Tasmanian School of Business and Economics
BMA534
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
Semester 2, 2018
Unit Outline
Dr Fan Liang
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B
CONTACT DETAILS
Unit coordinator
Unit coordinator: Dr Fan Liang
Campus: Hobart
Email: Fan.Liang@utas.edu.au
Phone: +61 (3) 6226 1710
Room location: R0om 150, Mathematics Building, Sandy Bay
Consultation: Tuesdays 3:00-4:00pm; other times by appointment
© The University of Tasmania 2018
CONTENTS
WHAT IS THE UNIT ABOUT? 2
UNIT DESCRIPTION 2
INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES 2
ALTERATIONS TO THE UNIT AS A RESULT OF STUDENT FEEDBACK 2
PRIOR KNOWLEDGE &/OR SKILLS 2
HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED? 3
ASSESSMENT SCHEDULE 3
ASSESSMENT DETAILS 3
WHAT LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE? 6
RESOURCES 6
ACTIVITIES 7
UNIT SCHEDULE 8
ACCREDITATION 9
AACSB ACCREDITATION 9
NOTICE
This Unit Outline refers to the Unit Outline Essential Information resource which includes information, policies and requirements relevant to this unit. You must read the Essential Information resource as it is considered part of this Unit Outline.
WHAT IS THE UNIT ABOUT?
Unit description
International business refers to a wide range of business activities undertaken across national borders. It has been growing dramatically over the past several decades and drawing the attention of business practioners, government officials and academics. Although international business has many similarities with domestic business, there are important differences. At the international level, the globalisation of the world economy and differences between countries present both opportunities and challenges to international business. Managers of international businesses need to take into account the globalised business environment and its broad implications when making strategic decisions and managing ongoing operations.
The aim of this unit is to help you gain knowledge and skills in the three generic themes of international business: environmental context for international business, international business strategies, and operational management of international busienss.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On completion of this unit, you will be able to:
1. Acquire advanced conceptual knowledge of the international business environment, international business strategies, and international management; 2. Critially apply your knowledge to resolve issues in international business;
3. Resolve practical issues in a professional way.
Alterations to the unit as a result of student feedback
The dates for the assessment tasks, lectures and tutorials are re-aligned to avoid confusion.
The submission of discussion notes is included in the assessment for tutorial discussion.
Prior knowledge &/or skills
You are required to have introductory knowledge in management and economics but no particular units are specified as pre-requisites.
HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED?
Assessment schedule
Assessment Task
Date due Percent weighting Links to
Intended
Learning
Outcomes
Assessment Task 1: Online Test 8:15 am Monday, Weeks 2-13 20% 1
Assessment Task 2:
Tutorial Discussion Discussion notes submission: 8:15 am Monday Weeks 2-13;
Participation in discussion: In tutorials for Hobart students or by 11:00 pm Sunday for distance students Weeks 2-13. 30% 1, 2 & 3
Assessment Task 3:
Peer Review Report The first version of the group report: 5:30 pm 27 August
The peer review report: 2:00 pm Monday, 17 September 20% 3
Assessment Task 4: Group Report 5:30 pm Monday, 1 October 30% 2 & 3
Assessment details
Assessment task 1 – Online test
Task description Students are required to complete 12 weekly online tests in Weeks 2-13. Each test comprises ten multiple-choice and/or true-or-false questions, which are related to the lecture and tutorial of the same week. Each test is worth 20 marks and the final results are the average marks of all the 12 tests.
Criterion Measures Intended Learning Outcome:
Criterion Comprehension of concepts, knowledge, principles, and theories in environment for international business, international
business strategies, and international management 1
Task length 10 minutes for each test
Due by date 8:15 am on Monday of the lecture week in Weeks 2-13
Assessment task 2 – Tutorial discussion
Task description Students are required to submit weekly discussion notes through MyLO to address the tutorial questions, as well as participate in the weekly tutorial discussion either in class for Hobart students or through MyLO for Distance students. Both the discussion note submission and class/online discussion are required concurrently in the same week in Weeks 2-13. The marking is based on one of the discussion note submissions and one of the class/online discussion participations, which will be selected randomly over the semester. The marks available for each marking are 30 and the final marks are the average marks of the two markings.
There are no particular requirements for the format of the discussion notes and discussion participation. However, references for the discussion notes are required and Harvard citation style must be followed if other materials are used.
Criterion Measures Intended Learning Outcome:
Criterion 1 Engagement in and contribution to the discussion. 3
Criterion 2 Understanding of materials. 1
Criterion 3 Critical application of conceptual knowledge. 2
Task length About 2-3 pages for each discussion note submission. The discussion is held in class for Hobart students or through MyLO for distance students.
Due by date Discussion notes: 8:15 am on Monday in Weeks 2-13; Participation in discussion: In tutorials for Hobart students or by 11:00 on Sunday in Weeks 2-13.
Assessment task 3 – Peer review report
Task description Students are required to complete a group report with two or three members in a group, which must be formed in the first week of the semester. The topics of the group report are related to a business issue in the cross-cultural context, of which more details will be provided in due course. The group report aims to develop your skills in cooperation and collaboration in group work. While cooperation will be assessed based mainly on the final version of the group report, collaboration will be assessed through the peer review report that is based on the first version of the group report.
You must complete and submit the first version of the group report by 5:30 pm Monday, 27 August. The first version must be
in a complete form of 4,000 – 5,000 words in length. Please refer to the assessment criteria and rubrics for the expectation. The quality of the first version will not be assessed. However, no marks will be given to the peer review report and the final group report if the first version is not submitted by the due date.
Each member of your group is required to carefully review the first-version report of your group and individually complete a peer review report. The peer review report must be well organised and cover four major components: contribution of each group member, identification of major problems in the first version of the group report, critical analyses of these problems, and construcitve suggestions for further improvement. Each peer review report needs to be sent to the group representative, who will combine the first version of the group report together with each peer review report into one Word file for submission.
Criterion Measures Intended Learning Outcome:
Criterion 1 Your own contribution to the group work (20%). 3
Criterion 2 Identification of at least five major problems, in the order from the most to the least important issue (20%). 3
Criterion 3 Critical analyses on the identified problems (20%). 3
Criterion 4 Feasible and implementable suggestions for further improvement (20%). 3
Criterion 5 Logical, cohesive and formatted writing and acknowledgement of sources if applicable (20%). 3
Task length 4,000 – 5,000 words for the group report
1,000 - 1,500 words for the peer review report
Due by date First version of the group report: 2:00 pm Monday, 27 August
Peer review report: 2:00 pm Monday, 17 September
Assessment task 4 – Group report
Task description You are required to draw insights from the peer reviews to further refine the group report. The assessment of the group report will be based on the final version of the report.
The same group representative is to submit the final version of the group report via MyLO.
Criterion Measures Intended Learning Outcome:
Criterion 1 Ability to write in a professional context; present information in an appropriate way (20%) 3
Criterion 2 Ability to identify, analyse and evaluate information to make arguments (20%) 2
Criterion 3 Ability to relate conceptual knowledge to the issues (20%) 2
Criterion 4 Ability to draw conclusions and make recommendations based on research (20%) 3
Criterion 5 Ability to acknowledge sources and comply with Harvard citation style (20%) 3
Task length 4,500 words
Due by date 5:30 pm on Monday, 1 October
WHAT LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE?
Resources
Required readings
You will need the following text:
Daniels, J, Radebaugh, L & D Sullivan, 2019, International business: Environment and Operations, 16th edn (global edn), Pearson Education Australia, England.
Recommended readings
Browaeys, M-J & Price, R 2015, Understanding cross-cultural management, 3rd edn, Prentice Hall-Financial Times, Harlow, England.
Cavusgil, ST, Knight, G, Riesenberger, JR, Rammal, HG & Rose, EL, 2014, International business: the new reality, 2nd edn, Pearson, Australia.
Hill, CWL, 2015, International business: Competing in the global marketplace, 10th edn, McGraw-Hill, New York.
Hill, CWL, Wee, C-H & Udayasankar, K, 2016, Intenrational Business: Asian Global Edition, 2nd edn, McGraw-Hill, Singapore.
Peng, M, 2017, Global strategy, 4th edn. Cengage, USA.
Steers, RM, et al., 2017, Management Across Culture: Australiasian edition, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Wild, JJ & Wild, KL 2014, International business: The challenges of globalisation, Pearson, Boston.
Reading Lists
Reading Lists provide direct access to all material on unit reading lists in one place. This includes eReadings and items in Reserve. You can access the Reading List for this unit from the link in MyLO, or by going to the Reading Lists page on the University Library website.
Activities
Details of teaching arrangements
A weekly two-hour lecture is scheduled over the course of thirteen weeks. The lecture will be a combination of short lectures, case studies, class discussion, and interactive activities. In addition to the lectures, a one-hour tutorial will take place each week following the lecture. The tutorials will work on topics to help you further enhance your learning. Tutorials will commence in Week 2. Distance students are not required to attend classes but need to access the recorded class presentation and participate in the tutorial discussion through MyLO.
Specific attendance/performance requirements
Hobart students are required to attend both the lectures and tutorials in class. Distance students are required to get access to the lecture recordings and participate in the tutorial discussion through MyLO.
In this unit, your active engagement will be monitored in the following way:
1. Complete the weekly online test;
2. Contribute to the weekly tutorial discussion through both the discussion note submission and engagement in the discussion.
If you do not demonstrate evidence of having engaged actively with this unit by completing these two activities by Week 4 of semester, your enrolment may be cancelled or you may be withdrawn from the unit.
Unit schedule
WEEK DATE TOPIC/ MODULE/ FOCUS AREA ACTIVITIES RESOURCES/
BEGINNING READINGS/
FURTHER
INFORMATION
1 16 July Overview of IB & Globalisation Lecture Ch. 1
2 23 July The Cultural Environments Lecture + tutorial Ch. 2
3 30 July The Government, Legal & Eco Environments Lecture + tutorial Chs. 3 & 4
4 6 August International Trade Theories Lecture + tutorial Ch. 5
5 13 August Government Trade Policies Lecture + tutorial Chs. 6 & 7
6 20 August The Global Monetary Environment Lecture + tutorial Chs. 8 & 9
7 27 August The Strategy and Organisation of IB Lecture + tutorial Chs. 12 & 16
Mid-semester break: Monday 3 to Friday 7 September
8 10 Sept Evaluation of Countries for Operations Lecture + tutorial Ch. 13
9 17 Sept Modes of Trading Internationally Lecture + tutorial Ch. 14
10 24 Sept Forms & Ownership of Foreign Production Lecture + tutorial Ch. 15
11 1 October Global Marketing Lecture + tutorial Ch. 17
12 8 October Global Production & Supply Chains Lecture + tutorial Ch. 18
13 15 October Global Management of HR;
Overview Lecture + tutorial Ch. 20
Examination Period: Saturday 27 October to Tuesday 13 November (inclusive)
ACCREDITATION
AACSB Accreditation
The Tasmanian School of Business and Economics (TSBE) is currently in the process of applying for business accreditation with the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) – the lead program for accrediting business schools globally. AACSB seeks to connect educators, students, and business to achieve a common goal – to create the next generation of business leaders.
By joining AACSB and going through the accreditation process, TSBE is joining a global alliance committed to improve the quality of business education around the world, and to share the latest innovations in business education. Gaining Business Accreditation with AACSB is a multi-year process involving TSBE demonstrating our performance against the 15 accreditation standards.
Once complete, TSBE will join a select community of accredited business schools, with only 7% of all business schools globally having completed the AACSB process. This will further enhance the reputation of TSBE, and further enhance the global recognition of your qualifications. To find out more about AACSB click here.