Washburn University BU 406
School of Business Spring 2010
BU 406 International Business and Entrepreneurship Experience
Spring 2011
Course Syllabus
Instructor: / Michael StoicaOffice: / HC 310 E
Phone: / 670-1592
E-mail: /
Meeting Time: / WE 8:30 PM / Location: Washburn University (March and April)
Wuhan University for Science and Technology, Wuhan, China (May)
Shanghai, Beijing, Xian, and Hong-Kong/Macau, China (May)
Office Hours: / TBA
Required Materials: / Internet and Mabee Library Databases
Optional Materials: / Griffin, R. and Michael Pustay, International Business, Addison Wesley,
Reading Massachusetts, 2008.
Prerequisites: / Junior standing, BU 315, BU 347, BU 381 (or concurrent) and consent
Course Description:
First hand business experience acquired in an international setting. Analysis of business problems, ideas, and opportunities, techniques, and strategies in an international context; emphasizing changes in competition and market structure abroad. Washburn students will work in teams with foreign students to solve a problem for an overseas company. With approval this course may be taken for credit more than once.
Course Objectives:
· Prepare for the emerging global economy
· Study the methodology and conduct research in the international business environment understand the global, international and national markets. Prepare a country/region/company report.
· Acquire first hand international business experience through teaming with foreign students (Chinese students from the Wuhan University of Science and Technology) and work on an international business project.
· Investigate international business opportunities and analyze business ideas when conducting business in China.
· Research country/region risk in global, international and national markets.
· Work on and defend a project/plan for an overseas company in an overseas environment
· Think and act global and local due to two major challenges: pressure for global integration and pressure for local responsiveness (projects, workshop project defense
· Broaden the general education through an international cultural experience (visits to internationally famous metropolitan areas, museums, and other cultural institutions, interaction with local individuals, one-on-one work and entertain with students from another culture
Assessment outcomes:
Upon completion of this course students will be able to:
· Conduct investigation of international business opportunities;
· Analyze business ideas for international firms;
· Prepare a research report on country/region risk in global, international and national markets;
· Present and defend a project/plan for an overseas company in an overseas environment;
· Work effectively in teams;
· Lead/manage complex activities in an international setting;
· Debate and defend a project in front of an international audience.
Evaluation instruments (exams, papers, case analyses, projects, presentations, etc.):
Washburn students will work on and present three reports (all activities will be managed with the assistance of the WUST faculty
· A research report on China, the Hubei province and the Chinese company they will work for during their stay in Wuhan. Students will work on the report while at Washburn (March-April). Students will defend the report before leaving for China. Work will be done in an international team (American and Chinese students)
· A project that solves a problem for the Chinese company (students will work on the report while in Wuhan). Students will defend the report at a workshop organized by WUST in the last day of stay in Wuhan. The audience will consist of Chinese faculty and students as well as representatives from the Chinese companies students worked for
· A business idea report – prepared while in China. The report will summarize their business experience accumulated during the course and will elaborate on opportunities to develop (start) a venture on an idea/opportunity developed/identified while taking the course. The business idea will be presented at the workshop organized by WUST.
The course is designed to maximize Washburn student’s exposure to international business, to help them get first hand international business experience. Students will work both at Washburn (conducting research) and in different locations in China, primarily in Wuhan. The travel to China will last 20 days.
The course is designed in three parts:
Part 1: Washburn students will team with Chinese students from the Wuhan University of Science and Technology (Wuhan, China). They will investigate the Chinese business environment, and analyze a Chinese company located in Wuhan (the capital of the Hubei province). A report is due and presented one week before departure to China.
Part 2: Washburn students will travel to China. They will interact with businesses in Shanghai and Hong Kong (two days in each location).
Part 3: Washburn students will spend 10 days in the Chinese company they analyzed in their first report. They will work in teams (one American and one Chinese student) on a specific project related to the Chinese company. The last day of their stay in Wuhan they will participate in a workshop where each team will make a presentation followed by a debate on the business ideas and opportunities identified in each report.
Topic Outline: (see course calendar)
Disclaimer: (see course calendar)
Attendance:
Class attendance is mandatory. Class participation is graded (30 percent of the final grade)
Homework:
Project 1: Business Environment Report (and company report)
Project 2: Business Experience Report
General guidelines for reports:
Written presentation:
Þ Page 1: Outline
Þ Page 2: One page executive summary. Summarize paper. List recommendations.
Þ Body of report: Introduction. Key findings. Recommendations. Conclusions.
Þ Endnotes. Short bibliography.
Þ Extra pages: Appendices (tables, charts, graphs).
Additional suggestions:
Þ Submit single-spaced page for page 1 (Executive Summary).
Þ Submit double-spaced pages for body of report (Times New Roman 12, 1 inch margins).
Þ Examine data and information through search engines available.
Þ Use quotation marks and cite sources in endnotes. Do not copy sources without citation.
Þ Provide a list of references at the end of your report.
Þ Paginate report.
Þ Divide report into sections and sub-sections.
Class Participation:
Be prepared to answer the questions in the assignments during class. Ask questions via e-mail or in class. Prepare with care the in-class presentations and term paper assignments. Do well on the examination. Stop by the office during office hours for a progress report.
Literate questions during class count as a plus. The lack of class participation counts as a minus. Therefore, try not to miss class. Let me know via e-mail when you will be absent. One absence raises no questions; more absences raise questions. Peer rating (for group papers) counts as one third of the presentation grade.
Examinations: Three projects.
Grading:
Project 1: Business Environment Analysis and Company Investigation 35%
Project 2: Business Experience Report 40%
Class presentations and workshop participation 25%
Make-up Policy: Deadlines are mandatory. No make-up presentation is possible. (see course calendar)
Prerequisites: Junior status or instructor consent
“It is the responsibility of the student to meet all prerequisite requirements for courses in which the student is enrolled. A student failing to meet prerequisite requirements is subject to administrative withdrawal from the course at any time.”
UNIVERSITY ADDITIONS
Select Mission of the University:
Washburn University shall prepare qualified individuals for careers, further study and life long learning through excellence in teaching and scholarly work. Washburn University shall make a special effort to help individuals reach their full academic potential. Washburn University Board of Regents, 1999
Academic Misconduct Policy:
All students are expected to conduct themselves appropriately and ethically in their academic work. Inappropriate and unethical behavior includes (but is not limited to) giving or receiving unauthorized aid on examinations or in the preparation of papers or other assignments, or knowingly misrepresenting the source of academic work. Washburn University’s Academic Impropriety Policy describes academically unethical behavior in greater detail and explains the actions that may be taken when such behavior occurs. For guidelines regarding protection of copyright, consult www.washburn.edu/copyright/students. For a complete copy of the Academic Impropriety Policy, contact the office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Morgan 262, or go on-line to:
www.washburn.edu/admin/vpaa/fachdbk/FHsec7.html#VIII
Disability Services:
The Student Services Office is responsible for assisting in arranging accommodations and for identifying resources on campus for persons with disabilities. Qualified students with disabilities must register with the office to be eligible for services. The office MUST have appropriate documentation on file in order to provide services. Accommodations may include in-class note takers, test readers and/or scribes, adaptive computer technology, brailled materials. Requests for accommodations should be submitted at least two months before services should begin; however, if you need an accommodation this semester, please contact the Student Services Office.
Location: Student Services, Morgan Hall Room 150
Phone: 785-670-1629 or TDD 785-670-1025
E-Mail:
Students may voluntarily identify themselves to the instructor for a referral to the Student Services Office.
Center for Undergraduate Studies and Programs (CUSP):
As a Washburn student, you may experience difficulty with issues such as studying, personal problems, time management, or choice of major, classes, or employment. The Center for Undergraduate Studies and Programs (Office of Academic Advising , Educational Opportunity Program, and Office of Career Counseling, Testing and Assessment) is available to help students either directly through academic advising, mentoring, career counseling, testing and developing learning strategies or by identifying the appropriate University resource. If you feel you need someone with whom to discuss an issue confidentially and free of charge, contact CUSP in Morgan 122, 785-670-1299, .
Withdrawal Policy:
During fall and spring semesters, students may withdraw from full semester courses through the second week of class with no recorded grade. From the third through the eleventh week a “W” is recorded for any dropped course. Beginning with the start of the twelfth week, there are NO withdrawals, and a grade will be assigned for the course. For short-term or summer course deadlines, please check the appropriate Semester/Session Course Bulletin Web Site (www.washburn.edu/schedule)
Official E-Mail Address:
Your Washburn University e-mail address will be the official address used by the University for relaying important messages regarding academic and financial information and the University will consider this your official notification for important information. It may also be used by your instructors to provide specific course information. If you prefer to use an alternate e-mail address to receive official University notices, you can access your MyWashburn e-mail account, choose the "Options" tab, and select "Settings", scroll to the bottom of the screen and enter the e-mail address you would like your Washburn emails forwarded to in the “mail forwarding” area. Click on save changes. This will complete the process of forwarding your Washburn e-mail. It is your responsibility to ensure that your official e-mail box does not exceed your message quota resulting in the inability of e-mail messages to be accepted into your mailbox
Course Calendar
Oral / Written
Week 1
March 2010 / Introduction.
Course requirements
Course content
Team formation (one or two American and two-three Chinese students)
Assign Chinese companies to each team.
Project discussion / Chapter 1
Chapter 2 / Look for information on international business. Stay current. Subscribe to the Wall Street Journal.
Skype and email will be used to communicate with the Chinese students
Week 2
April 2010 / Research the international business environment and the company
Scope and research method / China Country Reports
Chapters 3, 4 / Bring to class international marketing issues and share them with your colleagues at the beginning of each class meeting
Week 3
April 2010 / Research the international business environment
Research tools
Work on your project / Chapters 5, 6
Week 4
April 2010 / Globalization. The Global Economic Environment
History and Economic Development
The Global Business Cultural Environment
The Global Business Political and Legal Environment
Ethics and Social Responsibility
Work on your project / Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Week 5
April 2010 / Business Environment and
Chinese company report
Presentations / Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10 / First report due / Team presentations (20-30 minutes each)
Use of Skype
Week 6
May 2010 / Trip to China starts
Business and cultural experience: Visit Chinese companies in Shanghai, Beijing, and Xian / 2 days in Shanghai
2 days in Beijing
1 day in Xian
Week 7
2010 / Trip to Wuhan
Orientation, meet the Chinese students, visit the companies
Work on the projects #2 and #3 (in the assigned Chinese companies in Wuhan) / Wuhan (full week)
Week 8
2010 / Wuhan
Work on the project #2 (in the assigned Chinese companies in Wuhan)Business experience report
Workshop – for presentations and debate of business ideas
Business and cultural experience: Visit companies in Hong-Kong and Macau
Trip back to the US / Report #2
Report #3 / 4*5 hours = 20 hours
Workshop organized for the last day of stay in Wuhan
Individual presentations (15-20 minutes each + Q&A)
2 days in Hong-Kong and Macau
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