The course is an introduction to the complexities of international business. We will together cover a range of subjects; the various political, economic, cultural, and legal differences in the countries around the world, and an examination of global strategies when entering a foreign market and managing global operations.
Titular Professors
Professors
Principles of Business Management
This course seeks to help you in:
· Identify contemporary issues faced in the international business environment.
· Analyze key concerns of global corporations from an interdisciplinary viewpoint.
· Develop a global perspective rather than just a local viewpoint.
· Understand strategies used by business in the international market on a competitive basis.
· Integrate societal dimensions of diversity, environmental concerns, ethics, and technological change into business views.
1. Introduction and Course Overview
2. International Economy and Globalization of Markets
3. International Business Frameworks
4. The Organization of International Business
5. The CAGE model
6. Entry Strategy and Strategic Alliances
7. Global Marketing and R&D
8. Global Human Resource Management and Executive Compensation
9. International Corporate Governance
Weekly teaching will consist of three lecturing sessions to explain basic frameworks to apply knowledge to practical situations. Tasks in class will be solved and assignments will also be proposed so that students can apply the insights learned. The course is oriented towards individual and group learning. Each class will be centered on class discussions. Active participation is critical.
Each topic will have the following elements:
Elements | Methodology |
Framework analysis | Lecture |
Examples and case studies | Lecture |
Home assignments | Problem solving |
Team projects | Problem solving |
Continuous assessment has the following evaluation structure:
Evaluation type | Weight | Content | Activity type |
Individual project | 15% | First half of subjects | Moderately important |
Class participation | 30% | All subjects | Highly important |
Team project | 25% | All subjects | Highly important |
Final exam | 30% | All subjects | Highly important |
The evaluation criteria apply to all the students, and retakers must attend classes and submit all the requested deliverables. Any exceptional situation should be communicated to the professors in advance and validated by the tutor before the first month of class.
Laptops may be used during the course, but exclusively for note-taking and course-related research. If students are unable to actively participate at any given moment during class hours, they are encouraged to leave the room and take the time necessary to deal with personal business elsewhere.
Mobile phones, communication software, and any AI tool (such as chatgpt, bard, bing or similar) are strictly prohibited.
Thus, the use of these tools by students will be considered fraud and will involve the application of the copy regulations of La Salle Campus Barcelona.
To pass the subject, the overall score must be higher than 5.
PROJECT
Students are expected to work on a final project. Teams of 4 students should be formed. Every team needs to decide the company they analyze by the 3nd week of class (e-mail to hugo.zarco@salle.url.edu, kerem.gurses@salle.url.edu, and cem.ucansu@salle.url.edu). The team has to submit a report in terms of a business that is contemplating entering that market. You may be creative and choose the type of business and sector yourself. The project has both individual and team components.
Individual component of the project (Market and competitor assessment)
The individual component of the project has two parts. Each student should work on the individual project separately, and similarities between group members may disqualify the assignment.
Students should select a multi-business company of their choice. Preference should be given to a multi-business company for which students feel they can collect sufficient public information within the available time.
1st part: Students should identify countries where the multinational is not already present. Each member of the team should choose one country from those countries identified and assess potential business opportunities for that specific country. The students will need to conduct a preliminary assessment of geographic, economic, social-cultural, and political-legal factors in that specific country.
2nd part: For each country, each student should identify existing or potential competitors and analyze them. Awareness of competitors makes it possible to better plan and implement your international strategy. Things to consider:
1) Identify companies that:
a) have business activities similar (or related) to the business opportunity you are proposing; and
b) operate in the country that you are considering for your multinational enterprise.
2) Discuss the competitive advantages of these companies.
The maximum length of this assignment is 5 pages. Deadline: last week of October (day of class).
Team component of the project (Strategic plan for entry):
The critical part of the report is to analyze the internationalization process that should be adopted by a firm. Therefore, team members will get together and also choose a country to enter among the ones that they studied and justify this choice. By considering the competitors, the students will need to devise a strategy to enter that market. Things to consider:
1) Formulate a strategic plan for the firm to enter that country. To what extent does the multinational need to standardize or localize its approach for that country?
2) Decide and justify the entry mode that the company might select for that country.
3) Recommend strategic alliances that could contribute to the success of the business in that country. Identify local companies of the country or international companies operating in the country that could be business partners. These strategic alliances may be suppliers, distributors, sales representatives, etc.
The team should integrate all the parts and finalize a report and each team will have to make a 15-minute presentation. The class is required to participate in the presentations by asking pertinent questions.
The report should not be longer than 10 pages (Double-spaced, size 12 font). All reports are due on the first day of presentations. Deadline: second week of January (day of class).
RETAKE POLICY
There is no retake exam for this course. Students who fail will automatically fail, and have to re-register for the course next year.
Charles W.L. Hill International Business. 13th edition 2021
Czinkota, M.R, Ronkainen, I.A., Moffett, M. H. International Business. 2003.