HI6008 Business Research Report Sample

Assignment Details

Choose one of the topics listed below

1. Currently trending research option - Geopolitical Risk https://youtu.be/uiUPD-z9DTg

This video offers some perspectives on how the world’s superpowers may influence the future. Select one interesting aspect and formulate a RQ for your deeper research into geopolitical risk. In your research, cite at least 6 relevant articles from peer-reviewed academic journals.

2. Business research option - Franchise Opportunity: https://www.franchisedirect.com.au/

You have been asked to advise an immigrant to Australia who has up to $100 000 to invest in a business. Choose a franchise opportunity in Australia requiring an initial investment under $100 000 and advise your client how to do the necessary research before committing to the investment. Focus on the research process that should be followed so as to ensure the right investment is made. In your advice to the client, please cite at least 6 relevant articles from peer-reviewed academic journals.

Use the following Structure, correctly numbered

1. Topic Justification (topic 1 or 2): say why you chose this topic, i.e. what interests you?

2. Focus: Clearly state which aspect of the topic you will be focusing your research on

3. RQ: Clearly state the Research Question (RQ)

4. Relevant Facts: Present the facts from the video(s) that are relevant to the RQ

5. Literature Sources: Justify which additional sources of literature will be cited and why

6. Literature Review: Present your literature review as a summary of each cited source

7. Application: Apply the theoretical concepts emanating from your literature review (as in section 6) to make sense of the facts taken from the content of the video(s) (as in section 4), making certain to relate practice and theory

8. Evaluation: Conclude by evaluating the research you have done and clearly stating the extent to which it has addressed your RQ (as stated in section 3) Add an appendix clearly stating which members of the group were responsible for which section of the report.

Solution

1. Topic Justification

Geopolitical risk has emerged as a major consideration in the global business environment in the contemporary world because of the enhanced technological innovation. Two aspects are fascinating to me. The first is Technology and World Politics to understand how new technologies are changing the relations of great powers (youtube, 2025). In the past, the geopolitical risk was related to warfare, control of natural resources and borders. But in the recent past, this has changed with emergence of the digital age. Autonomous weapons, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and space exploration etc. contributed to shifting the balance among the global superpowers in a way which the traditional notions of power fail to explain.

This aspect captured my interest to some extent. I became curious and would like to shed light on how technology enshrines states to acquire power without necessarily wielding physical might. For example, AI & Quantum Computing is no longer an economic war, but the war of security and power (Zhang et al, 2023, p.102080(4)). Technological development has made these tools indispensable parts of the “strategic policy”. In addition, the nations increasingly seek to employ technological means to intimidate opponents or to gain new allies without resorting to battle.

The way geopolitical risks are perceived, calculated and potentially planned nowadays is highly interesting because it involves a new “dimension” of security (youtube, 2025). It is significant to state that technological advancement has made traditional geopolitics a far more complex business. For instance, basic contemporary warfare is no longer physical battle, but a cyber attack and this makes diplomacy a complex affair.

2. Focus

Technological development will therefore be the primary concern of this study in terms of how it is shifting the power dynamics between states. In more detail, it will consider how developments in artificial intelligence, in cybersecurity, in space developments are impacting international relations (youtube, 2025). These technologies have altered the art of war, the economic architecture, and the ways of operating diplomacy.

As initially indicated, this research will shed light on the United States, Russia and China. They are considered as key global superpowers. These nations are adequately investing in advanced innovative technologies (Zhang et al, 2023, p.102080(2)). Relating to this context, it is significant to state that United States, China, and Russia compete for technological supremacy. Eventually, the same plays a crucial role in reshaping “international relations”. This report aims to provide insights into how these advancements are reconfiguring “power dynamics” at the global for university assignment help scale by understanding the relationship between “technological innovation” and shifting “geopolitical risks”.

In addition, the research will highlight some significant technological fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, space technology, etc. in details. Precisely, this paper will demonstrate how these technologies are revolutionizing the strategic thinking of world powers. These innovations are not only transforming these countries’ (i.e. United States, China, and Russia) military power but also their economic production capacity; national defense; and diplomatic profile in international politics.

3. Research Question

• In what ways are “technological advancements” reshaping the balance of power among global superpowers, and how do these changes affect “international relations”?

4. Relevant Facts

The video “The Next Global Superpower Isn't Who You Think” has presented several “relevant facts” (youtube, 2025). These are indeed essential to understand how technology can reshape the “balance of power” among the global superpowers.

• Technological Arms Race

One of the most memorable things that were mentioned in the video is the technological competition between the United States and China now concentrated on AI and 5G (youtube, 2025). Knowing these sectors as key to their economic and military potential, both the United States and China are trying to seize control of these fields. This contest is not only about having better technologies but also about owning the structures that underpin the global communication systems, databases and economic development.

• Cybersecurity and Digital Espionage

The other big aspect covered in the video is the way in which cybsersecurity or even cyberattacks are steadily evolving to become the new primary method of geopolitics (youtube, 2025). Current conflicts are not only limited to traditional warfare where the involved countries employed force to defeat other nations but through cyber warfare, cyber spying, hacking etc. powered by Artificial intelligence (Lundvall and Rikap, 2022, p.104395 (3)). In recent years, the U.S. and China seem to be the most active participants in terms of recording various cyber incidents and stating that acts of cyber-terrorism belong to the other side.

• Space Race and Technological Militarization

The video also provided detailed information about a rise in militarization of space technology (youtube, 2025). The two countries are building up their space capabilities to and with an overall vision of boosting their military power. For instance, several years back the USA brought into existence the Space Force; similarly China meanwhile has moved forward to make progress on its own space station and thereby augment its capability to monitor the earth from space (Racionero-Garcia, J. and Shaikh, 2024, p 101648 (2)). It is therefore recasting the form of military power, and is widely regarded as a mandatory feature of future warfare.

• AI and Autonomous Warfare

This evolution in artificial intelligence is also captured on the video, especially how AI is transforming the face of war (youtube, 2025). The AI driven objects (i.e. drone) for surveillance which are available to the states give a new way to show military power. Such systems are much flexible and accurate. Such enhanced empowered technologies can operate in areas that conventional warfare power may not fit into.

5. Literature Sources

Table 1: list of additional literature sources with justification
(Source: information obtained from the secondary sources and created by the author).

6. Literature Review

These wide ranges of scholarly literature review will enable to understand the role of technology and how advanced technology can reshape geopolitical power at the global scale.

• Nye’s Concept of Soft Power

This theoretical concept explains how technological superiority turns into geopolitical power.

Figure 1: Key components that contribute to Softpower
(Source: Zhang et al, 2023, p.102080(4)).

The countries that possess advanced innovative technologies are capable of having strong hold on norms, standards, and hence, values, will become greater geopolitical power (Zhang et al, 2023, p.102080(4)). It is especially important for knowing why superpowers of today’s world such as the United States and China are most engaged in the aspects of technology (youtube, 2025). For instance, having control over 5G networks as a key to power since it would afford the nations a leverage over the entire world communications.

• Cybersecurity and Digital Espionage

Cyber capabilities do not only serve “spying intelligence” anymore but are more frequently used as instruments of disruption. Cyberattacks as an essential type of digital warfare, and countries are spending a lot of money on protection and creating cyber weapons (Lundvall and Rikap, 2022, p.104395 (2)). This shift is one of the best examples of how, with the help of technologies, the general idea of the primary strength is changing.

• Space Technology and Military Dominance

The “militarization” of space highlights “strategic” importance of “space infrastructure” in future military engagements/ future warfare (Vidal and Privalov, 2024,p.101579 (2)). The nations with the capacity to control space technologies enjoy a wealthy and superior position in the aspect of surveillance, communication and navigation systems. These are highly strategic for both civil and defense use.

• Economic Power and Technological Innovation

Automation and Artificial intelligence has reshaped “power dynamics” of the nations (Francisco, 2023,p.101250(2)). More specifically, how those nations engage in tech-driven practices has the potential to provide large economic benefits. For instance, nations which embrace AI into their economies can have enhanced productivity and commercial advantage in the foreign market. This economic strength, in turn, leads to more hard political power, because countries can apply economic power in the world politics.

7. Application

These theoretical concepts may be applied in the technology rivalry that is currently being experienced between the U.S and China. It has been realized that aspects of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and space are elements of future power (Gwagwa and Mollema, 2024,p.101078(3)). The U.S. continues to regard technology as the key to retaining superpower status, and for China, it is an instrument for reformation of the international relations and leveraging its position to become a dominant superpower.

Technological development is now centre piece of international relations as highlighted by the continuing trade war between the U.S and China over issues to do with 5G technology and Huawei (Zhang et al, 2023, p.102080(3)). The US has cautioned its allies that letting Chinese companies take control of 5G networks is dangerous for security. On the other side of the border, China is placing a huge bet on Artificial intelligence and Quantum Computing in the long term.

Referring to the key concept of Nye’s theory of soft power, technological superiority is used as a means of coercion. The power to influence and set technologies at the international level can give states significant geopolitical power. Same as in the case with the cyber security relations between these two countries, it is possible to discuss the role of the digital warfare as the aspect, which gains more and more importance according to the conclusions.

8. Evaluation

Referring to the information stated throughout this report, the research has most significantly proven that technology is shifting the dynamics of the superpowers across the world. In accordance with the information depicted in this report, technology led by artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and space technology is no longer merely an instrument of creating added economic value or military security but is an element of geopolitics (Granados and De la Peña, 2021.p.e003 (2)).

The technological competition between such nations, i.e. the United States of America and China is redesigning the international relations for rivalry and collaboration. There is no doubt that the effects of these progression are evident in domain of military strategy, national security, and diplomacy. In the process of its further development, such power factors as certain technologies will define the world balance of powers.

This paper has demonstrated that Technology has now emerged as a key determinant of the geopolitical risk/return environment. The nations that are pioneers of technology will be in a position to control the world affairs. Last but not least, overall information derived from the video claims that technology holds the future of international relations in its hands, its effect will be monumental, and it will increase (youtube, 2025).

Reference list

Francisco, M., 2023. Artificial intelligence for environmental security: national, international, human and ecological perspectives. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 61, p.101250. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2022.101250 [Accessed on 12 January 2025]

Granados, O.M. and De la Peña, N., 2021. Artificial intelligence and international system structure. Revista Brasileira de Política Internacional, 64, p.e003. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7329202100103 [Accessed on 12 January 2025]

Gwagwa, A. and Mollema, W.J.T., 2024. How could the United Nations Global Digital Compact prevent cultural imposition and hermeneutical injustice?. Patterns, 5(11). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.patter.2024.101078 [Accessed on 12 January 2025]

Lundvall, B.Å. and Rikap, C., 2022. China's catching-up in artificial intelligence seen as a co-evolution of corporate and national innovation systems. Research Policy, 51(1), p.104395. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2021.104395 [Accessed on 12 January 2025]

Racionero-Garcia, J. and Shaikh, S.A., 2024. Space and cybersecurity: Challenges and opportunities emerging from national strategy narratives. Space Policy, p.101648. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spacepol.2024.101648 [Accessed on 12 January 2025]

Vidal, F. and Privalov, R., 2024. Russia in outer space: A shrinking space Power in the era of global change. Space Policy, 69, p.101579. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spacepol.2023.101579 [Accessed on 12 January 2025]

youtube,(2025).The Next Global Superpower Isn't Who You Think. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiUPD-z9DTg [Accessed on 12 January 2025]

Zhang, A., Xu, Y. and Robson, M.J., 2023. The legitimacy defeat of Huawei in the media: Cause, context, and process. International Business Review, 32(6), p.102080. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibusrev.2022.102080 [Accessed on 12 January 2025]

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