BSAD 202 Introduction to International Business
Spring 2012
I. GENERAL INFORMATION
Instructor: Marshall Langer
Office hours: By appointment
Telephone: +39 347.1763096
Email: mlanger11@gmail.com
Background: Wall Street; international corporate/financial management, strategic planning. Wharton MBA.
II. COURSE INFORMATION
1. Course Description. The course provides an introduction to international business. Topics include: 1) the effects on international business decisions of cultural, political, legal, and economic forces; 2) a presentation of international business basics such as trade, tariffs, exchange rate regimes, capital markets; 3) a study of the comparative theoretical frameworks for establishing international business enterprises, including trade and investment theory; 4) effects of government intervention and aid. The role of social and economic aid organizations such as the UN, EU, IMF and World Bank will also be discussed.
The course is divided into the following 3 parts:
1. Assessing the International Business Environment
2. International Strategy
3. Investment and Development
B. Successfully apply the principal theories of international trade and investment (exchange rate regimes, global stock and bond markets).
C. Effectively 1) integrate in international business endeavors critical intracompany departments such as marketing, manufacturing, accounting, finance, and human resources; and 2) position supply, production, sales functions.
D. Speak knowledgeably on the important role played by multinational economic and social aid organizations such as the UN, EU, IMF and World Bank in facilitating international trade and business.
- Act ethically, diplomatically, and with emotional sensitivity in international business environments.
III. LEARNING ACTIVITIES
1. Active student participation in seminar-style class lecture. Classes are highly interactive. Instructor prompts students for response to questions posed and solicits his/her thoughts on issues discussed. Format is probing and direct. Additionally, instructor provides concrete, real-world examples to illustrate concepts. Lecture format reinforces by example appropriate methods for asking questions, gaining relevant insights, and making appropriate recommendation. (Contributes to LO A, B, C, D, E)
2. In class presentation and discussion of readings by professor and students. Textbook and other assigned readings (assigned according to the schedule in section VIII of this syllabus) present relevant topics, which are covered more depthfully in class lecture. In class discussion of readings, instructor highlights most relevant reading topics, showing by example how to present data in a stimulating way, consistent with achieving course objectives. (Contributes to LO A, B, C, D)
3. Case Study and/or Article Presentation. Case studies and articles are used to further illustrate real-world examples of subject topics. For all assigned cases/articles, students should be prepared to answer questions about the case/article and be able to illustrate its subtler aspects. For select cases/articles students will be selected to make a presentation. In class discussion of case studies/articles serves to highlight analytical methods, indicating specifically, ways to discern the most relevant focal points. (Contributes to Learning Objectives A, B, C, D)
4. Term Project. Group project. Assess an aspect of the global business strategy employed recently by a large multinational corporation (or organization).You analysis should address such things as market entry strategy, marketing strategy, cost structure, revenue sources, industry and competitive structure, etc. You submission should be approximately 4 pages in length. A group presentation is required. (Contributes to Learning Objectives A, B, C, D, E)
IV. ASSESSMENT
40% Final exam
5% Case study and/or article assignment/presentation
5% Term project
15% Quizzes and class participation
1. Exams. Exams will be composed of essay questions that test your ability to apply concepts discussed through the exam date. (Measures Learning Objectives A, B, C, D)
2. Case/Article Analyses and Presentation. All cases/articles should be prepared for class. For select cases/articles, where indicated, an individual written submission is due and is assigned based on the schedule in section IX of this syllabus. Additionally, for select cases/articles students will be selected to make a presentation. Your grade for the presentation will reflect much new insight you teach the class (rather than repeat the facts). Use section VII of this syllabus as a further guide for all written submissions. (Measures Learning Objectives A, B, C, D)
3. Quizzes. Short, in-class quizzes will test your comprehension of course materials to date. (Measures Learning Objectives A, B, C, D)
4. Term project. See 4 in Section III above. (Measures Learning Objectives A, B, C, D, E)
5. Class Participation. You will be graded on the quality of, and demonstrated insight of, your in-class comments, including comments related to answers to assigned problems. (Measures Learning Objectives A, B, C, D, E)
6. Attendance. Attendance is mandatory, however a student may miss up to 4 classes without penalty or explanation. Absences of more than 4 must be approved by the instructor. More than 4 unapproved absences will result in a failing grade.
V. REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS
1. Required reading:
Online coursepack of required readings consisting of excepts from the following texts. Other select readings are posted on the course website.
Code | Title |
IB | Woods, International Business: An Introduction, Palgrave Macmillan, 2002 |
KR | Krugman, Obstfeld, International Economics: Theory and Policy, Seventh Edition, Pearson, 2006 |
GB | Hill, Global Business Today, 6th Edition, McGraw-Hill Companies, 2008 |
IM | Rodrigues, International Management, 3rd Edition, Sage, 2009 |
IO | Adler, International Dimensions of Organizational Behavior, 4th Edition, Wadsworth, 1992 |
DRS | Daniels, Radebaugh, Sullivan, International Business, 11th Edition, Pearson Prentice Hall, 2007 |
SM | Lasserre, Global Strategic Management, Macmillan, 2002 |
GP | Freud, Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego, Norton, 1974 |
EB | Robbins, Essentials of Organizational Behavior, Prentice Hall, 2004 |
IA | Kohls, Knight, Developing Intercultural Awareness, 2nd Edition, Intercultural Press, 1994 |
MG | Hill, International Business, Managing Globalization, Sage, 2009 |
NE | Lewicki, Litterer, Negotiation, Irwin, 1993
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VI. SUGGESTED OPTIONAL READINGS
1. Books.
George Stonehouse, David Campbell, Jim Hamill, Tony Purdie, Global Transnational Business: Strategy and Management, Wiley, 2004
Debraj Ray, Development Economics, Princeton University Press, 1998
Napoleon Hill, Think and Grow Rich, St. Martin’s Press, 2001
Diamond, Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies, Norton, 2005
Luce, In Spite of the Gods: The Strange Rise of Modern India, Doubleday, 2007
Kynge, China Shakes the World: A Titan's Rise and Troubled Future and the Challenge for America,
Mariner Books, 2007
Hill, International Business, McGraw-Hill, 7thEdition, 2008
2. Internet Sites.
http://www.csis.org/gsi for globalization think tank
http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/crosscutting/climate.html for the Earth Institute
http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi/2005 for data on corruption.
http://www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/gcp/Global%20Competitiveness%20Report/index.htm for global competitiveness report and business competitiveness report
http://www.doingbusiness.org/ for Doing Business Survey which provides cost estimates
3. Periodicals. Business Week, Harvard Business Review, The Economist.
VIII. CLASS SCHEDULE
Please note: You are not required to make a written submission unless instructed to do so where assignment is indicated below. Reading should be completed prior to class.
# |
Date |
Instruction / Activity |
Topic | Reading Assignment (Read for class) |
1 | T 01/17 | Lecture | Course introduction and overview. | -- |
ASSESSING THE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT | ||||
Trading | ||||
2 | R 01/19 | Lecture - - - - - - - - - - Article | Globalization and international business. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Why Some Countries Fail to Thrive | IB: Chapter 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - Posted online |
3 | T 01/24 | Lecture | International trade theory and foreign direct investment. | IB: Chapter 2 |
Macroeconomic factors influencing trade | ||||
4 | R 01/26 | Lecture | The economic environment. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The international monetary system | IB: Chapter 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - GB: C10 |
5 | T 01/31 | Lecture
- - - - - - - - - - Article | Analyzing interest rates, exchange rates, inflation, equity indices, bond spreads, GDP, unemployment., deficits (trade, fiscal), productivity. - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Balance of payments. - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Aggregate demand.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Global Flow of Funds (excerpt) | KR: C14 (p346-p353)
- - - - - - - - - - - - KR: C12 (p291-p296) - - - - - - - - - - - - KR: C16 (p408-p412) (p424-p427) - - - - - - - - - - - - Posted online |
Political economy and the government effect | ||||
6 | R 02/02 | Lecture - - - - - - - - - - Film | Role of aid organizations. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Life and Debt (Globalization and the Jamaican Economy) | -- |
7 | T 02/07 | Lecture | Comparative advantage.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Government influences: Rationale Methods: tariffs, subsidies, gov’t intervention - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Country analysis.
See: www.istat.it/dati/catalogo/20070517_00/Italy2007Ing.pdf | KR: C3 (p25-26) (p33-p43) - - - - - - - - - - - -
DRS: Chapter 7 KR: C8 (p176-p191) - - - - - - - - - - - - See website |
Culture | ||||
8 | R 02/09 | Lecture
- - - - - - - - - - Film | Culture, politics, and the legal structure.
- - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Walmart: The High Cost of Low Price (part) | IB: Chapter 4 IO: p42-57 IA: Case pages - - - - - - - - - - - - -- |
9 | T 02/14 | Case Study | Weight Watchers in Mexico | Case #: 500010 |
10 | R 02/16 | Film | Battle in Seattle (WTO) | -- |
Company Analysis | ||||
11 | T 02/21 | Lecture | Analyzing multinational companies. | -- |
Negotiations | ||||
12 | R 02/23 | Lecture | International negotiations.
- - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Midterm Exam distributed. | NE: Negotiations MG: Int’l negotiations - - - - - - - - - - - - -- |
# |
Date |
Instruction / Activity |
Topic | Reading Assignment (Read for class) |
INTERNATIONAL STRATEGY | ||||
Strategy Development | ||||
13 | T 02/28 | Lecture
- - - - - - - - - - Film | International strategy alternatives.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Cola Wars (business expansion in the Middle East) (part) | IB: Chapter 5 SM: Chapter 7 - - - - - - - - - - - - -- |
14 | R 03/01 | Lecture - - - - - - - - - - Case Study - - - - - - - - - - Assignment | Country evaluation. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Xerox & Fuji-Xerox - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Submit Midterm Exam. | DRS: Chapter 12 - - - - - - - - - - - - Case #: 391156 - - - - - - - - - - - - -- |
-- | T 03/06 | No Class | -- | -- |
-- | R 03/08 | No Class | -- | -- |
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15 | T 03/13 | Lecture - - - - - - - - - - Case Study | Export and import strategies. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Nestle (Ghana) Ltd. | DRS: Chapter 13 - - - - - - - - - - - - Posted online |
HR Management | ||||
16 | R 03/15 | Lecture | International human resource management. | IB: Chapters 10 IM: Chapter 6 |
17 | T 03/20 | Lecture | Managing foreign nationals.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Culturally diverse expressions of personality, emotions. | IM: Chapter 7 EB: Chapter 6 - - - - - - - - - - - - Pharos (posted) |
18 | R 03/22 | Lecture | Managing multinational teams. | GP: Group psych IO: p126-141 EB: C7 (p112-118) |
19 | T 03/27 | Guest Speaker | Giovanni Delle Donne, Italian Business Executive Topic: Business in Italy | -- |
Marketing | ||||
20 | R 03/29 | Lecture - - - - - - - - - - Film | International marketing. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Inside Saatchi Marketing Communications | IB: Chapters 8 - - - - - - - - - - - - -- |
21 | T 04/03 | Lecture - - - - - - - - - - Case Study | Marketing analysis. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Manchester United | Posted online |
22 | R 04/05 | Lecture - - - - - - - - - - Case Study | Consumer behavior - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Local Memoirs of a Global Manager | Posted online |
INVESTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT | ||||
International Finance | ||||
23 | T 04/10 | Lecture | International financial markets. Foreign exchange risk management. | IB: Chapter 6 IB: Chapter 7 |
24 | R 04/12 | Lecture | International accounting issues. | DRS: Chapter 18 |
Operations | ||||
25 | T 04/17 | Lecture - - - - - - - - - - Case Study | International operations and supply chain management. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Ikea | IB: Chapter 9 - - - - - - - - - - - - Case #: 390132 |
M&A | ||||
26 | R 04/19 | Lecture - - - - - - - - - - Case Study | International merger and acquisition strategy. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Vodafone / Mannesmann | SM: Chapter 5 - - - - - - - - - - - - Case#: 201096 |
27 | [TBD] | Exam | Final Exam. | -- |
