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BA 447-1  Topics in International Business

           

 

Instructor: Marvin Loper, Ph.D.

Office: Bexell 312

e-mail: LoperM@bus.oregonstate.edu

            MarvinLoper@msn.com

737-6048

Office Hours:  TTh 1000-1100 and by appointment. 

 

 

Course Description

·        This course emphasizes successful, effective business plan execution in the international business arena.  Managing, leading, and working successfully and effectively in an international business environment present special challenges beyond parallel activities in domestic businesses.  Effective international management and leadership reflect a person’s cultural knowledge, sensitivity and unique behavioral skills.

·        Course activities draw on students’ knowledge gained in BA 347, BA 352, and maturity associated with senior standing.  Without these prerequisites, students may find themselves at a disadvantage in the course.

·        Learning outcomes will be addressed through reading the text, written and verbal case analyses, presentations, and class discussion.

 

Learning outcomes:

  1. Incorporate cultural sensitivity in applying traditional US management/leadership concepts, activities, and decisions in international business situations.
  2. Exhibit a degree of responsible humility and recognize the complexity of doing business in non-home countries and cultures.
  3. Demonstrate skill in analysis and formulation of successful strategies to define goals and execute plans in international business situations.

 

Text:  Lane, Henry W., Joseph J. DiStefano, and Martha L Maznevski.  International Management Behavior: Text, Readings and Cases, 4th edition, Blackwell Publishing.

 

Course Grading

Course grade is determined by a point system.  Points can be earned in the following activities:

  • Case Discussion Briefing Sheets  (9 X 5)                         45
  • Three quizzes on reading assignments (7,7,6)                20
  • One team presentation                                                         15
  • One individually written case analyses                                20

 

Total available                                                                             100

 

  • Less points lost due to absences   or low participation   ?? 

 

Letter grade to point conversion

 

A = 90-100

B = 80-83

C = 70-72

D = 60-62

A- = 87-89

B- = 77-79

C- = 67-69

D- = 57-59

B+ = 84-86

C+ = 73-76

D+ = 63-66

F = <57

 

Class Participation

You are strongly encouraged to attend class and participate in class activities and discussions.  Everyone has a contribution to make, and case discussion quality depends on a variety of viewpoints.  If volunteering input is a problem, contact the instructor so that arrangements can be made to make participation as easy as possible. Missing more than 3 classes will result in a grade reduction.  Leaving early or arriving late count as an absence.  Missing 5 or more classes will result in a non-passing grade.

 

Suggestions for class preparation:

  1. Read!  Relevant theoretical materials in the text chapters, assigned text chapters and readings.  These materials will be invaluable in preparing case write ups.
  2. Read! The case.
  3. Case preparation;
    • Read! The case twice; once quickly to frame the situation in your mind, then a second time to identify relevant data.
    • Prepare case material when your personal effectiveness is high. There are day people, morning people, and night people.

 

Some Rules:

  •  Case Discussion Briefing Sheets” must be typed and turned in at the end of class on the day the case is discussed. 
  • Active verbal participation in class discussion is necessary to successfully meet course requirements.  Participation in class will reflect preparation of reading assignments and case analyses when called upon as well as frequent volunteering of ideas and thoughts. 

 

Case Write-Up

  • A complete case write up (more detailed and complete than the Briefing Sheet) for one of the assigned cases is to be submitted during the term.  Any of the cases assigned for class discussion may be used to meet this requirement.  A Briefing Sheet need not be prepared for the case used for a complete write up.  Case write ups must be turned in at the end of class on the day the case is discussed.  Late papers will not be accepted. 
  • See the “Guidelines for Case Analysis” for guidance in preparing written cases.  There are questions in the class schedule for most of the cases that will help guide your analysis and write-up. 
  • The write up will probably be 3-5 pages long, double spaced, with a font size of 12.

Team Project

Three person teams will develop a presentation and lead a discussion with the class.  Some groups will cover issues and information about a non-US country.  Other groups will present material drawn from particular text readings.  Details on these presentations are included in the “Country Presentation” and “Text Reading Presentation” documents.

 

Academic Dishonesty

Students are encouraged to discuss the assignments and share ideas both out of and in class.  Unless specified as a group assignment, students must complete and submit their own written work.  All written work must acknowledge (quotation marks) and cite sources of others’ work.  Across campuses, there is increasing use of the web to source papers and assignments for classes without including academically responsible citations and references.  Do not do this for this class. 

 

Submission of work to be graded which is not your own will be considered a violation of academic honesty rules of the University.  Attendant regulations and sanctions will apply.