Introduction to International Business
B380
Winter 2007
Instructor: Kevin Shiley Smith 314 Phone 496-1865
Office Hours: 8-10, 3-4 TT
E-Mail:
Credits: 3 Semester Hours
Materials: Global Business Today, Hill, 4th Edition
Chapter Powerpoints on Blackboard
Internet Access, E-Mail Access, Class Handouts
Description:A comprehensive overview of international business designed to provide a global perspective on international trade and direct investment. Reviews international cultural, political, legal and economic environments and their effect on marketing, production, finance and human resource management strategy.
Course Objectives:
Each successful student will Increase their Global Literacy in the following areas:
- Sensitivity to cross-cultural issues in communication and business practices
- Awareness of the impact of political, legal and economic environments on international business strategy.
3. Understanding of the basics of the International Monetary System and foreign exchange markets.
4. Understanding of the basics of international trade and investment.
5. Familiarity with different types of international organizations.
6. Analyzing & assessing production, service and marketing opportunities internationally.
Students will enhance their technological literacy by conducting a significant amount of research via the world-wide web.
Successful completion of the team project will also give students the opportunity to polish their problem-solving, project management, teamwork and written and oral communication skills.
Evaluation:
Assessment Tests - Individual
3 tests with 35 objective questions and three subjective questions 300 points
International Business Plan 340 points
You will be assigned to a team to develop a business plan for a product or service to be marketed in a foreign country or international region. The choice will be up to the team. Included with this syllabus is an outline to guide your efforts. You will utilize many of the 16 modules on the textbook CD as a guide for developing the plan. Points on this project will be awarded as follows:
- How do they do business there? 20 points
How is business done in your target country? What are the specific business customs that should be
observed there? How do they differ from the USA? If you were preparing for a business meeting, what customs must you be certain to observe? What things must you avoid to make sure you don’t give offense? This should be
included as part of Chapter 1 in your final report. This should be approximately 3 pages. A representative from your team will make a brief presentation in class. Due Date:
- Identifying the Business Opportunity20 points
Any feedback given on this assignment should be addressed in the final project submission. Due Date:
- Business Plan Final Report200 points
The final project report should be typewritten using APA style; single-spaced, with double-spaced paragraphs. Any charts, graphs, tables, etc., should be included in an appendix and referenced in your report. All reference sources should be cited. Your final report should also include a section entitled “Reflections”, which are the lessons each member of the team has learned from the experience. Due date:
Drafts of the final business plan are due on Mar 26.Bro. Shiley will act as a consultant on these drafts, asking questions to clarify your thinking or to identify key missing elements. There is no grade on rough drafts, but the rougher the draft, the rougher the quality of the consulting you will get, which will often show in the final product.
- Team Oral Presentation100 points
On Apr 5 from 5:50 – 7:50 pm, in lieu of a final exam, each team will make a 20 minute presentation of their business plan, citing the product/service offering, strategy and approach. All team members must participate in the presentation. Individual scores may vary depending on the level of professionalism and mastery of the information presented, but the bulk of the scoring will be on a team basis. IF YOU DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN YOUR TEAM PRESENTATION, YOU SUFFER A SIGNIFICANT PENALTY.
Participation ------40 points
Come to class every day ready to discuss the assigned reading or case study. Several class members will be randomly selected and asked questions on topics taken from the study guide, or questions taken from the case study. Other class members can also earn points for good questions or for insightful comments. You can earn up to 3 points each day in class.
Team Day Attendance ------20 points
Grading: 93% - 100% = A 80% - 82% = B- 67% - 69% = D+
90% - 93% = A-77% - 79% = C+ 63% - 66% = D
87% - 89% = B+ 73% - 76% = C 60% - 62% = D
83% - 86% = B 70% - 72% = C- below 60% = F
Class Policies:
The Code of Honor and Dress & Grooming standards will be enforced.
Attendance on team meeting days (when entire day is team meeting) is worth 2 points.
Assignments are due via Blackboard before class on the day indicated. Late work is accepted if no later than 48 hours late, but your grade will be reduced 20%. Final Projects cannot be turned in late.
Members of the team are expected to contribute on team projects. Team members should encourage all to be actively involved. A peer evaluation will be conducted regarding contributions to the team project. This may affect your grade in a positive or negative manner if significant “freeloading” or significant “extra-miler” comments are consistently provided by your peers. So everybody, pull your own weight! Better yet, go the extra mile!
In compliance with applicable disability law, qualified students with a disability may be entitled to A reasonable accommodation@. It is the student’s responsibility to disclose to the SSD office any special need he/she may have and to provide the appropriate documentation of the disability. The SSD office is located inside the LearningAssistanceCenter.
Introduction to International Business
B380 Section 1MWF 3:15-4:15pm –Clark 114
Class Assignments and Schedule
Winter 2007
TENTATIVE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT INSTRUCTOR'S DISCRETION
Jan 5Orientation and initial discussion about Political, Economic and Legal Systems
Jan 8NO CLASS: Read elements of Chapter 2 found on study Guide and prepare for the Case
Jan 10Case: The Changing Political Economy of India (first 30 minutes)
Instructor Presentation: Additional Materials not found in Chapter 2
Jan 12Culture: Religious History
Read:Chapter 3
Jan 17Case:McDonalds and Hindu Culture (first 30 minutes)
Culture: Workplace issues/Hosftede’s Domensions
Jan 19Case:Ethical dilemmas facing a BMW executive (first 30 minutes)
Introduce “How do they Do Business” and “Identifying the Business Opportunity” Assignments (last 30 minutes)
Jan 22Team Meetings: Work on “How Do they Do Business There?” and “Identifying the Business Opportunity” Assignments
Jan 24Team Meetings: Work on “How Do they Do Business There?” and “Identifying the Business Opportunity” Assignments
Jan 26Team Meetings: Work on “How Do they Do Business There?” and “Identifying the Business Opportunity” Assignments
Jan 29Team mini-presentations (8 minutes each) “How Do they Do Business There?”
DUE: “How Do they Do Business There?” and
“Identifying the Business Opportunity”
Jan 31Trade Policy/WTO
Read:Chapter 6
Feb 2Case:Agricultural Subsidies and Development (first 30 minutes)
Foreign Direct Investment
Read:Chapter7
Feb 5Case:Ford and GM in Russia (first 30 minutes)
Wrap up Chapter 7 FDI incentives or restrictions
Team Meetings: Assignments for Final Project
Feb 2 – 6Test #1 TestingCenter - 35 multiple choice and 3 essay questions Ch. 2-3, 6-7
Feb 7Regional Economic Integration – European Union
Read: Chapter 8
Feb 9Regional Economic Integration – NAFTA, MERCOSUR, APEC, etc
Read:Chapter 8
Feb 12Foreign Exchange
Read:Chapter 9
Feb 14Role of IMF & World Bank/Recent Currency Crises
Read:Chapter 10
Feb 16The Strategy of International Business
Read:Chapter 11
Feb 21MAJOR CASE: IKEA
Due on blackboard: Your answers to case questions
Feb 23Entering Foreign Markets:
Read:Chapter 12
Feb 22-24Exam #2 Testing Center35 multiple choice and 3 essay questions Ch. 8-12 (closes Saturday)
Feb 26Case Study:Merrill Lynch in Japan (first 30 minutes)
Team Meeting - Progress reports on Team Project
Feb 28Exporting, Importing and Countertrade
Read:Chapter 13
Mar 2Global Production, Outsourcing and Logistics
Read: Chapter 14
Mar 5Global Marketing
Read: Chapter 15
Team discussions on Marketing Strategy
Mar 7Global Marketing, con’t
Team discussions on marketing strategy
Mar 9MAJOR CASE: GLOBAL BRANDS
Due on blackboard: Your answers to case questions
Mar 12Global Human Resource Management/Team Discussion on Organization/HR
Read:Chapter 16
Mar 13-15Exam #3Chapters13-16 (Closes Saturday)
Mar 14Oral Presentation Guidelines/Team Day Work on Projects
Mar 16, 19, 21Team Day Work on projects
Mar 23First 2 teams rough drafts due to bro. Shiley by 4:15 pm
Mar 26Remaining teams rough drafts due to Bro. Shiley by 4:15pm
Mar 28, 30Team Day Work on projects
Apr 2Team presentations – first 2 teams
Apr 55:50-7:50remaining teams presentations; Written Plans due.