03-0033 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
UNIVERSIDAD LATINOAMERICANA DE CIENCIA Y TECNOLOGÍA
ACE PROGRAM
LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION: English
AUDIENCE: ISA students
CONTACT HOURS: 45 academic hours
COURSE PRE-REQUISITES: None
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
This is intended to be an introductory course at the undergraduate level. It focuses on questions students have when they are introduced to an international business course—questions about how to do business in different cultures, the impact of geography, why products are the same (or different) in countries, why people have different practices, the effect of the internet on international business, and others. There are always new questions, and sometimes there are new answers to old questions.
This is a course designed to introduce the student to concepts and tools for the understanding of the basic science and art of international business. It defines the nature of international business and the environments in which it is conducted, the continuing importance of international organizations and the international monetary system and how they affect business. It also focuses on the uncontrollable forces at work in all business environments and discusses their inevitable impact on business practices. It explores how managers deal with all the forces affecting international business.
OBJECTIVES
This is intended to be an introductory international business course for undergraduates. It focuses on the different forces that condition international transactions and reasons why individuals or companies doing business across borders should dedicate time and effort to analysis of these environmental forces. Special attention will be given to the managerial implications of company environmental analysis for purposes of international trade, and to the relations of theoretical perspectives on international trade to contemporary economic and political problems.
REQUIRED READINGS
Text. Chapters 1 & 2.
Ball, et. al. Chapter 1, "The rapid change of global business"
Clarke. "Systems theory: Applications for organizational analysis."
Text. Chapter 6. "Theories of international trade.
Ball, et. al. Chapter 2. "Trading and investing in IB."
Text. Chapter 8. "The regulatory environment of IB."
Ball, et. al. Chapter 11. "Legal forces."
Text. Chapter 13. "The cultural environment of IB."
Ball, et. al. Chapter 9. "Sociocultural forces."
Ball, et. al. Chapter 8. "Physical environmental forces."
Text. Chapter 11. "Political risk analysis."
Ball, et. al. Chapter 10. "Political forces."
Text. Chapter 9. "The ethical and social responsibility environment in IB."
Ball, et. al. Chapter 12. "Labor forces."
Text. Chapter 12. "The analysis of MNE by countries."
COURSE CALENDAR
Session Contents and activities
Session 1 Review of syllabus
Introduction to international business.
Different business environments
Session 2 Globalization
Systemic view of international business
Diagnosing and monitoring the international business system.
Session 3 The global trade and investment environment: Absolute and comparative advantages
Session 4 Protectionism and tariff and non-tariff barriers
Small business in IB
Session 5 The legal and regulatory environment of IB: International law
Session 6 International institutions
International accords
Session 7 Cultural differences in IB: Culture and society
Culture and management
Session 8 Cultural barriers to understanding
Session 9 Geographical and physical environment forces:Location, location, location
Physical advantages and barriers
Land, water and climate
Natural resources
Session 10 The political environment and IB: Ideological frameworks
National sensitivities
Session 11 International organizations
Political risk analysis
Session 12 Ethics and social responsibility: The labor environment.
Corruption
Session 13 International ethical concerns
Session 14 Relationships between multinational corporations and host societies: David and Goliath?
Issues of sovereignty and independence
Session 15 Legal issues
Cultural transformations
Technological transfers
EVALUATION
* Research papers 40%
* Case studies and classwork 10%
* Midterm 20%
* Final exam 30%
* Total 100%
Class-work and case studies. The student is expected to participate actively in class with comments, questions, answers to questions, group discussions.
Research papers. The student will write four different papers on topics assigned in class, make a presentation to fellow participants and lead a discussion on the topic. The projects have to be presented in writing, a maximum of 5 pages, double space, and also orally in class.
Midterm and final exam. The tests will include not only textbook material, but also any other material discussed in class such as newspaper and magazine articles, reference books, students' presentations, case applications, etc.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Attendance is mandatory to all sessions. Classes begin punctually. If the student arrives more than 20 minutes late, this will be equivalent to an absence. Two tardy arrivals over 10 minutes are equivalent to 1 absence. With three unjustified absences the student automatically fails the course. Every absence must be formally justified with the professor.
TEACHING METHODOLOGY
This course has been designed as a seminar, combining traditional lectures with discussions and a strong research component, and a high degree of interaction among students and between students and instructor.
The aim is to understand the real, complex, and dynamic world business and economic context, such as the one business and finance professionals will encounter when they leave the classroom. In order to reach the goal, a diversity of teaching strategies will be employed, such as case studies, research, comparative analysis, brainstorming, group discussions, debates, cooperative learning, etc. Some written work will be required, in the form of papers on specific subjects.
The course requires the active, original, critical, and honest participation of each and every one of the students in the discussion for and analyses of specific situations whether in class room or as homework.
The following are the specific methodological tools to be used:
* Participants are expected to have read assignments before class.
* Lectures on specific topics, with ample class discussion.
* Presentations by individual students of specific topics that he/she will do research on to enlarge his/her knowledge of it. Each student will write four papers during the course, and present them in class.
* Case studies assigned to groups of students to be solved at home or in class, and presented in class for discussion with the rest of participants.
* It will be of extreme importance that the student read each new topic before the respective lecture and discussion in order to stimulate active class participation.
* Guided discussion of present-day economic and political topics related to international business.
EDUCATION RESOURCES
The University has the following resources that allow a continuous support of the teaching-learning process:
1. On-line education platform Blackboard, which includes tools for synchronous and asynchronous communication between the professor and the students, as well as areas where files, WEB pages and evaluations can be uploaded so that they are available for the students.
2. Library Alberto Cañas Escalante
3. Virtual Library EBSCO, from where one can access the full text of scientific articles in various areas of knowledge.
4. Multimedia Center, with multimedia projectors, computers, cameras, slide projectors, recorders, televisions and VHS and DVD reproducers
5. Computer labs with access to Internet and computer applications that can be used for different tasks.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Anant K. Sundaram and J. Stewart Black. International Business Environment. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall.
Donald A. Ball and Wendell McCulloch, Jr. International Business, The Challenge of Global Competition. Ninth Edition. Homewood, Ill., Richard D. Irwing, Inc, 2002.
Cateora, Philip and John Hess. International Marketing. Homewood, Ill.: Richard D. Irwing, Inc
www.Doingbusiness.org
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