BAD 475: International Business
Summer II, 2003
Elizabeth Abraham
Tel: 630-325-5824 (H)
Office Hours: Tuesday/Thursday (before class)
Course
Text
Griffin, Ricky and Putsay, Michael. International Business: A Managerial
Approach. 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2002.
Course
Overview
“Today and in the twenty-first century, management’s ability to transform the organization and its people into a global company is a prerequisite for survival because both its customers and competitors have become cosmopolitan” (Kenichi Ohmae, Beyond National Borders. Homewood, Illinois: Dow Jones-Irwin, 1987: 93).
“Global management is not a structure, it is a frame of mind” (Christopher A. Bartlett and Sumantra Ghoshal, “Matrix Management: Not a Structure, A Frame of Mind,” Harvard Business Review, July-August, 1990.
Most industries today are already operating in a global competitive environment. Even though many business organizations are not directly involved in international business transactions, they are, nevertheless, exposed to and affected by the competitive thrusts of international players. Thus, unavoidable threats and substantial opportunities exist in the global marketplace. Successful business managers in the future will need to have international competence. International Business (IB) contributes to the development of management skills in this respect. IB introduces students to the special aspects of operating in the global environment. The course stresses fundamental concepts and tools that international business managers should know. In order to accomplish its objectives, a cross- functional approach is taken. IB addresses how differences in countries’ economic, political, cultural, and legal environment affect functional business decisions in the fields of strategy, finance, marking, production, and organizational behavior. The course does not typically address those fields separately but, instead, stresses integration within the international business context.
Above all, IB
students need to develop awareness of and respect for other cultures. Whether
or not we agree with different customs and business practices, it is imperative
that we understand
them if we wish to conduct business in an international context.
Objectives:
1.
To develop an understanding of the impact of international business and the
implications of a global economy.
2.
To study the impact of international business, including the areas of culture,
national trade and investment policies, and legal and political issues.
3.
To study the theoretical foundation of international trade, including trade
theories and international economic activities.
4.
To study the international business environment, focusing on international
financial markets and economic integration.
5.
To study international business preparation, focusing on research (both primary
and secondary sources), market entry strategies, and strategic planning.
6.
To study international business strategy and operations, including the areas of
marketing, financial management, human resource management, and organizational
structure and control.
7.
To examine and discuss current issues in international business through cases,
current business readings, and CLASS DISCUSSION (experiential learning opportunities).
Outcomes:
1.
Students are expected to understand the impact of international business on the
world economy.
2.
Students are expected to understand various cultural, legal, political and
economic factors that effect international trade.
3.
Students are expected to understand the theoretical foundation of international
trade theories and economic activities.
4.
Students are expected to understand aspects of international financial markets
and economic integration (especially NAFTA and the EU).
5.
Students are expected to understand different methods businesses can use to
enter foreign markets.
6.
Students are expected to understand the strategic planning process in
international business.
7.
Students are expected to understand various international topics in the areas
of finance, marketing, human resource management, and organizational structure
and control.
8.
Students are expected to demonstrate the ability to perform international
business research by completing an in-depth research project.
Course Evaluation:
1. Exams
(3 exams)
All exams will have 50 multiple choice
questions and 2 essay questions. All multiple
choice questions are worth 2 points and all
essay questions are worth 10 points.
2. Semester
Project
In order to enhance your learning and measure
your ability to apply knowledge, an in-depth project relating to international
business is required for this course. All teams are expected to present their
findings to the class. Further information will be given about the specifics of
the project.
Grading Criteria:
Exam 1 = 20% Exam 2 = 20% Exam 3 = 25%
Project = 25% Participation = 10%
All makeup exams will be on the day of
finals. So do not miss an exam for anything other than dire reasons.
Grading Scale:
A = 90-100 B = 80-89 C = 70-79 D = 60-69 F =
below 60
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is using the ideas and/or writings of another and claiming them as
one's own. Plagiarism is most often thought of copying, word for word, what
someone else has written and passing it off as one's own. Plagiarism is also
the very similar copying of someone else's words and/or ideas without
attribution. Thus, it is still plagiarism if two sentences, two paragraphs, or
two papers appear to be almost similar even though there are some differences.
Plagiarism is best avoided by carefully acknowledging the sources of one's
words and/or ideas. Student work found to be plagiarized will be given an F.
Participation
As you see 10% of your grade involves participation. The essential message here is that class participation has an impact on your grade (both positively and negatively). It is all about your willingness to consistently contribute to everyone’s learning – including mine.
Students
who actively participate by bringing outside experiences and knowledge can
expect an "A". Students who show up everyday and answer all questions
posed can expect no more than a "B". In you are just physically
present but do not contribute in any manner, do not expect any higher than a
"C". Students who do not show up regularly will be given a
"D" or "F" at the discretion of the instructor.