SALEM STATE COLLEGE

School of Business

COURSE SYLLABUS

SPRING 2004

 

I.          Course Number and Title

 

BUS840 - International Business, 3 sem. hrs.

 

II.        Professor

                                                                                                                                                                                               

Dr. Massoud Farahbakhsh                                                   Office Hours:

Professor, Management Department                                         Wed – 16:00-16:30 By Appt.

Executive Director, Center for International Business

& Economic Studies (CIBES)                                                                                                              

School of Business                                                                   

Salem State College - S. Campus

Salem, MA. 01970-5353 U.S.A.

Telephone: (978) 542-6680 or 542-6608 or 542-7314

Fax: (978) 542-6027

Electronic Mail (Internet):massoud.farahbakhsh@salemstate.edu

http://www.business.salemstate.edu/cibes/

Office Location: Central Campus CC220

 

III.       Course Description 

 

This course intensely scrutinizes the setting and scope of international business and dimensions of multi-national enterprise. Readings and examples for analysis from assigned cases are the key tools used. The student is expected to become skilled in the identification of strategies and adaptation of functional activities in marketing, production and supply, finance and control, human resources, and government and public relations to deal with the differences, to be encountered in exporting or making direct investments in foreign business environments.

 

Prerequisites:    BUS802N, Legal and Ethical Environment

ECO703          Macroeco., Analysis and Policy

MGT780          Management Theory and Application

MKT790N      Marketing Decision Making

 

IV.       Course Objectives

 

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

 

A.        Understand theories of international economics and trade.

B.         Comprehend the structure of multinational firms.

C.        Describe the activities and responsibilities of international organizations.

D.        Identify how and why various factors, such as physical conditions, culture, and politics, influence the international firm.

E.         Use management tools in the international business arena.

 

V.        Required Materials

 

Text:     International Business: Environments and Operations                

                        John Daniels and Lee Radebaugh

                        Addison - Wesley Pub. Co., 9th Edition, 1998

 

 

VI.       Course and Grading Policies

 

A.        Examinations

 

In case of an unexpected school closure on exam day, first session after the opening will be the test day.

         

                        There will be no make-ups.

 

B.         Attendance

 

Attendance at all classes is a course requirement. No late work will be accepted. Each student is responsible for keeping up with all assignments and all material covered in the course, whether or not s/he was present in class.

Please turn off your cell phone before coming to class!

 

C.        Grading

 

                        Class attendance, participation and discussion   20%

                        Mid-Term examination                                      40%

                        Final examination                                              40%

 

                        The following grading criteria will be used:

 

                                                Score               Grade               Quality Pts.      

                                                93-100             A                                 4.0

                                                90-92               A-                               3.7

                                                87-89               B+                              3.3

                                                83-86               B                                 3.0

                                                80-82               B-                               2.7

                                                77-79               C+                              2.3

                                                73-76               C                                 2.0

                                                70-72               C-                                1.7

                                                0-69                 F                                 0.0

 

VII.  Schedule of Assignments:

 

      WEEK      TOPIC                                                            READING ASSIGNMENT

           1           Introduction

           2           International Business: An Overview                              Chapter 1

           3           Collaborative Strategies                                                Chapter 14

           4           The Impact of the         Multinational Enterprise             Chapter 11

           5           International Trade Theory                                            Chapter 5

           6           Econ. Integration & Coop-Agreements                         Chapter 7

           7           The Determination of Exchange Rates & Review           Chapter 10

           8           * Mid-Term Exam. Ch's 1, 14, 11, 5, 7, 10

           9           Cultural Environments                                                   Chapter 2        

         10           The Political & Legal Environments                               Chapter 3

         11           Governmental Influence on Trade                                  Chapter 6

         12           Human Resource Management                                      Chapter 21 

         13           Export & Import Strategies                                           Chapter 17    

         14           Country Evaluation & Selection                                     Chapter 13    

         15           * Final Exam.     Ch's 2, 3, 6,21, 17, 13

 

                        * Bring a number 2 sharp pencil with an eraser to the exam.

 

VIII.    Suggested References:  

 

            See chapter notes at the end of each chapter of the textbook.

            The following list is also helpful:

 

Barron's                                                          http://www.barrons.com/

Business Week                                              http://www.businessweek.com/                     

Dun &Bradstreet Directories                       http;//www.startingpage.com/html/business.html

Dun's Review                             

The Economist                                               http://www.economist.com/

Financial Times                                              http://www.ft.com/

Forbes                                                             http://www.forbes.com

Fortune                                                           http://www.fortune.com/

Harvard Business Review                             http://www.hbsp.harvard.edu/products/

Inc.                                                                  http://www.inc.com

Insight                                                             http://insightmag.com/

International Journal of Physical Distribution                 

Journal of Commerce                                    http://www.joc.com/jocweb/

Journal of International Business Studies

Moody's Manuals

Newsweek                                                      http://www.msnbc.com/news/NW-front_Front.asp

Standard & Poor's Industry Surveys

The New York Times                                     http://www.nytimes.com/

Time                                                                http://www.time.com/

The Wall Street Journal                                http://www.wsj.com/

U.S.A. Today                                                  http://www.usatoday.com/

U.S. News and World Report                        http://www.usnews.com/usnews/

 

 

IX.       Last Day to Withdraw from the Course

 

To withdraw from a course, the student must complete the appropriate Student Action Form available in the Graduate School Office. A grade of "W" will be assigned for students who withdraw prior to the 4th class meeting. Withdrawal after that deadline will result in a grade of "F", except when extenuating circumstances are involved.  Students who wish to withdraw without academic penalty after the deadline must present their case in writing before the end of the course to the Dean of the Graduate School for appropriate action. Please see The Graduate School catalog for full withdrawal policy.

 

X.               College Policy Statement

 

"Salem State College is committed to providing equal access to the educational experience for all students in compliance with Section 504 of The Rehabilitation Act and The Americans with Disabilities Act and to providing all reasonable academic accommodations, aids and adjustments.  Any student who has a documented disability requiring an accommodation, aid or adjustment should speak with the instructor immediately.  Students with Disabilities who have not previously done so should provide documentation to and schedule an appointment with the Office for Students with Disabilities and obtain appropriate services."