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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "BUS 330"
COURSE NAME: "International Business"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Summer Session I 2020
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Ieva Jakobsone Bellomi
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: Remote Learning
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisites: Junior Standing, EC 202; Recommended: MKT 301
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The objective of this course is to expose students to the essential elements of international business, with particular emphasis on how it differs from domestic business. An extensive use of case studies provides a basis for class discussion, allowing students to develop their analytical skills and apply their theoretical knowledge.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

The course introduces the students with
1. the foundation concepts of international business,
2. the specific characteristics of the environments the multinational companies operate in (cultural, ethical, political, economic and government related),
2. as well as describes the company's strategies for entering and operating in international markets.

The course shall provide the students with the fundamental practical methods to assess the markets and the opportunities for companies to go global. 

The course closely follows current issues and changes in the global market place with a focus on the new economic powers in South East Asia and Far East Asia, specifically China's rising presence on the political and global business map with its One Belt One Road Initiative in Eurasia, as well as touches upon Russia, India and Africa as critical emerging markets for the global sustainability efforts.

The course is tailored as a highly interactive one (assigned readings are the must!) with discussions on case studies (as assigned per syllabus) and class deliberations on contemporary international business issues. The value of the course - the students shall learn the theoretical concepts to be used to analyze critically and intelligently the business events on the international stage.

The students are welcome to contribute to the class discussions by reading business newspapers and magazines, like Harvard Business Review, Business Week, The Economist, Wall Street Journal,and others. It is also recommended to follow the World Economic Forum on social media as this will benefit the up-to-date understanding of international business dynamics. By these activities students shall learn to follow the business events on a daily basis, making it as a habit of being on top of the dynamics of the global business. 

Attitude and interest in the subject shall be valued highly!
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of the course the students shall be able to:
- to understand the general international business strategy framework;
- to understand and analyze international business environment, the threats and opportunities in it,
- to understand the new global challenges of political, economic and cultural nature in doing business internationally.






TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
International Business Competing in the Global MarketplaceCharles Hill, G. Thomas HultMcGraw-Hill Education International, 11th EditionISBN 978-1-260-08415-3     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
1st written individual assignment SHORT QUIZA short quiz in the class of 10 multiple choice questions to check the general understanding of fundamental international business concepts learned and covered in the class 10 %
2nd written individual assignment MID-TERM EXAMWritten, individual exam: Part I: multiple choice questions, Part II: essay questions on the topics covered in the class20 %
Group assignment: GROUP PRESENTATIONS (end of the term)Research paper and presentation on BREXIT and its impact on global businesses30 %
3rd written individual assignment: FINAL EXAMWritten, individual exam: Part I: multiple choice questions, Part II: essay questions on the topics covered in the class 20 %
CLASS PARTICIPATIONINDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTION (10%): students are welcome to participate in the class discussions on business case analysis as well as contemporary international business issues. Students are encouraged to share new interesting articles, findings, and opinions on international business issues with the class. This will benefit greatly to the class participation score of a student. GROUP CONTRIBUTION (10%): during the term the groups shall be assigned two group assignments: 1. on international trade theory and 2. on a case study (as per syllabus) presentation to the class 20 %

-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:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY

You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed.
As for the specific course - students are required to read the textbook and attend the classes to get the most and up-to-date focus on international business. More than 3 absences would result in 0% of the class attendance grade.
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
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS BUS330 IJB SUMER 2020
Textbook: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMPETING IN THE GLOBAL MARKETPLACE Hill/Hult McGraw-Hill
SYLLABUS  (tentative)
week no class no dates topic readings cases and class activities
GLOBALIZATION
W1 1 25/05/2020 Introduction to the Course; Globalization and Increasing International Interdependence for Multinational Companies Textbook: Chapter 1 Making the Apple iPhone (Part 7 Integrative Cases); Building the Boeing 787 (Chapter 1 closing case) 
2 26/05/2020 National Differences in Political, Economic and Legal Systems Textbook: Chapter 2  Putin's Russia (Chapter 2 Closing case); Ghana: An African Dynamo (Part 7 Integrative Cases)
3 27/05/2020 National Differences in Economic Development  Textbook: Chapter 3, Article ‘Africa’s New Generation of Innovators’ (Harvard Business Review)  
4 28/05/2020 Differences in Culture  Textbook: Chapter 4 Walmart Can't Conquer All Countries (Part 7 Integrative Cases); World Expo 2020 in Dubai, UAE (Chapter 4 Closing case)
5 29/05/2020 International Trade Theory Textbook: Chapter 6, Article ‘The Competitive Advantage of Nations’ (Michael Porter, Harvard Business Review) Appendix: International Trade and the Balance of Payments
GLOBAL TRADE AND INVESTMENT ENVIRONMENT
W2 6 01/06/2020' Government Policy and International Trade  Textbook: Chapter 7 Sugar Subsidies Drive Candy Makers Abroad (Chapter 7 Closing case)
7 03/06/2020' Regional Economic Integration  Textbook: Chapter 9 Tomato Wars (Chapter 9 Closing Case)
8 04/06/2020' WARM-UP QUIZ; Regional Economic Integration: Case in Point - EU and Brexit: Business and Managerial Insights Textbook: Chapter 9  
STRATEGY AND INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT
W3 9 08/06/2020' Foreign Direct Investment; Review for the Mid-Term Exam Textbook: Chapter 8 Foreign Retailers in India (Part 7 Integrative Cases)
10 09/06/2020' The strategy of International Business Textbook: Chapter 13  
11 10/06/2020' The Strategy of International Business; REVIEW FOR THE MID-TERM EXAM Textbook: Chapter 13 Global Strategy Levers (Chapter 13 Closing case)
12 11/06/2020' MID-TERM EXAM    
ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS 
W4 13 15/06/2020 The Organization of International Business Textbook: Chapter 14  
14 16/06/2020 Entry Strategy and Strategic Alliances Textbook: Chapter 15  
15 17/06/2020 Entry Strategy and Strategic Alliances CONT. Textbook: Chapter 15 MD International and Latin America (Part 7 Integrative Cases)
16 18/06/2020 Exporting, Importing and Countertrade Textbook: Chapter 16 Making Ford Globall Competitive (Part 7 Integrative Cases)
 
W5 17 22/06/2020 Global Production, Outsourcing, and Logistics Textbook: Chapter 17 H&M: The Retail Clothing Giant (Chapter 17 Closing Case) 
18 23/06/2020 Ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability: GROUP PRESENTATIONS  Textbook: Chapter 5  
19 24/06/2020 Global Marketing and R&D Textbook: Chapter 18  
20 25/06/2020 GROUP PRESENTATIONS ON BREXIT; REVIEW FOR THE FINAL EXAM    
21 26/06/2020 FINAL EXAM