Students

BUS 201 – Introduction to Global Business

2015 – MQC3 Evening

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Douglas Howe
Murray Taylor
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
BBA102 or admission to BeBus
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
International business includes all business activities that involve business organisations from two or more countries. Although international business has many similarities with domestic business, there are significant differences which this unit examines. At an international level, managers must accommodate a highly complex environment. Key variables in this environment include: different currencies; different government policies concerning trade; subsidies and controls on foreign investment; as well as the variables that exist in any domestic environment such as competition, costs and customer characteristics. Topics examined in the unit include: forms of international business; the political and cultural context of international business; theories of international trade and investment; regional economic integration; and an introduction to multilateral institutions such as the IMF, the World Bank group and the World Trade Organisation.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Analyse the complexity of the international business environment by understanding international business trends along with the changes and contrasts between foreign markets through the differences in their legal, cultural, economic, and political systems.
  • Critically evaluate and reflect upon international business decisions, systems and policies through the use of applied questions and case study analysis.
  • Identify the core principles of contemporary IB theory to international business development and practice through the study of international trade and investment, FDI, regional economic integration and international monetary systems.
  • Analyse and integrate literature on international business to create a coherent, practical,rigorous argument.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI assisted?
Presentation 10% Weeks 5 & 6 No
Assessed Coursework 30% Each week No
Group Report 20% Week 11 No
Final Examination 40% Examination Period No

Presentation

Due: Weeks 5 & 6
Weighting: 10%
Groupwork/Individual:
Short extension 3: No
AI assisted?:

Submission: This must be submitted in Week 5&6 to your tutor in your regular tutorial class.

Extension: No extensions will be granted. Students who have not presented the task prior to the deadline will be awarded a mark of 0 for the task, except for cases in which an application for Disruption to Studies is made and approved.

Penalties: See above

What is required to complete the assessment satisfactorily: The Presentation is worth 10% of your final grade. It is due in weeks 5 and 6 in tutorials. It is marked individually. You will be required to join a group (of no more than four students). In your group you will give a presentation that will not exceed 10 minutes (as a group) with each student talking for no longer than 2.5 minutes.

Presentations will start in Week Five in tutorials and it is expected that you will provide a printed copy of the slides to the tutor along with the presentation. Although your presentation will be presented as a group you will be individually assessed based on the marking criteria attached to the assessment guide. There will be an emphasis on your presentation style and delivery as well as content. It is expected that every group member participates equally.

Please see the Assessment Guide for more information regarding this assignment

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse the complexity of the international business environment by understanding international business trends along with the changes and contrasts between foreign markets through the differences in their legal, cultural, economic, and political systems.
  • Critically evaluate and reflect upon international business decisions, systems and policies through the use of applied questions and case study analysis.
  • Analyse and integrate literature on international business to create a coherent, practical,rigorous argument.

Assessed Coursework

Due: Each week
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual:
Short extension 3: No
AI assisted?:

In Tutorials

Submission: A hard copy must be submitted to your tutor in class at the time of your tutorial for each week of assessment.

Extension: No extensions will be granted for any specific week of assessed coursework (worth 10% each). Students who have not presented the task prior to the deadline will be awarded a mark of 0 for the task, except for cases in which an application for Disruption to Studies is made and approved.

Penalties: See above

What is required to complete the assessment satisfactorily: The assessed coursework is made up of four weeks of tutorial work of which the best three weeks is assessed (each worth 10%). The three components total 30% of your final grade.

Each student will be expected to submit coursework throughout the unit.

The format for the assessment will be a combination of short answer and essays. However, the specific format will differ from week to week.

Over the semester, 4 random weeks of coursework will be collected, of which the students best 3 weeks will be assessed i.e. 3 out of the 4 collected weeks will be assessed.

Each of the three assessed weeks will account for 10% of your total grade, totalling 30% overall. Students should be aware that some coursework details will be made available during lectures in the prior week.

It is expected that each student is prepared for and attends the tutorial. The four selected weeks of assessment (of which the best three will be selected) will be chosen at random. In the case of a student missing a tutorial they may apply for disruption to studies.

Please see the Assessment Guide for more information regarding this assignment

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse the complexity of the international business environment by understanding international business trends along with the changes and contrasts between foreign markets through the differences in their legal, cultural, economic, and political systems.
  • Critically evaluate and reflect upon international business decisions, systems and policies through the use of applied questions and case study analysis.
  • Analyse and integrate literature on international business to create a coherent, practical,rigorous argument.

Group Report

Due: Week 11
Weighting: 20%
Groupwork/Individual:
Short extension 3: No
AI assisted?:

Submission: A hard copy must be submitted to your tutor by Week 11 - 6pm Wednesday 27th January 2016.. Submission on an earlier date to your tutor is acceptable. You will need to submit a soft copy to Turnitin on iLearn for plagiarism checking (NOTE: electronic submission is NOT a substitute for the hard copy, if we do not receive a hard copy from you by the due date, you will be penalised as per the guidelines below).

Extension: No extensions for this assessment task will be granted except for cases in which an application for Disruption to Studies is made and approved Penalties: 10% for each day that it is late up to 72 hours after the due date.

What is required to complete the assessment satisfactorily: The Group Report is worth 20% of the final grade. It is due in Week 11 6pm Wednesday 27th January 2016 to your tutor and via Turnitin.

In the same group as the group presentation you will develop a 4000 word written REPORT. As this is a group exercise all members of the group are expected to contribute actively and substantially.

While it is understood that some members of the group may provide more input in the research, whereas others may do more of the actual written work, the group will be required to acknowledge that all group members have given quality time to the project.

Late tasks will be accepted up to 72 hours after the submission deadline. There will be a deduction of 10% of the total available marks made from the total awarded mark for each 24 hour period or part thereof that the submission is late (for example, 25 hours late in submission – 20% penalty). This penalty does not apply for cases in which an application for disruption to studies is made and approved.

All group work is peer moderated.  Please see the Assessment Guide for more information regarding this assignment

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Critically evaluate and reflect upon international business decisions, systems and policies through the use of applied questions and case study analysis.
  • Identify the core principles of contemporary IB theory to international business development and practice through the study of international trade and investment, FDI, regional economic integration and international monetary systems.
  • Analyse and integrate literature on international business to create a coherent, practical,rigorous argument.

Final Examination

Due: Examination Period
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual:
Short extension 3: No
AI assisted?:

Examination conditions:

A compulsory two hour final exam will be set during the exam period. The examination will be ‘closed book’.

The format of the final exam will be long essay questions.

You are expected to present yourself for examination at the time and place designated in the University Examination Timetable. The timetable will be available in Draft form approximately eight weeks before the commencement of the examinations and in Final form approximately four weeks before the commencement of the examinations. http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au/exam

The only exception to not sitting an examination at the designated time is because of documented illness or unavoidable disruption. In these circumstances you may wish to consider applying for Disruption to Studies. The University’s policy on the Disruption to Studies process is available at http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/procedure.html.

If a Supplementary Examination is granted as a result of the Disruption to Studies process the examination will be scheduled after the conclusion of the official examination period. (Individual Faculties may wish to signal when the Faculties’ Supplementary Exams are normally scheduled.)

The Macquarie university examination policy details the principles and conduct of examinations at the University. The policy is available at: http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/examination/policy.htm

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse the complexity of the international business environment by understanding international business trends along with the changes and contrasts between foreign markets through the differences in their legal, cultural, economic, and political systems.
  • Critically evaluate and reflect upon international business decisions, systems and policies through the use of applied questions and case study analysis.
  • Identify the core principles of contemporary IB theory to international business development and practice through the study of international trade and investment, FDI, regional economic integration and international monetary systems.
  • Analyse and integrate literature on international business to create a coherent, practical,rigorous argument.

Delivery and Resources

Classes: This unit is taught using lectures and applications lectures (whole-of-class tutorials). The course consists of 36 hours of instruction. The timetable for classes can be found on the University web site at http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au/

Required Texts and/or Materials BUS201 Global Business 4e Compiled by Murray Taylor for Macquarie University, McGraw-Hill Australia and is available for purchase at the University Bookshop Other required readings will be made available through eReserve and the iLearn web page.

Changes since the units previous offering: 

There are no changes from the previous semester in this unit.

Technology Used and Required: Students need access to a personal computer throughout the semester as much of the submitted work will be typed and students are required to keep a copy of all work, and students will need access to iLearn on a very regular basis as that will be our method of communication and allocation and submission of assessments.

Requirements for satisfactory completion: Students need to achieve a final result of 50% or more to satisfactorily complete the requirements of the unit.

Unit Schedule

Lecture Schedule

Date

Topic

Corresponding textbook chapter

Week 1

09/11

Introduction and Expectations–

Explanation of unit outline & course expectations

The implications of globalisation

Chapter 1

pgs 1-73

Week 2

016/11

International trade and investment theory

The conceptual basis and theoretical benefits of trade and investment

Chapter 2

pgs 73-116

Week 3

23/11

The Political Economy of Trade and

Investment

WTO and trade liberalisation and regulation; regionalism and trading blocs; the rise of bilateralism

Chapter 3

pgs 116-174

Week 4

30/11

Foreign Exchange

The impact of foreign exchange for IB

Chapter 4

pgs 174-202

Week 5

07/12

International Monetary System

The monetary system and capital markets major players, and systems

Chapter 5

pgs 202-230

Week 6

14/12

Foreign Direct Investment

History and structures

Chapter 6

pgs 230-262

Week 7

21/12

Regional Economic Integration

Different economic systems and their implication for international business

Chapter 7

pgs 262-295

Week 8

04/01

Culture and Business

The implications of culture for business

Chapter 8

pgs 295-336

Week 9

11/01

National Differences in Political Economy

Political, legal and transitional variations

Chapter 9

pgs 336-386

Week 10

18/01

Economic Environment and Development

Issues and levels of economic development

Chapter 10

pgs 386-440

Week 11

25/01

Ethics and corporate responsibility

Behaving responsibly around the world

Chapter 11

pgs 440-475

Week 12

01/02

The Rise of Emerging Markets

An examination of emerging markets and their expanding role in global business

No chapter in text – see lecture and iLearn for more details

Week 13

08/02

Course Review

Exam Preparation

N/A

 

Tutorial Schdule

Session

Topic

Assigned Work

Week 1

09/11

Introduction and Expectations–

 

Outline of Assessment Tasks 

Week 2

016/11

Globalisation

Tutorial discussion –The globalisation of markets in our everyday lives.

Read Chapter 1 and readings, answer assigned questions

Form groups

Week 3

23/11

International Trade and

Investment Theory

Bring laptops to tutorials.

Read Chapter 2 and readings, answer assigned questions

Week 4

30/11

Political Economy

Read Chapter 3 and readings, answer assigned questions

Week 5

07/12

Group Presentations

 

Week 6

14/12

Group Presentations

 

Week 7

21/12

Foreign Direct Investment

Read Chapter 6 and readings, answer assigned questions

Week 8

04/01

Regional Economic Integration

Read Chapter 7 and readings, answer assigned questions

Week 9

11/01

Culture and Business

Read Chapter 8 and readings, answer assigned questions

Week 10

18/01

National Differences in Political Economy

Read Chapter 9 and readings, answer assigned questions

Week 11

25/01

Economic Environment and Development

Read Chapter 10 and readings, answer assigned questions

Week 12

01/02

Ethics and Corporate Responsibility

Read Chapter 11 and readings, answer assigned questions

Week 13

08/02

Emerging Markets and Course revision

Read any readings, answer assigned questions

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy  http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html

Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html

Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.

Academic Honesty The nature of scholarly endeavour, dependent as it is on the work of others, binds all members of the University community to abide by the principles of academic honesty. Its fundamental principle is that all staff and students act with integrity in the creation, development, application and use of ideas and information. This means that:

• all academic work claimed as original is the work of the author making the claim

• all academic collaborations are acknowledged

• academic work is not falsified in any way

• when the ideas of others are used, these ideas are acknowledged appropriately. Further information on the academic honesty can be found in the Macquarie University Academic Honesty Policy at http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Grades

Macquarie University uses the following grades in coursework units of study:

• HD - High Distinction

• D - Distinction

• CR - Credit

• P - Pass

• F - Fail

 Grade descriptors and other information concerning grading are contained in the Macquarie University Grading Policy which is available at: http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Grading Appeals and Final Examination Script Viewing

If, at the conclusion of the unit, you have performed below expectations, and are considering lodging an appeal of grade and/or viewing your final exam script please refer to the following website which provides information about these processes and the cut off dates in the first instance. Please read the instructions provided concerning what constitutes a valid grounds for appeal before appealing your grade. http://www.businessandeconomics.mq.edu.au/new_and_current_students/undergraduate_current_students/how_do_i/grade_appeals/

Disruption to Studies Policy

The University is committed to equity and fairness in all aspects of its learning and teaching. In stating this commitment, the University recognises that there may be circumstances where a student is prevented by unavoidable disruption from performing in accordance with their ability. A Disruption to Studies policy exists to support students who experience serious and unavoidable disruption such that they do not reach their usual demonstrated performance level. The policy is available at: http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Analyse the complexity of the international business environment by understanding international business trends along with the changes and contrasts between foreign markets through the differences in their legal, cultural, economic, and political systems.
  • Critically evaluate and reflect upon international business decisions, systems and policies through the use of applied questions and case study analysis.
  • Analyse and integrate literature on international business to create a coherent, practical,rigorous argument.

Assessment tasks

  • Presentation
  • Assessed Coursework
  • Group Report
  • Final Examination

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Analyse the complexity of the international business environment by understanding international business trends along with the changes and contrasts between foreign markets through the differences in their legal, cultural, economic, and political systems.
  • Identify the core principles of contemporary IB theory to international business development and practice through the study of international trade and investment, FDI, regional economic integration and international monetary systems.
  • Analyse and integrate literature on international business to create a coherent, practical,rigorous argument.

Assessment tasks

  • Presentation
  • Assessed Coursework
  • Group Report
  • Final Examination

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Analyse the complexity of the international business environment by understanding international business trends along with the changes and contrasts between foreign markets through the differences in their legal, cultural, economic, and political systems.
  • Critically evaluate and reflect upon international business decisions, systems and policies through the use of applied questions and case study analysis.
  • Identify the core principles of contemporary IB theory to international business development and practice through the study of international trade and investment, FDI, regional economic integration and international monetary systems.
  • Analyse and integrate literature on international business to create a coherent, practical,rigorous argument.

Assessment tasks

  • Presentation
  • Assessed Coursework
  • Group Report
  • Final Examination

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Analyse the complexity of the international business environment by understanding international business trends along with the changes and contrasts between foreign markets through the differences in their legal, cultural, economic, and political systems.
  • Critically evaluate and reflect upon international business decisions, systems and policies through the use of applied questions and case study analysis.
  • Analyse and integrate literature on international business to create a coherent, practical,rigorous argument.

Assessment tasks

  • Assessed Coursework
  • Group Report
  • Final Examination

Research & Practice, Global & Sustainability

BUS 201 is a unit that is focused around the global business environment. This extends to the importance of global contexts. This is a key theme throughout the unit and is prevalent in the units learning outcomes and assessment tasks. The issue of sustainability is also a key element of the unit material. Within the course, we will discuss the importance of sustainability for harmony and wellbeing e.g. human rights, economies and economic wellbeing e.g. trade and development systems, and implementation and governance e.g. participation of stakeholders in decision making.

Research and Practice

TEXTBOOKS

  • Cavusgil, S.T., Knight, G., Riesenberger, J.R., (2012) International Business: The New Realities, Upper saddle River, N.J. : Pearson Prentice Hall, (ON RESERVE)
  • Cavusgil, S.T., Knight, G., Riesenberger, J.R., Rammal, H.G., Freeman, S., (2012) International Business: The New Realities Australasian Edition, Pearson Australia, (ON RESERVE)
  • Czinkota, M.R., Ronkainen, I.A., Moffett, M.H., (2010) International business, 8th ed, Mason, Ohio: Thomson South-Western – (ON RESERVE)
  • Daniels, J.D., Radebaugh, L. H., Sullivan, D.P., (2012) International business: environments and operations, 12th ed, Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall (ON RESERVE)
  • Hill, C.W.L., (2013) International business: competing in the global marketplace, 9th ed, Boston : McGraw-Hill/Irwin (ON RESERVE)
  • Hill, C.W.L., Cronk, T., Wickramasekera, R., (2014) Global Business Today, 3rd ed, North Ryde, Sydney: McGraw-Hill Australia (ON RESERVE)
  • Morrison, J., (2009) International business : challenges in a changing world, New York: Palgrave Macmillan (ON RESERVE)
  • Peng, M., (2013) Global, Mason, Ohio, Southwestern Cengage Learning, (ON RESERVE)
  • Rugman, A., Brewer, T.L., (2001) The Oxford handbook of international business, Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press (ON RESERVE)
  • Sitkin, A., Bowen, N., (2012) International business: challenges and choices, New York, Oxford University Press (ON RESERVE)
  • Wild, J.J., Wild, K. L., Han, J.C.Y., (2013) International business: the challenges of globalisation, 7th ed, Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall: (ON RESERVE)

Academic Journals

There is a range of journals in the fields of international business and management. The titles below are indicative only of such publications. Most are available on the library databases:

• Academy of Management Review

• Asia Pacific Journal of Management

• Cross Cultural Management

• International Business Review

• Journal of Asia Business

• Journal of International Business Studies

• Journal of International Management

• Journal of World Business

• Management International Review

PERIODICALS

There is a range of periodicals in the fields of international business and management. The titles below are indicative only of such publications:

• Business Review Weekly (BRW)

• Business Week (Asian edition)

• Harvard Business Review

• The Wall Street Journal

• The Economist

USEFUL WEBSITES

• Australian Bureau of Statistics: http://www.abs.gov.au/

• Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: http://www.dfat.gov.au/

• World Trade Organisation: http://www.wto.org/

• International Monetary Fund: http://www.imf.org/

• The World Bank: http://www.worldbank.org/

• UNCTAD-United Nationals Conference on Trade and Development: http://www.unctad.org

• International Trade Centre: http://www.intracen.org/

• Australian Financial Review: http://www.afr.com.au  

International business news: 

orthodox views: ▪ The Economist - http://www.economist.com (some parts available only on subscription)

◦ alternative views: ▪ Green Left Weekly -http://www.greenleft.org.au ▪ New Internationalist - http://www.newint.org