UNIVERSIDAD DE ESPECIALIDADES ESPÍRITU SANTO
FACULTAD DE ESTUDIOS INTERNACIONALES
SYLLABUS
ENGLISH VERSION
FOR DAC 11 VER 12 03 09
COURSE: Special Topics in International Business
CODE UGER 495
FACULTY: John Murray
CRÉDITS: 3 UEES
CONTACT HOURS: 48
NON-CONTACT 96
YEAR: 2009
PERIOD: Fall 2
DAYS Mon, Tue, Wed and Thu
SCHEDULE: 08h55 – 10h15
ROOM: F-209
SYLLABUS DATE: 5-Oct-2009
1. COURSE DESCRIPTION
2. JUSTIFICATION
The course provides students with an opportunity to explore the aspects of the international
business that are of special interest to them and to concentrate of a specific region and/or
industry.
3. OBJECTIVES
a. General:
The student will understand the opportunities and threats existing in the international
business environment. The student will know how to make basic decisions regarding
internationalization processes in different areas.
b. Specific
Week One Objectives
• Describe globalization
• Explain how globalization affects markets and production
• Identify the drivers of globalization
• Discuss the globalization debate
• List types of firms in international business
• Define the global business environment
Week Two Objectives
• Define culture and list its components
• Discuss attitudes toward time, work and cultural change
• Describe the roles of religion and communication in a society
• Discuss how physical environment affects culture
• Describe two frameworks for classifying cultures
• Assess the global business environment – political, economic, legal, technological
• Explain the role of regional trading blocs
• Evaluate political and economic risk
Week Three Objectives
 Discuss the important of corporate strategy for the overall performance of a company
 Define the determines for selecting, creating and pursuing a particular strategy
 Discuss the strategic position of the firm
 Explain the reasons company pursue different international strategies
Week Four Objectives
 Understand the objectives and usefulness of global marketing segmentation
 Describe the approached to global marketing segmentation using different
segmentation criteria to define target groups
 Discuss the variables which may be used to select target groups for global marketing
strategies

Identify different ways of positioning products in global markets
Week Five Objectives
 Discuss the criteria suitable for the selection of foreign target market
 Understand which marketing entry alternatives are available to companies and how
companies select the most appropriate ones
 Describe different forms of exporting
4. COMPETENCIES
a. GENERAL
1.
To understand the current level at which Ecuador is engaged in international business
2.
To analyze and explain today’s international business, based on theory and current
events
3.
To prepare for conducting international business
b. SPECIFIC
The student:
1. Leads groups, solve practical problems, act according to a plan and
challenge and critiques other groups proposals
2. Discusses and solves problems from case studies
3. Researches new developments in global markets and organizations
5. COURSE CONTENT OUTLINE
Class
Meeting #
Specific
Competencies
Introduction and Course
Overview
The Nature of
International Business
28 Oct
29 Oct
2 Nov
3 Nov
4 Nov
5 Nov
9 Nov
10 Nov
11 Nov
12 Nov
16 Nov
Content
Identifies
various forms
of global
business
models
Introduction of Economic Theories of
basic economic International Business
theories for
international
business
Reviews
financial
factors
affecting
international
business
activity
Detailed
Reviews
Carbon Credit
markets
Non-contact hours
(96 HRS.)
EVALUATION
Ball et al. (2004).
Ch 1, 2 pp. 2-103
(101)
Identifies from
examples the proper
form of business for
various models
Ball et al. (2004).
Ch 3 pp. 104-142
(38)
Analyzes in short
answer essay the
benefits and
weaknesses of the
classic economic
theories
The Dynamic of
Ball et al. (2004).
Matches the proper
International Organization Ch 4, 5 pp. 143-204 financial factors to
and International
(61)
the marketplace
Monetary System
The Foreign
Environmental Forces:
Financial, Economic and
Socioeconomic Forces
The Foreign
Environmental Forces:
Physical, Environmetal
and Sociocultural Forces
Analyizes the The Foreign
impact of the Environmental Forces:
legal system of Political, Legal, Labor and
Ball et al. (2004).
Class to review and
Ch 6, 7 pp. 204-259 then comment on the
(55)
various terms
commonly used in the
environmental
Ball et al. (2004).
Ch 8, 9 pp. 260-331 marketplace
(71)
Ball et al. (2004).
Ch 10, 11 pp. 332387 (55)
Identifies from
examples the proper
legal terms of
17 Nov
18 Nov
19 Nov
23 Nov
24 Nov
various key
countries in
international
business
Selection and
Assignment of
various class
projects
Competitive Forces
Exam Review
Midterm Exam
Grade Review
Project Group Work in
Class
Ball et al. (2004).
Ch 12, 13 pp. 388460 (72)
business for various
models
Ch 1 - 13
Ch 1 - 12
Projects will be
evaluated on the
completeness and
logic used in their
project
Analyzes the features
and behaviors of the
different classes of
business forms
available in the
international markets
today
Evaluatse the
potential to develop
new markets for
domestic products
Demonstrates the
understanding the use
of various forms of
trade finance terms
25 Nov
26 Nov
Applies forms
of
international
competitve
business
models
International Strategy,
Organizational Design,
and Control
Project Group Work in
Class
Ball et al. (2004).
Ch 14 pp. 461-501
(40)
30 Nov
Perform
market
analysis
Assessing and Analyzing
Markets; Marketing
Internationally
Ball et al. (2004).
Ch 15, 16 pp. 502555 (53)
1 Dec
Introduction
and summary
of Exportimport
methods
Financial
implications of
ISO Human
Resource
policies
Details analysis
of various
factors
affecting
global business
Export and Import
Ball et al. (2004).
Ch 17 pp. 556-591
(35)
Human Resources and
Financial Management
Ball et al. (2004).
Ch 18, 19 pp. 592647 (55)
Oral presentation of
comprehension of
terms commonly used
in the HR field
Global Operations
Management: The Third
Industrial Revolution
Ball et al. (2004).
Ch 20 pp. 647-686
(39)
Evaluates the benefits
associated with the
common business
terms in global
operations today
Case Study
Individual case
materials
Case Study
14 Dec
Case presentation
Group materials
related to the case
Class discussion
15 Dec
16 Dec
Exam Review
Final Exam
All course materials
are covered
Assessment
Written Examination
17 Dec
Grade Review
2 Dec
3 Dec
7 Dec
8 Dec
9 Dec
10 Dec
Applies
principles
developed to
date in class
6. METHODOLOGY
Classes will be conducted by giving lectures and using the Socratic method of
questions and answers. Before the daily lecture, in every class a small review
session will be conducted by the instructor. The student participation will be graded
by the instructor. Read the assigned material before coming to class. Workshops and
homeworks must be turned in on time, (NO excuses for late assignments).
Assignments MUST be done using MS EXCEL and WORD or as otherwise specified
by the instructor. NO handwritten work will be accepted. Students are expected to
review class problems and end of the chapter exercises.
Class Participation is an important portion of your final grade. Please be considerate
of your classmates by avoiding disruptions such as side conversations and other
noise or distractions. I reserve the right to dismiss any student from class for the
balance of the day for causing disruptions that interfere with classroom discussion.
Ongoing problems will be referred to the appropriate disciplinary body.
Your specific class participation grade and your continued attendance in this class
will depend on your adherence with the following classroom policies:
1. Students will not be allowed after five minutes of the beginning of the class.
2. On time homework will be graded over a 100% of the grade, one day late
homework over 50%, after two days homework will receive no grade. In case of
absence, homework will be due the day the student returns to class.
3. All students are expected to complete readings and homework before
each class so that they are prepared to present and support their ideas about
each day’s assignments. Readings, class discussions, presentations, projects,
lectures, and written examinations (midterm and final) will be the methods used in
assigning the grade earned by each student. All material covered in readings and
homework assignments (including portions not discussed in class sessions) and all
material covered in class discussions, case analyses, and presentations (including
material not covered in readings) can be included in the written examinations. It will
not be possible to pass this course unless you read all the assigned materials.
Students who keep current with reading and homework will need less time to review
for the written examinations.
4. It is your responsibility to know what is in this syllabus, to know what is
communicated to the class by email, to know what is in assigned readings whether or
not they are discussed in class, and to know what was discussed in all class sessions
whether you attended them or not. If you are absent or inattentive, it is your
responsibility to ask a classmate what you missed before attending the next class
meeting. If you do not understand something, it is your responsibility to ask for
clarification.
5. This course follows the UEES attendance policy; therefore, it is possible to
pass the course with a maximum of six absences but the seventh absence results in
failure of the course regardless of your earned grade to date. Partial absences,
including late arrivals, early departures, and leaving during class will count toward the
six permitted absences.
6. Please do not talk in class when it is not your turn to speak. I will automatically
consider this inattentiveness and a disruption to the class. If you must communicate
with another person during class related to the topic of class discussion or due to a
rare emergency, please write the person a note to avoid making noise.
7. Students are expected to respect the thoughts, ideas, opinions, and
contributions of others and to be actively involved in all classes. Students should
express disagreement respectfully.
8. Cell phones must be silent during all class sessions. Cell phone use during
class will result in immediate expulsion from the classroom for the balance of the day.
During examinations, cell phones always must be silent and out of view of all
students.
9. If an examination or presentation must be missed, the student must make
arrangements promptly for substitute work. The professor reserves the right not to
offer a substitute. A substitute must be arranged by mutual agreement between the
professor and the student and must be completed no later than the end of the last
class period. Because substitute work detracts from normal class activities and/or
creates unnecessary extra work for the professor, substitute work will be more
demanding and/or will offer reduced points compared to work completed according to
the class schedule. A substitute examination will never be the same as the scheduled
examination.
10. Academic dishonesty is unethical, unfair to others, and robs you of valuable
learning opportunities. Discovery of academic dishonesty will result in a zero for the
graded activity and can result in your failing the course and being reported to the
UEES administration. Examples of academic dishonesty include but are not limited to
using or attempting to use another person’s work for assignments, projects, or
examinations; permitting another person to use your work as their own; failing to
credit quotes or ideas taken from others (Internet, publications, speeches, etc.);
seeking help through a cell phone during a class or examination; using all or part of
your own homework, paper, etc., for another class in this class without permission
and acknowledgement; etc. If you are not sure whether something is academic
dishonesty, it is your responsibility to ask the professor.
11. Food or beverage in the classroom must not bother anyone in the class in
any way (noise, smell, etc.) or create any mess that you do not clean up yourself.
12. This course is to benefit the students, not the professor. If you are not getting
what you need and want from this course, please let the professor know
improvements you would like.
NOTE: This syllabus is subject to revision and does not represent a contact between
the student and the instructor, or between the student and the University. The
instructor and/or the University reserve the right to make any reasonable changes. By
attending this class you have agreed to the conditions and regulations stated in this
syllabus.
By registering and attending this class, each student confirms that they
have read and agree to abide by the terms, conditions, procedures and
penalties of this syllabus and the UEES Student Honor Code posted on
the UEES website in all respects, but especially in regards to the
penalties related to plagarism and cheating.
7. EVALUATION
7.1 Assessment Criteria:
 Class Participation is critical to your grade
 Homework
7.2 Performance Markers



Leads groups, solves practical problems, act according to a plan and
challenge and critiques other groups proposals
Discusses and solves problems from case studies
Researches new developments in global markets and organizations
7.3 Weighting
* Oral Evaluations, Class Participation 50%;
* Midterm & Final Exams 50%.
Grading: 0 – 100% possible; 0 – 69.4% = Failure
In compliance with UEES policy, half of the grade in this course comes from the two
examinations and the other half comes from the other activities in the following
manner:
8. BIBLIOGRAPHY
8.1. REQUIRED
COURSEBOOK
TEXT: International Business: The Challenge of Global Competition
AUTHORS: Ball, D., McCulloch, W., Frantz, P., Geringer, J. M., and Minor, M.
EDITORIAL: McGraw Hill, Irwin
EDITION: 9th Edition, 2004
8.2. WEBLIOGRAPHY
 EBSCO DATABASE
Supplemental learning resources:
http://www.prenhall.com/francescogold
http://www.prenhall.com/deresky
www.international-business-center.com
International business culture resources- links by University of Washington Library
http://www.lib.washington.edu/business/guides/bc.html
CIA Facts Book
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/
9.
9. FACULTY INFORMATION
NAME: John Murray
ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS--UNDERGRAD:
BS Industrial Mgmt, Purdue Univ.
GRADUATE:
MS Business Admin, Univ of Chicago
E – MAIL: jmurray6834@yahoo.com
Telf: 09.594.3169
10.
Prepared by:
John Murray
Reviewed by: Dean Monica Reynoso
Date: 5-Oct-2009
Date: October, 2009