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College of Economics and Political Science

Sultan Qaboos University

Course Code: MNGT2515
Course Title: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
Semester: Spring 2014
Credits: 3
Contact Hours: 45
Language of Instruction: English
Course type: Lectures/Cases/Exercises
Course Instructors: Dr. Faridahwati Mohd Shamsudin
Dr. Franck Renard (Course Coordinator)


COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course provides students with relevant theoretical concepts and practical insights for better
understanding international businesses. It begins with a brief overview of international business, focused on
the concept of globalization. Topics, such as cultural, social, and economic factors influencing decision
making at the international level, trade theory and foreign investment will be covered. The course will then
probe international firm strategies, their entry modes into international enterprise.

COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After the successful completion of this, the student is expected to be able to:
1. Develop an understanding of the worldwide developments and foundations for international business
and the cultural context for managing in an international environment.
2. Identify the critical differences between a domestic and international firm and the impact of
international competition.
3. Identify and explain the key strategies used by businesses to enter and compete in the international
business environment.
4. Identify and describe the strengths and weaknesses attached to the major modes of entry into
international markets.

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
After successful completion of the course students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate their understanding of the complexities, and opportunities of international trade through
case analysis, group discussion, and extensive class participation.
2. Develop and demonstrate necessary analytical skills to anticipate, appreciate, management processes to
meet the demands of changing global business and economic conditions.
3. Understand global business strategies and demonstrate, throughout the course, an understanding of the
circumstances that would lead a firm to adopt one of these strategies over the others.
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4. Develop international business policies, programs and strategies required to function competitively in
regional and foreign markets.
5. Analyze several international business case studies as a manager within the organization and evaluate all
the elements impacting the situation to determine the best course of action.
6. Practice clear and concise writing of case analyses.

COURSE LEARNING STRATEGIES
A variety of teaching methods will be used in delivering this course. In addition to lectures, students will do
assignment/project, exercises and case study discussion.

REQUIRED COURSE MATERIAL
Hill, C. (2011). International business. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Recommended additional readings:
Griffin, R. W., & Pustay, M. (2010). International business (6
th
ed.). New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.
Peng, M. W., & Meyer, K. (2011). International business. London: Cengage.

COURSE ASSESSMENT
- Midterm Exam 30%
- Project 20%
- Participation/attendance 10%
- Final Exam 40%

FINAL GRADE CALCULATION

A 94-100% C+ 77-79%
A- 90-93% C 74-76%
B+ 87-89% C- 70-73%
B 84-86% D+ 67-69%
B- 80-83% D 60-66%
F less than 60%
Note: For grade description please see Student Guide (Available online)

Grade Descriptions (from the handbook of Undergraduate Guidelines)
The grades (with numeric value) for undergraduate courses are described as follows:
A Exceptional performance; all course objectives achieved; objectives met in a consistently
outstanding manner.
B Very good performance; significantly more than the majority of the course objectives
achieved (majority being at least two-thirds); objectives met in a consistently thorough
manner.
C Satisfactory performance: at least the majority of course objectives achieved; objectives met
satisfactorily.
D Minimally acceptable performance: less than the majority but more than the minimum
required course objectives achieved; objectives met at a minimally acceptable level.
F Unacceptable performance: minimum required course objectives not met; objectives not
met at a minimally acceptable level; no credit earned.
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STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
You should be aware of University Academic Regulations and those relevant to your participation in this
course are detailed below.
Collusion Policies: You can consult each other while working on any individual or group homework, but
all the work that you submit must be your own. Discuss the assignments among yourselves. This is
helpful to the learning process. However, direct copying of others work will NOT be allowed or tolerated
and will result in a reduction of grade
Attendance Policy: It is the student's responsibility to be punctual and to attend all classes. Failure to
attend classes without prior approval for whatever reason is considered as part of the percentage
missed. Students bear full responsibility for checking their own attendance record. Attendance records
are kept, and an "absentee warning notice" will be issued if a student is absent for more than 10% of
the total contact hours.
An "absentee withdrawal notice" will be issued and the student will be deemed to have withdrawn from
the course with an "FW" grade if a student is absent for more than 20% of the total contact hours.

CODE OF ETHICS
Academic misconduct is defined as the use of any dishonest or deceitful means to gain some academic
advantage or benefit. This can take many forms, including but not limited to, the following:

A. Examinations
a. copying, or attempting to copy, from another student's work, or permitting another student to copy
from your work
b. using notes of whatever kind in the formation of answers in a closed book examination
c. impersonation of another student in an examination, seminar or other form of presentation
d. disrupting the conduct of examinations by illegally obtaining access to examination

B. Assignments, Essays, etc.
a. plagiarism: using the words, thoughts, ideas, results, etc., of another person in a written assignment,
without acknowledging the source, as if it were the student's own work
b. copying: copying another person's answers in an essay, assignment, paper, etc. and presenting it, either
wholly or with only minor changes, as if it were the student's own work
c. collusion: working with others on an assignment which is intended to be an individual assignment, and
incorporating their material into your work
d. switching: submitting work completed for one course in another course without the permission of the
instructor
e. falsification: inventing data or altering data that have been obtained from legitimate sources

C. Forging University Documents
Submitting or using forged academic documents or forged signatures for the purpose of personal gain or
fraud.

If a student commits an act of academic misconduct, whether defined above or of a different nature, it may
be documented and then one or more of the following penalties may be applied:
written warning
downgrading of an assignment or examination
an 'F' grade given to the assignment or examination
an 'F' grade given to the course
suspension from the university for a specified period
expulsion from the university

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Course Code and Title MNGT 2515International Business
Section 40
Time and Place Monday and Wednesday: 2.15 pm 3.35 pm (E24)
Instructor Dr. Faridahwati Mohd. Shamsudin
Office 1023 - Management Dept. (1
st
floor of CEPS)
Telephone 24142905
E-mail faridah@squ.edu.om

WEEKLY SCHEDULE (TENTATIVE)
Week Dates Topics Readings**,
Exams & Dues
Week 1 16 - 20 Feb Course Overview
Week 2 23 - 27 Feb Globalization Chapter 1
Week 3 2 - 6 Mar Globalization Chapter 1
Week 4 9 - 13 Mar Differences in culture Chapter 3
Week 5 16 -20 Mar Differences in culture Chapter 3
Week 6 23 - 27 Mar International trade theory Chapter 5
Week 7 30 Mar - 3 Apr The political economy of international
trade
Chapter 6

Week 8 6 - 10 Apr The political economy of international
trade
Chapter 6
Week 9 13 - 17 Apr Foreign Direct Investment Chapter 7

Week 10 20 -24 Apr Regional economic integration Chapter 8
Week 11 27 Apr -1 May Regional economic integration Chapter 8
Week 12 4 - 8 May The strategy of international business Chapter 12

Week 13 11 - 15 May The strategy of international business Chapter 12

Week 14 18 - 23 May Entry strategy and strategic alliances Chapter 14
Submission of group project
(21 May 2014)
Week 15 25 - 29 May Entry strategy and strategic alliances Chapter 14
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*Dates might change depending on course progress throughout the semester.
**Additional readings might be assigned for each topic.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
1. No make-up exams.
2. Any copying of any kind = F as a final grade.
3. Multiple choice/true-false questions are created by the instructors and not taken from the authors test
bank.
4. Mid-term exam NOT before week 8.
5. Mid-term exam (30%)
a. Duration = 1 hour
b. Multiple-choice/true-false (each = 1 mark)
c. Chapters 1, 3, 5, 6
6. Final exam (40%)
a. Duration = 1.30 hours
b. Multiple-choice/true-false (each = 1 mark) (30%)
c. 1 case (10%)
d. Chapters 7, 8, 12, 14
7. Exam answers to be written in INK only (blue or black).