Course title: International Business
Code:
Credit:
Teaching Hours: 3 hrs/w X 16weeks

Overview

This unit of study deals with the various international business issues, including numerous environmental variables such as cultural, political, legal, economic and financial environments. It also addresses key trade and investment theories and issues such as regionalism, international business strategy and structure. Moreover, it deals with a national possible invention in IB. From an international business perspective, the unit also looks into a number of functional areas such as logistics, services, human resource management, marketing and R&D.
 

The issues cover the following but not are limited to:
International business, trade, FDI, globalization, culture, religion, education, training for expatriates, tariff, subsidy, politics and law, a nation’s advantage, factor proportion trade theory, product cycle, new trade theory, the balance of payment, currency exchange, economic integration, R&D, entry mode, strategy, structure, service, logistics, HRM, marketing, corporate governance

Aims and Objectives
After completing this unit, you should be able to

(1) understand the definition and nature of international business

(2) comprehend and elaborate on the diversity and complexity of the international business environment.

(3) understand instruments a nation can use to influence IB
(4) analyse strategies and structures used by international businesses.

(5) discuss the nature and operation of regional economic integrations

(6) increase awareness of current events and provide and their implications for international business.

Textbook

Czinkota, M.R., Ronkainen, I.A. & Moffett, M.H. 2005. International business (7th ed). Mason, Ohio: South-Western.

Suggested Readings

• Ball, D. A., McCulloch, W. H., Geringer, J. M., Minor, M. S., & McNett, J. M. (2007). International business: The challenge of global competition (11th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.
• Buckley, P.J. (ed.) (2005), What is International Business? Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
• Capela, J.J. & Hartman. S. W. (2004), Dictionary of International Business Terms, 3rd edn., Hauppauge, NY: Barron’s.
• Conklin, D.W. (2006), Cases in the Environment of Business: International Perspectives, Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
• Daniels, J. D., Radebaugh, L.H. & Sullivan, D.P. (2007), International Business: Environments and Operations, 11th edn., Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall.
• Dowling, P. J., Liesch, P., Gray, S.J. & Hill, C.W.L. (2009) International Business, Asia-Pacific Edition, McGraw-Hill, Sydney.
• Ferraro, G.P. (2006), The Cultural Dimension of International Business, 5th edn., Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall.
• Helpman, E. & Razin, A. (eds.) (1991), International Trade and Trade Policy, Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press.
• Hill, C.W.L., Cronk, T. and Wickramasekera, R. (2008), Global Business Today: An Asia-Pacific Perspective, McGraw-Hill, Sydney.
• Hirst, P. and Thompson, G, (1996), Globalization in Question, Cambridge: Polity Press.
• Jones, G. (1996), The Evolution of International Business, London: Routledge.
• Kline, J.M. (2005) Ethics for International Business: Decision Making in a Global Political Economy, New York: Routledge.
• Lasserre, P. and Schutte, H., (2006), Strategies for Asia Pacific: Meeting New Challenges, 3rd edn., Basingstoke : Palgrave Macmillan.
• Parker, B. (2005), Introduction to Globalization and Business: Relationships and Responsibilities, Thousand Oaks, Calif.: SAGE.
• Ricks, D.A. (2006), Blunders in International Business, 4th edn., Malden, MA: Blackwell.
• Rugman, A.M., Collinson, S. & Hodgetts, R.M. (2005), International Business, 4th edn., New York: Prentice Hall/Financial Times.
• Sheil, C. (ed.) (2001), Globalisation: Australian Impacts, Sydney: UNSW Press.
• Shenkar, O. & Reuer, J.J. (eds.) (2006), Handbook of Strategic Alliances, Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications.
• Wild, J.J., Wild, K.L. & Han, J.C.Y. (2006), International Business: The Challenges of Globalization, 3rd edn., Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson/Prentice Hall.

Teaching Methodology

This course will be taught applying a range of methods shown as follows:
● lectures with detailed lecture notes
● Case studies
● Class discussions
● Students’ oral presentations

Assessments

Method of Assessment

Value
Due Date
Length

Group Assignment 30% for the write-up + 20% for presentation 1st December
2000 words maximum

Examination

50%
 

To be advised
 

2 hours
+10 minutes reading time

Total Marks

100

Group Assignment Topic

Due Date: 1st December

Length: 2000 words maximum

Total Value: 50 marks

Guidelines:
• The assignment should have a brief introduction and conclusion (around words each).
• Response to each question should be between 200 and 300 words.
• Each question is weighted equally.
• Assignments (write-ups) must be submitted on or before 5pm of the 1st December
• A 20 minute presentation will be required for each group.
i. Groups in IB2 and IB3 will present 2nd December and Groups in IB1 will present on 3rd December

Marks Allocated:
Producing the write-up: 30%
Presentation: 20%

Examination
Format
The final examination will be of two hours’ duration, preceded by 10 minutes’ reading time. It is a closed book examination and no materials are permitted in the examination. The examination is worth 50% of your assessment and will be in two parts. Part A will comprise short questions. Part B will comprise essay questions. The examination will cover all material in the unit. A exam briefing will be given in the last lecture.

Course outline

Lectures Text Chapters
Topics
1 1 Introduction and overview of international business
2 2 Cultures
3/4 3,4 Trade and Investment Policies
5/6 5 International Trade and Investment Theories
6 6 The balance of payment
7 7 Financial market
8 8,9 Regional Economic Integration, emerging market
9/10 11 Modes of Entry
11 12,12 The Strategy and Structure of International Business
12 10, 14 International Marketing and R&D
13 15, 16 Services, logistics, supply chain
14 17,18 Financial management, IHRM
15 22 International Business: Present and Future Trends
16 Exam brief and course review