Units

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Sample subject outline - 13 Week Teaching Period - 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

There is a growing interdependency among people, businesses and institutions in a globalised environment. At an introductory level, this unit examines what "drives" and motivates a business to go global and the complexity and diversity of businesses that operate in a globalised environment. The unit develops the skills and understanding to identify and respond to the opportunities, challenges and risks of conducting business in and across politically, economically and culturally diverse country environments. An authentic business case study is undertaken in order to analyse a firm's market entry strategies and processes inherent in conducting business both in actual and potential markets and make some concluding comments.

Aims

The aims of this unit are for students to have developed:

1. an understanding of the nature and role of globalisation as a driver of global business:
   
   
2. an appreciation of the strategic and operational demands including the competitive forces and challenges confronting all business as a consequence of globalisation processes;
   
   
3. an awareness of the additional knowledge and skills required of management to operate business internationally across culturally diverse environments.

   Objectives

   On the successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
   

   1. explain the process and drivers of globalisation along with the opportunities and challenges it creates for business;
      
      
   2. compare the cultural, ethical and legal, economic, political and regulatory environments of international markets and determine how the differences impact upon market potentials, business models, behaviours, decisions and functions;
      
      
   3. analyse mini-cases "live-in-the-market" actual cases which show how firms go international and why. Critical to success is how businesses, solve specific problems, manage risk, implement innovative ways to sustain competitiveness and realise success (and failure);
      
      
   4. demonstrate in a workshop setting the skills of teamwork, active listening, and oral and written communication used in preparing, self-assessing and presenting research and analysis of international business issues and cases.
      
      Faculty Assurance of Learning Goals
      The QUT Business School has established the Assurance of Learning Goals to meet contemporary industry needs and standards. Achieving these learning outcomes will assist you to meet the desired graduate outcomes set at QUT - aligned with other internationally renowned business school. Students will develop the following capabilities relevant to a contemporary global and sustainable business environment:
      
      Have knowledge and skills pertinent to a particular discipline (KS)
      1.1 Integrate and apply disciplinary theory and skills to practical situations.
      
      Be critical thinkers and effective problem solvers (CTA)
      2.1
      Identify, research and critically analyse information relevant to a business problem or issue, be able to synthesise that information in order to evaluate potential solutions, make recommendations or otherwise effectively address the problem or issue.
      
      Be professional communicators in an intercultural context (PC)
      3.1 Communicate effectively through written tasks appropriate to varied contexts and audiences.
      <3.2 Communicate effectively through professional oral presentations appropriate to varied contexts and audiences.
      
      Be able to work effectively in a Team Environment (TW)
      4.1 Demonstrate effective team skills in order to contribute appropriately to the production of a group output.
      
      Have a Social and Ethical understanding (SEU)
      5.1 Apply ethical reasoning, standards or codes of practice relevant to the discipline and make decisions that are informed by social and cultural understanding.

      Content

      Weekly Topics
      
      Week 1
      Introduction - An overview
      
      

   5. globalisation and interdependencies
      
      
   6. external drivers and barriers
      
      
   7. growth of international business (IB)
      
      Week 2
      Theories of Trade, Investment & Internationalisation
      
      
   8. classical and new trade theory
      
      
   9. basic competitive strategies
      
      
   10. sustaining competitive advantage
       
       Week 3
       Business environments - political economy
       
       
   11. difference in political economy
       
       
   12. costs and benefits of FDI
       
       
   13. regulation of FDI
       
       Week 4
       Payment systems
       
       
   14. foreign exchange, exchange rate risk and hedging
       
       
   15. import-export payments
       
       
   16. Risk assessment and management
       
       Week 5
       Business environments - cultural diversity
       
       
   17. elements of culture
       
       
   18. dimensions of culture
       
       
   19. doing IB across cultures
       
       
   20. ethical and legal responsibilities in organisations and societies
       
       Week 6
       Business environments - Socio-economic characteristics
       
       
   21. country profile and macro-segmentation
       
       
   22. levels of economic and social development
       
       
   23. reforms and stages of transition
       
       
   24. determinants of market potential
       
       Week 7
       Ethics and Corporate Responsibility
       
       
   25. ethical issues and dilemmas
       
       
   26. roots of unethical behaviour
       
       
   27. philosophical approaches to ethics
       
       Week 8
       Country Market Analysis
       
   28. basic market entry decision
       
       
   29. exporting, WOS, licence agreements
       
       Week 9
       The Strategy of International Business
       
       
   30. strategy and the Firm (Porter)
       
       
   31. cost pressures and pressures for local responsiveness
       
       
   32. strategy choice
       
       Week 10
       Entering Foreign Markets
       
       
   33. entry modes and selection
       
       
   34. greenfield versus acquisition
       
       Week 11
       International Marketing and R&D
       
       
   35. current issues and approaches
       
       Week 12
       Global operations management
       
       
   36. production, outsourcing
       
       
   37. international logistics
       
       
   38. B2C delivery systems and fulfillment
       
       
   39. international HRM
       
       Week 13
       Review and Exam preparation

       Approaches to Teaching and Learning

       Lecture: 2 hours
       Tutorial: 1 hour
       Workshop: 1 hour
       
       Lectures will provide the framework to develop the understandings and skills of the unit. Online learning resources will provide access to current case studies, additional readings, working with the exercises, useful websites and formative assessment items. Lecture outlines are provided online and should be accessed prior to attending lectures. They are not designed as substitutes for lectures. Attendance at lectures and workshops is strongly advised to grasp a fuller understanding of the concepts and analyses underpinning the subject matter.
       
       During the workshops, case studies, prepared exercises and student presentations dealing with issues including cultural diversity and the additional risks of international business will be examined and discussed to assist the student's development of critical enquiry, problem solving skills and innovativeness of solutions; and to facilitate the effective application of the generic skills of research, oral presentation, active listening, teamwork and computing skills.
       
       Late Assignment Policy
       Students will be penalised for the submission of late assignments. Refer to the Diploma Course Guide for details.
       
       Review of Grades or Academic Rulings
       For rules on how to apply for a review of grade, refer to the Diploma Course Guide.
       
       Consultation
       The lecturer will be available for consultation from week 2. Times will be advised in class and will also be displayed on Blackboard.
       
       Exam Timetable
       The exam timetable will be displayed on the Noticeboard on Level 4 by Week 11.

       Assessment

       This unit may require students to submit their assessment items through SafeAssign.
       Please refer to the Week 1 document for this unit.

       Assessment name: Business Case Analysis
       Description: Summative
       Purpose is to build and assess teamwork, oral presentation skills, planning, organizing, cognitive thinking, research and problem solving skills and the ability to formulate innovative solutions, conclude and recommend actions.
       Relates to objectives: 3, 4.
       Weight: 30%
       Internal or external: Internal
       Group or individual: Group
       Due date: Week 10
       

       Assessment name: Tutorial Exercises
       Description: Tutorial based short answer exercises.
       Summative Assessment
       Assessment will be based on short answer written exercises submitted in class and also on the corrections and improvements to original work developed via active participation and discussion among peers and tutor during the scheduled tutorials.
       Relates to objectives: 3, 4.
       Weight: 20%
       Internal or external: Internal
       Group or individual: Individual
       Due date: Week 2
       

       Assessment name: Final Exam
       Description: Summative
       It consists of multiple choice and short answer essay style questions.
       Relates to objectives: 1, 2 & 3.
       Weight: 50%
       Internal or external: Internal
       Group or individual: Individual
       Due date: Exam Period
       

       Academic Honesty

       QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

       A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

       Resource materials

       Texts:

       1. Hill, C.W., Cronk, T. and R. Wickramasekera. 2011.Global Business Today: 2nd Ed. An Asia/Pacific Perspective, McGraw Hill, Sydney
       
       
       References:
       
       
       1. Hill, C.W., Cronk, T. and R, Wickramesekera. 2008. Global Business Today: An Asia/Pacific Perspective, McGraw Hill, Sydney.
          
       2. Hill, C.W. 2008. Global Business Today. An Asia/Pacific Perspective. McGraw-Hill Irwin. McGraw-Hill.
       
       
       Other Resources
       1. Lawrence, E., J. Lawrence, S. Newton, S. Dann, B. Corbitt and T. Thanasankit. 2003. Internet Commerce, Digital Models for Business. 3rd ed. Milton: John Wiley & Sons.
       2. Introduction to eBusiness. 3rd ed. Sydney: Custom Publications. McGraw-Hill & QUT. Czinkota, M., I. Ronkainen, M. Moffett and M. Moynihan. 2001. Global Business. 3rd ed. Fort Worth: Harcourt.
       3. Deitel, H., P. Deitel and K. Steinbuhler. 2001. E-Business and E-Commerce for Managers. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall.
       4. Mahoney, D., M. Trigg, R. Griffin and M. Pustay. 2002. International Business A Managerial Perspective. South Melbourne: Longman.
       5. Periodicals: The Australian (Tuesday). The Economist, Business 2.0, World Development Report.
       6. Punnett, B.J. (2005)Experiencing International Business and Management: Exercises, Projects and Cases. Armonk, NY, London, England: M.E. Sharpe.
       7. Price, R.W. (ed.) 2001. E-Business. 1st ed. Guilford, Connecticut: McGraw Hill/Dushkin.
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       Risk assessment statement

       There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.

       Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

       Last modified: 14-Mar-2013