GB 444-130 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
Spring 2014
Instructor: Dr. David Geigle
Office: 318H
Phone: 254-519-5757
Email: geigle@ct.tamus.edu
Office Hours: Tues & Thurs, 12:00 – 2:00pm
MODE of INSTRUCTION and COURSE ACCESS
This is an online course using the TAMUCT Blackboard system https://tamuct.blackboard.com . You
will use the Blackboard username and password communicated to you separately to logon to this
system.
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COURSE OVERVIEW
Broad coverage of key concepts and issues in international business. Emphasis on the environment of
international business and the operations of the multinational firm. Prerequisite: Junior classification.
OBJECTIVES / STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this course students should be able to:

Recognize the reasons and methods of entering foreign markets.

Identify the various international organizations.

Indicate the financial, social, and political forces affecting international business.

Identify the socio-cultural and legal environment of various countries.

Identify the organizational environment of international business.

Identify the competitive forces in international business.
OBJECTIVES / COMPETENCY GOALS STATEMENTS

Weeks
o
o
o
o
o
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Weeks 3 & 4
o Identify the UN as an institution and explain its relevance to international business
o Indicate the purposes of the two global monetary institutions: the IMF and the World Bank
o Recall the mission of the World Trade Organization
o Recognize the impact of the EU and its future challenges
o Recognize the significance of culture for international business
o Identify the importance of spoken and unspoken language in international business
o Indicate the role of location, topography, climate, and natural resources as factor conditions
o Recognize the broad influence that climate exerts on business

Weeks 5 & 6
o Identify ideological forces that affect business
o Recognize the trends in government privatization
o Identify the concept of country risk assessment
o Recall the arguments for imposing trade restrictions
o Recognize the complexity of the legal forces that confront international business
o Recognize the differences in various country’s tax laws
o Recognize U.S. laws that affect international business operations
o Recall the evolution of monetary arrangements of the international monetary system
o Recognize the impact of fluctuating currency values
o Recall currency exchange rate valuation and controls

Weeks 7 & 8
o Recall the steps in the global strategic planning process
o Identify international strategy, competencies, and international competitive advantage
o Recall the international dimensions that must be considered when selecting organizational
structures
o Identify the various organizational forms available for structuring international companies.
o Recognize the importance of creating a company global mindset.
o Identify the competencies required for effective global leadership.
1&2
Identify the drivers that lead firms to internationalize
Recognize the reasons for entering foreign markets
Identify the trade theories of Adam Smith and Michael Porter
Indicate how Mercantilism affects international trade
Identify the patterns of worldwide foreign direct investment and trade

Weeks 9, 10, & 11
o Recall some of the problems market researchers encounter in foreign markets.
o Recognize the difference between country screening and segment screening
o Recall the concepts of environmental analysis and market screening.
o Identify the pros and cons of being a market pioneer versus a fast follower
o Recall the international market entry methods.
o Identify the sources of export information and support
o Identify the differences between domestic and international marketing
o Recognize why consumer products require greater modification for international sales than
industrial products
o Identify the effects the internet has on international marketing
o Recognize different laws and cultures affecting outsourcing operations

Week 12, 13, & 14
o Identify the concept of supply chain management in a global context
o Recognize the importance of the added costs of global sourcing
o Recognize the potential of global standardization of production processes
o Identify the reasons that cause people to leave their home countries to work abroad
o Identify why some countries have guest workers
o Recognize the difference in home, host, and third country nationals as employees
o Recall the role, challenges, and opportunities of an expatriate position
o Identify the international accounting issues of operating in foreign currencies
o Recognize ways to hedge transaction exposure

Weeks 15 & 16
o Term Paper / Final Exam
o Makeup Quiz
o Extra Credit
TEXTBOOK
Ball, Geringer, McNett and Minor. International Business; The Challenge of Global Competition,
13th edition. New York: McGraw-Hill 2013.
A student of this institution is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from a universityaffiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including
an online retailer.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
This is an online (Blackboard) course in which you will read the text and other materials and
demonstrate your mastery of the subject through quizzes, a case study and a final exam (or term
paper). All quizzes, tests, and assignments are submitted online. In addition, you may receive extra
credit for participating in weekly discussions through posting on Blackboard discussion groups. Be
sure to check the schedule, quizzes, assignments, and discussion groups on Blackboard.
Quizzes
All of the quizzes are available at the beginning of the term. There is no time limit for the quizzes
other than the expiration date/time. You may complete all of the quizzes as quickly as you would
like, but no later than the expiration date of each quiz. You may log on and off each quiz until the
expiration at which time the quiz is no longer available. Be sure to save your answers before you
log off each time and to submit your quiz before the expiration date. Grades for each quiz are
posted after their respective expiration dates.
Quiz one will cover chapters 1, 2
Quiz Two will cover chapters 3, 4, 5
Quiz Three will cover chapter 6, 7, 8
Quiz four will cover chapters, 9, 10, 11
Quiz five will cover chapters 12 -18
Quiz six (makeup) will cover chapters 1-18
If you miss a quiz you may make up the points by taking the makeup quiz or completing the extra
credit work. If you complete all of the quizzes, your five (out of six) highest quiz scores are used
in calculating your grade.
Final Exam or Term Paper
You have the choice of taking the final exam or writing a term paper.
Your final exam is a two hour, 100 questions, multiple choice and true/false, timed examination.
If for any reason, you are unable to take the final, you will be required to submit a term paper.
Your term paper assignment is to analyze the potential business opportunity for a U.S. product in
one of the foreign countries listed below (or other country of your choice). Your paper should be
the answer to your manager’s assignment to give him a report on the attributes of the country as a
possible place for doing business.
The report should be 5+ pages, single spaced with double spacing between paragraphs. The
bibliography and citations should be in APA format. In addition to the 5+ pages, the report should
have a cover sheet, table of contents, and an appendix, if needed, with appropriate exhibits in at
the end.
1. North America
Mexico
Canada
Caribbean
4. U.K. /Ireland/Australia
U.K.
Ireland
Australia
2. South America
Argentina
Brazil
Chile
Columbia
5. Eastern Europe
Russia
Poland
Ukraine
Czech Republic
3. Western Europe
France
Germany
Italy
Spain
6. Africa
Morocco
Nigeria
South Africa
Algeria
7. Middle East
Israel
Egypt
Saudi Arabia
Turkey
8. Asia
China
India
Japan
Korea
Use the following outline for your term paper, using each of the bulleted items as section titles.
I. Executive Summary
II. Introduction
III. Markets, Demographics, Resources

Major Market Opportunities

Natural resources, topography, water, climate, energy

Population, density and distribution, age, growth

GDP, growth, inflation

Per capita income, income distribution, regional income

Size of workforce, rural vs. urban, immigration, unemployment, unions, labor costs
IV. Business Environment

Imports and exports

Foreign direct investment

Globalization drivers

Factor conditions

Demand conditions
V. Cultural Environment

Art, music, folklore

Religions, attitudes, beliefs

Technology

Language, non-verbal communications, business gift giving

Families, associations
VI. Economic Environment

Monetary policy, fiscal policy, inflation, interest rates, taxation

Balance of payments

Current account

Currency, currency exchange arrangement
VII. Political Environment
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Trade agreements and restrictions
Cooperative military and security agreements
Political forces
Government ownership of business, privatization
Government stability, protection, hostilities, terrorism
Country risks
VIII. Legal Environment

Legal system

Dispute resolution, torts

Intellectual property laws and customs

Taxation, treaties and conventions

Tariffs, quotas and other trade obstacles

Antitrust, corruption, accounting laws
Case Study
Your case study should be submitted on the “Assignments” page of Blackboard. The case study
should be two pages in length, single spaced (three pages including the cover sheet). Your
analysis and write-up should use the following outline:
Page 2
Page 1
III. Alternative solutions



IV. Recommendation



V. Implementation

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I. Summary of case facts

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II. Statement of problem


GRADING CRITERIA
Item
Quizzes
`
Case Study
Final Exam (or Term Paper)
Total
Grade
A
B
C
D
F
Points
450+
400+
350+
300+
< 350
5 @ 50 pts each
Points
250
100
150
500
Extra Credit
You may earn up to 25 extra credit points by participating in weekly Blackboard discussion
groups on current events in international business.
You also may earn up to 25 points extra credit by completing The Coca-Cola Company case
study.
All grades will be posted on your Blackboard Grade Book.
TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS AND SUPPORT
This course will use the new TAMU-CT Blackboard Learn learning management system.
Logon to https://tamuct.blackboard.com to access the course.
Username: Your MyCT username (xx123 or everything before the "@" in your MyCT email address)
Initial password: Your MyCT password
Check your browser and computer compatibility by following the “Browser Check” link on the
TAMU-CT Blackboard logon page. Upon logging on to Blackboard Learn, you will see a link to
Blackboard Student Orientation under My Courses tab. Click on that link and study the materials
in this orientation course. There is also a link to Blackboard Help from inside the course on the
left-hand menu bar.
For technological or computer issues, students should contact Help Desk Central. 24 hours a day,
7 days a week:
Email: helpdesk@tamu.edu
Phone: (254) 519-5466
Web Chat: http://hdc.tamu.edu
DROP POLICY
If you discover that you need to drop this class, you must go to the Records Office and ask for the
necessary paperwork. Professors cannot drop students; this is always the responsibility of the
student. The Record’s Office will give a deadline for which the form must be returned, completed
and signed. Once you return the signed form to the records office and wait 24 hours, you must go
into Duck Trax and confirm that you are no longer enrolled. If you are still enrolled, FOLLOWUP with the records office immediately. You are to attend class until the procedure is complete to
avoid penalty for absence. Should you miss the deadline or fail to follow the procedure, you will
receive an F in the course.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Texas A&M University - Central Texas expects all students to maintain high standards of personal
and scholarly conduct. Students found responsible of academic dishonesty are subject to
disciplinary action. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an
examination or other academic work, plagiarism, collusion, and the abuse of resource materials.
The faculty member is responsible for initiating action for each case of academic dishonesty and
report the incident to the Associate Director of Student Conduct. More information can be found
at http://www.tamuct.edu/departments/studentconduct/facultyresources.php
DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES
If you have or believe you have a disability and wish to self-identify, you can do so by providing
documentation to the Disability Support Coordinator. Students are encouraged to seek information
about accommodations to help assure success in their courses. Please contact Vanessa Snyder at
(254) 501-5836 or visit Founder's Hall 114. Additional information can be found at
http://www.tamuct.edu/departments/disabilitysupport/index.php
TUTORING
Tutoring is available to all TAMUCT students, both on-campus and online. Subjects tutored
include Accounting, Finance, Statistics, Mathematics, and Writing (APA). Tutors are available at
the Tutoring Center in Founder's Hall, Room 204, and also in the Library in the North Building.
Visit www.ct.tamus.edu/AcademicSupport and click "Tutoring Support" for tutor schedules and
contact info. If you have questions, need to schedule a tutoring session, or if you're interested in
becoming a tutor, contact Academic Support Programs at 254-501-5830 or by emailing
cecilia.morales@ct.tamus.edu.
Chat live with a tutor 24/7 for almost any subject on your computer! Tutor.com is an online
tutoring platform that enables TAMU-CT students to log-in and receive FREE online tutoring and
writing support. This tool provides tutoring in Mathematics, Writing, Career Writing, Chemistry,
Physics, Biology, Spanish, Calculus, and Statistics. To access Tutor.com, click on
www.tutor.com/tamuct
LIBRARY SERVICES
Library distance education services aims to make available quality assistance to A&M-Central
Texas students seeking information sources remotely by providing digital reference, online
information literacy tutorials, and digital research materials. Much of the A&M-CT collection is
available instantly from home. This includes over half of the library's book collection, as well as
approximately 25,000 electronic journals and 200 online databases. Library Distance Education
Services are outlined and accessed at:
http://www.ct.tamus.edu/departments/library/deservices.php
Information literacy focuses on research skills which prepare individuals to live and work in an
information-centered society. Librarians will work with students in the development of critical
reasoning, ethical use of information, and the appropriate use of secondary research techniques.
Help may include, but is not limited to: the exploration of information resources such as library
collections, the identification of appropriate materials, and the execution of effective search
strategies. Library Resources are outlined and accessed at:
http://www.ct.tamus.edu/departments/library/index.php
CHANGES TO THE SYLLABUS AND COURSE REQUIREMENTS
The instructor reserves the right to modify or change the syllabus and course requirements at his
discretion.
Schedule
Date
Topic
Monday, 1/20
Ch 1, The Challenging World of International
Business
Monday, 1/27
Ch 2, International Trade and FDI
Monday, 2/3
Ch 3, International Institutions
Ch 4, Sociocultural Forces
Monday, 2/10
Ch 5, Natural Resources and Sustainability
Monday, 2/17
Monday, 2/24
Ch 6, Political and Trade Forces
Ch 7, Intellectual Property and Other Legal
Forces
Ch 8, The International Monetary System and
Financial Forces
Monday, 3/3
Ch 9, International Competitive Strategy
Monday, 3/10
Spring Break
Monday, 3/17
Monday, 3/24
Monday, 3/31
Monday, 4/7
Monday, 4/14
Monday, 4/21
Ch 10, Organizational Design & Control
Ch 11, Global Leadership Issues and Practices
Ch 12 Assessing International Markets
Ch 13 Entry Modes
Ch 14 Export & Import Practices
Ch 15 Marketing Internationally
Ch 16 Global Operations & Supply Chain
Management
Ch 17, Managing Human Resources in an
International Context
Ch 18, International Accounting & Financial
Management
Assignments/Quizzes Due
Quiz 1
Quiz 2
Quiz 3
Spring Break
Quiz 4
Nike Case Study
Quiz 5
Monday, 4/28
Review
Quiz 6 (makeup)
Monday 5/5
Final Exam Available (2 hour timed)
Final Exam
Wednesday 5/7
Final Exam Unavailable after 11:30pm
Final Exam
Thursday 5/8
Term Paper
Extra Credit
Term Paper
Extra Credit