University of Economic of Ho Chi Minh city

School of International Business and Marketing

INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

COURSE SYLLABUS

Class unit:  22C1BUS50305102, Tuesday morning, Aug 10 – Oct 4, N2-406, 7.10 AM – 11.30 AM

Contact details: thao.nk@ueh.edu.vn

Instructor: Dr. Nguyen Kim Thao

Office hours: by appointment, communication can be made via email thao.nk@ueh.edu.vn

Class time and room numbers: TBA

Course description: This course focuses on the environmental factors which affect strategy
and practices of international businesses. Key content of the course is centered on
globalization, national differences, practices of international trade, foreign direct investment
and how multinational companies form their global strategy. The application of international
business management concepts and theories through in-class mini-cases, readings, discussion,
and projects develops the student’s analytical skills and understanding of managing
internationalization processes of business organizations.

Course delivery: This course is student-centered and use multiple approach which includes
videos, in-class discussion, and group projects to enhance student learning and application of
key concepts of the course.

Lectures and discussion: 30 hours

Quiz and Group project: 15 hours

Course learning objectives

Upon completion, students are expected to be able to:

1. Understand key factors shaping the international business environment

2. Explain the variation of national differences in terms of political economy and culture
3. Know main trade theories and trade tools commonly affect the international business
environment
4. Get familiar with criteria and measures commonly used to evaluate international
markets
5. Understand fundamental global strategic directions firms can adopt in their
international operations
6. Appreciate the impact of the international business environment on firm businesses
7. Be aware of functional strategies adopted by multinational enterprises

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 8. Be aware of information and information sources necessary to investigate
international markets
9. Develop a habit for updating news in international business
10. Develop and further refine skills related to research, analysis, critical-thinking,
teamwork, writing, and communication

Course materials:

Required readings:

Textbook: Hill (2014). International Business: Competing in the Global Marketplace. 8e.
McGraw-Hill.

Recommended resources:

Fortune list world’s 500 largest corporations. This can be a good resource to start
investigating multinational companies.
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2012/full_list

Students should find these following websites useful for their research project.

- http://www.doingbusiness.org
- http://www.transparency.org/country
- http://globaledge.msu.edu/Reference-Desk
o Research phrases: Country risk and economic research, Market Potential
Index, Intercultural Skills, Business etiquette around the world, Market access
database
- https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook
- http://geert-hofstede.com/l
- http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/statis_e/statis_e.htm
- http://www.trademap.org

Additional useful information includes the World Bank’s Cost of Doing Business and
Logistics Performance Index (LPI), the World Economic Forum’s Enabling Trade Index
(ETI) and the OECD’s Trade Facilitation Indicators (TFIs).

Evaluation

Assignment Type Deadline Weight

#1 Attendance and Participation Individual Each session 10%
#2 5 topic quizzes Individual End of every topic, 3% of 15%
each
#3 Group task Group Session 3 or 5 10%
Country Information and
Assessment
#4 Group presentation Group 15%
#5 Final exam Individual Follow university schedule 50%

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 1. Attendance and in-class discussion: This is a discussion-based course, and your
participation is essential to the learning experience. Much of the learning in this
course will come from the chance to express your ideas and exchange them with your
peers. You are required to prepare all the assigned materials and participate in the
discussion. Students must attend at least 80% of class time. Absence for more than
two classes results in eliminating all participation points earned.
2. Chapter quizzes: 5 topic quizzes account for 15% of your grades. These quizzes will
be available in LMS within three days after each topic. You can have two attempts for
each quiz, and the highest quality will be taken to calculate your marks.
3. Group task: groups need to find information on several international markets
4. Group presentation: please read the assignment instructions

Note: group diversity is necessary. We need to balance groups in terms of gender and
culture. When presenting, every member needs to speak up.

Class schedule

Dates Topic Objective

Session1 Welcome
9 Aug Course introduction
Group formation
Topic 1: Globalization
Read chapter 1 1, 6, 9, 10
- Concepts of globalization
- Drivers of globalization
- Key changes in the global economy
- Impact of globalization on business

Session2 Topic 1: Globalization (cont’d)

16 Aug Topic 2: national differences in political economy
Read chapter 2 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 9
- National differences in a political, economic, and legal
environment
- Why is understanding national differences vital to
international business?
Quiz 1: Topic 1 – Globalization –

Session3 Topic 3: Economic development and political economy 1, 2, 7, 8, 9

23 Aug Read chapter 3
- Determinants of economic development
- How the political economy can affect economic
development
- Key information in understanding the business
environment of an international market.
Quiz 2: Topic 2 & 3 - Differences in political economy

Session4 Topic 4: National Differences in culture 1, 3, 9, 10

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30 Aug Read chapter 4
- Key concepts of culture
- Determinants of Culture
- Impact of Culture on business
Discussion:
1. Outline why a country’s culture might influence the
costs of doing business in that country. Illustrate your
answer with examples.
2. Why do you think cultural intelligence is essential
(irrelevant) in international business?

Quiz 3: Topic 4- Differences in culture

Session 5 Topic 5: Trade theories

6 Sep Read chapter 6
- Mercantilism
- Theory of Absolute Advantage
- Theory of Comparative Advantage
- The New Trade Theory
- The National Competitive Advantage (Porter’s
Diamond)

Session 6 Topic 6: The political economy of trade and FDI 1, 2, 6, 7

13 Sep Read chapters 7 and 8
- Trade tools
- Impact on trade tools
- Key concepts of FDI
- FDI policies
Discussion
- What are trade barriers? Why do they exist?
- What impacts do trade barriers have on international
business?

Quiz 4: Chapter 6-7-8 Trade theories and trade tools

available (8.30pm)
Session 7 Topic 7: Global strategy 1, 2, 6, 7
20 Sep Read: Chapter 12
- Factors influencing the pressures of cost reduction and
local responsiveness
- Four main global strategies
Discussion:
- In what kind of industries does a localization strategy
make sense?
- When does a global standardization strategy make the
most sense?
- What were strategies adopted by the multinationals as
described in the mini cases?

Quiz 5: Global strategy

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 Topic 8: Entry mode
Read: Chapter 13
- Three critical decisions in internationalization
- Entry modes and their pros and cons

Group consultation for presentation on Global strategy

Quiz 6: entry modes

Both quizzes are available from ------- (8.30 pm)

Session 8 Group presentation 1, 5, 6, 7
27 Sep

Session 9 Group presentation 1, 5, 6, 7

4 Oct

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Group balance: