International Business (BA 4371)

Summer 2005

Section 021 – Tues/Thurs 10:00-11:50 – May 17-Jul 26 – Room SM 1.107

Instructor

George Barnes, School of Management, UTD

Office SM 2.232, voicemail 972-883-2783, email: gbarnes@utdallas.edu
Office hours: Mon appointment ; Tues/Thurs 8:45-9:45am, Wed 1:30-3:30pm

Mr. Barnes is Senior Lecturer, International Management Studies, in the School of Management
at UTD, and Director, Global MBA Online program. Prior to joining the UTD faculty in 1987,
he spent 16 years in international positions with Citibank (in the Middle East) and Mobil Oil
Corp. He has had consulting assignment dealing with market entry strategies and investment
attraction. Current affiliations include Editorial Board, Global Risk Assessments book series;
member of the North American Small Business International Trade Educators; member,
Academy of International Business; and member Texas Distance Learning Association. He
holds a Masters degree in International Law & Diplomacy from the Fletcher School, Tufts
University.

Course overview and objectives

This is a survey course in international business. Faced with increasing global competition,
firms have expanded their search for new markets, are examining the forces of change affecting
their businesses, and are developing appropriate responses to manage truly global operations. In
this context, the course will examine worldwide patterns of and motivations for trade and
investment, identify the institutions and environments affecting international business, and
investigate how multinational firms adapt functional business areas - - finance, manufacturing,
marketing, human resources - - to operate on a global scale. Students will demonstrate
understanding of these topics on written exams, through problem-solving assignments and case
study analyses.

This is an upper level course, best taken during the senior year. Prerequisites include Business
Finance and Marketing Management.

Approach to course

Lectures will focus on selected topics from assigned chapters and provide additional information
supplemented by videos, current events and the Instructor's international business experience.
Lectures are not intended to duplicate the textbook, and all chapter information will not be
covered during class. However, students are responsible for all information in assigned chapters,
in Lecture Notes, and discussed in class pertaining to case studies and individual assignments.
Resources
Text:
International Business: The Challenge of Global Competition, D. Ball, W. McCulloch, P. Frantz,
J. M. Geringer, M. Minor, 9th edition (McGraw-Hill Irwin, 2004). New textbooks have exam
preparation CD, and a code that provides access to publisher's website.

PowerWeb, Dushkin/McGraw-Hill (publisher) website, has useful resources, including links to

research websites and articles keyed to major sections of the text.

Lecture Notes, selected audio lectures, case study preparation tips, assignment problems, in-class
exercises, exam preparation self-tests, current events: WebCT course website.
Powerpoint slide sets will be uploaded to website following lectures they support; however,
Lecture Notes have exactly the same information minus tables and figures.

Internet: Case Study assignments will require students to use resources on the Internet. The text
contains a useful Internet Appendix. Students are required to be able to access UTD Library
electronic databases, through UTD Net access account, and/or have reliable access to the Internet
through an Internet service provider.

National Trade Data Bank (NTDB) - provides country, industry, trade and regulatory
information, and is helpful for several case study assignments (e.g., 11.1, 13.1, 16.1, and 18.1).
Access NTDB through library or computer lab (free), or www.stat-usa.gov

Assignments

1. Case Study
Groups - students will work in groups of two (2) to prepare a case study, and, to assist the
instructor lead a class discussion. Case studies are found at the end of selected chapters, and
groups will participate in the selection of a preferred case. Report due dates are shown in the
Assignment column of the weekly schedule.

Submit:
-outline : submit to Instructor by email no later than one week prior to case due date, describing
the approach the group will take to the case issues and a brief explanation of recommendation(s).
Outline is not graded but is used to re-direct the research if appropriate.
-report: 8 pages plus a sources page, typed, double-spaced, font size similar to this syllabus
(which is Microsoft Word Times Roman 12)
-group evaluation (optional): students will grade group members, distributing points to each
member, including self, for a total score of 100. Consider research effort, contribution to
analysis, presence at and cooperation during meetings.
Resources (references) page should have at least 2 sources obtained from Internet sites. Internet
resources should be identified by type (article, survey, report, etc.), title, author and/or
originating organiza tion, date, and URL. Footnotes are not required. The written report should
include explanation of terms/concepts, summary of key issues and relevant facts, alternatives
with analysis, and recommendation(s).

Profile of Cases
Consider ONLY relevant information from the chapter, and also applicable environmental forces
bearing on the case. In developing your analysis, be guided by case questions provided in text
and the additional considerations provided in Case study tips at course website. Ignore
comments about “presentations.”

Private discussion area at WebCT course site is available for each group to use for
communications, file sharing: ask instructor for technical support.

2. Chapter questions/problems

Submit a solution to two (2) of the following 3 questions/problems:

1. Chap 14, question 6: in one long paragraph explain rationale for proposed new
organization of the merged company, and, on separate page, show new organization
chart. Note: prior to acquisition, assume Mancon is a U.S.-based company with most of
its sales derived from its home market.

2. Chap 17, mini- case 17.1 State Manufacturing: in one long paragraph, explain what
adjustments if any you made to the factory price of $21,500, and why; separately, show
the calculations which result in your proposed CIF port of entry price. Notes: FOB
factory same as INCOTERM EXW; the basis for marine insurance formula is total of
items 1-5 and adjusted factory price.

3. Chap 19, Payable Hedge (see link at WebCT course site)

Each solution should be typed, double-spaced, less than one page of text (the organization chart
in #1, and all calculations in #2 or #3, may be submitted free-hand).

Solutions are due at the beginning of class on the day shown in the Assignment column of
Syllabus. Relevant information from chapter associated with each assignment will have been
discussed at least one class meeting prior to the due date, and supplemental information provided
by instructor in lectures is vital to getting correct answers.

Bonus points will be offered in connection with assignments 2 and 3 to supplement any low
grades received on assignments 1 or 2.
Participation
A participation grade will include attendance usually taken using short review quizzes at the start
of class, two individual assignment solutions (see 2. above), and involvement in a current events
topic. Two ways to be involved in current events:

1-bring business periodical article to class on one of the subjects of the day, and ask instructor
for time to present a summary and demonstrate its topic fit;
or
2-article on an international business issue :
Using online or hardcopy business periodicals as sources, submit one current (last 12 months)
article, with attached one paragraph, typed, double-spaced summary, on any one of the
following:

1-international business effect of NAFTA, CAFTA, or MERCOSUR

2-doing business in any of the 10 “new” countries that entered the EU on May 1, 2004
3-one challenge of penetrating the China market through trade or investment.

Good sources for international business articles are business section of Dallas Morning News,
the Wall Street Journal, and weeklies such as The Economist, Business Week and Fortune
magazine.

See due date in Schedule of Assignments.

Note regarding written assignments: No late assignments are accepted. This restriction may be waived under
special circumstances; nevertheless, the maximum grade for a late assignment is 80%.

Examinations

There will be two short exams and a Final Exam. The best grade on the first two short exams
will count ; the Final Exam grade will count for everyone. Exams will include multiple choice
questions and short essays. Key topics for review and sample essay questions are posted at the
course website. Bring to exam a Scantron card 882-ES (50 questions on a side) available
from Off-Campus Books or UTD bookstore.

Exam preparation: questions (T/F) on CD which comes with text are useful for review, but see
Self- tests at course website in multiple choice format keyed to Instructor's examination style.

Make-up exam: a student may request a make-up exam one week prior to the scheduled exam;
the instructor will approve or disapprove on the merit of the extenuating circumstances subject to
agreement on a mutually convenient make-up time.
Grading
Most grades will be based on a 100 point scale.
30% Exam 1 or 2 (best grade)
30% Final exam
20% Group case study (and class discussion leadership )
20% Participation:
-Article and summary 0-5 points
-Attendance and class discussion 1-5 points
-two (2) assignment solutions 5 points each

Numerical grade correlation (no rounding up)

Grade of A = 91+
A- 89.1-90.9
B+ 85.1-89
B 81-85
B- 79.1-80.9
C+ 75.1-79
C 71-75
C- 69.1-70.9
D+ 65.1-69
D 60-65

Policy on cheating
Students are expected to be above reproach in all scholastic activities. Students who engage in
scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in
the course. "Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion,
the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to
another person, taking an examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair
advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such act." (Regent's rules and regulations)

Emailing
UTD provides each student with a free email account that is to be used in all communication with
university personnel. This allows the university to maintain a high degree of confidence in the identity of
all individuals corresponding and the security of the transmitted information. Beginning September 1,
2004, the Administration has informed faculty to require any email communications to be through UTD
email accounts. An alternative is email using the password-protected WebCT course management
system.

The Department of Information Resources at UTD provides a method for students to forward email from
other accounts to their UTD address and have their UTD mail sent to other accounts. Students may go to
the following URL to esta blish the email forwarding if necessary: http://netid.utdallas.edu. This web page
will also allow students to maintain their official UTD computer NetID account, e.g. updating the account
password.
WebCT online course site

This course is available in WebCT, an online software platform supported by UTD. The online dimension is
intended to enhance your learning and participation experience. Go to the following URL: http://webct.utdallas.edu
and log on using your UTD-assigned Net-account User ID and password; click on this course. Student who don't
currently have a Net ID account, please initiate your account at: http://netid.utdallas.edu. For more information
about Net ID, go to http://netid.utdallas.edu/guam/html/netid.html For help: go to Help Desk located at JO3.536 or
call 972-883-2911, or email assist@utdallas.edu.

In addition to a confident level of computer and Internet literacy, certain minimum technical requirement must be
met to enable a successful learning experience. Technical requirements include but not limited to:

Hardware
• A Pentium processor or equivalent Mac system; Windows 98/Me/2000/XP or Mac OS 9.x or OS X 10.1.
• Internet access with 56.6 modem (minimum). A high-bandwidth connection is recommended.
• 32 MB system Ram; 200 MB free disk space or sufficient storage
• Sound card
Software
• Internet Explorer 5.0 to 6.0 (but 5.5 SP1 not supported), or Netscape Navigator 6.2.x (see notes ) and 7.0
(4.78, 4.79 and 6.0-6.1 not supported), or AOL 7.0 and 8.0. See browser configuration information below.
• MS Office 2000 is the minimum standard. (Microsoft software is available at a nominal cost from the
UTD/Microsoft Program. For more information, visit the Global MBA Online Student Service web page at:
http://som.utdallas.edu/globalmba/gmba_online_services.htm).
• Virus detection/protection software (such as McAfee)
• “Plug-ins” including the most current version of RealPlayer (http://www.real.com), Java – Sun
Microsystems (http://www.java.com) and Adobe Acrobat Reader
(http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html)
• A zip file expansion tool such as WinZip or Stuffit Expander (available at: http://www.download.com).

Web Browser Configuration

For WebCT courses to work properly, you will need one of the WebCT supported browsers listed above with
JavaScript enabled and cookies enabled. It is also important that you set the cache settings of your browser to verify
web documents “Every Time”. You should also disable any pop-up blocker. The methods for configuring these
settings vary among browsers. Please follow this web link provided by WebCT to tune-up your browser:
http://www.webct.com/tuneup/.

Features of your International Business WebCT online course this semester

• Syllabus
• Calendar (Instructor will post key dates, and students may personalize Calendar with "private" entries)
• Course materials
1) lectures (streaming audio and slide presentations available for some sessions)
2) lecture notes (downloadable)
3) downloadable PowerPoint slide lectures
4) exercises for written assignments and class discussions
5) case study tips
6) exam review topics and sample essay questions
7) current events
• Communications
1) in Discussions, use Main Topic for questions and answers about the course which concern all students
2) Course Announcement Topic for instructor to post course updates
3) Private Discussion groups may be set up for Case Study communications, exchange of files
4) Email
• Evaluation tools - self-tests in multiple choice format for each of the three (3) exams
• Student tools
 International Business (BA 4371)
Summer, 2005

Date Chap Topics Assignments

May 17 Syllabus and WebCT

1 The rapid change of global business

May 19 2 Dimensions of trade & investment

International business motivations
Video: Airbus Industrie

May 24 2 Entry modes; channels of distribution (*) Case study group selection
3 Economic theories of trade

May 26 3 Protectionism/ Economic theories of

investment
4/5 IMF and Balance of Payments
Video: How the IMF makes loans

May 31 5 International monetary system

6 Financial forces

Jun 2 § 4 International organizations and trade blocs

(*)

Jun 7 § Exam #1 (chap 2-6)

Jun 9 9 Sociocultural forces
- Negotiations

Jun 14 12 Labor forces Case 12.1

Video: Managing the overseas assignment

Jun 16 10 Political forces

Video: Privatization

Jun 21 11 Legal forces Case 11.1

Jun 23 13 Competitive forces (*) Case 13.1 (class discussion)

15 Assessing and analyzing markets

Jun 28 Exam #2 (chap 9-13)

Jun 30 14 Strategy, organization and control of the

firm

Jul 5 Assignment 1 (ch 14)

16 Marketing internationally
Ethics in international marketing Primo case for class role play and
discussion (see course website)
Jul 7 17 Export and import practices Case 16.1

Jul 12 Assignment 2 (ch 17)

18 Human Resource Management (*) Case 18.1

Jul 14 19 Financial Management Article due

20 Global sourcing

Jul 19 20 Manufacturing systems Case 20.1

Video: Reindustrialization

Jul 21 19 Financial management exercises Assignment 3 (payable hedge at

website)

Jul 26 Final exam (chap 14-20)

(*) lectures available in streaming audio plus slide sets at WebCT course website

§ instructor will be making presentation at conference