Texas A&M University-Central Texas
International Business
TTR
6:00-9:00
8 weeks
SPRING 2014
Founder’s Hall
1.
Your Instructor
Name:
Michael DeLa'O, MBA, MMS
President of Investments/Owner
Stifel Nicolaus/Century Securities
Cell:
Home:
512-698-8894
512-591-7779
Email:
mdelao3702@aol.com
Instructor
Background:
Office Hours:
Earned my BBA, MMS, and MBA at Tarleton State University.
Have managed and owned restaurants for 10 years. Have been a
stockbroker and financial analyst for 15 years.
BY APPOINTMENT
2.
Your Course Overview
This course is designed to give the student a broader perspective of key concepts and
issues in international business. Emphasis will be on the environment of international business
and the operation of the multinational firm. We will discuss international business in general and
specific terms. We will also discuss the international monetary system and forces, both
controllable and uncontrollable, which affect international business.
3.
Your Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, each student shall be able to:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
4.
5.
Recognize the reasons and methods of entering foreign markets.
Identify and analyze various international organizations.
Analyze the financial, social, and political forces affecting international business.
Analyze the socio-cultural and legal environment of various countries.
Analyze the composition, quality, mobility, and productivity of labor in various
countries.
Analyze the competitive forces in international business.
Your Instructional Materials
Text
Donald A. Ball, Wendell H. McCulloch Jr., Paul L. Franz, J. Michael
Geringer, and Michael S. Minor. (2006). International Business: The
th
th
Challenge of Global Competition (12 or 13 ed.). New York: McGrawHill.
Reference
Only
American Psychological Association (2001). Publication Manual of
American Psychological Association (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.
Your Performance Guidelines
a.
Attendance and Individual Performance: I ask for your regular participation in
class discussion and activities, and for your timely completion of assignments. I
intend that those who demonstrate quality, professional performance, will earn
high grades. Lesser grades are earned by those who do not. Each of you can
achieve a high grade if you so choose. Your timely attendance, preparation for
and participation in class discussion, and timeliness of submission of assignments
will be the basis for the grade you earn for class performance.
I strongly encourage your attendance for each class. I recognize that not all
students are able to attend each class session. I expect each student to take
personal responsibility for making up missed subject matter and assignments.
Reading/Assignments: Class meetings will consist of: review and lecture of
assigned chapters. You are expected to study the material for each assigned
chapter prior to coming to class.
b.
University e-mail Account: Each student must claim and use their university email account. All e-mail correspondence between all students and your instructor
will be via that account or another e-mail designated by the instructor. Emails
made to me are best if sent to my private email rather than the university email.
c.
Specifications for Written Assignments: All work submitted must be completed
via the use of a computer and computer software. The format/style must that
you use must be consistent with professional business practice. The Style Guide
of the American Psychological Association is the standard we will use. All work
will be submitted on 8.5" x 11" white bond paper, double-spaced, using size 12
Times New Roman fonts and the color black for wording. All margins will be 1"
at the top, bottom, left and right sides. Items submitted are expected to be of
collegiate quality, language, and depth.
The quality of your work is a reflection of you; always present your best side.
Quality work has a professional appearance and is free of spelling errors. Points
will be deducted for poor grammar and wording, misspellings, appearance and
improper submission. Be prepared to present your solutions in class.
d.
Written Assignments: Each student will pick a topic relating to international
business. These selections will come from a business journal such as Forbes, Wall
Street Journal, The Economist, Business Week, INC. You will be required to
analyze the topic and write an abbreviated "substantive analysis" explaining this
subject. You will develop your case in accordance with paragraph 5d above and
format it in the manner set forth below. Your written paper must be six pages long
(cover sheet (1 page), review (2 pages), critical analysis (2 pages), references (1
page)). I would like you to write a two-page review (summary) of the article and a
separate two-page critical analysis of the article. Be sure to limit the
Review/Summary to two pages and the critical analysis to two pages. I will read
to the bottom line of the two page summary and the two-page critical analysis-but no further.
Exceptional submissions will effectively:
Review
1.
Identify the issue(s) addressed by the article.
2.
Show how the issue(s) and the information presented in the article are
relevant to the study of international business.
3.
Summarize the article identifying the "salient points" made by the author.
Critical Analysis
4.
Present your evaluation of the issues raised by the article and defend your
position by citing your text and/or other relevant sources.
5.
Describe and defend by illustration how objectively and thoroughly the
author analyzed the issue(s) examined by the article.
6.
Suggest alternative ways of addressing the issue(s) that the author may
have overlooked.
7.
Suggest possible related issues that the author may have missed.
This exercise is designed to improve your ability to communicate effectively and
to make sound decisions. This is a personal/individual assignment. The entire
written paper must be a reflection of your work only.
Oral Presentation: Students will make an oral presentation using MS
PowerPoint. Your presentation will not be under 30 minutes in length. You must
prepare MS PowerPoint slides for use in your presentation.
Each group will explain to the class the nature of the International Business
chapter. A copy of your written case and MS PowerPoint notes-slides with
briefing notes affixed will be submitted to the instructor--in the classroom--prior
to your oral presentation. The only briefing notes you may use during your oral
presentation are MS PowerPoint notes-slides. Ten presentation points will be
deducted if the presenter is not appropriately dressed.
NOTES:
1.
Late presentations will only be allowed as class schedule permits. On-time
student presentations will have first priority. Late presentations will only
be allowed as class schedule permits.
2.
All oral presentations will be conducted in a professional manner, to
include appropriate business dress. Men will wear slacks, shirt, socks,
shoes, and tie (no jeans, boot pants, Levi's, sneakers, or bolo ties). Ladies
will wear blouse with slacks or a skirt, or a dress, or ladies business suit
with socks or stockings and either low or high-heeled shoes. Look like
professionals! Timing will be strictly adhered to. There will be a ten-point
deduction if: 1) Presentation runs more than one minute short or over; 2)
Presenter is not appropriately dressed; and/or 3) Presenter uses briefing
notes other than MS PowerPoint notes-slides.
Proposal/Presentation: Each student will discuss and present an important
international business topic and present an MS PowerPoint presentation.
Each group will orally present their dilemma in class. Your oral
presentation must be at least 20-30 minutes in length. Your team must
research the business topic selected by your group/team. Your research
must include several references and they all must be cited. Your
PowerPoint slides and notes will be submitted to the instructor prior to
your oral presentation. The only notes you may use in the conduct of your
presentation are MS PowerPoint note-slides.
Your group will each share in the presentation of this long proposal. The
oral report will be not less than 30 minutes in length. Each group member
will contribute to the produced report. Areas must be divided equally
among the team members, and everything [research, assembly,
organization, typing, preparation and typing of MS PowerPoint, and oral
presentation]. Grading of the report and oral presentation will be
a “Team Grade” shared alike and no individual grade will be given.
e.
Examinations: There will be three (3) examinations during the semester. All
examinations are non-cumulative–each exam will include only materials covered
in prior sections of the course with the exception of the final. Exams will be
closed book and closed notes. All exams will be administered in class in
accordance with paragraph 9 (schedule). There will be “NO” make-up exams
without PRIOR permission. The final is subject to the discretion of the instructor
and will encompass some aspects from all areas of the course.
f.
Scholastic Honesty: All students are expected to maintain the highest standards of
scholastic honesty in work preparation, and in examinations. Plagiarism,
collusion, and cheating will not be tolerated.
6.
Changes to Syllabus
A syllabus serves as an instructional and study planning document. It may become
necessary to make changes during the course of this semester. In such an event, changes
will be announced in class and students will receive written notice within 10 days of the
change decision.
7.
Grade Computation
Grades will be calculated as follows:
Letter Grade
To
A
90%
100%
B
80%
89%
C
70%
79%
D
60%
69%
F
Below
60%
Activity
8.
From
Points
Percent of Final Grade
Exams #1, 2, and 3
500
50%
Individual Paper
200
20%
Presentation
200
20%
Attendance
100
10%
Totals
1000
100%
Students With Disabilities
If you have or believe you have a disability, you may wish to self-identify. You can do so
by providing documentation to the office of the Academic Dean of the Texas A @ M
University System Center - Central Texas or to the Disability Services Director on the
main campus room. The last day to request accommodations for each term
corresponds to the last day for dropping a course with no record. I encourage students
with disabilities to speak with me about accommodations they might need to help assure
success in this class. Please see university attachment as well.
9.
Course Outline and Assignments
Dates are approximate. Many chapters may take more than one class period thus the calendar
will move forward.
Date
Activity
Subject
Introduction/Syllabus
3/18
3/20
3/25
3/27
4/1
4/3
4/8
4/10
4/15
Intro
GROUPS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
4/17
4/22
4/24
4/29
5/1
5/6
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
GROUPS
GROUPS
GROUPS
Political Forces
Labor Forces
Understanding International Money Systems
5/8
5/8
Final Exam
LAST DAY OF CLASSES
Comprehensive
ALL EXAMS MUST BE COMPLETE
Challenging World of International Business
International Trade Foreign Direct Investment
International Institutions
Sociocultural Forces
Natural Resources and Environment
Economics and Socioeconomic Forces
TEST
CALENDER IS A GUIDE SUBJECT TO CHANGE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NEEDS
OF THE CLASS.