GEB 3375 International Business
Summer B 2014
Instructor Contact
Instructor Robert Sweo
BA1 422
Office
MW 4:00-6:00
Office
Hours
407-823-1237
Phone
rsweo@ucf.edu
E-mail
Course Information
International Business
Course Name
Course ID & Section GEB 3375
3
Credit Hours
Summer B 2014
Semester
MW 6:00 - 9:50 BA1 0107
Location
Required Text
Textbook
International Business: A Practical Approach by Robert Sweo and Sandra Pate. Second Edition. CreateSpace
Publishing 2014.
ISBN#978-1499112849
Available Through:
Amazon.com
CreateSpace
University Bookstore
Other Materials
There are several articles, videos, electronic activities and web sites that are required materials throughout the
course. Links to each are provided in the modules or assignment section of the WebCourses@UCF web site.
Make sure you check the course modules folder for each week of the course to make sure you are accessing
all required materials.
Web Links
There are many useful web links provided under web links in course modules that will be very useful in doing
international business research. There are also a few that are just plain fun.
Course Description
Introduction to International Business:
Prerequisites - Junior standing and business major or minor. ECO 2013, ECO 2023, and ACG 2071.
Description - Understanding the interdependence of the global world economy and similarities and
dissimilarities between domestic and international business domains.
Student Learning Outcomes
Interpret basic trade/foreign direct investment theories. (comprehension)
Identify the major determinants of exchange rates. (knowledge)
Explain the impact of balance of payment conditions. (analysis)
Recognize how and why governments influence trade. (analysis)
Distinguish different forms of economic integration. (analysis)
Contrast various instruments in the foreign exchange market. (evaluation)
Recognize the sources of conflict in cross-cultural contact. (analysis)
Contrast different strategic options available. (comprehension)
Course Introduction
International business is similar to business conducted within a single country except international business
has many added complexities. International business must deal with multiple cultures, economic and legal
systems, financial systems, currencies and numerous other factors that may vary within a country as well but
which usually vary far more between countries.
This class is a survey of international business management examined in the context of the increasing
economic interdependence of nations and current economic, political, cultural, business, and managerial issues
that have transnational significance. Overall concern is to clarify how the global economic, political, and cultural
environment affects domestic and international businesses and public policy decisions.
Students will be able to register to attend the class lectures live, or to view lectures by streaming video. Both
groups will be required to complete significant amounts of course work administered through
WebCouses@UCF.
Evaluation and Grading
Assessment
Grade Weighting
Pretest
9 Online Quizzes
5 Online Exercises
3 Exams
5%
10%
10%
75%
Total
100%
Overall Grade
Your overall grade is based on a scale very close to the traditional 90% for an A, 80% for a B etc. I will
sometimes make slight adjustments when I see a cluster of students very close to a grade break. For example
the line for an A may be dropped to 89.8 instead of 90 if a large number of students score 89.9. Never will the
line for an A or B move far from 90 or 80. The lowest either has gone is 89.5 and 79.5 respectively so do not
rely on a change in the line to help your grade for an A or a B. Since the line for a C has a much greater
impact, it will at times move further. I have moved the C line as low as 67 or 68 to avoid having a large number
of students who scored 68 or 69 from having to repeat the class but again do not rely on this. If there are only
a few students affected, the C line could remain at 70.
+ and - Grades
I do not use plus or minus grades. Since there is an A- but not an A+ grade point averages from schools using
a + or - system are usually lower then schools that do not use one. That can hurt students applications to
graduate school so I choose not to use + or minus grades.
Assessment Descriptions
Pretest
You should complete the International Business Pretest as one of your first activities in the class. You access
the pretest through the Modules page in WebCourses@UCF.
The pretest is an assessment of your knowledge about international business as you enter the course. The
pretest is a multiple choice online exam. You are likely to have learned about many international business
issues in other classes and through readings in sources like Business Week and The Economists. The pretest
will measure how much you know about international business as you enter the course. Your results on the
pretest will be compared with your results on the final exam to discover what you learned and areas in which
the course can be improved or modified.
Since the intent of the pretest is improving the course quality, you are not graded based on how many
questions on the pretest you get correct but on your completion of the pretest in a timely manor. You earn the
full 5 points on the pretest for completing it within the first week of the class.
5 Online Exercises
Online exercises are simulations and other exercises accessed through the course content pages of
WebCourses@UCF. The exercises give you opportunities to practice concepts learned in class. They are
intended to provide you with hands on experience to help you better understand theories you learned by asking
you to think through cases and problems faced by managers in the international business realm.
See the class schedule for due dates. All online assignments are accessed through the course web site.
9 Online Quizes
There are nine online quizzes scheduled through the semester. The quizzes are designed to give you practice
with course materials before you reach the periodic and final exams. Each quiz is ten multiple choice, matching
and/or fill-in questions. You can take a quiz as often you like during the week in which it is active. The
questions on the exam will change each time you take it. Only your highest score on each quiz will be recorded
so if you get a score you are unsatisfied with, you can retake the quiz to improve your score.
One of the main goals of the quizzes is to keep you on schedule in reviewing class streaming videos and other
materials. Therefore there are no make-up quizzes. If you do not take a quiz during the week in which it is
scheduled you will score a zero for that quiz.
3 Exams
The exams are proctored exams taken in the UCF College of Business Testing Center or the regional center
you registered for the class under. You must report to the testing center during the testing period for each exam
during the testing centers hours of operation to take an exam. Regional tests usually require an
appointment. Make sure you check with your testing center if you registered under a regional center.
Each exam will be multiple choice, matching and/or fill-in questions. Exam questions will be derived from
course lectures/streaming videos, textbook readings, course readings and online activities.
The 3 multiple choice exams will be comprised of 50 questions each. You will have one hour to complete each
exam.
There will be no make-up exams. Your lowest test grade will be dropped in calculating your grade. If you miss
a test it will be the dropped test score. If you miss two tests you will have a 0 averaged into your test average.
Testing periods are several days each. The days are broken into two categories: regular test days and late test
days. You are expected to attempt each test during the regular testing period. If you do not take a test during
the regular testing period, you do not need special permission to take a test during the late period. If something
goes wrong during the late period, however, there is no time extensions or make-ups so you will miss the test.
*The only exceptions are documented school sponsored events or religious holidays. Since the exams periods
will be several days long, only events that last the full testing period will be accepted as an excuse. If, for
example, an event runs for 4 of 5 testing days, it is expected that you will take the test on the day not covered
by the event.
Testing Center Use
You must take your tests at the testing center where you are registered for the class. You are responsible for
knowing the testing center times and policies for the testing center where you will be taking your Exams. You
can not rely on the times posted in webcourses to know when a testing center closes. The test closing time in
Webcourses is purposely set after the testing center closing time to allow time for the testing center to correct
problems that occur at the end of a testing period. You will need your student ID to take a test at any of the
testing centers.
Policies
Academic Honesty
Plagiarism and cheating of any kind on an examination, quiz, or assignment will result at least in an "F" for that
assignment (and may, depending on the severity of the case, lead to an "F" for the entire course) and may be
subject to appropriate referral to the Office of Student Conduct for further action. See the UCF Golden Rule for
further information. I will assume for this course that you will adhere to the academic creed of this University
and will maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. In other words, don't cheat by giving answers to
others or taking them from anyone else. I will also adhere to the highest standards of academic integrity, so
please do not ask me to change (or expect me to change) your grade illegitimately or to bend or break rules for
one person that will not apply to everyone.
Missed Tests
There will be no make-up exams*. If you miss one test, your final exam grade will be substituted for that test
grade in calculating your final grade. If you miss two tests, you will have a 0 averaged into your test grades.
Netiquette
All students are expected to follow good rules of netiquette in all thier online transactions with other students
and faculty in this course. Netiquette guidelines as defined by:
http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html
will be strictly enforced in this class. Any serious breach of netiquette can result in penalties ranging from loss
of points on a particular assignment to recommendation for potential expulsion from the class or school.
Syllabus Revision:
This syllabus can be revised at any time by the instructor. Notification of changes will be made at least 1 week
prior to the change taking affect.
Disability Statement:
The University of Central Florida is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all persons with
disabilities. This syllabus is available in alternate formats upon request. Students with disabilities who need
accommodations in this course must contact the professor at the beginning of the semester to discuss what is
needed. No accommodations will be provided until the student has met with the professor. Students who need
accommodations must be registered with Student Disability Services, Student Resource Center Room 132,
phone (407) 823-2371, TTY/TDD only phone (407) 823-2116, before requesting accommodations from the
professor.
Third-Party Software and FERPA
During this course you might have the opportunity to use public online services and/or software applications
sometimes called third-party software such as a blog or wiki. While some of these could be required
assignments, you need not make any personally identifying information on a public site. Do not post or provide
any private information about yourself or your classmates. Where appropriate you may use a pseudonym or
nickname. Some written assignments posted publicly may require personal reflection/comments, but the
assignments will not require you to disclose any personally identity-sensitive information. If you have any
concerns about this, please contact your instructor.
Class Schedule
Session
Assessments
June 23
Multiple choice selfadministered pretest
Assignment 1,
Quiz 1
Quiz 2
June 25
June 30
July 2
July 7
Quiz 3
July 8 - 10 Multiple choice proctored exam.
Chap 1-7. Regular testing: July
8, 9. Late Testing: July 10*
Start
Due
Textbook Readings
Date
Date
June 23 June 30 Chap 1 What is international
business
June 25 July 2 Chap 2-3 Understanding
June 25 July 2 World Cultures
June 30 July 7 Chap 4-5 Political, Legal
environments
Chap 6-7 Economic
environments, International
ethics
July 7 July 14 International Ethics
July 9
Assignment 3,
Quiz 4
July 9
July 9
July 14
Assignment 4,
Quiz 5
July 14
July 14
July 16
Assignment 5
Quiz 6
July 16
July 16
July 16 Chap 8-9 International trade,
July 16 Governments influences on
business
July 21 Chap 10-11 Currency
July 21 exchange, Exchange rate
determination
July 23 Chap 12 International strategy,
July 23 Chap 13 Organizational
Structure
July 28 Country Data
July 21
Country Data Quiz
July 21
July 22 -24 Multiple choice proctored exam.
Chap 8-13. Regular testing: July
22, 23. Late testing: July 24*
July 23
Assignment 6,
July 23 July 30 Chap 14-15 International
Quiz 7
July 23 July 30 manufacturing/ logistics,
International marketing.
July 28
Quiz 8
July 28 July 30 Chap 16 – 17 International
Human
Resources, International
accounting, International
financial management.
July 29 - Multiple choice proctored exam.
31
Chap 14-18. Regular testing:
July 29, 30. Late testing: July
31*
*See the testing lab schedule at the site you registered for to see the hours the lab is open and if you need a
reservation.