Alberta School of Business
Department of Marketing, Business Economics and Law Syllabus
BUEC 342 A1, A2 and A3 Introduction to International Business Fall 2012 MW 11:00-12:20 (A1), 12:30 -13:50 (A2) and 15:00-16:20 (A3) Instructor: Dr. Dorothee Feils
Office: Bus 3-40F Tel: (780) 492-0196
E-mail: [email protected] Office hours: T 1:30-2:30 and by appointment Course Description: In this course, we will examine international trade and investment in the context of the global political
economy from the perspective of the business enterprise. Course topics include the political, legal, economic and cultural environment for international business, trade and foreign direct investment in theory and practice, international financial and monetary institutions and operations, and foreign exchange rate risk.
Text: Charles W. L. Hill, Thomas McKaig, Global Business Today, McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 3nd Canadian edition, 2012. The text provides an excellent overview of international business.
Additional Readings: In addition to the textbook, I assign some readings that may be accessed via uLearn (via the links provided in the posted syllabus). The schedule for and links to the additional readings are provided in the course outline below.
Current Events: The international business environment is in constant flux. In order to keep abreast of current developments, it is important to follow the news. Some examples of excellent sources for news relevant for international business are the Economist, Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, National Post, Globe and Mail, Bloomberg, and BBC. Readings on current events may be assigned throughout the semester. These readings will be announced in class and/or by e-mail and posted on uLearn.
Evaluation: 15% Current Event Presentation (individual) 35% Exam
30% Term Project (Group Project)*
10% Presentation of the Term Project (Group Presentation)*
10% Participation
* Students are responsible for choosing their own group members, and my expectation is that you will be able to work successfully within groups. I realize that many of you are tired of groups; however, employers are increasingly expecting experience in team work and a group project will allow you to gain some team experience. In choosing your group members, try and select people that are responsible and that you can work with. In addition, you may wish to consider your schedules, so that all group members have some common time available for working on the paper and preparing the presentation. You need to sign up your group on uLearn. I expect all groups to work well together, and all group members to put in their fair share. I will discuss how to proceed should your group be unable to work together. Please note that group members will be given the opportunity to evaluate each other, and I reserve the right to lower the grade of any group member(s) who, in the consensus of their peers, have not contributed sufficiently to the group project. Note that you need to be a member of a group by the due date listed in the syllabus. Failing to sign up for a group by the due date will result in a 10% deduction of your term project mark.
Class participation is an important component of this course. Participation marks consist of three components; attendance, frequency of participation, and quality of participation. I need to be able to attribute student participation correctly. Therefore, it is essential that you put a sign with your name (in large letters, easily legible from the front of the classroom) on your desk each class.
Letter grades will be assigned based on the overall percentage achieved in the semester.
The exam has to be taken at the time scheduled. The only exceptions are medical reasons and other exceptional circumstances that need to be explained in writing and approved by the instructor. A make-up exam will be scheduled for anyone who misses the exam with a valid excuse. If you feel that your exam mark is incorrect, you must notify me in writing during the two-week period following the return of the exam. Note that a request to have a question on your exam remarked entails a request to have the entire exam remarked. Also, any questions regarding exam coverage will ONLY be answered in class or posted on uLearn.
Due to internet security issues, I only open e-mails from known sources. Please use your University of Alberta e-mail account when you send me e-mail messages and include the course number and section under subject.
Recording of the lectures is permitted only with my prior written consent or if recording is part of an approved accommodation plan of which I am informed.
Your need to heed the University of Alberta’s Code of Student Behaviour. In particular, I recommend that you review the sections regarding plagiarism and cheating and inappropriate behaviour. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please talk to me or to the Undergraduate Office.
Course material will be posted on the course website prior to class. Note that for pedagogical reasons only a part of the power- point presentations may be posted.
Current Event Presentation
You need to pick a current (i.e. published after September 1st this year) newspaper, magazine or internet news agency article (e.g. Globe and Mail, National Post, New York Times, Financial Times, Economist, BBC news, CNN, Bloomberg News) related to international business and present it to the class. Articles can be no longer than 3 pages. You may pick any topic as long as it is related to class content (see the course outline) and not related to your term project. In addition, each current event presentation needs to be on a different topic within a course section. You get a choice of topic on a first-come first-serve basis.
The sign-up sheet is available on uLearn. The presentation must include the following elements (not necessarily in this order):
1) Summary of the article 2) Context of the article
What is the bigger picture?
Does the article cover all relevant points and information, if not, what is left out?
Are there any mistakes in the article, and if yes, what are they?
3) What is the relevance of the news for international business?
Show how the article is related to our class.
4) References (APA Style)
In order to put the article into context and to comment properly, you will need to refer to the text book, additional articles and/or news reports on the topic of your choice (there is no length or publication date restriction on these additional articles). You are required to include a minimum of 4 references in addition to the article you are presenting.
You need to provide me with an electronic copy of the article by 5 pm the day before your presentation and with a paper copy of the slides at the beginning of the class in which you are presenting. Please print 3 slides per page.
Presentation guidelines:
-The presentation is approximately 4 minutes long.
-The presentation will be evaluated based on the content (originality, clarity, correctness, thoroughness, critical evaluation, use of additional resources to put the article/report into context, relate the article to the course) and the delivery of the material (professionalism, free speech, eye contact, correct timing, effective use of slides, capturing audience interest).
A detailed marking key for the current event presentation will be posted on uLearn.
Term Project
The term project is a group project. The number of students in each group will be determined based on the total number of students in the class, usually either four or five students per group. The purpose of the term project is to give students an opportunity to apply and enhance their knowledge of international business through a real-world case study. Therefore, the project involves the in-depth examination of one firm that entered one foreign country via foreign direct investment, joint venture, licensing or franchising in the last 10 years. Choose a Canadian or foreign firm and critically evaluate or analyze the firm’s foreign market entry. Groups get the choice of the firm and country on a first-come first-serve basis. Each group within in a course section has to write on a different firm and a different country. When writing the paper, make sure you include the following items in your analysis:
1) Executive summary (1 page maximum) 2) Introduction
3) Description of the firm and its industry 4) Description of the foreign country
5) Analysis of the political, legal, economic, cultural and business environment in the foreign country as it is relevant for the firm
6) SWOT analysis of the firm’s entry into the foreign country 7) Description of the actual market entry
8) Evaluation of the market entry, implementation, and further steps undertaken (if applicable) 9) Conclusion
What went right, what went wrong, what we can learn from the case study 10) List of References (APA style)
A paper copy of the term project has to be handed in by 3 p.m. on due date. In addition, e-mail me an electronic copy of the assignment by the due date and time. When you present the term project, your group needs to provide me with a hard copy of the slides at the beginning of the class in which you are presenting. Please print 3 slides per page.
Paper guidelines:
-approximately 20 page paper (1.5-spaced, 12 point font, 1 inch margins, two-sided printing is encouraged for the sake of the environment) not including figures, graphs, references, and appendices. Please hand in a copy of the paper that is stapled only . -IMPORTANT: Follow the citation guidelines (APA style guidelines) provided by the Winspear library. Make sure you adhere to the university student code of conduct. Use only secondary sources to complete your research project.
-Marking: The group paper will be evaluated based on its originality, thoroughness, correctness of content, clarity, application of course materials, critical evaluation of the market entry decision/implementation as well as the format of the paper and correct spelling and grammar.
Presentation guidelines:
-The presentation is 25 to 30 minute long, followed by a 10-minute in-class discussion of your project.
-Each member of the group has to participate in the presentation.
-The evaluation is based on the content (originality, clarity, correctness, thoroughness, application of course materials and critical evaluation) and the delivery (professionalism, free speech, eye contact, timing, effective use of slides, capturing audience interest).
Detailed marking keys for the presentation and the paper will be posted on uLearn.
Tentative Course Outline
Topic Date Readings
Introduction/ Ch. 1: Globalization Sep. 5
Ch. 2: Country Differences in Political Economy Sep. 10, 12, 17 Ch. 3: Cultural Environment
Deadline for signing-up for the current event presentation date on uLearn
Sep. 19, 24 Sep. 21
Walmart in Germany, Glocalization
Ch. 4: Ethics in International Business Sep. 26 Donaldson; Shared Values Ch. 5: International Trade Theories
Everyone needs to be signed up in a group
Oct. 1 Ch. 6: Political Economy of International Trade
Term project presentation dates will be determined in class via ballot on Oct. 3
Oct. 3, 10 Blinder
Ch. 7: Foreign Direct Investment Oct. 15, 17
Ch. 12: Entering Foreign Markets
Ch. 13: Exporting, Importing, Countertrade
Oct. 22 Ch. 8: Regional Economic Integration: EU, NAFTA Oct. 24 Ch. 9: The Foreign Exchange Market
The topic for the term project has to be finalized
Oct. 29, 31 Nov. 2
Ch. 10: Global Monetary System Nov. 5, 7 Ferguson
Financial Crises Exam review
Nov. 14
Exam Nov. 19
Group Presentations Nov. 21 – Dec. 5
Term Project Due Dec. 7
Note: This schedule is tentative, since some topics may take more or less time than I have allotted for them, we may deviate slightly from this schedule. Thus, the schedule needs to be somewhat flexible. However, due dates and the exam date are not flexible.
