WIDENER UNIVERSITY
  SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Management 365E-A
 FALL  2000
. . .

Faculty: Myroslaw J. Kyj, Ph.D.
Office: 8 Alsop House       Phone: 610-499-1173
e-mail: myroslaw.j.kyj@widener.edu
Office Hours: M – W: 12:30 – 2:00 PM; T: 6:00 – 6:30 PM; F: 12:30 – 2:00 PM and by appointment.

Text:

“International Business: The Challenge of Global Competition” by Don Ball and Wendell McCulloch (Irwin – McGraw-Hill) 7th ed.
The Financial Times – www.FT.com

Suggested Reading Material:

The Wall Street Journal – www.wsj.com
The Economist – www.economist.com
Business Week – www.businessweek.com
 

Course Procedure and Objectives:

The course has three primary objectives:

1. Expose students to the different cultural, economic political and technical environments in which global business is conducted;
2. Examine the cumulative impact of history, geography and political structures on business environments as a way of understanding how to more effectively conduct business on a global scale;
3. Help develop relevant management skills for planning and expanding activities in global markets.

The course will be presented through a combination of lectures, readings, discussion of cases, videos and written projects. In addition, as part of the learning process, each student will be required to complete an in-depth instructor approved project. Students will make formal oral project presentations towards the end of the semester. Specific guidelines for the research project will be handed out under a separate attachment. Students must turn in five written internet based exercises over the course of the semester. Internet assignments are in italics and underlined. The instructor will announce in class when a particular exercise is due.

 Learning Objectives:

At the completion of the course students will be able to:

1. Appreciate the differences and similarities in economic, political and cultural environments around the globe.
2. Understand the multi-faceted nature of competitive advantage in a global setting.
3. Work in contexts that feature a diversity of legal and ethical systems.
4. Have a broad understanding of the international financial system.
5. Understand how international competition shapes and alters society.
6. Understand the different entry strategies for gaining access to global markets.
7. Understand how to recognize and assess the different types of business risk in a global context - i.e. Asian economic crisis.
8. Understand the emerging political and economic trends in the wake of the collapse of communism.
9. Work on the Internet to secure information about a wide range of international business issues.
 

Tests and Grade Policy:

Five performance packages will determine the final grade: 1) a mid-term exam;  2) five end of chapter internet assignments;  3) an oral report on a country; 4) the student research project and 5) a final exam. A numerical grade will be assigned for each respective performance package. Furthermore, the instructor reserves the right to use performance in class as a modifier of the final grade. However, grade adjustments for participation normally will be no more than a half letter grade - i.e. C to C+.

 Grading is on the plus - minus system. The following ranges are used: A 94 to 100; A- 91 to 93; B+ 87 to 90; B - 83 to 86; B- 79 to 82; C+ 75 to 78; C 71 to 74; C- 67 to 70; D+ 63 to 66; D 60 to 62; ; F below 60.

All tests must be taken on the date scheduled unless prior arrangements have been made with the course instructor. In the event that an emergency arises, you are still obligated to inform me before the exam. Be prepared to document the reasons for your absence upon your return! I reserve the right not to give a make-up if in my opinion you have not offered a valid reason for failing to sit for the exam on the scheduled date. Also, any make-ups are scheduled at my and not the student's convenience. Denial of a make-up will be recorded as zero for grading purposes.
Attendance:

Active participation, especially in an upper level course, is an integral part of the learning process. Therefore, your presence in class is critical. The instructor will not take roll for the purpose of recording class cuts, however frequent absence will negatively affect the participation component of the course grade. Come to class on time. Late arrivals and early departures disrupt the continuity of instruction and learning.
 

Cheating

Any student who is caught cheating or plagiarizing material for the project will be given a failing grade for the exam or project - recorded as zero - and subjected to the University's disciplinary procedure.

TEST WEIGHTS
Mid-Term      25%
Five internet assignments @ 5% each  25%
FT reports – Oral       5%
Research project     20%
Final       25%
TOTAL      100%

 Topic Sequence
 

1. Global Business - Chapter 1
 1.1.  Geography, climate and business
 1.2.  Domestic versus global business
 1.3.  Modes of international business operations
 1.4.  External business environments
1.5. Environmental forces
1.6. Globalization forces
Internet exercise p.23

2. Setting up Global Operations - Chapter 2
 2.1.  International trade
 2.2.  Major trading partners
 2.3.  Foreign Investment
 2.4.  Multidomestic vs: global strategy
 Internet exercise p. 80 turn in

3. Economic Theories of International Business – Chapter 3
 3.1.  Mercantilism
 3.2.  Absolute and comparative advantage
 3.3.  Factor endowments
 3.4.  International product life cycles
 3.5.  Trade restrictions
 3.6.  Costs of entry barriers
 Case: Tarus Manufacturing p. 116

4. International Organizations – Chapter 4
 4.1.  United Nations
 4.2.  Development banks
 4.3.  International Monetary Fund
 4.4.  World Trade Organization
4.5. OPEC
4.6. Regional Trade groups
Internet exercise p.152 turn in

5. International Monetary System – Chapter 5
 5.1.  The gold standard
 5.2.  Balance of payments
 5.3.  Money markets & foreign exchange
 5.4.  Special drawing rights
 5.5.  The Euro
 Internet exercise p.177

 6. Financial Forces in International business – Chapter 6
 6.1.  Currency Fluctuation
 6.2.  Taxation/ tariffs and duties
 6.3.  Misery index
 6.4.  Basket case countries
 Internet exercise p.199

7. Economic & Socioeconomic Forces – Chapter 7
 7.1.  Global income distributions
 7.2. Labor rates
 7.3.  Population densities
 7.4.  National economic plans
 Case: World Laboratories p. 226

8. Physical and Environmental Forces – Chapter 8
 8.1.  Location advantages
 8.2.  Topographical features
 8.3.  Navigable waterways
8.4. Climate
8.5. Natural resources

Mid-Term October 24th Chapters 1-8
 

9. Sociocultural Factors – Chapter 9
 9.1.  Elements of culture
 9.2.  Religion
 9.3.  Language
 9.4.  Social organization
 Case:Be Attuned to Business Etiquette p. 296

10. Political Forces – Chapter 10
 10.1.  Economic organization
 10.2.  Privatization
 10.3.  Nationalism
 10.4.  Traditional hostilities
 Internet exercise p. 325 turn in

11. Legal Dimensions – Chapter 11
 11.1.  Taxation
 11.2.  Rule of Law
 11.3.  Restrictive trade practices
 11.4.  Intellectual property protection
11.5. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
11.6. Common versus Civil Law
 

12. Labor – Chapter 12
 12.1.  Mobility of workers
 12.2.  Guest workers
 12.3.  Race and social status of workers
 12.4.  Unions

13. Competitive Forces – Chapter 13
 13.1.  National competitiveness
 13.2.  Industry targeting
 13.3.  Developing nations
13.4. Product piracy
13.5. Industrial espionage
 Internet exercise p.419 turn in

14. Market Assessment – Chapter 14
14.1. Environmental scanning
14.2. Market indicators
14.3. Trade missions and fairs
Internet exercise p. 440

15. International Marketing – Chapter 15
15.1. Customization vs. standardization
15.2. Consumer & industrial product strategy
15.3. Promotion strategy
15.4. Pricing
15.5. Channel selection
Case: U.S. Pharmaceutical of Korea p. 480

16. Exporting and Importing – Chapter 16
16.1. Reasons for exporting
16.2. Export assistance programs
16.3. Payment and financing procedures
16.4. Export intermediaries
16.5. Government programs
16.6. Documentation
16.7. Import duties
Internet exercise p. 509 turn in
 Case: Morgan Guaranty Trust Company p. 511

17. Financial Management – Chapter 18
17.1. Transaction risks
17.2. Translation risks
17.3. Raising capital and investing
17.4. Countertrade
17.5. International cooperation
 
 

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