INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS STRATEGY
MKTG 6820
SPRING 2015
Instructor: Dr. Yujie (Jack) Wei
Office: 2307, Richard College of Business
Class hours: 100% online
Office Hours: online or by appointment
Phone: 404-452-4119 (Cell)
E-mail: jwei@westga.edu
Required Text: Global Business, 2nd edition by Mike W. Peng. ISBN: 1439042241,
ISBN-13: 9781439042243, PUB. DATE: June 2010, PUBLISHER:
Cengage Learning
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This is an advanced course designed to acquaint students with the growing opportunities
and potential risks in doing business across international boundaries. The nature and
economic role of the interational business, including the impact of legal, political, social
and cultural variables are examined for their influence upon business performance and
managerial activity. Particular emphasis is placed on the the issues of the business
environment, global strategies, organizational behavior, research, human resources, and
interational operations.
The course covers a broad range of international business issues from an interdisciplinary
viewpoint emphasizing the key concerns of the global corporation. The course aims to
help students understand today’s competitive global environment, master knowledge and
skills to analyze cross cultural variables and their impact on international business, and
develop a truly global approach in identifying, analyzing and solving problems.
Specifically, the student will demonstrate:

Awareness of different perspectives (mindsets) and attitudes of consumers and
business people from different regions and cultures, and of the importance in
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taking these differences into consideration when they are involved in decisionmaking process of doing business in the international arena.

A profound understanding of globalization and the changes that have resulted
from the expansion of global business and an appreciation for the strategic shifts
and organizational adjustments required by business involved in global trade.

Working knowledge of a particular foreign country with its variance in national
cultures, political systems, economic systems, social structures, languages and
corporate cultures, and an appreciation of the impact this variance has on
managing business in that environment.

Understanding of trade theory, the instruments of trade policy, the case for
government intervention to trade and the overall development of world trading
systems as it pertains to management issues.

Understanding of the impact of going international on the home and host country,
the growth of FDI and the implications that global expansion decisions have on
management issues, and familiarity with the wide variety of options available
including exporting and importing, licensing, franchising and the various
techniques used to select the appropriate strategy for a given industry.

Appreciation of foreign exchange management as well as the impact of
international monetary system and financial institutions on financial decisionmaking and business decision-making.

Understanding of the impact of differing cultures and norms on product decisions,
of different channels and standards, of the challenges posed by new market
realities, of issues involved with global marketing and service decisions which
impact overall business operations.

Understanding of the challenges and issues involved in international human
resource management i.e. selection, training and repatriation.

Skills in developing a plan or strategy that accommodates global element and
enables a business to grow with in international context.
CLASS ACTIVITIES, ASSIGNMENTS AND PROJECTS
This class is built around the topical framework in the textbook. This course also
incorporates a number of video case studies that illustrate the many activities of a firm
across international boundaries. Open online discussions about current international
events are an important part of the class. Student questions and viewpoints are
encouraged, appreciated and rewarded.
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
Exams (Individual): there are five quizzes (not cumulative) and a final exam.
Both quizzes and exam consist of multple choice questions only.

Assignments (Individual): this consists of completing readings and responding
to discussion questions for the assigned topics when applicable. Additional
readings and articles may be assigned as the class progresses. Students are
expected to make use of the learning opportunities made available by CourseDen,
and access to the Internet sources (links to the useful websites on the front page)
to update their knowledge on current developments in International Business.

Term Project (Group): The class is divided into teams. Each team consists of
three to four students. The group project requires each team to conduct a research
on a particular foreign country (see below) and to develop a international strategic
plan for a US firm (to be selected by you). The detailed guideline for the course
project is provided. The international strategic plans should be written in a
professional manner.
Foreign countries to be selected:
Africa: Ethiopia, Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa
Asia: China, India, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Israel, Turkey
Europe: Russia, Ukraine, Spain, Greece
Latin America: Mexico, Argentina, Honduras, Chile
The best papers will show evidence of some investigative efforts—digging for
more information, interviews/phone calls/emails with managers—and of synthesis
and careful editing. They will also be insightful, going beyond the most obvious
lessons to draw out the story behind the story.
The quality will be evaluated along content and process dimensions. Careful
editing is expected. Simply “cut and paste” sections written by different coauthors
will result in a very poor grade.
The following items are required for submission:
 Softcopy of Word emailed to me on CourseDen.
 Peer evaluation form of all group members.

Weekly Topic Discussion (Individual): Five discussion topics are selected from
the chapters for the semester. The discussion is aimed to help you better
understand the chapters. The discussion will be organized by me but each of you
is required to participate in the discussions actively and post at least three (3)
response each week: one primary response and two responses commenting on
other people’s posts. I may ask you to elaborate on your comments or clarify your
arguments, and you are required to reply to my questions as soon as you can.
Please make sure that each week your response be posted no later than 10 p.m.
(EST) of the ending day. Responses posted after that time will not count toward
your contribution. I will wrap up the discussion and post a summary.
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Your response will be evaluated using the guidelines noted below. It is entirely
possible to “participate” frequently and still receive a low grade for class
participation. I will pick one or two “star participants” each week, who will be
awarded 2 bonus points added to their final grade.
Participation evaluation criteria:
Outstanding Participation (90% and above): Responses are posted timely and
linked to the current discussion. Participation reflects exceptional preparation.
Ideas are nearly always important and provide one or more major insights as well
as providing a fruitful direction for the class. Arguments are well substantiated
and persuasively presented.
Good Participation (80-89%): Responses are posted timely and linked to the
current discussion. Participation reflects thorough preparation. Ideas are usually
important, provide good insights, and sometimes offer a fruitful direction for the
class. Arguments are generally well substantiated and are often persuasive.
Adequate Participation (70-79%): Responses are posted timely and linked to the
current discussion. Participation reflects satisfactory preparation. Ideas are
sometimes important, provide generally useful insights, but seldom offer a major
new direction. Arguments are well substantiated and sometimes persuasive.

Late Assignments: the instructor reserves the right to reduce the student’s grade
for the course by one full letter grade if the student does not complete the
assignment on the scheduled date. This holds particularly true for the team project.
GRADING CRITERIA
Your grade will be evaluated on the following:
Weekly Discussion (5)
Quizzes (5)
Final Exam
Team Project
Total
20%
30%
15%
35%
100%
The University of West Georgia expects from its students a high level of responsibility
and academic honesty. It is imperative that a student demonstrate a high standard of
individual honor in his or her scholastic work. Scholastic dishonesty involves one of the
following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion and/or falsifying academic records.
Students suspected of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary proceedings.
Plagiarism, especially from the web, from portions of papers for other classes, and from
any other source is unacceptable and will be dealt with under the university’s policy on
plagiarism (see general catalog for details). This course may use the resources of
turnitin.com, which searches the web for possible plagiarism and is over 90% effective.
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Student Rights & Responsibilities
Please carefully review the information at the following link:
http://www.westga.edu/assetsDept/vpaa/Common_Language_for_Course_Syllabi.pdf
The document at this link contains important information pertaining to your rights and
responsibilities in this class.
Credit Hour Policy (3 credit hours)
For approximately fifteen weeks, students in this class will generally spend 150 minutes
with direct faculty instruction (either face-to-face or online) and work about 360 minutes
outside of the classroom each week. This out-of-class work may include, but is not
limited to, readings, assignments, projects, group work, research, and test preparation.
CLASS SCHEDULE (Subject to revision)
Date
Topic
3/2-8
Module 1: Laying Foundations
Course Orientation
Country selection
U.S. firm selection
Watch Video Case: KFC in Japan
3/9-14
Assignments
Ch 1: Globalizing Business
Ch 2: Politics, laws and economics
Quiz 1 (chapters 1-2)
Discussion Topic-1:
Why is international business a
learning process?
Ch 3: Cultures, ethics and norms
Ch 4: Leveraging resources and capabilities
Quiz 2 (chapters 3-4)
3/14-21
Spring Break!
3/23-29
Module 2: Acquiring Tools
Discussion Topic-2:
How can international business
benefit countries involved and
people of the countries?
3/304/5
4/6-12
Ch 5: Trading internationally
Ch 6: Investing abroad directly
Quiz 3 (chapters 5-6)
Ch 7: Dealing with foreign exchange
Ch 8: Capitalizing on global & regional
integration
Discussion Topic-3:
Please explain major advantages
and disadvantages of global and
regional integration.
Quiz 4 (chapters 7-8)
Module 3: Managing Around the
World
Discussion Topic-4:
Please discuss three big barriers to
foreign markets.
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Ch 9: Growing & internationalizing the
entrepreneurial firm
Ch10: Entering foreign markets
Quiz 5 (chapters 9-10)
4/13-19
Discussion Topic-5:
What are the five basic requisites
that an expatriate must have? Why?
4/20-24
Ch11: Making alliances & acquisitions work
Ch12: Strategizing, structuring & learning
around the world
Ch 13: Managing human resources globally
Ch 14: Managing corporate social
responsibility globally
Final Exam (chapters 11-14)
4/25
Graduation
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