Survey of International Business
IBS 2163-2
VJN 320
Monday,
Wednesday, Friday 9:00 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.
Fall 2007
Office: 308 Varnell Jones
Phone: 731-425-3244
E-mail: halters@lambuth.edu
Office Hours: Monday 10:00
a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Tuesday 9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Thursday 3:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Friday 10:00 a.m. – 11:00
a.m. and by Appointment
Add/Drop Date: August 30th /
October 22nd
It is the responsibility of each student to read and understand this syllabus. If you have questions, please direct them to the instructor.
Required Textbook: John D. Daniels, Lee H. Radebaugh, and Daniel P.
Sullivan, International Business: Environments
and Operations, 11th edition, Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2007.
Course Description: This course examines the challenge of global
competition in business. Topic areas
include international trade and investment, global integration and cooperation,
world resources and the natural environment, cultural implications in business,
the socio-business environment and the impact of multinational firms.
Course Objective: The primary objective of this course is to
acquaint the student with the managerial implications of the various topics for
the actual practice of international business.
To this end, students will:
1) Learn that international
business is extremely important to the
2) Learn the importance of
understanding, appreciating, and vicariously enjoying the “mystique” of other
people.
3) Learn how history,
geography, psychology, wars, culture, and customs have varied in all nations
and how these differences cause people to have certain attitudes, resources,
and skills. We must understand these
differences and attitudes if we are to successfully trade with others.
4) Have a strong foundation for
the further study of International Accounting, International Economics,
International Marketing, International Management, International Finance and
Cross-Cultural Issues in Business.
5) Demonstrate skills to communicate effectively in a domestic and global
business environment.
During
the course of the semester, students will be exposed to the arguments for and
against various complex issues such as economic theories, government policies,
business strategies, and organizational structures in order to develop critical
thinking skills.
Attendance and Participation: Students are expected to attend class and
participate in class discussions. Think
of yourself as a professional businessperson and attend class regularly just as
you will go to work regularly. Class absences in
excess of two unexcused absences
will result in a letter grade drop of your final course grade. Additional unexcused absences will result in
additional letter grade drops for each set of two unexcused absences. (3 unexcused absences – drop 1 letter grade;
5 unexcused absences – drop 2 letter grades; etc.) The class discussions add to and elaborate on the
curriculum. Students are encouraged to
share their thinking on a voluntary basis.
Examinations: Six examinations will be given. Each exam will consist of a variety of types
of questions. Sources for exam questions
may include the textbook, lectures, class discussions, students’ presentations,
guest speakers, films, etc.
Make-up Exams: Make-up exams are highly discouraged. Such exams will be given only if students
have an excused absence (See “Excused Absences”). The make-up exam must be rescheduled prior to
the absence when the absence is foreseen and no later than the first return
class period when the absence is unforeseen.
Failure to reschedule and take the make-up exam will result in a grade
of zero for that exam.
Excused Absences: An absence will be deemed
“excused” for any of the following:
·
University
affiliated absence, such as athletics, music, arts, etc.
·
Absence
accompanied by a note from the University nurse or Physician for the days in
question.
·
Family emergency,
such as hospitalization of immediate family member or death. This
does not include lack of transportation, sick child/parent/sibling, work
scheduling conflict, traffic delay, or other routine conflict.
Assignments: Unexcused late work will not be accepted and
students failing to submit work when due will receive a zero for the
assignment.
Grading System:
Your
performance will be evaluated as follows:
6
Exams (5 during the semester + Final Exam) counting 16.67% each
Grading Policy: A = 90% - 100%, B = 80% - 89%,
C = 70% - 79%
D
= 60% - 69%, F = Below 60%
General Information: No eating or socializing during class. In addition, the reading of newspapers,
magazines or other textbooks is prohibited.
Student participation in class discussion is encouraged at all times.
Academic Integrity
Policy: Each student is expected to
adhere to the University’s Academic Honesty Policy. Plagiarism or any other type of cheating will
not be tolerated and will result in a grade of zero for the work in question. Such incidents will be reported to the
Department Head and the Dean of Students.
Statement
of Integrity: “Coercion of faculty to
change grades is strictly prohibited; grade change requests must follow
University established guidelines; refer to the Lambuth Handbook for details;
any grade change must be supported by adequate and substantial
documentation.
Questions: If you have problems or questions related to the
course, I encourage you to ask questions in class or see me during posted
office hours or by appointment to assist you as soon as possible.
Lunch with the
Pros/Distinguished Lecturers
You may earn ½ of a percentage point toward your final grade for
attending each Lunch with the Pros/Distinguished Lecturer speaking events and
turning in a one page summary of the event.
Summaries are due the class period after the event.
Below
is the tentative schedule of class topics and assignments. I reserve the right to alter the schedule as
circumstances may require. All changes
will be announced in class. Students not
attending class are responsible for obtaining this information.
WEEK & DATE
|
TOPICS
|
ASSIGNMENTS
|
|
1. August 22 & 24 |
Intro,
Course Overview, Ch 1 - Globalization |
Read
Chapter 1 |
|
2. Aug 27, 29, 31 |
Cultural Environment; Political/Legal Environment |
Read
Chapters 2 & 3 |
|
3. September 5 & 7 |
Economic Environment |
Read
Chapter 4 |
|
4. Sep 10 |
Exam 1 |
Exam
Chapters 1-4 |
|
4. Sep 12 & 14 |
Globalization
and Society |
Read
Chapter 5 |
|
5. Sep 17,
19, 21 |
International Trade; Government Influence |
Read Chapters 6 & 7 |
|
6. Sep 24 |
|
|
|
6. Sep 26 |
Exam 2 |
Exam Chapters 5-7 |
|
6. Sep 28 |
Cross-National Cooperation |
Read Chapter 8 |
|
7. October
1, 3, 5 |
Foreign Exchange and Capital Markets; Exchange
Rates |
Read Chapters 9 & 10 |
|
8. October 8, 10 |
Strategy of International
Business |
Read Chapter 11 |
|
8. October 12 |
Exam 3 |
Exam Chapters 8-11 |
|
9. October 15 |
Fall Break |
No Class |
|
9. October 17 & 19 |
Country Evaluation |
Read Chapter 12 |
|
10. Oct 22, 24, 26 |
Export/Import; Direct Investment |
Read Chapters 13 & 14 |
|
11. Oct 29 |
|
|
|
11. Oct 31 |
Exam 4 |
Exam Chapters 12-14 |
|
11. Nov 2 |
Organization |
Read Chapter 15 |
|
12. November 5, 7, 9 |
Marketing; Manufacturing and Supply Chain
Management |
Read Chapters 16 & 17 |
|
13. Nov 12, 14 |
|
|
|
13. Nov 16 |
Exam 5 |
Exam Chapters 15-17 |
|
14. Nov 19 |
International Accounting |
Read Chapter 18 |
|
14. Nov 21 & 23 |
Thanksgiving
|
No Class |
|
15. Nov 26, 28, 30 |
Multinational Finance; Human Resource Management |
Read Chapters 19 & 20 |
|
16. December 3 & 5 |
|
|
|
16.
December 7 |
FINAL EXAM
8:00 AM – 10:00 AM |
FINAL EXAM |