University of Economic of Ho Chi Minh city

School of International Business and Marketing

INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

COURSE SYLLABUS

Contact details

Instructor: Do Ngoc Bich

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

Class time and room numbers: TBA

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. Know main trade theories and trade tools commonly affect the international business
environment
3. Realize different entry modes
4. Get familiar with criteria and measures commonly used to evaluate international
markets
5. Understand fundamental international strategic directions firms can adopt in their
international operations
6. Understand the impact of the international business environment on firm businesses
7. Analyze business environments across countries
8. Aware of information and information sources necessary to analyze 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 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,

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and projects develops the student’s analytical skills and understanding of managing
internationalization processes of business organizations.

Course materials:

Required readings:

Textbook: Hill (2014). Global Business Today. 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 Mid-term Individual End of week 4 10%
#3 LMS Group 10%
#4 Group presentation Group Week 9 and 10 20%
#5 Final exam Individual Follow university schedule 50%

1. Attendance and in-class discussion: This is a discussion-based course and your

participation is important 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
discussion. It is required that students attend at least 80% of class time. Absence for
more than three classes results in elimination of all participation points earned.

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 2. Mid-term test: Written test
3. Instructions and Evaluation form for the Group report and presentation (#3 and #4)
can be found on LMS.

Class schedule

Dates Topic Objective

Week Welcome
1 Course introduction
Group formation
Topic: 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

Week Topic 2: National differences in political economy

2 Read chapter 2
- National differences in political, economic, and legal 1, 6, 7, 9, 10
environment
- Why is understanding national differences vital to
international business?
Week Topic 3: Economic development and political economy 1, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10
3 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.
Week Topic: National differences in culture 1, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10
4 Read chapter 4
- Key concepts of culture
- Determinants of Culture
- Impact of Culture on business
Discussion:
1. Outline why the culture of a country might influence the
costs of doing business in that country. Illustrate your
answer with examples.
2. Why do you think cultural intelligence is important
(irrelevant) in international business?
Week Topic: Trade theories 1, 2, 6, 9, 10
5 Read chapter 6
- Mercantilism
- Theory of Absolute Advantage
- Theory of Comparative Advantage
- The New Trade Theory

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 - The National Competitive Advantage (Porter’s
Diamond)

Week Topic: Global strategy 1, 5, 6, 10

6 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 most
sense?
- What were strategies adopted by the multinationals as
described in the minicases?

Week Topic: Entry mode 1, 3, 6, 10

7 - Three key decisions in internationalization
- Entry modes and their pros and cons
W8 LMS
Week Group presentation 1 to 10
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Assignments for LMS

Assume that you are the International Business Development Manager for Prince Coffee, an
aggressive coffee chain in Vietnam looking for market opportunities in CPTPP members.
You report to me, the CEO. In every country in the group, your team has identified at least a
company interested in selling Vietnamese-branded coffee. I want to know what non-cultural
aspects of doing business in the target countries would be the most important for us to
consider.

1. For the purpose of comparing with something familiar, use the provided template to
fill in scores for the country and for Vietnam. For each element a score of 10 indicates
‘lowest risk’ or ‘most favourable’ and a score of 1 means ‘highest risk’ or ‘least
favourable.’ You will hand this in as an attachment to your work.
2. Write a brief analysis (maximum 800 words 1.5-spaced in 12-point Times New
Roman font) summarizing your findings, citing specific evidence about what you
believe to be the four (4) most significant issues for our company as we consider
investing in the country. Tell me how these issues would likely affect us. Do not
include your assessment of Vietnam in your memo.
3. Provide a list of resources used in producing your profile. Follow the APA
referencing style

Links to resources to help you get started are as follows

The World Bank Country Data –
http://www.worldbank.org/data/countrydata/countrydata.html
• The CIA Fact Book – https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-
factbook/index.html (Provides general reference information by country in a quick
and accessible outline)
• Global EDGE – http://globaledge.msu.edu (The global business resource page of the
Michigan State University CIBER with links to a wide variety of international
resources on the Web.)
• 2014 Index of Economic Freedom – http://www.heritage.org/Index/Default.aspx (A
joint project of the Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal)
• Doing Business – http://www.doingbusiness.org (A World Bank site that provides
‘objective measures of business regulations and their enforcement across 183
economies.’)

This assignment is designed to provide practice in presenting information

professionally and responsibly, as well as clearly and concisely. You must express
yourself in your own words. The most successful papers will include current
information, clearly and logically explain your choices, and be highly professional
and well written.

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 Environmental assessment template
Group number:
Members:
1 = Least favourable, 10 = Most favourable
1 = Highest risk, 10 = Lowest risk1
Vietnam Name of the target country
Political Environment
System of government
Stability of government
Level of corruption
Foreign relations
State ownership of companies
Terrorism and public security

Legal/Regulatory environment
Independence of judiciary/due process
Contract enforceability
Tax rates and lows
Property rights protection
Environmental protection
Tariffs
Other trade restrictions
Foreign investment policies

Economic environment
GDP growth projections
GDP per capita
Demographics
Government budgetary policy
Inflation rates
Currency stability
Strength of labour unions

Technological environment
Infrastructure
Telecommunications and internet
Availability of required skills
Intellectual property protection
Technology transfer requirements/barriers
Adherence to international standards

Total scores
.

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Enter scores (1 – 10) in cells below country names

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Rubris

Criteria Fail Pass Credit Distinction High Distinction

<5 5-6.6 6.5-8 8-9 9-10
Describe the issues Very poor Description was at a A satisfactory A detailed and A detailed and very well
and relate it to application of surface level description was supported description supported description was
concepts/theory in relevant IB made of the issue; was made of the issue; made of the issue, Excellent
the course concepts/ theory correct application correct application of application of all relevant IB
of some relevant IB key relevant IB theory.
theory. theory.
Analysis: Discuss Little or no link of the There is some There is good There is strong There is strong evidence of
how the issues evidences to theory evidence of ability to evidence of ability to evidence of ability to ability to link theory to
would affect the link theory for a link theory to link theory to analyse analyse the evidence
firm investment basic analysis of the analyse the evidence. of the evidences
evidence. Uses a wide range of
Uses a range of appropriate theories.
appropriate theories.
Clarity of Meaning unclear and/or Meaning is apparent Language mainly Language is fluent. Professionally worded and
expression grammar and/or although some fluent although Grammar and spelling presented.
spelling, contains poorly structured occasional minor are correct.
frequent errors. sentences and errors.
paragraphs. Some
grammar and/or
spelling errors. 
Referencing Fails to include APA Several errors in Occasional errors in Occasional errors in Complete and correct use of
(APA style) referencing style in-text APA citing and both APA citing either APA citing APA in-text and
citations and/or referencing. and/or referencing. and/or referencing referencing.
reference list correctly
or consistently.
Sources, minimum Does not meet the 4-5 news articles Include more than 5 More than 5 news More than 5 news articles
4 articles from required number of included news articles articles and include 1 peer-reviewed
reliable news sources articles related to industry

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#4. Group presentation:

This assignment relates to all the course Learning Objectives. It is designed to make you
aware of the big wide world around you and its influence on international business at a firm-
level.
You need to focus on a real company, and present on how the company deals with the
dynamic international business environment which affects the company’s success and failure.
The key to the report is that you must identify a case that the focal company has actually
experienced whilst operating in foreign markets. For example, you may focus on Facebook
and then shed light on the company’s success on international market.
Remember though the company/case needs to be well-researched, the assignment is more
than just a reproduction of secondary materials. Rather, your task is (based on the materials)
to identify what the key factors are in the international business environments contributing to
the success and failure of the focal company in the chosen case. You must analyse the
company’s approaches to address the issues arising from the international business
environment, evaluate these approaches and provide your reasoning. Also, importantly, based
on the company/case, you are expected to offer recommendations for other firms in a similar
situation. For example, what other companies should learn from Facebook, Foxconn, and
Nokia cases indicated above? Keep in mind that in your presentation, you need to refer to the
textbook contents and elaborate on the relevant concepts and theories highlighted in course
materials.
The presentation should have 6 sections. The recommended structure of the ppt is as
follows:
Section 1: Title page
- Title
- Student IDs and names
Section 2: Introduction
- State briefly the importance of studying international business environment
and the intended outcome of the presentation
Section 3: Case presentation
- Introduce the focal company and the case for analysis
- Explain why the case is IB-related
Section 4: Case analysis
- Identify the key issues/problems the company faced in the case
- Describe the approaches undertaken by the company to address the
issues/problems
- Evaluate the company’s approaches
- Suggest alternative or better solution (if applicable), and explain why
Section 5: Implications for firms/managers in a similar situation
Section 6: References (APA style)

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 Rubric for presentation
Area PA-NN (0-5) CR (5-7) DI (7--9) HD (9-10)

Describe the Description was at a A satisfactory description A detailed and A detailed and very well
issue and relate it surface level; very poor was made of the issue; supported description supported description was
to the theory application of relevant correct application of was made of the issue; made of the issue,
IB theory. some relevant IB theory. correct application of Excellent application of all
key relevant IB theory. relevant IB theory.
Analysi
s Area PA-NN (0-10) CR (12) DI (14) HD (16-20)

Recommendation Irrelevant Gave appropriate Gave very good Gave excellent

s recommendations. recommendations, which recommendations recommendations which
Unfeasible and mostly were feasible and mostly which were feasible and were original, feasible,
unrealistic. realistic. clear. clear and realistic.

Area PA-NN (0-10) CR (12) DI (14) HD (16-20)

Presen- Delivery Nervous delivery; no Quite confident delivery; Clear presentation, Very clear presentation,
tation teamwork presentation good teamwork confident delivery; very confident delivery;
skills skills. Some of the presentation skills. Some competent answers to excellent teamwork
group members did not group members questions; very good presentation skills, Very
present presented less than teamwork. good distribution of speech
others. time amongst group
good distribution of members.
speech time amongst
group members.

Area PA-NN (0-10) CR (12) DI (14) HD (16-20)

Ability to answer Poor answers to Quite good answers to Competent answers to Very competent answers to
questions questions: unable to questions: able to form questions: able to form questions: able to form
form answers answers which were at answers that are mostly answers that are succinct,

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 times unclear and not succinct, clear and clear and well supported
supported supported

DI
TOTAL/100

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