ultra-cutting-edge
Apple shops in department stores are regular examples of this type of merchant.

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4.0 DISCUSSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS

4.1 DISCUSSIONS

There isn't any doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has multiplied demanding situations for small
organizations across the world, no matter size, region or funding. Small and medium-sized
companies face economic problems, observed with the aid of using method and the institutional
environment. Many start-ups translate numerous responses associated with resilience into
possibilities withinside the face of adversity due to crises. Entrepreneurs who reveal flexibility of
their commercial enterprise fashions are probably to advantage get admission to broader new
possibilities. One of the largest rising developments at some stage in the COVID-19 pandemic is
small organizations going on line and growing all sorts of possibilities to finish many demanding
situations. In fact, the internet stays a lifeline for plenty small organizations, assisting them live
afloat at some stage in the pandemic.

However, many small businesses are locating contemporary-day strategies to thrive in some
unspecified time in the future of COVID-19, beginning with make bigger into new markets to
discover new approaches to provide your merchandise and services. At the identical time, many
massive tech corporations like Facebook and Google are growing new approaches for small
organizations to hook up with their customers. Speaking of Mutyara Beauty, countries like
Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei are already acquainted with the brand. Mutyara Beauty can surely
make bigger its marketplace globally, in particular to the Indonesia marketplace, which it then
caters to. This may be visible of their overall performance at some stage in the COVID-19
pandemic, wherein income have tripled in comparison to pre-pandemic levels. The elements that
may be showed for Mutyara Beauty's improvement at some stage in the pandemic is that Mutyara
Beauty laid the foundation for his or her commercial enterprise thru social media earlier than the

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pandemic. Thanks to the platforms, they had been capable of expand a communique plan to attain
their customers, partners, suppliers, traders and different stakeholders. This enabled the corporation
to effectively enforce its then company policies, adjustments in operations, or new provider or
partnership methods. Mutyara Beauty has deliberate to regulate and reconfigure its commercial
enterprise via prices and different variable charges cutbacks which includes marketing, hiring and
journey at every degree of this crisis. However, with the fitness and protection of personnel in
thoughts and the way first-class to mitigate the operational and economic impact, Mutyara Beauty
is thinking about the way to effectively resume operations as soon as the COVID-19 pandemic is
over.

This will probably be a lifestyles converting occasion and will provide a bunch of latest
possibilities for Mutyara Beauty. Even if stores stay open, people face monetary cuts because of
task losses or fewer hours worked. Remember that each time a enterprise closes or has to put off
employees, whole groups are impacted with the aid of using folks that depend upon the profits from
their paintings to guide themselves and in turn, to different neighbourhood corporations and groups
guide. Mutyara Beauty, however, has been much less stricken by the exertions scarcity all through
the pandemic however is suffering to navigate the far flung paintings pandemic. One of the primary
motives why far flung paintings is so essential is that far flung paintings ends in higher task
consequences for Mutyara Beauty because of the performance due to the fact assessment
cognizance on performance, now no longer time spent withinside the workplace. This encourages
Mutyara Beauty to cognizance greater on task desires and results than workplace policies, worker
micromanagement, and different sports that don't at once effect the task's middle necessities and
desires.

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4.2 RECOMMENDATIONS

Mutyara Beauty must search for on the spot blessings which includes renegotiating contracts with
providers and retailers, locating approaches to boom the performance in their commercial
enterprise, which includes decreasing their bodily footprint with the aid of using completely doing
away with their work at home guidelines and being thoughtful in their monetary situation. Mutyara
Beauty will now no longer recognise what's going to take place subsequent or if they may face this
type of pandemic again. Can Mutyara Beauty take steps to make sure healthful coins glide and
sustainability? But it will pay to have a plan to sell their commercial enterprise all through
emergencies like COVID-19 and make certain they are able to get better while it is over.

Mutyara Beauty desired to increase its commercial enterprise to a rustic like Indonesia. One
purpose is due to the fact they have got quite a few possibilities there as Indonesia has a populace
of 277 million because of this that extra contacts generate extra income. Indonesia has a weaker
forex than Malaysia, ensuing in decrease exertions and running costs. We advise Mutyara Beauty
to keep in mind lengthy-time period and adaptive disaster control techniques that now no longer
best attention on monetary elements however additionally completely keep in mind non-monetary
elements. The control of proprietors and personnel at one of a kind tiers must be concerned
withinside the improvement of control mechanisms in keeping with their needs. Everyone must
paintings to find out new markets and combine era into their destiny improvement, produce
numerous fitness substances with the aid of using the cease of the pandemic and adapt advertising
and marketing to the situation, that is some other signal of lively studying and post-disaster
improvements. Over the lengthy time period, the preference to develop and boom marketplace
proportion may be an effective motive force for Mutyara Beauty to broaden techniques for
resilience and recovery.

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4.3 CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, disruptions due to COVID-19 do now no longer have an effect on all groups
equally. Some are taken into consideration crucial and feature remained open even as others have
needed to be closed. Some businesses had been capable of transition their personnel to far flung
work, even as others had been under-organized for the transition. Popular studies indicates that the
variations can be large because the pandemic lasts for numerous months. Mutyara Beauty is much
more likely to have the resources, company and prison structure, and economies of scale to enforce
regulatory methods for company social distancing and reopening for the duration of the pandemic.
However, it's been tough to continue to exist in this era of disaster, even the authorities does now
no longer backing diverse varieties of help and mechanisms to stand this challenge. Despite this,
there's nonetheless room for development at Mutyara Beauty. As a result, many factors are
nonetheless too early to experience the effect of the brand new financial situation. Mutyara Beauty
wishes extra evaluation at the effect of COVID-19 on its enterprise overall performance earlier
than and after the pandemic, in addition to a way to control this form of pandemic and disaster
demanding situations withinside the future.

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5.0 REFLECTIONS

BARATH A/L VIJAYAKUMARAN (A188507)

EPPM2033 International Business course has reflected upon the information accumulating manner
of me at the same time as finishing this course. I discovered globalization so exciting and I agree
with that I were given a few new information and competencies after attended this course which
connects my interests properly with globalization. My experience has been effectively increased
due to attending classes to encompass international method to the international business below the
steering of Associate Professor Dr. Zizah Binti Che Senik. I discovered out that practice for
international business has grow to be little bit complex because of impact of globalization. I
updated my knowledge and competencies in such vicinity of international business I discovered
out at some point of the international business classes that the regulations of business for import
and export in addition to for domestic had been modified due to present possibility and threats
globalization along with COVID-19 pandemic.
I understood that import and export of products are extra aggressive because of pressure of
advancement, technology, and the position of internet growing every day in personal and
professional lives of people. I actually have confronted many questions at the same time as
finishing this course and the manner of completing this course have taught me of the solutions to
my questions and additionally received plenty of experience concerning the information of
secondary information collection and qualitative studies technique. Therefore, this course has
reflected my coping with globalization of the precise research study.

LEE LI FANG (A187373)

Throughout the class of International Business this semester, I learned that international business
is done across national borders using different business methods that are in touch with countries
that have different cultures, languages, political systems, legal systems, economic situations, and
infrastructures. There are many cultural variations, and people need to adjust to various situations.
This course opened my eyes to the significance of acquiring knowledge about many cultures from
around the world. This is due to the fact that understanding how various cultures do business is
crucial. After all, if we want to go to a country that is completely different from us, we won't know
how to start a business there. Since international business is my major, it is important for us who
are studying in this sector to understand how foreign cultures operate and what to anticipate from

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them. exposure to possible loss or negative impacts on business operations and profitability brought
on by changes in a nation's political and regulatory frameworks.
This was due to the fact that each nation has its own political and legal systems, which
frequently present difficulties for business success. In addition, it gives me a competitive edge if I
ever decide to work abroad. It will provide me with a variety of enlightening encounters and new
information. In addition, the lesson is very motivating and informative during the class. Dr. Zizah
provided numerous relevant examples to help us understand the topic, and I think I now have a
thorough understanding of international business. Other than that, Dr. Zizah also shared her
experience of her life and also the place she had traveled to us by video. Also, since our class has
6 international students from other countries like Indonesia, Korea, and Paris, we can learn about
how business works in their countries and about their cultures. Besides that, the group project
enables us to search for a small or medium-sized business (SMEs) that conducts international
business in other countries by dividing us into groups with students from different races and
nationalities. Even though we face a lot of problems to find a company that is willing to accept our
interview, we have successfully completed our assignment.

TAN PEI YONG (A186257)

International business was one of the numerous classes I had to take as a business administration
student. I was interested to see what the course will cover because I didn't know a lot about
international business. The instructor of the international business course is Dr. Zizah Che Senik.
Dr. Zizah's teaching technique is unusual in that she teaches via multilingual communication
(English and Malay). Because we have several foreign students from other countries, such as
Indonesia, Korea, and Paris, the majority of the lessons are conducted in English. Dr. Zizah
occasionally shows hilarious movies to lighten the mood in class in addition to sharing her personal
experiences, such as those she has had at work, etc. Lecturers occasionally try to provide
opportunities for students to "perform and experience the classroom," such as the lecturer will lead
and motivate students to think through their answers by asking questions, and then allow them to
openly voice their thoughts, in order to have a successful classroom experience with the teacher's
appreciation and applause from classmates, which creates confidence and interest in learning.
Even though students need praise from teachers to stimulate their potential and motivation.
Then, the lecturer offered the assignment, which taught me a lot of new information and methods
for doing the project in a group because the group assignment required members of different
nationalities. However, we were able to do the assignment as a team and within the allotted time.
Additionally, there were several difficulties in finishing this project. For instance, it took a while

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to locate interviewers and it was necessary to speak with the company's CEO in order to get
information. Due to the fact that several businesses declined to interview us, finding businesses
willing to devote their time to do so was another difficult task. As a conclusion, participating in
this class provided me with new experiences and provided me with a wealth of fresh knowledge
about international business.

EVELLIN VOON JOHN (A187277)

Studying international business help me comprehend global challenges, preparing me for a variety
of business chances and allowing me to consider all countries as potential places to launch ourmy
career rather than just Malaysia. Learning about the successes and failures of international firms is
another advantage of studying international business. With international business courses we also
can learn how to think globally and build a company plans with what we have learnt during the
classes. Plus, our class have mobility students from other countries like Indonesia, Korea, and Paris,
so we can knew more about other countries business and cultures. Next, during the classes Dr.
Zizah always likes to share her life experience and this makes the class more interesting. For
example, Dr Zizah shared her travel video to us. Dr. Zizah also likes to show some Indian dances
and movies to us.
Dr Zizah is rigorous during classes and can deeply understand students' learning conditions.
Dr Zizah also pays attention to inspiring and mobilizing students' enthusiasm, and the classroom
atmosphere is relatively active. There are many examples in class given by Dr Zizah, and explain
carefully to us, so that we can gain something in the class. At the beginning of this course, I was
really taken aback by the thickness of the teaching materials. Although I have grasped the key
points under the guidance of Dr Zizah. I think electronic teaching is a good way. It thinned the
textbooks and showed the essence to us, making everyone's study and review more targeted, and
also enhanced everyone's confidence in learning this course well. Thanks to the teacher for making
exquisite courseware in the midst of his busy schedule, it is very helpful to our study. While doing
the group project which need us to search for a company that conducts international business some
of the company reject our interview. Despite having a difficult time finding a business that will
accept our interview, we have successfully finished our task.

RAFI KENNAUFAL RASYAD (A191076)

International business is one of the classes that I took this semester as a mobility student from
Indonesia, and it provides many insights on how companies must conduct their business in different
countries and what risks and strategies to take. Throughout the classes, Dr Zizah’s course taught

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me to understand the different risks between different countries, as countries may have different
regulations, laws, and administrative barriers that can either be opportunities or threats to
multinational companies. I have also learned that there are many stages to international businesses,
such as those that are already global from establishment, or those that expand globally long after
their founding. Throughout the class, Dr Zizah has been very kind and caring towards us (the
students) as she often invites us to discuss and engage us during class which helps keep my
attention. In addition to that, it was interesting to see that many of the students are very active in
class and engaging with the lecturer. In addition to learning theoretical information from lectures
by Dr Zizah, I also learn to cooperate and teamwork with other students of different nationalities
in this class as it asks for group assignments. Even though I was late to class due to personal
reasons, my group mates were very accommodating and warm in welcoming me to the group, and
I thank them for including me in assignments even though I just joined.
There were a lot of challenges during the group assignments as we have different schedules
and that when we coordinate when to submit assignments and finish certain parts, there might be
someone who is unable due to personal reasons, and that we need to coordinate again to see when
we can finish the assignments. In addition to challenges about finding information about the
company as it is a private company, the information is not readily available and having to interview
the management is also a challenge in itself. To summarize my experience in this course, it has
taught me many things, including theory, knowledge, as well as soft skills such as communication
in class and group assignments.

SITI SARAH BINTI AZMI (A187800)

One of the most interesting and enlightening classes I've attended this semester has been
international business taught by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zizah Binti Che Senik. My key learnings from
this course center on the nature of international business and how to make the most of this
information to win acceptance in foreign markets and profit from it. One of the most important
lessons I took away from this experience is the need for businesses to engage international trade
with understanding of and openness to cultural diversity. My understanding and perspective on
international business have enhanced as a result of the class. Next, from this subject, I understand
that international business is a contributor to national economic well-being where international
business promotes economic growth, improves resource utilization, connects nations to the global
economy, and gives consumers access to a wide range of goods and services. Governments are
now more inclined to widen their borders to foreign investment and trade.

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 Next is my experience being in this class throughout this semester conducted by Dr. Zizah.
Learning methods used by Dr. Zizah was very fun and students do not feel afraid to attend her class
and Dr. Zizah also often shares her experience to cheer up the class atmosphere. Dr. Zizah is always
generous in sharing all the knowledge she has with students even though there are students from
various religions and races. I always feel scared when I'm in class because sometimes I do not
understand some topics but Dr. Zizah always motivates students to always be brave to answer
questions and not be afraid of making mistakes. Then regarding the assignment given, this
assignment provided a lot of new knowledge to me and ways to do tasks in a group. Although my
group consists of various nationalities, but we are able to work together in completing the tasks
given according to the time given. There are also challenges in completing this project. For
example, it is difficult for us to meet each other face to face and only can communicate using
Whatsapp. Next challenge was the challenge of finding companies for the project because we got
rejected by some company. Overall, being in this class gave me new experience and I was able to
gain a lot of new knowledge related to international business that I never knew.

FARIDAH NASUHA BINTI AFFA FAIZAL (A187882)

As I sit down to reflect on my time in the International Business class conducted by Dr. Zizah Che
Senik, I’m roughly in that class for four months. It’s not the class that I’ve been set to. I changed
the time of the class which started at 5pm to 2pm on Tuesday because it is super tiring to have the
class in the late evening. Honestly, I’m really happy because Dr. Zizah allowed me to join her class
and this is one of my best decisions this semester. Dr. Zizah practices learning techniques that
involve two-way communication. Most students don’t like it when lecturers often ask random
questions, but it is different from me. Although I don’t know the answers to most of the questions,
I did not get anxious when Dr. Zizah asking because she doesn’t have the ‘scary vibes’. Dr. Zizah
always shares her story of her beautiful journey. This course is quite difficult for me because it
involves a lot of information from all over the world. Dr. Zizah always makes it easy to understand
the terms by giving us a lot of real life experience as an example.
I learned that International business refers to the trade of goods, services, technology,
capital and/or knowledge across national borders and at a global or transnational scale. It involves
cross-border transactions of goods and services between two or more countries. Transactions of
economic resources include capital, skills, and people for the purpose of the international
production of physical goods and services such as finance, banking, insurance, and construction.
International business is also known as globalization. To conduct business overseas, multinational
companies need to bridge separate national markets into one global marketplace. There are two

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macro-scale factors that underlie the trend of greater globalization. The first consists of eliminating
barriers to make cross-border trade easier. The second is technological change, particularly
developments in communication, information processing, and transportation technologies. I never
thought about going to involve the marketing strategy internationally, since I always focus on the
local marketing. After learning a little bit about International Business, I believe that I have to go
out and travel all over the world to learn more about international business. Last but not least, thank
you Dr. Zizah for giving me the opportunity to be in your class. I hope I can be in your classes for
another course in the future. Having you in my life as a student is such a blessing because the
motherly nature in you that is very strong makes me always feel happy.

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6.0 REFERENCES

Azmi, W., Aida, I.,& Diana, A.W. (2020). The role of strategic management in growth of small
and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia. e-Bangi Journal of Social Sciences and
Humanities,17(1), 108-124

INTERVIEW with Tya Ariffin, founder of Mutyara Beauty. (2021, March 30). Retrieved from The
BrandLaureate website: https://www.thebrandlaureate.com/interview-with-tya-ariffin-
founder-of-mutyara-beauty/

Mohd Abdullah Jusoh. (2020). The impact of COVID-19 Movement Control Order on SMEs’
businesses and survival strategies. Core.ac.uk, (2). Retrieved from
https://core.ac.uk/reader/356661500

Smith-Bingham, R, & Hariharan, K. (2020). This is the impact of the Coronavirus on business.
World Economic Forum. Retrieved from https://www.weforum.org/agenda.

Theedgemarkets.com. (2020). Malaysia March manufacturing output dented by COVID-19

pandemic. Retrieved from https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article.

The New Straits Times. (2020). COVID-19: Movement Control Order imposed with only essential
sectors operating. Retrieved from https://www.nst.com.my/new

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7.0 PRESENTATION SLIDES

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8.0 INTERVIEW WITH RESPONDENT AND PRESENTATION VIDEO LINK

Interview with Respondent Video

Video Title: Interview Session with Mutyara Beauty
Google Drive Link: https://rb.gy/slig5h

Presentation Video
Video Title: EPPM2033 SET 1 - Group 5 Project Report Presentation ( Mutyara Beauty )
Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/9r_3d9Wurqk

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