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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "BUS 330-2"
COURSE NAME: "International Business"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2022
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Ieva Jakobsone Bellomi
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
MW 8:30 AM 9:45 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisites: Junior Standing, EC 202; Recommended: MKT 301
OFFICE HOURS:
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The objective of this course is to introduce students to the fundamental elements of international business, including political, economic and social systems and barriers affecting international trade and investment, key aspects of global and regional economic integration models, and the global monetary system. The course covers in depth market entry strategies and international organizational structures, reviews key functions of international business and highlights contemporary internationalization problems.
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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!
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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.
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TEXTBOOK:
Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
International Business: The New Realities, Global Edition | S.T. Cavusgil, G.Knight | Pearson, 5th Edition | ISBN-13 978-1292303246 | | | | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
1st written individual assignment SHORT QUIZ | A 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 EXAM | Written, individual exam: Part I: multiple choice questions, Part II: essay questions on the topics covered in the class | 20 % |
Group assignment: GROUP PRESENTATIONS (end of the term) | Case analysis on the chosen global company (to be approved by the professor!) and its success/failure in the international markets with a focus on the SWOT analysis of the company going global and on the CAGE framework analysis of respective environments the company is operating in | 30 % |
3rd written individual assignment: FINAL EXAM | Written, individual exam: Part I: multiple choice questions, Part II: essay questions on the topics covered in the class
| 20 % |
CLASS PARTICIPATION | INDIVIDUAL 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.
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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.
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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.
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SCHEDULE
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Week and Preliminary Dates
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Topic
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Assigned readings
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Principal activities
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Week 1
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Part I
FOUNDATION CONCEPTS
What is international business?
Globalization of Markets and the Internationalization of the Company
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Chapter 1, Textbook
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Introductions
Case studies:
1. China globalizes London’s black cabs
2. Making the Apple iPhone
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Week 2
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Part II
ENVIRONMENT OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
National Differences in Political, Economic and Legal Systems
National Differences in Economic Development
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Chapter 2
and
Chapter 3, Textbook
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Case studies:
1. Revolution in Egypt
2. Ghana: An African Dynamo
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Week 3
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National Differences in Economic Development (cont.)
National Differences in Culture
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Chapter 3
and
Chapter 4, Textbook
Article ‘Your company needs a foreign policy’ (Harvard Business Review)
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Case studies:
1. Improving the lives of Bangladeshi garments factory workers
2. Walmart Can’t Conquer All Countries
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Week 4
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Theories of International Trade and Investment
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Chapter 6, Textbook
Article ‘The Competitive Advantage of Nations’ (Michael Porter, Harvard Business Review)
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Case studies:
1. Taobao’s rise
2. The Rise of India’s Drug Industry
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Week 5
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Short quiz on the theoretical concepts covered in the classes
Government Policy and International Trade
Foreign Direct Investment
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Chapter 7
and
Chapter 8, Textbook
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Case studies:
1. Risks in Russia’s political and legal systems
2. Political, legal, and ethical dilemmas in the global pharmaceutical industry
3. China Limits Exports of Rare Earth Materials
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Week 6
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Regional Economic Integration: BREXIT, One Belt One Road and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
Understanding ‘emerging’ markets: special focus on South East Asia, Eastern Europe and Africa
Review class for the mid-term
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Chapter 9, Textbook
Article ‘Africa’s New Generation of Innovators’ (Harvard Business Review)
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Case studies:
1. Government intervention at Airbus and Boeing
2. Prowling for Success: the revival of Jaguar and Land Rover
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Week 7
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Review class
Mid-term exam
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Written, individual exam: Part I: multiple choice questions, Part II: essay questions on the topics covered in the class
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Week 9
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PART III
STRATEGY AND OPPORTUNITY ASSESSMENT
Strategy and Organization in the International Firm
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Chapter 13, Textbook
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Case studies:
1. IKEA’s strategies for global success
2. Global strategy at Lenovo
3. Organizing Siemens for Global Competitiveness
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Week 10
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The Organization of International Business
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Chapter 14, Textbook
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Case study:
1. MD International and Latin America
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Week 11
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Market Entry Strategy and Strategic Alliances
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Chapter 15, Textbook
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Case study:
1. JCB Pins Hopes on the Indian Market
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Week 12
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PART IV INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS FUNCTIONS
Exporting, Importing and Countertrade
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Chapter 16, Textbook
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Case study:
1. Barret Farm Foods: a small firm’s international launch
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Week 13
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Global Production and Supply Chain Management
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Chapter 17, Textbook
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Case studies:
1. Amazon Kindle Evolution
2. Making the Apple iPhone
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Week 14
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Review Class for Final Exam
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Week 15
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Final exam
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Written, individual exam: Part I: multiple choice questions, Part II: essay questions on the topics covered in the class
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Week 16
TBC
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Group Presentations
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Groups shall be tasked to make presentations – analysis of a market entry strategy/-ies used by the multinational companies to foster their international trade. The case study should focus on emerging market company entering the Western, developed markets (focus companies: Siemens, Tata Group, Alibaba, Mittal, Gree, Huawei, or any other multinational company from China, India, Russia, Africa, Latin America)
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