Course Description

This course focuses on international and multinational business management practices with an added emphasis on the global operations of firms. These principles of management in the international environment are approached from the perspective of the general manager, whose job is to diagnose what is critical in complex business situations and find realistic solutions to strategic and organizational problems. The course is designed to integrate various functional areas and provide a "total business" perspective on issues pertaining to the primary methods of international business and how international management practices differ across cultures.

The emphasis is on pragmatic and action-oriented international management skills. However, a considerable body of theory has evolved within the disciplines of international business, strategy, economics, finance, marketing and organization theory which has salient implications for the strategy discipline. Therefore, the course will emphasize both case and lecture/discussion sessions and these sessions will be conducted in an interactive format.

Course Objectives

This course incorporates characteristically international business development plans, which must minimally include marketing in the form of cross-border market analysis and planning along with finance in the form of current financial analysis and multi-period projections with sensitivity analysis. Students are expected to address other functional areas such as operations, logistics, and human resources to the extent appropriate for each case study. Because of the growing importance of technology in business, teams are encouraged to explore high tech elements in their plans; including e-commerce and web-based value chain management.

Students learn to (1) analyze a client firm and its industry in depth, (2) identify, evaluate and prioritize alternative opportunities using clear decision criteria, (3) accomplish original business research- gathering, processing and presenting data, (4) understand business environments and practices in different countries, (5) formulate a comprehensive international business plan, (6) manage a complex business project, (7) work as member of a multicultural team, (8) communicate persuasively in written and verbal presentations, (9) engage in quantitative and qualitative analysis, (10) utilize word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation graphics packages at high level of competence, (11) integrate knowledge from previous coursework and experience, (12) apply models and skills to real-world project, and (13) operate successfully in a complex, ambiguous project environment.

When this course is completed, the student will be able to:

1. Integrate the disciplines you have already studied to apply strategic concepts to international business practices.
2. Analyze the external and internal environments in order to identify a firm's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (S.W.O.T.).
3. Carry out complex strategic planning at multiple levels (functional, business, corporate, and instructional) in a team setting.
4. Make effective individual and team oral and written presentations.

Evaluation and Grading

Your grade in the course will be determined by your performance in activities like; case studies and final term project. The weight given to each is as follows:

Your grade will be determined solely based on your performance on the exams and activities indicated. There will be NO extra credit. The only points that can be earned are noted above.

Text

Ball and McCulloch, International Business, The Challenge of Global Competition. Seventh Edition, Irwin McGraw-Hill.

Suggested Readings: Wolfe, The Global Business Game. South-Western College Publishing. Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Economist and Business Week.

Methodology

The format of the class will be lecture and discussion oriented, based on the assigned readings and case studies. Outside readings assigned for every class will also provide the basis for class discussion. Class participants are encouraged to actively engage the instructor to clarify points, and ask questions pertaining to the issues at hand, and to seek assistance during office hours.

Preparation includes (1) reading the text, (2) articulating the assigned case studies and research, and (3) identifying questions that you need answered. Also, students may be asked to present "research-in-progress" in class. While class attendance and individual participation will not be graded per se, they will factor into the Subjective Assessment noted in the Evaluation and Grading section.

Attendance Policy

Attendance will be taken regularly. A student who for no valid reason remains absent from campus for an excessive length of time during the semester may be asked to withdraw from the course and from the college. Non-compliance with the expectation of attendance may result in the student being dropped from the roll for the course by the professor in consultation with the Dean and, in any case, will incur a reduction of the student's final grade by up to 15% after the course evaluation criteria (see section below) have been computed. The reduction of the final grade will be determined by the instructor after a careful consideration of the following guidelines:

• 1 - 3 unexcused absences: reduction by up to 5%.
• 4 - 6 unexcused absences: reduction by 10 - 15%.
• More than 6 unexcused absences: grounds for withdrawal from the course.

Students who miss a class due to illness must provide the instructor with a valid medical certificate if they wish to prove cause of absence.

Students will be expected to arrive for class promptly. Tardiness is distracting and time consuming for both the instructor and class participants. Students who consistently arrive late will be charged with unexcused absences, which may affect final grades as noted above.

Course Calendar: TBD

Statement on Cheating and Plagiarism

A student, whose actions are deemed by the College to be out of sympathy with the ideals, objectives or the spirit of good conduct as fostered by the College and Swiss community, may be placed on Disciplinary Probation or become subject to dismissal from the College. Cheating is a dishonest action out of sympathy with the ideals, objectives and spirit of the College. Cheating reflects negatively on one's personal integrity. Cheating is unjust to those students who have studied.

Consequently, the College has adopted the following code:

• When an examination is in progress, all unauthorized books, notes, papers and notebooks must be left outside the classroom, or, where this is not feasible, left beneath the student's seat unopened.
• So far as logistically possible, students will be asked to distribute themselves around the room during an exam so as to leave the widest possible space between them.
• During the examination only the blank paper required for the examination and a pencil, pen or other tools as permitted by individual instructors may be on the desk.
• Should an instructor see written crib notes in evidence during an exam, the presumption would be that the student is using those notes for cheating on an exam.
• If a student must leave the classroom during an examination due to physical duress, the student must turn in the exam and will not be allowed to return during the examination period. No make-up examination will be administered.
• It is within the prerogative of the instructor to take a student's paper during an exam and to ask that student to take an oral exam, or another exam, at the instructor's choice.
• A student found cheating will be reported to the Dean of the College and may be called before the Student Appeal and Grievance Hearing Board for further disciplinary action.
• A student found cheating on an exam would be given an "F" for that examination. If it is a final examination, the student may be given an "F" for the course.
• A student whose paper or assignment has clearly been plagiarized will receive an "F" for that paper. Notification will be sent to the Dean of the College. A second offense in that, or any other, course may result in dismissal from the College.

Cases of academic dishonesty may be handled by the instructor in whose course the violation occurred if the matter is a result of student ignorance or is a first offense. The instructor will assess the severity of the violation and impose an appropriate penalty. In the event of a repetition of dishonesty, the matter will be referred to the Dean of the College, and the student will risk expulsion from the College.

Please also note: Only conventional calculators will be permitted in class.