University of Guelph

Winter Semester 2012 Course Outline

MGMT*4260 International Business

PLEASE DO NOT PURCHASE ANY TEXTBOOKS UNTIL YOU CONFIRM THESE WITH THE PROFESSOR DURING THE FIRST CLASS.

Source: http://www.mhhe.com/business/management/businessAroundTheWorld/enter.html#

Course Description and Objectives:

This course deals with International business and the strategic and functional areas of management in the international business environment. This course is designed as an extension of a senior level course in business policy or strategic management, and examines the factors that shape strategic management outside a firm’s domestic markets.

After completing this course students will be able to:

1.       Extend strategic management concepts to organizations that are operating in the global market, as well as selected foreign markets and locations (North America, South America, Europe, Asia etc)

2.       Understand a variety of international finance concepts and apply the related processes to a selection of management situations

3.       Understand a variety of international trade concepts and apply the related processes to a selection of management situations

4.       Prepare an export plan.

Method of Instruction:

Teaching methods will include lectures, in-depth classroom discussions whereby the student is expected to contribute valuable insight, case studies, and video presentations.  Because of the course structure, it is essential that the student attend all classes fully prepared. In some instances, videos will be shown, or Guest Speakers might volunteer their time.

Assignments: All assignments must be handed-in by email fully typed, stapled (or 3 ring) and double-spaced.  Further specific instructions will follow in class. In order to receive a grade, papers must be properly footnoted, and documented to show how the content is supported.  All papers must follow proper research format.

Special Note: Every effort will be made to manage the course as provided in this course outline. However, adjustments may be necessary at the discretion of the Professor and any changes will be announced in class. It is the student’s responsibility to become aware of any announced changes in class.

Due to the nature of this course and its structure, students will not be admitted after the second class. I will normally be communicating with you through my company’s web site. You do not require special programmes or passwords.

Required Reading:    Ball, Donald A., Geringer, J. Michael. Minor, Michael S., McNett, Jeanne M. International Business,  Twelfth Edition  ISBN-13:978-0-07-336113-0

Suggested Readings

Charles W.L. Hill, Thomas M^cKaig, Global Business Today,  3^rd Canadian Edition, 2012 McGraw Hill
ISBN: 0070401799

The Professor has prepared a detailed annotated of  current international business web sites.  (export plans, international trade finance, etc. Journal articles, etc.) Also, the Professor will occasionally be providing his own research from his 2009 published journal articles in QFInANCE – Bloomsbury Publishers and Qatar Financial Authority Review as well as current research from his 3^rd edition of Global Business Today, scheduled for release in November, 2011. Important International Trade Web Site links.

Course Work including Grading
Web based assignment                                       5% (individual)  (TWO PAGES)

Tests 1 and 2                                                   50% (25% each test) (both multiple choice and/or True & False) 
                                                                                - dates indicated below in course outline (closed book). The
                                                                                   final test will be held on March 21st.

One case study (group work)                          10%  * (papers will not be returned, but students are welcome to
                                                                                     view them in Professor's office). The cases are to be
                                                                                     selected from the end of the chapter(s) with prior
                                                                                     approval from Professor. Students are on their own to
                                                                                     select written style of presentation - be it formal case
                                                                                     style, or not. (10 PAGES NOT INCLUDING
                                                                                     REFERENCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY)
                                                                                    .

Group Project (10% individual 25% group)     35%  - Group Projects will not  be returned to students although - Export (market) Plan                                                   students are welcome to view them in Professor's office.
                                                                                       Project Length - As it is a major project, students
                                                                                       normally require 25+ pages, not including appendages
                                                                                        and bibliography). E-SUBMISSION ONLY
                                                                                        
                                                                           100%  

... More on the  semester’s work ….

Web based INDIVIDUAL assignment: This one "TWO PAGE" assignment may involve finding an ultra innovative situation and/or product and/or service. The student will indicate its significance, from either an international trade stance, a political, social, economic, cultural and/or legal point of view relating to the country where this innovation has occurred and how it may leave an imprint on the world.
 
Tests 1 & 2 will consist of  multiple choice, and/or True & False. Test 1 will cover the initial part of the course. Chapters of test coverage are indicated below in the course outline component. 
 

Group Case /10 is a learning exercise that is designed to help students link “real world” issues with course content and theory. Students are to select a case from within our BALL textbook. Although varied, many case studies, including group case work can include: (please see note elsewhere in this course outline under the heading  “To template or not to template – THAT is the (group) question”

• Specific situation description
• Problem and/or decision centred
• Important features tend to be addressed
• Elicitation of active and equal participation from group members
• Open communication and real time availability amongst group members

As for the group case submission/10, the Professor will let the student choose the case format or method of written submission that the group chooses. This format will be up to the student group, not the Professor. These cases are to be derived from within our required textbook. Topics must be first cleared by the Professor. A one or two line email to the Professor indicating topic choice, will suffice. THESE ARE TO BE EMAILED TO ME – NOT PAPER
 

Group Project  /35 – An International Export (Market) Plan (Study): Students will be required to develop an export plan of expanding a service or product  from a selected industry from Canada (to be discussed by group with Professor) to one country (somewhere on earth). The project is a group endeavour. Student groups will (but are not limited to): evaluate the innovative characteristics of the service or product; analyse STEP constraints (Social Technological Economic Political); identify business opportunities and threats in the target market place; develop an export proposal; and, provide final recommendation to a potential client as to how to get that product into the destination market. The final report will provide students with the opportunity to mesh course content with project work. I have indicated "product" although the Professor is not averse to a service. The student will have been able to apply course material to a real world export (market) plan.

FOR ALL PROJECTS, STUDENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO CONTACT ANY COMPANY.  ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN REPORTS MUST COME FROM EITHER CORPORATE ANNUAL REPORTS, MAGAZINE REPORTS SUCH AS PROFIT, BUSINESS WEEK, OR OTHER CANADIAN OR INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS OR WEB BASED INFORMATION. ALL NON-ORIGINAL INFORMATION MUST BE PROPERLY REFERENCED.  THESE ARE TO BE EMAILED TO ME – NOT PAPER

For this group project, each group will be required to submit:

o       One paragraph topic indicator  that should be pre-approved by the Professor.

• Final project report due date, is indicated below in course outline.

Groups will be formed during the first or second class. Groups will ideally consist of four individuals and individual group members are required to contribute equitably, within the group. If in the beginning phases of group work, it is evident that timetables of group members cannot match for required group work sessions, please find a new group, accordingly which better matches meeting and/or presentation preparation timetables. However, if group members choose to join a group and contribute minimalistically, the remainder of the group can (politely) fire offending members, even the day before the presentation is due, leaving the non contributing student with a "dilemma".

Late papers will be marked as 0 – unless for matters of  illness or religion. Family emergencies do not count, unless they are real and explained. The less information I have, the less help I am willing and able to render.

The e- posting of notes and ppoint slides is not a requirement of the Professor to fulfil. Should the Professor wish to extend the courtesy of posting such information, he will inform the student, of such intent.

  “To template or not to template – THAT is the (group) question”

I have always found that in my real business world experience, a prescribed template can get in the way of a finding a good business solution. In other words, were I to tell you that you needed to use (for example) a specific template, my concern is that you would be more focused on and stressed about filling in the content under template titles according to the template, than you would be with preparing a good paper. I am not implying that templates are to be avoided.  It is simply that you will choose the template that best suits and flows with your group's mentality and group thoughts for whatever case you choose. An excellent paper is an excellent paper, regardless of the template chosen. As we near the project date, I will provide you with several sample templates.

Course Schedule

The following is an indicator of the lecture topic and seminar activity for the coming semester. Please note that the Professor may alter some of the lecture topics and or sequence of lecture topics if dynamic current events might make it interesting for focus, at that point in time. These possible changes may or may not be verbally announced by the Professor in advance of them happening. Some material might require more than one week, while other material might require less than one week. The below date indicators are realistic approximations, subject to change. Guest Speakers and/or videos will be present if as and when relevant and/or possible to acquire. Students are responsible for entire chapter coverage even if in a rare occurrence, a given chapter is not covered at all or in its entirety, in class.

Related information

The Professor places his student colleagues on an invitation list to monthly meetings at the Central Ontario Export Club in Toronto – normally held the 3^rd Wednesday of every month. This is by no means compulsory for the student to attend. It is a courtesy opportunity that the Professor extends to those students who are interested or who have the time to go. It is a small but great networking meeting with monthly Guest. All students are cordially invited to attend. For those who might not wish to receive further invitations, there is a “remove me” from email list at the bottom right of all monthly invitations.

Evaluation:

Your performance will be evaluated on the following:

Date               Topic                                      (special) Details if applicable            Required Reading

Policies and Regulations

All students are expected to abide by the University’s academic regulations in the completion of their academic work, as set out in the undergraduate calendar (see

http://www.uoguelph.ca/registrar/calendars/guelphhumber/current/c07/index.shtml  Some regulations are indicated below:

 Academic Misconduct:

The University of Guelph is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity and directs all members of the University community–faculty, staff and students – to be aware of what constitutes academic misconduct and to do as much as possible to prevent academic offences from occurring. The University of Guelph takes a serious view of academic misconduct and it is your responsibility as a student to be aware of and to abide by the University’s policy. Included in the definition of academic misconduct are such activities as cheating on examinations, plagiarism, misrepresentation, and submitting the same material in two different courses without written permission. Please err on the side of caution and reference liberally. To better understand your responsibilities, read the Undergraduate Calendar at: http://www.uoguelph.ca/registrar/calendars/undergraduate/current/c08/c08-amisconduct.shtml

Religious Holidays:

Should a student need to miss scheduled tests, mid-term examinations, final examinations, or requirements to attend classes and participate in laboratories for religious reasons, please advise the instructor within two weeks of the distribution of this course outline so that alternate arrangements can be made. For further information see http://www.uoguelph.ca/registrar/calendars/undergraduate/current/c08/c08-accomrelig.shtml