DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS, BUSINESS & MATH
MOS 2285A
THE GLOBAL BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
COURSE OUTLINE
Professor:
Trevor Hunter
Office: FB 303
Email:
trevor.hunter@uwo.ca
Office Hours: Wed. 1:00-3:30
Ext:
4338
http://thunter.kingsfaculty.ca/
(note that I DO NOT use OWL)
Website:
NOTE: Please email only from your Western email account and not from outside email
addresses or your mail may be put into junk mail.
Class Times and Location:
Monday 12:30-3:30pm Room SA 060
DESCRIPTION
This course examines the forces affecting businesses as they enter and operate in global markets.
Students will learn theories and techniques which will help them understand how businesses
decide where and when to enter markets and what makes a given location a good fit for their
operations.
Management and Organizational Studies (MOS) 2285 examines the notion of relative national
comparative advantage which suggests that not all countries are appropriate for firms looking to
internationalize - some countries are better than others at meeting a firm's needs. Students will
learn theories and techniques which will help them understand how businesses decide which
country to enter and what makes a given location a good fit for their operations. The objective of
the course is to teach MOS students that internationalizing is not easy and that there are many
factors that need to be considered when deciding where to go. There has to be a fit between what
the firm wants out of its internationalization and what a given country offers.
This course represents an analytical bridge between a firm’s decision to internationalize (which
is a strategic decision and analyzed in MOS 4410a/b) and a “how to” course on actually
managing the internationalization process (MOS 4404a/b). MOS 2285 asks and then helps
answer the question “now that we have decided to internationalize – how do we determine the
best place to go?” The decision as to how to internationalize is dependent upon where the firm
intends to go. The decision whether to internationalize is often made without the understanding
that not every country is a good fit with the needs of every firm. This course provides analytical
tools to gain that understanding.
MOS 2285
trevor.hunter@uwo.ca
King’s University College
MOS 2285 examines the many factors within the global business environment that make one
country more attractive for locating operations than another. Emphasis is placed on the
multinational corporation (MNC) as the central figure in the internationalization process but
other, large entities such as governments and non-governmental organizations and systems and
their affect on the attractiveness of a region are discussed. MOS 2285 will investigate the global
forces that shape organizations as well as the organization’s role or effect on our global society.
The student will leave MOS 2285 with an appreciation of the diversity and complexity of the
environment in which multinationals must make decisions that affect them and the country into
which they enter.
Although MOS 2285 is primarily a lecture-oriented course, presentations, guest speakers, and
case studies may be used. Some class content will either mirror or complement the reading
assignments, while other classes will cover material in addition to the assigned readings. Given
the multifaceted nature of MOS 2285, it is imperative that students study the assigned readings
prior to each class. While the lecture approach to each class may vary, ample time will be
allotted for student contributions and questions.
STUDENT ELIGIBILITY
Students who have taken MOS 1020a/b are NOT eligible to take MOS 2285 as the courses
are antirequisites and very similar in content. Any student who has somehow gained entry to
MOS 2285a/b who has taken MOS 1020a/b will be removed from the course or, if it is too late,
will not get credit for taking MOS 2285. MOS 2285 is intended for students registered in the
second or third year of their MOS program, and has two pre-requisites: the student must be
registered in the Management and Organizational Studies program and, the student must have
taken BUS 1220E. All others wishing to enroll in MOS 2285 must first receive special
permission from the course professor, or the Academic Dean.
You (the student) are responsible for ensuring that you have successfully fulfilled the
prerequisites for this course, and for ensuring that this course is not an anti-requisite of another
course you already have taken. Lack of prerequisites, or ignorance of anti-requisite regulations,
cannot be used as grounds for an appeal in this course.
COURSE READINGS
The following textbook is required for students registered in MOS 2285 at King’s University
College:

Hamilton, Leslie & Webster, Philip, The International Business Environment 2nd Edition,
Oxford University Press. 2012
STUDENT EVALUATION
Event:
Test #1, in class - 20%
Test #2, in class - 20%
Group Presentation, in class – 30%
Final Exam – 30%
MOS 2285
trevor.hunter@uwo.ca
King’s University College
Student evaluation will consist of two in-class tests each worth 20% of the final grade, a group
presentation worth 30% of the final grade and a final exam worth 30% of the final grade. The inclass tests and final exam may include multiple-choice and short-answer essay questions, and
will mainly focus on material from class lectures. The tests and exam will not be cumulative
meaning they will only cover material between each test.
The final exam will be held during the Final Examination period. The scheduling of the final
examination is determined by the Registrar’s office and will be communicated as soon as the
timing is known.
The Group Presentation will examine the internationalization decision of a real MNC and, using
analytical tools from the course, will assess the quality of the “fit” between what the location
provides the firm and the firm’s needs. Group topics must be approved by the professor and the
professor reserves the right to disallow a topic. Groups will be able to meet with the professor to
determine a topic as often as needed and for guidance in its preparation. Students will be
evaluated based upon their understanding and proper use of the tools and quality of their analysis
and presentation.
Groups for the Group Presentation will be assigned by the course professor. Groups will be
expected to submit a copy of their presentation no less than 24 hours prior to the presentation. A
deduction of 10% per day will be made to the final Group Presentation mark for each day
that the materials are not handed in, even if that goes beyond the date of the presentation.
DO NOT FORGET TO HAND IN THE MATERIALS OR YOU WILL BE PENALIZED!
Groups will be allocated time for presentations based on the number of student in the course (no
less than 15 minutes however) and will be expected to answer questions from the class and
professor. Students who are not presenting are required to attend all presentations. Material in
the presentations may be tested on the final exam. The presentation will be discussed at length in
class.
Computer-marked multiple-choice tests and/or exams may be subject to submission for
similarity review by software that will check for unusual coincidences in answer patterns that
may indicate cheating. In addition, presentations may be subject to plagiarism detection
software.
Tests and Examinations
Students are expected to complete all required evaluation components in order to receive a grade
in this course. That means if you don’t write all the tests and exams, even if you miss one, you
will fail the course. Students with course conflicts and approved inter-university athletic
conflicts, or students unable to write an exam or test based on medical or compassionate
grounds, may apply to be excused as long as notice of absence is provided at least 7 days prior to
the test.
Students who are excused from writing an in-class test may be able to write a make-up test
depending upon the circumstances and in consultation with the Office of the Academic Dean.
Students who are excused from writing the final exam will receive an “Incomplete” (INC) in the
course, and may be required to write the final exam at the next available opportunity (likely in
the following term or year when the course is offered again).
MOS 2285
trevor.hunter@uwo.ca
King’s University College
Requests to be excused for medical or compassionate grounds must always be accompanied by
appropriate documentation – either with the request or as soon as possible after the fact and be
made through the Academic Dean’s Office. A Medical Excuse Documentation Form is available
from the Academic Dean’s office.
Students are REQUIRED to present their Student Identification in order to be allowed to write
the final exam. If a student does not have their Student Identification, they may be barred from
writing the final exam.
Other Issues
Students who have any problems that may hinder their academic performance are encouraged to
discuss these issues with me or the appropriate College official before exams and the report are
due.
The use of any electronic devices of any kind including but not limited to personal computers,
electronic translators, programmable calculators, cellular phones, text messaging devices during
examinations will not be permitted. Computers may be used in class for NOTE TAKING
ONLY. If students are observed or suspected of using computers for any other reason
(including but not limited to: browsing the Internet, e-mailing/chatting), they will be given
one verbal warning. A second offence will result in removal from the room for the rest of
the class period. Recording devices of any kind are not permitted during classes unless
authorized by the professor. When in doubt, check with me at least 24 hours prior to an exam or
class. Students are not permitted to use recording devices of any kind (including but not
limited to cameras, video cameras, cell phone cameras etc.) to copy in-class slides or
materials. Students are not permitted to possess or distribute copies of in-class materials or
PowerPoint slides. These are the intellectual property of Dr. Trevor Hunter and
unauthorized use or possession of these materials constitutes plagiarism and is an academic
offence. The use of any unauthorized electronic device in a test or exam will result in an
academic penalty.
Attendance
This course will adhere to the following, as stated in the Academic Calendar: “Any student who,
in the opinion of the instructor, is absent too frequently* from class or laboratory periods in any
course, will be reported to the dean (after due warning has been given). On the recommendation
of the department concerned, and with the permission of the dean, the student will be debarred
from taking the regular examination in the course”.
* More than 25% of classes missed is considered too frequent.
Punctuality
Tardiness at tests or exams is unacceptable for any reasons other than medical or compassionate
reasons similar to those for missing a test or examination (see above). Students who are
unacceptably late to an exam or test will not be given extra time beyond the scheduled
conclusion time.
MOS 2285
trevor.hunter@uwo.ca
King’s University College