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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "BUS 498"
COURSE NAME: "International Business Seminar"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2018
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Colin Biggs
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: TTH 3:00 PM 4:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisites: Senior Standing and completion of all core courses required for International Business
OFFICE HOURS: By appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This heavily case-based capstone course will enable students to integrate and consolidate previous learning and examine in-depth real-life issues of policy, competitive advantage and barriers to trade; regional and global strategy; the challenges and benefits of operating and managing internationally and cross-culturally; and the major ways in which international business is currently changing, with a consideration of the implications for future business graduates.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

Topics will include:

 

  • corporate decision-making in an international context
  • Prahalad’s insights into the bottom of the pyramid, and
  • the increasingly central role of IT, and more generally of new technologies, in shaping future international business. 

 

The regional focus will be on the currently dominant economies – the ‘triad’ of the EU, the US and Japan – as well as the rapidly emerging BRIC markets in world trade such as Brazil, India and China.

 

The seminar will draw on and reinforce a conceptual framework established in earlier prerequisite courses, and will in particular make use of Michael Porter’s Diamond Theory of international trade, and subsequent double-diamond elaborations.  The primary emphasis will be on the application of this conceptual framework to topical cases, providing students with detailed practical insights into real-life issues in international trade, acquired through active learning.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

The course will enable students to: 

- integrate and consolidate previous learning work

- examine in-depth issues of policy, competitive advantage and barriers to trade, regional and global strategy; the challenges and benefits of operating and managing internationally and cross-culturally; and the major ways in which international business is currently changing, with a consideration of the implications for future business graduates.  
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Megachange: The World in 2050Daniel FranklinThe Economist9781846685859     
Megatech: Technology in 2050Daniel FranklinThe Economist978-1781254622     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
   
ParticipationAttendance and active and regular participation in discussion 20%
Case studiesRegular case-studies each week30%
Major projectProject of up to 5,000 words50%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Regular attendance is expected.  Absences should be agreed with the instructor in advance in all cases.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE


Week 1 


Introduction to the course

Review of learning from pre-requisite courses

Week 2

Key sectors relevant for international business

Week 3 

Detailed look at drivers and blockers of international business

Weeks 4 and 5

Examination of sectors chosen by students for more detailed study

Weeks 6 and 7

Case studies in sectors chosen for further study


Week 8

Presentations of sector studies

Week 9

International business at the bottom of the pyramid

Weeks 10 and 11

International business 2040 - key drivers and blockers

Likely scenarios

Implications for graduates

Week 12

Seminar to determine topic for major final project

Weeks 13-15

Personal supervision on major projects

Presentation of draft projects

Finalisation of projects