MIM580: International Management Capstone
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
This course is a requirement for completion of the international management program, as you shall prepare a
project paper that integrates content that has been learned throughout the duration of the program. Students
shall demonstrate their ability to apply their knowledge in the form of a business development/plan project for
an international corporation or organization.
Course Learning Outcomes:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Describe the challenges and opportunities for global expansion from a cultural perspective..
Create a development/plan that details strategic steps and processes for international expansion.
Identify regulatory constraints and benefits for market growth.
Demonstrate understanding of HR issues relating to hiring foreign-based employees.
Summarize protectionism and preferential trade opportunities.
Explain exchange rate and foreign investment capital flows.
Analyze the role of foreign political parties in economic development.
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:
Hill, C. (2013). International business (9th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
ISBN-13: 978-0078029240
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.
 Capstone Assignments: Assignments are due Sunday at 11:59 p.m. MT.
Week #
1
2
3
4
5
Readings

Chapters 4 & 5 in International Business

Chapters 13, 14, & 15 in International Business

Chapter 1 in International Business

Chapter 19 in International Business

Chapters 6, 7, & 8 in International Business
Assignments
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Discussion (25 points)
Capstone Assignment (0 points)
Discussion (25 points)
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
Discussion (25 points)
Capstone Assignment (50 points)
Discussion (25 points)


Discussion (25 points)
Capstone Assignment (50 points)
6
7
8

Chapters 11, 12, & 20 in International Business

Chapters 2, 3 & 9 in International Business

Chapters 17 & 18 in International Business
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




Discussion (25 points)
Capstone Assignment (50 points)
Discussion (25 points)
Capstone Assignment (50 points)
Discussion (25 points)
Capstone Project (600 points)
Assignment Details
This course includes the following assignments/projects:
Module 1
Capstone: Company Choice (0 Points)
The Capstone Project is the focus of the course and the Capstone assignments in Weeks 3, 5, 6 and 7 are designed
to build toward its completion. Review the Capstone Project Description on the Week 8 Assignments page and the
Capstone Project grading rubric, which can be accessed from the Course Information page.
This week you should select and submit to your instructor the name of a company that has yet to enter into the
global business world. The organization can be one for which you work, one with which you are familiar with, or
one you find through research. You will need to have this organization approved by your instructor before you
start your research for this project. If you are not using the company for which you work, it is best to find a publicly
traded company, because publicly traded companies are subject to providing information private companies are
not required to provide, and this will help you immensely in your research.
Module 3
Capstone: Reference List (50 Points)
For this assignment, you will submit a list of at least ten scholarly references that you are going to use in your
Capstone Project. The CSU-Global Library is a great place to find these sources! This will likely not be your final list
of references, but it should provide a good start.
Your well-written reference list should meet the following requirements:


Format according to CSU-Global APA and writing guidelines.
Include two to three sentences for each source to discuss how the source will be used and in which
section of the paper the source will be used.
Module 5
Capstone: Annotated Bibliography (50 Points)
Create an annotated bibliography of the references that you have chosen up to this point. Your annotated
bibliography should include at least ten references, each of which should include a summary and a short discussion
of how it will be used in the final paper. Use the information provided in this week’s lecture, including the links to
outside resources, as your guide to developing your annotated bibliography. Contact your instructor if you have
any questions or concerns. If you need help writing an annotated bibliography, the CSU-Global Library has a
helpful website located under the “APA Guide & Resources” link to assist you.
Module 6
Capstone: Capstone Project Outline (50 Points)
Use an outline template in Microsoft Word or another similar word processing program to prepare a detailed 2- to
3-page outline of the sections and subsections of your Capstone Project. These sections and subsections in the
outline will end up being your headings in your final project. Include your list of APA-formatted references at the
end of the outline.
Module 7
Capstone: Executive Summary (50 Points)
Develop a draft of a 1- to 2-page executive summary for your Capstone Project. Your executive summary should
include key findings and recommendations along with the expected costs and economic benefits of the proposed
expansion. Your well-written executive summary draft should meet the following requirements:

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Written using professional language
Have sound sentence structure, grammar, and spelling (no errors)
Can include bulleted lists if needed
Written with the intended audience in mind
Formatted according to CSU-Global APA and writing guidelines
Module 8
Capstone: Capstone Project (600 Points)
For the Capstone Project, you will select an organization that has yet to enter into the global business world. The
organization can be one for which you work, one with which you are familiar, or one you find through research.
You will need to have your choice of organization approved by your instructor in Week 1 before you start the
research for this project. If you are not using the company for which you work, it is best to find a publicly-traded
company because publicly-traded companies are required to provide information private companies are not
required to provide, and this will help you immensely in your research.
The organization you have chosen has decided that it would like to “go global” in terms of operations. You have
been hired as the consultant for the new global initiative. No research has been conducted as of yet on this global
initiative, so you will be laying all of the groundwork for the decisions that will be involved.
Your Capstone Project assignment is to create a report that will be used by the organization’s decision makers.
Your report should include the following elements, in the order given below:
Executive Summary: This should be a topline executive report and should be written as though it would
be distributed to the top leadership in your chosen organization. As noted in the lecture content for Week
7, the executive summary should be written once you have completed, or are close to completing, the full
report. (Approximately two pages)
Organizational Profile: Provide a detailed profile of your chosen organization to give the necessary
background information so the reader understands what type of company is under consideration, what
product or service it sells, how it operates, what is its financial position, etc. (Approximately one page)
Global Competition: Determine what global competition currently exists for your product or service.
What other companies are the key players in the global business that you are looking to enter? Provide
background and current status of the top three organizations with which your organization will be
competing. (Approximately one page)
International Location Selection: Determine where your organization can best operate globally. What
countries or regions are best suited for the type of company you are working with? Please provide your
top three choices for location and why they are the top three choices. Provide detailed profiles of these
countries. Then, provide your recommendation for which country best suits the needs of the company.
(Approximately two pages)
Laws and Regulations: Compare the laws and regulations of the chosen foreign country with those of the
United States. As much as possible, discuss specific laws that pertain to the operations and
products/services associated with the home company. This could include regulations and laws for the
following: use of natural resources, employment, pollution, and/or taxing. How will the company adhere
to these standards and still be successful? (Approximately two pages)
Human Resources: Labor and Culture: Discuss labor constraints and cultural barriers to success in your
selected country. How can the organization overcome these barriers in order to operate effectively and
productively in this country? (Approximately two pages)
International Trade: Analyze the opportunities for trade with the country where you are looking to
expand operations. Are there any trade agreements in place between the United States and the selected
country that could benefit the home company? Explain how and why this would or would not be the case.
(Approximately one page)
Financial Risks: Analyze the risks associated with finances related to setting up operations in the chosen
country. This will include startup costs, currency exchange strategies, etc. How will the company deal with
these financial issues to minimize the risk of losing money? (Approximately one page)
Economic Considerations: Discuss the economic aspect of operating in the chosen country. Explain the
current economic status of this country as compared to the current economic status of the United States.
Is this country in a better economic situation than the United States right now? Why or why not? How
could this affect the ability for the company to start operations in this country? (Approximately two
pages)
Strategic Finance Plan: Develop a strategic finance plan for expansion into the selected country. Your plan
will need to include startup costs as well as ongoing operational costs through the first year of operation.
This strategic finance plan should be in a format that is easy to read and understand and should show a
strategy that minimizes risk and maximizes profits. (Approximately two pages)
Recommendations: Having conducted your analysis of a possible international expansion, provide your
recommendations on whether this is a good move at this time for your organization. Provide rationale
supported by research for your final recommendation to the organization. (Approximately one page)
Your well-written Capstone Project should meet the following requirements:

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Be 14–17 pages in length
Be written in a clear, concise, and focused manner, using business language throughout the entire
document
Be formatted according to CSU-Global APA and writing guidelines
Provide support from at least ten scholarly sources. Use the CSU-Global Library to help you find some of
these sources!
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
20% Capstone Assignments
60% Capstone Project
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.