MGT 179 SF1

International Business and Strategy

[Spring Trimester 2020]

Course: MGT 179
Course Title: Introduction to Int’l Business

Reem Gohar, MSEE, MBA, DBA Student

Adjunct Instructor
Ageno School of Business
GOLDEN GATE UNIVERSITY

Contact Information
Email: reem_gohar@hotmail.com
Home: 408-564-4778 (H)
Mailing Address: 2133 Dianne Dr.
Santa Clara, CA 95050

Important Dates:
First Day of Class: March 5, 2020
Last Day of Class: April 23, 2020

Instructor Bio

Reem Gohar is a PMP certified and results-driven professional with 21 years of

experience at San Mateo County, eBay, Walmart.com, IBM, Agilent Technologies and the US
Government. She has worked for the US Government and has also worked in the private sector.
She has worked in a broad range of industries (software development, e-commerce, IT,
Education, Wireless and Telecommunications), and has expertise that includes people
management, business development, data analysis, strategic planning, cross-functional
leadership, partnership development, project management, program management,
mentorship and education.

Reem has two Master’s degrees, one in Electrical engineering and an MBA and that
made her bridge the gap between the technical and the business worlds.

Reem has been teaching at Golden Gate University since January 2008.

On a personal note, Reem is a well diverse person who got exposed to more than one
culture and that made her more accepting of differences. She believes that diversity is
synergy and she respects and understands other opinions even if they are different from
hers.
Course Etiquette

The use of cell phones, laptops and side talks are not allowed in the class. Students are asked not
to eat nor smoke in the classrooms. Students should refrain from talking/reading or doing other
things unrelated to class during class sessions. Students should refrain from looking into their
neighbor’s papers during the final exam; otherwise the student will be asked to leave the class and
will take zero in the exam.

Course Description
Examines environmental, economic, political and social constraints on doing business
abroad; effects of overseas business investments on domestic and foreign economies;
foreign market analysis and operational strategy of a firm; management problems and
development potential of international operations.

This course has been designed to simulate the decision-making environment in a

business. As in a business, you will work both individually and in small groups. My role
will be as a coach rather than a lecturer.

Credit: 3 Units

Course Objectives

To introduce the concepts of international business and discuss the challenges and
dilemmas facing companies in today’s increasingly competitive global environment.
Once understanding the issues of business management applicable to multinational
corporations (MNCs), the class will focus on business opportunities in India, China, the
European Union (EU), Japan, Russia, as well as free trade groups including the North
American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and the Association of South East Asian
Nations (ASEAN). The class will engage in ongoing discussions on the Middle East and
talk about the repercussions of recent events on international business. The goal of this
course is to help students think globally and improve their real world decision-making
capabilities.

The methodology used in this course:

1) In-class discussion and sharing of experiences.
2) Case Studies and facilitative peer interactions.
3) Traditional lecture and presentation of new concepts and material.
4) Experiential learning and actively practicing new skills.
5) Knowledge gaining through research and presentations.

This is intended to be a first course in international business. In the next 8 weeks we will
examine environmental, economic, political and social constraints on doing business
abroad. We will examine how foreign investments can affect both domestic and foreign
economies. We will look at how a business can collect information about foreign markets
and how they may design their strategies and develop their international operations.

This course is going to meet for a regular in-person class every Monday from 6:50 PM to
9:30 PM. We will spend that time covering topics that experience has shown to be
particularly tricky. The first fifteen minutes of class will be for student presentations of
articles on relevant topics. This will lead to an interactive lecture. After the break we
will break into groups to discuss the assigned case studies.

Course Requirements:

1) Your open mind and commitment to self-reflection, learning, and personal development.
2) Your active participation in class discussions, presentations, and experiential learning.
3) Your commitment to maintaining confidence where appropriate and helping other
participants with the development process.
4) That you attend class weekly.
5) That you keep up with the reading and other in & out-of-class activities.

Students are expected to be able to discuss all assigned cases. Cases do not need to be
written out unless indicated in the syllabus. Students are responsible for bringing an
article to each class on a topical issue and present its findings to the classmates during the
first 15 minutes of class. Class participation is an important part of the overall grade for
the course. Supplemental articles and class updates may also be sent by email, so an
active email address is important for communication with the instructor outside of class.
This is a very intensive course so do not get behind in the reading.

Student Responsibilities

Attendance and Participation: Students are expected to attend every class. If you know
you will miss a class, let me know ahead of time. Late work or missed assignments will
not receive full credit. Expect to have best possible grade reduced by 1 point for each
day or part thereof, starting with the end of the class in which the assignment was due.

Submitting Assignments: All written assignments should be submitted as a hard copy in

class.

Evaluations: You will receive an opportunity to evaluate the course and instructor at least
once this term.

Student Assessment Criteria

Activity Weight
Homework 20%
Participation 15%
Midterm Exam 30%
Final Exam 35%
TOTAL 100%

Academic Integrity Policy

GGU's Policy on Student Academic Integrity is in effect at all GGU teaching locations,
including regional classroom sites, corporate sites, and distance courses delivered in any
medium. This policy applies to all business, taxation, and technology students at Golden
Gate University.

Academic integrity means doing academic work in a manner that strives to achieve the
learning objectives your courses have set out for you. It means that you follow the rules
and procedures prescribed by your instructors so that you acquire the skills and
knowledge your courses are designed to give you. It means that you engage in ethical
practices in taking tests and doing assignments and that you respect intellectual property
rights by fully disclosing sources of information that appear in your papers and
presentations.

Grades will be assigned based on the following final point totals:

A+ 97.5 - 100

A 92.5 – 97.4

A- 89.5 – 92.4

B+ 87.5 – 89.4

B 82.5 – 87.4

B- 79.5 – 82.4

C+ 77.5 – 79.4

C 72.5 – 77.4

C- 69.5 – 72.4

Required Readings:

Global Business Today, Charles W. Hill. Seventh edition. ISBN 978-0-07-813721-1

Required Computer Applications:

Microsoft Powerpoint and Word

Internet access for web pages and email

USEFUL (but NOT required) SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS:

The Economist. Important reading for anyone in international business, this weekly
 magazine is one of the best English language news sources in the world. You
may subscribe to either the hard copy version or use their online magazine
(which runs a little later than the print copy). Student academic subscriptions can
be made at http://www.economistacademic.com/ .

The Wall Street Journal, for applying current events to key course concepts.

The Cultural Dimension of International Business, Gary P. Ferraro. Prentice Hall. This is
so popular as a classroom supplement that you may not be able to find a copy.

The Far East Economic Review (FEER). Just as the Economist is essential reading for
international managers, FEER is essential for those doing business in Asia. Use
their web site both for general information and for subscription information.

The University Library: There are several databases available through the Golden Gate
University Library for students to conduct research on various topics. Please visit the library.

Book Store:

To purchase course books and materials from eFollet, GGU's official online bookstore, go to
http://shop.efollett.com/htmlroot/storehome/goldengateuniversity690.html

University Library
Find the library home page at http://www.ggu.edu/university_library/

If you have problems obtaining articles, contact: 415-442-7244

Class Schedule:

* This schedule is subject to change. If the changes are necessary,

students will be informed by e-mail.

Week Topic Assignment

March 5, 2020 Globalization Chapter 1
WRITE OUT The Globalization
of Healthcare case p. 40
(summarize the case using your
own words then answer the
questions after the case)

National Differences in Chapter 2

Political Economy
WRITE OUT Egypt, the
Troubled Giant case p. 87
(summarize the case using your
own words then answer the
questions after the case)

March 12, 2020 Differences in Culture Chapter 3


Ethics in International
Business
March 19, 2020 International Trade Theory
The Political Economy of
International Trade
March 26, 2020 Global Money System
TAKE HOME MIDTERM
(due April 2: please e-mail
and bring a hard copy to
class)
April 2, 2020 Foreign Direct Investment
Regional Economic
Integration
April 9, 2020 Entering Foreign Markets
Exporting, Importing,
Countertrade
Global Production,
Outsourcing, and Logistics
April 16, 2020 Global Marketing and
WRITE OUT Panasonic and
Japan’s Changing Culture case
p. 125 (summarize the case using
your own words then answer the
questions after the case)
Please bring in 1 article on the
effect of culture on business.
Chapter 4
Hand in Siemens Bribery
Scandal case questions 1, 3, 6
p. 159.
Be prepared to discuss a recent
ethical dilemma at work.
Chapter 5
Hand in Question 7 on page
196.
Chapter 6
Discuss in class: why did Global
Food Prices Rise case p. 238
Please bring in 1 article on a
recent trade dispute.
Chapter 9, 10, 11
Hand in MIDTERM
Chapter 7
Bring in 1 article on NAFTA.
Chapter 8
Discuss in class Cases p. 272
and 308
Chapters 12 and 13
Discuss in class General Electric
Joint Ventures case p. 440
Please bring in one article on
exporting or countertrade.
Chapter 14
Hand in Boeing case questions
p. 490.
Chapter 15
Discuss in class Microsoft in
 R&D India case p. 524
Please bring in examples of
“good” and “bad” ads and
turn in one paragraph each
explanation.
Global Human Resources Chapter 16
Management

April 23, 2020 FINAL EXAM Multiple choice and Essay

questions format based on
topics discussed in class. Closed
book, no notes.