NOTE: BA 447 is not offered during Summer 2008.
These course materials are for reference purposes only.

BA 447 – Topics in International Business

WINTER 2008

Materials

Professor: Manolete V. Gonzalez, Phd Email: gonzalezm@bus.oregonstate.edu

Office: B 224B

Office hours: T 1:30 – 3:00pm;Th 2:00 – 3:30pm

COURSE OBJECTIVES

The objective of this course is to enable students to investigate selected topics in International Business to provide an understanding of “unique problems, characteristics, and demands” on a multinational enterprise. Because the list of topics or issues of an international nature can be potentially long, we will identify a limited set of issues and attempt to study them well. The course will be investigative in approach, with the intent of encouraging students to continue to learn beyond this course; we will also investigate these from the perspective of strategic and operational decisions that multinational enterprises face.

In terms of learning outcomes, at the end of this course, students must demonstrate:

1) An awareness of the numerous global issues that multinational enterprises face;

2) An appreciation of the complexity of selected issues;

3) An understanding of how multinational enterprises can be affected by these issues;

4) A capacity to investigate one such issue in its complexity.

The structure of this course is designed to allow investigation. We will start with Thomas Friedman’s book, for no other reason than it provides a reasonably cohesive framework within which to understand how global business is evolving. We will use our discussion of this book to define a list of issues for further study during the course. We will investigate these issues through a process of readings and discussion.

This is a 4-credit course. The prerequisite for this course is BA 347.

READING REQUIREMENTS

Text: The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century 1^st revised and expanded edition, by Thomas L. Friedman, 2006.

Students are expected to read the assigned chapters of the text and where applicable, additional readings, including contents of websites, indicated in the class schedule. Students should also regularly scan the headlines of the publications listed as Additional Readings below and read the articles that attract their interest and which relate to topics covered in this class. It is not necessary subscribe to these publications. The Valley Library has these available.

Additional Readings: publications from reputable sources such as Foreign Affairs, Economist, The Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Asian Wall Street Journal, New York Times, etc.; some of these have websites that provide good coverage of news, for example, the BBC; websites of such organizations as the World Bank, and links contained in the schedule.

REQUIREMENTS AND GRADES

There will be no midterm and final exams for this course. Because of the nature of the course, and the topics we will cover, the requirements below are intended to encourage active participation in the investigation of selected topics. Students are expected to prepare for class by reading the assigned material early enough to allow for additional reading. In this manner, it is hoped the student will be able to contribute to the discussion. Participation grades will be based on attendance and contribution to class discussions. In-class writing exercises will be given from time to time. These need not all be graded.

QUIZZES

There will be graded quizzes throughout the term. These quizzes will be based on the assigned readings, slide notes, and class discussion. Quizzes need not be announced.

Unless a student has an acceptable reason and gives advance notice, there will be no make-ups for quizzes missed. Moreover make-up quizzes will not be given after feedback on a quiz is given to the class.

CLASS PREPARATION ASSIGNMENTS

Each student should turn in at least six (6) Class Preparation Assignments. These assignments will consist of an article from one of the sources listed as Additional Readings above accompanied by a short statement. The intention in this Assignment is to encourage students to contribute to class discussions. To receive full credit for the Assignment:

· The article submitted should be relevant to the topic to be covered in the class it is due or the class immediately preceding it.

· The article should be accompanied by a brief statement consisting of a summary of the article and an explanation as to what it can contribute to the class discussion.

· This statement should be typed, with your name and Assignment number.

· The article and the statement should be submitted in class on the day the Assignment is due.

Refer to the Schedule to find out when these assignments are due and the topics to be covered.

Late Assignments will NOT be accepted.

TERM PROJECT

A term project will be required and will form the major portion of a student’s grade. This will consist of a written report (approximately 10 pages) and a presentation at the end of the term. The requirements for the term project will be described in a separate document. This term project is a group assignment.

GROUPS

Groups of up to four students will be formed early in the term. Each group will be required to establish expectations/criteria covering contribution of each member to the group’s deliverables early in the term; this will be the basis for a peer evaluation which will be submitted at the same time the term project is due. These peer evaluations will be considered in determining the term project grade of each member.

GRADE DISTRIBUTION

The following will provide the basis for a students grade:

Weight

Quizzes 40%

Class Preparation Assignments 12%

Participation 8%

Term Project 40%

NOTE:

1. Academic dishonesty. Any case of academic dishonesty will result in a grade of F for the course. This action is allowed by Academic Regulations and Procedures as described in the Schedule of Classes. Students are expected to know and understand these policies and regulations. You can find the details of these policies and regulations at http://oregonstate.edu/admin/stucon/achon.htm.

2. “House rules” or rules of conduct during class hours will be announced. Students are expected to respect the educational process and avoid disruptive behavior during class (refer to the University definition of disruptive behavior)