UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON

ECO/IB 351: ENVIRONMENTS OF INTL. BUSINESS

SEMESTER: FALL 1998. Section: Mon.-Wed. (3:00-4:15 p.m.)

 

Instructor: Jafor Chowdhury, Ph.D. Office Hours:

Office: 402-B, O'Hara Hall Mon. & Wed.: 4:15-5:00 p.m.

Tel. & Voice Mail: 941-7631 Tues. & Thurs.: 9:45-10:30 a.m.

Dept. Secretary: 941-7612 E-Mail:JC354@Tiger.UofS.Edu

 

PREREQUISITES: Junior standing and Eco. 153 & Eco. 154

 

Textbook/Readings:

 

  1. Czinkota, Michael R.; Ronkainen, Ilkka A.; and Moffet, Michael H. International

    2. Business, Dryden Press, 5th ed., 1999.

     

  2. Readings from the business press (e.g., The Wall St. Journal)

 

Course Description:

 

The main purpose of this course is to introduce students to the emerging field of international business. The two essential components of this course are (1) environments of international business, and (2) institutions of international business. Environments of international business include economic, financial, legal, political, and socio-cultural forces that shape the conduct of international trade and international investment, and on-going operations of multinational firms. Institutions of international business include bilateral and multilateral agreements, treaties, agencies, and organizations that govern and influence the conduct and operations of trade and investment flows among nations.

 

Course Objectives:

 

  1. To gain factual knowledge about international business

  2. To learn fundamental principles, concepts, and theories of international business

  3. To learn to apply course materials with the help of cases, incidents, and readings

    4. from the business press

  4. To develop skills and points of views needed by professionals in the

international business field.

 

Teaching Tools:

 

  1. Test/quiz

  2. Case/incident analysis

  3. Term project

  4. Readings from the business press

  5. Lecture

  6. Experiential activity

Points Distribution:

 

  1. Tests:

Test #1: 20 Points

Test #2: 20 Points

Test #3: 20 Points

Test #4: 20 Points

B. Term Paper: 20 Points

C. Assignment, Attendance, & Class Participation 20 Points

 

Test Dates:

 

(See pages 3-4 of this syllabus)

 

Grading Format:

 

90% and above: A's (A-, A)

80-89%: B's (B-, B, B+)

70-79%: C's (C-, C, C+)

60-69%: D's (D, D+)

Below 60%: Fail

 

Test Format:

 

A mix of multiple choice, essay, short-answer, fill-in, and problems

 

Attendance and Class Participation:

 

A certain % of course grade is earmarked for attendance and class participation.

 

Term Project:

 

The main objective of this project is to examine in-depth an international business topic of contemporary interest. The term project has two main components:

 

  1. Portfolio: A file/folder consisting of materials (e.g., articles) collected from internet,

    2. CD-ROM, business press, and other secondary sources.

     

  2. Written Paper: A 12-page (double-spaced) analytical report on one of topics listed below.

 

  1. Privatization (select a former communist-bloc country from the list to be supplied by

    2. your instructor).

  2. U.S. export controls on Encryption Products

  3. Asian (currency) turmoil or Asian Economic Crisis

 

________________________________________________________________________

Week Date Reading, Cases, Incidents, and Activities

________________________________________________________________________

  1. Aug. 31 IB: Environments and Institutions

Reading: Chap. 1 (International Business Imperative)

 

Sept. 2 Reading: Chap. 6 (Balance of Payments)

________________________________________________________________________

2 Sept. 7 Reading: Chap. 6 (Balance of Payments)

 

9 Reading: Chap. 6 (Balance of Payments)

________________________________________________________________________

3 Sept. 14 Reading: Chap. 2 (Cultural Environment of IB)

16 Reading: Chap. 2 (Cultural Environment of IB)

________________________________________________________________________

  1. Sept. 21 Reading: Chap. 3 (National Trade & Investment Policies)

    2.  

    23 Reading: Chap. 3 (National Trade & Investment Policies)

    Case: Harley Davidson (Page: 148)

    ________________________________________________________________________

  2. Sept. 28 Reading: Chap. 4 (Politics and Laws)

Case: Mad Cow Disease (Page: 309)

30 Reading: Chap. 4: (Politics and Laws)

(Test # 1: Chaps. 6,2,3, Cases, Handouts)

________________________________________________________________________

6 Oct. 5 Reading: Chap. 7: (International Financial Markets)

 

7 Reading: Chap. 7: (International Financial Markets)

Case: One Afternoon at the U.S. ITC (Page: 210)

________________________________________________________________________

7 Oct. 12 No class (Mid-semester Break)

 

14 Reading: Chap. 7: (International Financial Markets)

________________________________________________________________________

8 Oct. 19 Reading: Chap. 7: (International Financial Markets)

 

    1. Reading: Chap. 8: (Economic Integration)

________________________________________________________________________

  1. Oct. 26 Reading: Chap. 8: (Economic Integration)

Case: Banana Wars (Page: 323)

28 Test #2: Chaps. 4,7, 8, Cases, Handouts

________________________________________________________________________

 

________________________________________________________________________

10 Nov. 2 Reading: Chap. 5 (Intl. Trade & Investment Theories)

 

4 Reading: Chap. 5 (Intl. Trade & Investment Theories)

Case: Lakewood Forest Products (Page: 429)

________________________________________________________________________

11 Nov. 9 Reading: Chap. 5 (Int. Trade & Investment Theories)

 

11 Reading: Chap. 11 (International Business Entry)

Case: Establishing an Overseas Law Office (Page: 757)

________________________________________________________________________

12 Nov. 16 Reading: Chap. 11 (International Business Entry)

 

    1. Reading: Chap. 12 (Multinational Corporation)

Case: Attracting FDIs: German Luxury Cars (Page: 145)

________________________________________________________________________

  1. Nov. 23 Test #3: Chaps. 1, 5, 11, Cases, Handouts

 

Nov. 25 No Class (Thanksgiving Holiday)

________________________________________________________________________

14 Nov. 30 Reading: Chap. 12 (Multinational Corporation)

 

Dec. 2 Reading: Chap. 18 (Countertrade)

Case: Martin Guides, Inc. (Page: 781)

________________________________________________________________________

15 Dec. 7 Reading: Chap. 18 (Countertrade)

Case: The F-18 Hornet Offset (Page: 775)

 

9 Reading: Chap. 18 (Countertrade)

Case: An Expatriate Tour in El Salvador (Page:812)

________________________________________________________________________

16 Dec. 14-18 Final Exam. Week Test #4 (Date: TBA)

Chaps: 12, 18, Cases, Handouts

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1. Term Project: Individual or Pair Project

2. Organization of the Paper:

-Cover page

-Table of contents

-Body of the paper (12 double-spaced word-processed)

-Bibliography/References

-Appendices

 

3. Deadlines: Bibliography Due: October 28, 1998

Portfolio Due: November 11-13, 1998

Paper Due: December 7, 1998