MIM560: International Business
Credit Hours:
3
Contact Hours:
This is a 3-credit course, offered in accelerated format. This means that 16 weeks of
material is covered in 8 weeks. The exact number of hours per week that you can
expect to spend on each course will vary based upon the weekly coursework, as
well as your study style and preferences. You should plan to spend 10-25 hours per
week in each course reading material, interacting on the discussion boards, writing
papers, completing projects, and doing research.
Faculty Information
Name:
Phone:
CSU-GC Email:
Virtual Office Hours:
Course Description and Outcomes
Welcome to MIM560 International Business. This course addresses the factors that affect international business
and business expansion. Discussion topics include demographic, economic, political, natural resource,
technology, and cultural characteristics and the role they play in the advancement of multinational enterprises.
The course also addresses challenging business and legal issues around the world.
Course Learning Outcomes:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Analyze a country profile for prospective business opportunities.
Assess internal cultural and demographic characteristics and cross-cultural diversity.
Evaluate factors surrounding economic policies and regulations in relation to trade activities.
Identify natural resource opportunities within countries and regions.
Evaluate labor and outsourcing opportunities.
Identify cross border and regional opportunities for future expansion.
Participation & Attendance
Prompt and consistent attendance in your online courses is essential for your success at CSU-Global Campus.
Failure to verify your attendance within the first 7 days of this course may result in your withdrawal. If for some
reason you would like to drop a course, please contact your advisor.
Online classes have deadlines, assignments, and participation requirements just like on-campus classes. Budget
your time carefully and keep an open line of communication with your instructor. If you are having technical
problems, problems with your assignments, or other problems that are impeding your progress, let your
instructor know as soon as possible.
Course Materials
Required:
Cavusgil, S., Knight, G. & Riesenberger, J. (2014). International business: The new realities (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle
River, NJ: Pearson. ISBN: 9780132991261
NOTE: All non-textbook required readings and materials necessary to complete assignments, discussions, and/or
supplemental or required exercises will be provided within the course itself. Please read through each course
module carefully.
Course Schedule
Due Dates
The Academic Week at CSU-Global begins on Monday and ends the following Sunday.
 Discussion Boards: The original post must be completed by Thursday at 11:59 p.m. MT and Peer
Responses posted by Sunday 11:59 p.m. MT. Late posts may not be awarded points.
 Mastery Exercises: Students may access and retake mastery exercises through the last day of class until
they achieve the scores they desire.
 Critical Thinking Activities: Assignments are due Sunday at 11:59 p.m. MT.
Week #
1
2
3
4
Readings
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Chapter 1 in International Business
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Chapters 3 & 4 in International Business
Chapter 5 in International Business
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Chapters 6 & 7 in International Business
Assignments
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Discussion (25 points)
Critical Thinking (100 points)
Discussion (25 points)
Discussion (25 points)
Critical Thinking (100 points)
Discussion (25 points)
Critical Thinking (125 points)
5
6
7
8
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Chapters 8 & 9 in International Business
Chapters 10 & 11 in International Business
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Chapters 14 & 16 in International Business
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Chapters 19 & 20 in International Business
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Discussion (25 points)
Discussion (25 points)
Critical Thinking (125 points)
Discussion (25 points)
Discussion (25 points)
Portfolio (350 points)
Assignment Details
This course includes the following assignments/projects:
Module 1
Critical Thinking: Harley Davidson Case Study (100 points)
Harley Davidson is a uniquely American company. Yet their products are in demand around the world.
Recognizing the economic ups and downs in the U.S. market, Harley began to internationalize their firm.
Download and read the attached case study from the second edition of your textbook: "Harley Davidson Case
Study."
Then, in a well written essay, answer the five questions below (found also at the conclusion of the case study).
Case Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What is the nature of the international business environments Harley faces? What types of risks does
the firm face?
How can Harley benefit from expanding abroad? What types of advantages can the firm obtain?
What advantages acquired abroad can help Harley improve its performance in its home market?
How can Harley effectively compete with rivals from Japan and Europe? What strategies should
management apply to grow the firm’s sales in those regions?
Competitors such as Lifan and Zongshen are beginning to emerge from China, where they enjoy
competitive advantages like low-cost labor and extensive experience with emerging markets. How
can Harley compete against such firms? Should Harley more aggressively pursue emerging markets
such as Brazil, China, and India? If so, what strategies will help it succeed in those markets?
Evaluate Harley’s environmental sustainability initiatives in the evolving regulatory environment on
global greenhouse gas. What advantages does Harley gain by attempting to produce environmentally
safe and sustainable products?
Your paper should be 3-4 pages long and formatted per CSU Global specifications for APA style. Support your
analysis by referencing and citing at least three credible sources other than the course textbook. In addition to the
three required sources, you may reference the textbook for this course.
Module 3
Critical Thinking: Corporate Misconduct (100 points)
Download and read the attached case study from the second edition of your textbook: "Corruption at Siemens."
Think about the issues and potential answers to the Case Questions that accompany the Siemens case study and
then conduct research to identify another case of corruption, misconduct, or bad ethical practice that occurred
within the last three years. Provide an overview of that case, explaining what happened, how it was discovered,
the actions the company took or failed to take and what impact those actions had on customers, the public at large
and the company itself. Finally, discuss how the issues were resolved, if at all.
Your paper should be 3-4 pages long, well-written, and formatted per CSU Global specifications for APA style.
Support your analysis by referencing and citing at least three credible sources (one of which can be your text).
Module 4
Critical Thinking: Legal Pitfalls for International Business (125 points)
International businesses invariably face distinctions between legal systems that they work within. After reviewing
some of the distinctions in your text between common and civil law systems, and after conducting additional
outside research on the pitfalls faced by international businesses operating in multiple legal environments, prepare
a list of five key distinctions in contract or business law, other than those listed in Chapter 7: Political and Legal
Systems in National Environments, reflecting different methods of practice or enforcement.
Your paper should be organized as bullet points with 1-2 paragraphs under each point describing the distinctions.
Your paper should be 3-4 pages, well-written, and formatted per CSU Global specifications for APA style. Support
your analysis by referencing and citing at least three credible sources (one can be your text).
Module 6
Critical Thinking: Barriers to Entry (125 points)
Download and read the attached case study from the second edition of your textbook: “Tata Group: India’s New
Global Challenger.” The case study of Tata Motors in your textbook provides some insight into the difficulties that
firms in developing countries face when they try to export their products and services. For this assignment, select
an industry or a specific export from a developing country that faces particularly challenging barriers to entry into
foreign markets. Describe the industry, explain how it could help the developing economy, and analyze the nature
of the barriers that it faces in foreign markets. You will likely need to rely on extensive external sources for your
research. In addition, consider the Tata Group Case Study and the questions that accompany it as you analyze and
explain the challenges that your selected industry or export presents.
Your paper should be 3-4 pages and well written. CSU Global guidelines for APA are required. Support your analysis
by referencing and citing at least three credible sources (one can be your text).
Module 8
Portfolio Project: New Product and Emerging Markets – Risks and Recommendations (350 points)
You are the CEO of a small, relatively new start-up company that produces a unique product—the wrist-reader.
This product serves as a wristwatch that consumers wear on their wrists, but the screen folds out to a 3x3 highresolution LCD that can be used as an e-book reader or to surf the Internet with an integrated wi-fi chip. The wristreader is becoming highly popular among 18 to 24-year-olds in the U.S. market and you believe the product would
also be rapidly adopted among young people in large emerging markets.
Because of your company's small size, you don’t have anyone to help you identify business strategies, so you have
to work independently on this. Your job for this Portfolio Project is to research three options in at least two
emerging markets for internationalizing your firm. Provide an assessment of the risks and benefits of each strategy
in each country and provide a clear and succinct recommendation at the end for your firm.
Your paper should consist of the following elements:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Overview of the firm (you can be creative here, within reason).
Presentation of the issue you are trying to resolve.
Identification of at least two countries that your firm will target, including an overview of those
countries’ markets, demand for a product like this, legal and political environment, and reasons for
selecting them as places to start the internationalization process.
Discussion of each approach of internationalization (1-2 pages for each approach).
Explanation of the risks that the small firm may face when following the internationalization you
suggested above in the country that you selected.
Recommendation and conclusions.
Your paper should total 12-15 pages, be well-written, and formatted in conformity with CSU Global Guidelines for
APA style. In addition, your paper should include at least eight professional sources (other than the textbook and
course materials) that support your analysis. Turn in the completed project by the end of Week 8.
Course Policies
Late Work
Students are permitted a 7 day grace period during which they may submit a Critical Thinking assignment after
the original due date without penalty. Papers submitted between 8 and 14 days after the original due date will
be accepted with a potential 10 percent reduction in grade for late submission. Papers submitted 15 or more
days beyond the original due date may not be accepted unless prior arrangements have been made with the
instructor. No Portfolios will be accepted late and no assignments will be accepted after the last day of class
unless a student has requested an incomplete grade in accordance with the Incomplete Policy.
Course Grading
20% Discussion Participation
45% Critical Thinking Activities
35% Final Portfolio Paper
Grading Scale and Policies
A
95.0 – 100
A-
90.0 – 94.9
B+
86.7 – 89.9
B
83.3 – 86.6
B-
80.0 – 83.2
C+
75.0 – 79.9
C
70.0 – 74.9
D
60.0 – 69.9
F
59.9 or below
FN*
Failure for Nonparticipation
I**
Incomplete
FN* Students who have completed less than 60% of the graded assignments will be issued a grade of FN. Grades of FN may impact
financial aid or military benefits.
I** Students must request an Incomplete through their course instructor. The faculty member will provide the student with the Request
for Incomplete Grade form, which must be signed by the student and approved by the faculty member prior to the faculty member
submitting to the Office of the Registrar. Incompletes cannot include unsubmitted assignments from the first six (6) weeks of the class as
defined by the late policy and may only be awarded to students that have completed 60% of the graded coursework with a passing
grade. Incomplete forms must be on file with the Office of the Registrar no later than Thursday of the final week of class.
Academic Integrity
Students must assume responsibility for maintaining honesty in all work submitted for credit and in any other
work designated by the instructor of the course. Academic dishonesty includes cheating, fabrication, facilitating
academic dishonesty, plagiarism, reusing your own work, re-purposing your own work, unauthorized possession
of academic materials, unauthorized collaboration. The Library provides information on how students can avoid
plagiarism by understanding what it is and how to use Library and internet resources.
Citing Sources with APA Style
All students are expected to follow the CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements when citing in APA
(based on the APA Style Manual, 6th edition). For details on CSU-Global APA style, please review the APA
resources within the CSU-Global Library under the “APA Guide & Resources” link. A link to this document should
also be provided within most assignment descriptions on your course’s Assignments page.
Netiquette
Respect the diversity of options among the instructor and classmates and engage with them in a courteous,
respectful and professional inner. All posts and classroom communication must be conducted in a professional
and respectful manner in accordance with the student code of conduct. Think before you push the Send button.
Did you say just what you meant? How will the person on the other end read the words?
Maintain an environment free of harassment, stalking, threats, abuse, insults or humiliation toward the
instructor and classmates. This includes, but is not limited to demeaning written or oral comments of an ethnic,
religious, age, disability, sexist (or sexual orientation), or racist nature; and the unwanted sexual advances or
intimidations by email, or on discussion boards and other postings within or connected to the online classroom.
If you have concerns about something that has been said, please let your instructor know.
Institutional Policies
Refer to the Academic Catalog for comprehensive documentation of CSU-Global institutional policies.