Washburn University
School of Business
BU 406
Spring 2011
BU 406 International Business and Entrepreneurship Experience
Spring 2011
Course Syllabus
Michael Stoica
Office:
Phone:
E-mail:
Instructor:
HC 310 E
670-1592
michael.stoica@washburn.edu
Meeting Time:
WE 8:30 PM
Office Hours:
TBA
Required Materials:
Internet and Mabee Library Databases
Optional Materials:
Griffin, R. and Michael Pustay, International Business, Addison Wesley,
Reading Massachusetts, 2008.
Prerequisites:
Junior standing, BU 315, BU 347, BU 381 (or concurrent) and consent
Location: Washburn University (March and April)
Wuhan University for Science and Technology, Wuhan, China (May)
Shanghai, Beijing, Xian, and Hong-Kong/Macau, China (May)
Course Description:
First hand business experience acquired in an international setting. Analysis of business problems, ideas,
and opportunities, techniques, and strategies in an international context; emphasizing changes in
competition and market structure abroad. Washburn students will work in teams with foreign students to
solve a problem for an overseas company. With approval this course may be taken for credit more than
once.
Course Objectives:

Prepare for the emerging global economy

Study the methodology and conduct research in the international business
environment understand the global, international and national markets.
Prepare a country/region/company report.

Acquire first hand international business experience through teaming with
foreign students (Chinese students from the Wuhan University of Science
and Technology) and work on an international business project.

Investigate international business opportunities and analyze business ideas
when conducting business in China.

Research country/region risk in global, international and national markets.

Work on and defend a project/plan for an overseas company in an overseas
environment
Washburn University
School of Business
BU 406
Spring 2010

Think and act global and local due to two major challenges: pressure for global
integration and pressure for local responsiveness (projects, workshop project
defense

Broaden the general education through an international cultural experience (visits
to internationally famous metropolitan areas, museums, and other cultural
institutions, interaction with local individuals, one-on-one work and entertain with
students from another culture
Assessment outcomes:
Upon completion of this course students will be able to:
 Conduct investigation of international business opportunities;
 Analyze business ideas for international firms;
 Prepare a research report on country/region risk in global, international and
national markets;
 Present and defend a project/plan for an overseas company in an overseas
environment;
 Work effectively in teams;
 Lead/manage complex activities in an international setting;
 Debate and defend a project in front of an international audience.
Evaluation instruments (exams, papers, case analyses, projects, presentations, etc.):
Washburn students will work on and present three reports (all activities will be managed with the assistance
of the WUST faculty

A research report on China, the Hubei province and the Chinese company they
will work for during their stay in Wuhan. Students will work on the report while
at Washburn (March-April). Students will defend the report before leaving for
China. Work will be done in an international team (American and Chinese
students)

A project that solves a problem for the Chinese company (students will work on
the report while in Wuhan). Students will defend the report at a workshop
organized by WUST in the last day of stay in Wuhan. The audience will consist of
Chinese faculty and students as well as representatives from the Chinese
companies students worked for

A business idea report – prepared while in China. The report will summarize their
business experience accumulated during the course and will elaborate on
opportunities to develop (start) a venture on an idea/opportunity
developed/identified while taking the course. The business idea will be presented
at the workshop organized by WUST.
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Washburn University
School of Business
BU 406
Spring 2010
The course is designed to maximize Washburn student’s exposure to international business, to
help them get first hand international business experience. Students will work both at
Washburn (conducting research) and in different locations in China, primarily in Wuhan. The
travel to China will last 20 days.
The course is designed in three parts:
Part 1: Washburn students will team with Chinese students from the Wuhan University of
Science and Technology (Wuhan, China). They will investigate the Chinese business
environment, and analyze a Chinese company located in Wuhan (the capital of the Hubei
province). A report is due and presented one week before departure to China.
Part 2: Washburn students will travel to China. They will interact with businesses in Shanghai
and Hong Kong (two days in each location).
Part 3: Washburn students will spend 10 days in the Chinese company they analyzed in their first
report. They will work in teams (one American and one Chinese student) on a specific
project related to the Chinese company. The last day of their stay in Wuhan they will
participate in a workshop where each team will make a presentation followed by a debate
on the business ideas and opportunities identified in each report.
Topic Outline: (see course calendar)
Disclaimer: (see course calendar)
Attendance:
Class attendance is mandatory. Class participation is graded (30 percent of the final grade)
Homework:
Project 1: Business Environment Report (and company report)
Project 2: Business Experience Report
General guidelines for reports:
Written presentation:

Page 1: Outline

Page 2: One page executive summary. Summarize paper. List recommendations.

Body of report: Introduction. Key findings. Recommendations. Conclusions.

Endnotes. Short bibliography.

Extra pages: Appendices (tables, charts, graphs).
Additional suggestions:







Submit single-spaced page for page 1 (Executive Summary).
Submit double-spaced pages for body of report (Times New Roman 12, 1 inch
margins).
Examine data and information through search engines available.
Use quotation marks and cite sources in endnotes. Do not copy sources without
citation.
Provide a list of references at the end of your report.
Paginate report.
Divide report into sections and sub-sections.
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Washburn University
School of Business
BU 406
Spring 2010
Class Participation:
Be prepared to answer the questions in the assignments during class. Ask questions via e-mail or
in class. Prepare with care the in-class presentations and term paper assignments. Do well on the
examination. Stop by the office during office hours for a progress report.
Literate questions during class count as a plus. The lack of class participation counts as a minus.
Therefore, try not to miss class. Let me know via e-mail when you will be absent. One absence
raises no questions; more absences raise questions. Peer rating (for group papers) counts as one
third of the presentation grade.
Examinations: Three projects.
Grading:
Project 1: Business Environment Analysis and Company Investigation
35%
Project 2: Business Experience Report
40%
Class presentations and workshop participation
25%
Make-up Policy: Deadlines are mandatory. No make-up presentation is possible. (see course calendar)
Prerequisites: Junior status or instructor consent
“It is the responsibility of the student to meet all prerequisite requirements for courses in which the student
is enrolled. A student failing to meet prerequisite requirements is subject to administrative withdrawal
from the course at any time.”
UNIVERSITY ADDITIONS
Select Mission of the University:
Washburn University shall prepare qualified individuals for careers, further study and life long learning through
excellence in teaching and scholarly work. Washburn University shall make a special effort to help individuals reach
their full academic potential. Washburn University Board of Regents, 1999
Academic Misconduct Policy:
All students are expected to conduct themselves appropriately and ethically in their academic work. Inappropriate
and unethical behavior includes (but is not limited to) giving or receiving unauthorized aid on examinations or in the
preparation of papers or other assignments, or knowingly misrepresenting the source of academic work. Washburn
University’s Academic Impropriety Policy describes academically unethical behavior in greater detail and explains
the actions that may be taken when such behavior occurs. For guidelines regarding protection of copyright, consult
www.washburn.edu/copyright/students. For a complete copy of the Academic Impropriety Policy, contact the office
of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Morgan 262, or go on-line to:
www.washburn.edu/admin/vpaa/fachdbk/FHsec7.html#VIII
Disability Services:
The Student Services Office is responsible for assisting in arranging accommodations and for identifying resources
on campus for persons with disabilities. Qualified students with disabilities must register with the office to be
eligible for services. The office MUST have appropriate documentation on file in order to provide services.
Accommodations may include in-class note takers, test readers and/or scribes, adaptive computer technology,
brailled materials. Requests for accommodations should be submitted at least two months before services should
begin; however, if you need an accommodation this semester, please contact the Student Services Office.
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Washburn University
School of Business
BU 406
Spring 2010
Location: Student Services, Morgan Hall Room 150
Phone: 785-670-1629 or TDD 785-670-1025
E-Mail: student-services@washburn.edu
Students may voluntarily identify themselves to the instructor for a referral to the Student Services Office.
Center for Undergraduate Studies and Programs (CUSP):
As a Washburn student, you may experience difficulty with issues such as studying, personal problems, time
management, or choice of major, classes, or employment. The Center for Undergraduate Studies and Programs
(Office of Academic Advising , Educational Opportunity Program, and Office of Career Counseling, Testing and
Assessment) is available to help students either directly through academic advising, mentoring, career counseling,
testing and developing learning strategies or by identifying the appropriate University resource. If you feel you need
someone with whom to discuss an issue confidentially and free of charge, contact CUSP in Morgan 122, 785-6701299, advising@washburn.edu.
Withdrawal Policy:
During fall and spring semesters, students may withdraw from full semester courses through the second week of class
with no recorded grade. From the third through the eleventh week a “W” is recorded for any dropped course.
Beginning with the start of the twelfth week, there are NO withdrawals, and a grade will be assigned for the course.
For short-term or summer course deadlines, please check the appropriate Semester/Session Course Bulletin Web Site
(www.washburn.edu/schedule)
Official E-Mail Address:
Your Washburn University e-mail address will be the official address used by the University for relaying important
messages regarding academic and financial information and the University will consider this your official
notification for important information. It may also be used by your instructors to provide specific course
information. If you prefer to use an alternate e-mail address to receive official University notices, you can access
your MyWashburn e-mail account, choose the "Options" tab, and select "Settings", scroll to the bottom of the screen
and enter the e-mail address you would like your Washburn emails forwarded to in the “mail forwarding” area.
Click on save changes. This will complete the process of forwarding your Washburn e-mail. It is your responsibility
to ensure that your official e-mail box does not exceed your message quota resulting in the inability of e-mail
messages to be accepted into your mailbox
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Washburn University
School of Business
BU 406
Spring 2010
Course Calendar
Date
Topic
Assignment
Oral
Week 1
Introduction.
March
2010
Course requirements
Course content
Chapter 1
Team formation (one or two
American and two-three
Chinese students)
Chapter 2
Comments
Written
Look for information on
international business. Stay
current. Subscribe to the
Wall Street Journal.
Skype and email will be
used to communicate with
the Chinese students
Assign Chinese companies to
each team.
Project discussion
Week 2
April
2010
Research the international
business environment and the
company
China Country
Reports
Bring to class international
marketing issues and share
them with your colleagues
at the beginning of each
class meeting
Chapters 3, 4
Scope and research method
Week 3
April
2010
Research the international
business environment
Chapters 5, 6
Research tools
Work on your project
Week 4
April
2010
Globalization. The Global
Economic Environment
History and Economic
Development
The Global Business Cultural
Environment
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
The Global Business Political
and Legal Environment
Ethics and Social
Responsibility
Work on your project
Week 5
April
2010
Business Environment and
Chinese company report
Chapters 2, 3,
4, 5, 6, 8, 10
First report
due
Team presentations (20-30
minutes each)
Presentations
Use of Skype
Week 6
May 2010
Trip to China starts
2 days in Shanghai
Business and cultural
experience: Visit Chinese
companies in Shanghai,
Beijing, and Xian
2 days in Beijing
1 day in Xian
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Washburn University
School of Business
Week 7
2010
BU 406
Spring 2010
Trip to Wuhan
Wuhan (full week)
Orientation, meet the Chinese
students, visit the companies
Work on the projects #2 and #3
(in the assigned Chinese
companies in Wuhan)
Week 8
2010
Report #2
Report #3
Wuhan
Work on the project #2 (in the
assigned Chinese companies in
Wuhan)Business experience
report
4*5 hours = 20 hours
Workshop organized for the
last day of stay in Wuhan
Individual presentations
(15-20 minutes each +
Q&A)
Workshop – for presentations
and debate of business ideas
Business and cultural
experience: Visit companies in
Hong-Kong and Macau
2 days in Hong-Kong and
Macau
Trip back to the US
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