University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Bryan School of Business and Economics
MGT 301-11: Introduction to International Business
Summer 2008
This syllabus is subject to change as the semester progresses to accommodate
instructional and/or student needs.
Instructor: Nir Kshetri, Ph D
Phone: 334-4530
Fax: 334-4141
Email: nbkshetr@uncg.edu
Class Time: MTW 10:40AM-1:10 PM
Classroom: BRYAN 105
Office hours: M 9:30-10:30 AM
Office location: 368 BRYAN
Required Text
Hill, C.W., International Business:
Competing in the Global Marketplace,
7th Edition
ISBN: 0073381349 / 9780073381343
http://www.mhprofessional.com/product
.php?cat=106&isbn=0073381349
Prerequisite
ECO 300
Course catalog description
Introduction to the environmental factors which increasingly cause businesses to become
international in the scope of their activities. Nature of global business and multinational
organizations analyzed.
Special note
Certain topics and course content appear in both the ECO 300 and MGT 301 syllabi. This
replication of topics is meant to build your knowledge, understanding, and analysis of global
issues facing economic policy makers in ECO 300 and business managers in MGT 301.
Course overview
MGT 301 is an introductory undergraduate course in international business. It is a first course in
international business. To that extent, it will provide an overview but not in-depth knowledge
enough to become an expert in international business.
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Course Objectives
Specifically, this course seeks to:
1. Understand the dimensions on which international business differs from a business that
deals with a single economy;
2. Provide basic understanding of how multinational corporations work;
3. Introduce various theories related to international business;
4. Provide tools to analyze environmental factors influencing international business;
5. Familiarize with the functional operations in international business;
6. Understand social and ethical issues and the future of international business.
Format
The course will be organized around short lectures, case analysis, in-class and online discussion,
and group presentations.
Class and online discussions will draw from assigned readings supplemented with other material as
and when necessary. In-class exercises and online discussions will be utilized to enhance your
learning of course material. A tentative outline of class activities is provided in this syllabus.
Evaluation Items
Physical Attendance, Participation and Contribution (100 points)
You are encouraged to attend all the classes. I will take attendance at every class. If you miss a class,
it is your responsibility to check with another student to find out if any changes were made and to
be prepared for such items when you return to the next class.
You should complete all reading assignments and be prepared to discuss those assignments,
especially the cases. It is important that you participate in class discussions. However, please note
that quality, not quantity, is important in the discussion.
In addition, the following factors will also be considered:
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Courtesy (cell phones/pagers off; absence of extensive side conversations)
Attentiveness (focus directed to the presenter, not distracting others)
Asking questions of groups presenting the cases
Providing comments and critiquing reading materials and cases.
Inclement Weather Policy: If we experience snow, sleet, etc., we will follow the University’s
decision as to holding class. Use your good judgment in such cases. If you do not feel you can
safely make it to class, do not come.
Online Attendance, Participation and Contribution (100 points)
Blackboard is an important component of this course. You are expected to login regularly and post
to the discussion topics (at least SIX postings are required). The purpose of online discussions is to
supplement the materials covered in class. Your postings enhance not only your own learning but
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also that of your fellow students. However, please feel free to post anything that contributes to our
learning of Marketing Research.
The last day for posting on the blackboard is July 30, 2008. Please submit hard copies of your
postings before July 31. Alternatively, you can copy all your postings in ONE word document and
email me. Make sure that each of your postings has the date you posted on the blackboard.
Your postings are evaluated in terms of the following criteria:
a) Have you connected your discussion with materials from your textbook or those discussed in
the class?
b) Have you done additional research and included source(s) of your information?
c) Have you related your postings with the current marketing or business related events?
d) Are your postings uniformly distributed throughout the semester?
Quizzes (50 points)
There will be THREE quizzes. You are allowed to drop your lowest score and the scores of the
remaining TWO quizzes (25 points each) will be considered in your grade. All quizzes will be
given online on the Blackboard. Please inform me immediately if you have any problem in taking a
quiz on the Blackboard.
Assignment (50 points)
There will be ONE assignment. The assignment will be available on the Blackboard.
Exam 1 (100 points)
Exam 1 will be on July 7, 2008. More details about this exam will be available on the Blackboard.
Exam 2 (100 points)
Exam 2 will be on July 15, 2008. More details will be available on the Blackboard.
Final Exam (250 points)
Final exam will be on July 30, 2008. Details will be announced on the blackboard.
Group Components
Developing an International Business Plan (IBP) (200 points)*
Working in groups, you are required to prepare an international business plan for a real or
hypothetical product and present it to the class. The purpose of an international business plan is to
help prepare a company to enter or expand in foreign countries. It should describe all the relevant
external (e.g., economic, political, cultural) and internal elements that influence your product’s
success in foreign markets.
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An International business plan will include the following elements:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Identifying the product you would like to sell
Selecting the potential country(ies) to market your product.
Analyzing the potential marketability of your product in these new markets.
Assessing the competition you will face.
Identifying any limitations on trade, including tariff barriers, quantitative restrictions
as well as non-tariff barriers to trade (i.e. regulations and standards).
6. Establishing a market entry strategy
a. Choosing the entry mode (e.g., export, contractual agreement, licensing, joint
venture, strategic partnership and investment).
b. Designing the marketing plan (product, place, promotion and price)
Each group may plan on spending up to 20 minutes for presentation, followed by a 10-minute
question and answer period. Each group will also submit the business plan (about 12-page) on the
day of the presentation. You may form your own group (5-7 members). The performance of your
team (maximum: 140 points) and your evaluation by other members of the team (maximum: 60
points) will determine your group project grade. You are required to submit peer evaluation form.
Case Analysis and Presentation (50 points) *
Each group is required to present a case. The presenting group will also submit a written analysis of
the case (4-6 pages, double-spaced). Cases are assigned to you on first-come first-served basis. You
can download data for most of the cases from the website mentioned in your textbook. For some
cases, data will also be posted on the blackboard. Please check with me for questions related the
case you are presenting.
*Each group member is also required to submit the “Peer evaluation form” no later than the last day
of the class.
*Each member of the group should attest (with a signature) to the statement that “We have
abided by the UNCG Academic Integrity Policy on this assignment” on a separate cover page
of the report.
Scoring System for the Final Grade
The following scoring system will be used for the final grade.
Score
960-1000
920 - 959
870 – 919
830 – 869
Grade
A+
A
AB+
Score
790 – 829
750 – 789
710 – 749
670 – 709
Grade
B
BC+
C
4
Score
630 – 669
590 – 629
550 – 589
0 – 549
Grade
CD+
D
F
TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE
Week
Date
Detail
1
6/30
Chapter 1.
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2
7/1
7/2
Remarks
Globalization
The globalization of market
The globalization of production
The emergence of global institutions
Drivers of globalization
The roles of technological changes
The changing demographics of global economy
The changing foreign direct investment picture
The changing nature of multinational enterprises
The global economy of the 21st century
The globalization debate
Managing the global marketplace
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Group formation
Case Presentation: Lenovo (Presenter: Kshetri)
Chapter 2.
National Differences in Political
Economy
 Political system
 Economic system
 Legal system
 The determinants of economic development
 States in transition
Chapter 3. Differences in Culture
 What is culture?
 Social structure
 Religious and ethical structure
 Language
 Education
 Culture and the workplace
 Cultural change
Chapter 4. Ethics in International Business
 Ethical issues in International Business
 Ethical dilemmas
 The roots of unethical behavior
 Philosophical approaches to ethics
 Ethical decision making
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Case Presentation:
Ikea (p. 36) (Group: TBA)
Indonesia (p. 81) (Group: TBA)
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 Quiz 1 on 7/2
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3
DMG Shanghai (p. 117) (Group: TBA)
Google in China (p. 148) (Group: TBA)
Exam 1 on 7/7(Chapters 1-4)
7/7
7/8 Chapter 6. The Political Economy of International
7/9 Trade
7/14
 Instruments of trade policy
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The case for government intervention
The revised case for free trade
Development of the world trading system
Chapter 7. Foreign Direct Investment
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Foreign Direct Investment in the world
economy
 Horizontal Foreign Direct Investment
 Vertical Foreign Direct Investment
Chapter 8. Regional Economic Integration
 Levels of economic integration
 The case for regional integration
 The case against regional integration
 Regional economic integration in Europe
 Regional economic integration in Americas
 Regional economic integration in elsewhere
Chapter 9. The Foreign Exchange Market
 The functions of the Foreign Exchange Market
 The nature of the Foreign Exchange Market
 Economic theories of exchange rate determination
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7/15
7/16
7/21
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Case: Trade in Textiles (p. 236) (Group: TBA)
Case: Comex (p. 269) (Group: TBA)
Case: NAFTA (p. 303) (Group: TBA)
Case: STMicro(p. 349) (Group: TBA)
Exam 2 (Chapters 6-9) on 7/15.
Case Presentation: Group and Case: TBA
Chapter 12.
The Strategy of International Business
 Strategy and the firm
 Global expansion, profitability and profit
growth
 Cost pressures and pressures for local
responsiveness
 Choosing a strategy
Chapter 13. The Organization of International
Business
 Organizational architecture
 Organizational structure
 Control system and incentives
 Organizational change
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 Quiz 2 on 7/9
Chapter 14.
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Entry Strategy and Strategic Alliances
Basic entry decisions
Entry modes
Selecting an entry modes
Greenfield venture or acquisition?
Strategic alliances
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Case Presentation: Group and Case: TBA
Chapter 16:
Global Production, Outsourcing and
Logistics
 Strategy, production and logistics
 Where to produce?
 Strategic role of foreign factories
 Outsourcing production: make or buy decision
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5
7/22
7/23
7/28
Case: Wal-Mart (p. 443) (Group: TBA)
Case: Unilever (p. 481) (Group: TBA)
Case: Tesco (p. 513) (Group: TBA)
Case: Microsoft (p. 349) (Group: TBA)
Chapter 17:
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Global Marketing and R&D
The globalization of markets and brands
Market segmentation
Product attributes
Distribution strategy
Communication strategy
Pricing strategy
Configuring the marketing mix
New product development
Chapter 18:
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7/29
7/30
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Global Human Resource Management
The strategic role of International HRM
Staffing policy
Training and management development
Performance appraisal
Compensation
International labor relations
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Final project presentations on 7/23-7/28
Case Presentation: Group and Case: TBA
Final exam review/preparation
Final exam on 7/30 (Chapters 12-14, 16-18)
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Quiz 3 on 7/23
Instructor information
Nir Kshetri is an Assistant Professor at Bryan School of Business and Economics, The University
of North Carolina-Greensboro. Nir holds a Ph D in Business Administration from University of
Rhode Island; an M.B.A. from Banaras Hindu University (India); and an M. Sc. (Mathematics) and
an M. A. (Economics) from Tribhuvan University (Nepal). His undergraduate degrees are in Civil
Engineering and Mathematics/Physics from Tribhuvan University. Nir’s previously held positions
include faculty member at Management School, Kathmandu University (Nepal), visiting lecturer at
Management School, Lancaster University (U.K.) and visiting professor at European Business
School in Paris. During 1997-99, Nir was a consultant and a trainer for the Food and Agricultural
Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and Agricultural
Development Bank of Nepal.
Nir’s book, The Rapidly Transforming Chinese High Technology Industry and Market:
Institutions, Ingredients, Mechanisms and Modus Operandi (Chandos Publishing: Oxford) is
forthcoming in 2008. Nir’s works have also been published in journals such as Foreign Policy,
European Journal of Marketing, Journal of International Marketing, Journal of Asia Pacific
Marketing and Logistics, Journal of International Management, Communications of the ACM, IEEE
Security and Privacy, IEEE Software, Electronic Markets, Small Business Economics, Electronic
Commerce Research and Applications, IT Professional, Journal of Developmental
Entrepreneurship, First Monday, Pacific Telecommunications Review, Journal of Asia Pacific
Business and International Journal of Cases on Electronic Commerce. He has also contributed
chapters to several books including In the wave of M&A: Europe and Japan (Kobe University, RIEB
Center, Kobe, Japan, 2007), M-commerce in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific: Country
Perspectives (Idea Group Publishing, 2006), Encyclopedia of Information Science and Technology
(Idea Group Publishing, 2005), Indian Telecom Industry - Trends and Cases (The ICFAI University
Press, 2005), The Internet Encyclopedia (John Wiley & Sons, 2004); Wireless Communications
and Mobile Commerce (Idea Group Publishing, 2003); The Digital Challenges: Information
Technology in the Development Context (Ashgate Publishing, 2003); Architectural Issues of Webenabled Electronic Business (Idea Group Publishing, 2003), Internet Marketing (2nd edition,
Stuttgart, Germany: Schaeffer-Poeschel, 2001). Nir has presented over 60 research papers at
various national and international conferences in Canada, China, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, South
Korea, Sweden, Thailand, the Philippines and the U.S. He has also given invited talks at Cornell
University, Duke University, Kobe University, University of Maryland (College Park) and Temple
University. In 2008, the Kauffman Foundation awarded Nir a grant to study Entrepreneurial Firms
in OECD Economies.
Nir was the winner of the 2008 Bryan School Teaching Excellence Award. He was also
awarded Pacific Telecommunication Council’s 2008 Meheroo Jussawalla Research Paper Prize for
his work on the Chinese IPTV market. Nir was the runner up in the 2004 dissertation competition of
the American Marketing Association's Technology and Innovations Special Interest Group and the
winner of the 2001 Association of Consumer Research/Sheth Foundation dissertation award. He
also won the first place in the Pacific Telecommunication Council’s Essay competition in 2001 and
second place in the same competition in 2000. In May, 2006, the Information Resources
Management Association (IRMA) presented Nir with the Organization Service Award for the Best
Track Chair in the IRMA 2006 International Conference. Currently, Nir ranks 13th among the most
popular authors of the NetAcademy Universe.
Nir’s works have been featured in Foreign Policy’s Global Newsstand section (a publication
of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace) and in Providence Journal. He was pictured in
the front page of Global Perspective, a publication of the Fox School’s Temple CIBER and Institute
of Global Management Studies (Fall 2004). Nir has been quoted in magazines and newspapers
such as Telecommunications, Greensboro News and Record and High Point Enterprise.
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University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Bryan School of Business and Economics
MGT 301.11: Introduction to International Business
Summer 2008
Course Participant Information and Course Commitment Form
Please return this page by July 6.
Your full name
The name you preferred to be called
Your hometown
Your telephone number
Your class standing (Soph., Jr., Sr.) and major
Your educational and career goal
Name of five global companies you would be interested to work for
Other information you would like for me to know about you
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