Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Required Reading:
(Available at the on- and off-campus bookstores)
Bartlett, C., Ghoshal, S., & Birkinshaw, J. (2004). Transnational Management: Text, Cases, and
Readings in Cross-Border Management. 4th edition. Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.
Unbridgeable difference? The debate over wild rice. (2004, August 1). The Star Tribune.
Recommended Reading:
(Available on reserve at the UTD library)
Brannen, M., Gomez, C., Peterson, M., Romani, L., Sagiv, L., & Wu, P. (2004). People in Global
Organizations: Culture, Personality, and Social Dynamics. In H. Lane, M. Maznevski, M. Mendenhall,
and McNett (Eds.), The Blackwell Handbook of Global Management: A Guide to Managing Complexity
(pp. 26-54). Malden, MA: Blackwell.
Hill, J. (2005). World Business: Globalization, Strategy & Analysis. Mason, OH: Thomson-Southwestern.
1
Course Objectives:
The purpose of this course is to introduce you to the fundamental concepts of international business
strategy. It will provide you with a basic understanding of the macro-level management issues that
multinational corporations (MNCs) face when doing business internationally. We will discuss such
topics as managing MNCs and international expansion, national culture and the organization, ethics and
social responsibility of MNCs, managing conflicting global demands, developing strategic capabilities
globally, developing coordination and control across geographically dispersed organizational units,
creating and leveraging knowledge worldwide, and managing international collaborations. You should
leave this course with an increased appreciation of the challenges and opportunities that MNCs and
international managers face at a strategic level.
Grading:
Your grade in this course is determined as follows:
Individual Assignments: Grading Scale:
Case Write-up: 10% 90-100 A
Exam 1: 20% 80-89 B
Exam 2: 20% 70-79 C
Class Participation & Other Assignments: 15% Below 70 F
Group Assignments:
Oral Case Discussion: 10%
Global Business Plan Project (report and peer evaluations): 15%
Global Business Plan Presentation: 10%
Case Write-up:
Each student is responsible for submitting one individually prepared case write-up. You may select any
of the cases we will discuss in class, though this write-up must be from a different case than the one
your group is discussing (see “Oral Case Discussion”). While the questions listed on pages 11 and 12 of
the syllabus might at times be helpful when considering issues in the case, the purpose of this assignment
is not to answer each question, as these questions are designed to facilitate discussion in class, not to be
used as a guideline for your write-up. Instead, for the write-up you should address the key issue(s) in
the case by providing specific recommendations for key decision-maker(s) in the case. What should the
company do next? Why? Write a memo of your recommendations in the form of an executive
summary, followed by the rationale for this recommendation. Specifically, you should write the case as
a formal memo to the interested party(ies) regarding the case, beginning with a short one paragraph
summary (or list) of your recommendations to the interested party(ies), followed by your more detailed
rationale for these recommendations. Do not reiterate facts from the case except when necessary to
justify your reasoning. Assume that the interested party(ies) know the background material and delve
directly into your recommendations.
This case write-up should be no longer than 3 double-spaced pages in 10-12 point font and should be
devoid of spelling and grammatical errors. The write-ups are due at the beginning of class on the day
we will discuss the case. Late, handwritten, and electronic copies are unacceptable and will receive a
grade of zero.
2
Exams:
There will be both a midterm and final exam. These exams will be non-comprehensive and will include
information from assigned readings as well as material covered in class. They will consist of short
answer and essay questions. Requests for rescheduling an exam will be considered only with timely
notification to the instructor and appropriate documentation such as a written medical excuse. Approval
for rescheduling is at my discretion.
3
Everyone in the class is expected to not only participate in the case discussions, but to also critique each
group’s recommendations and provide alternative, defensible solutions.
Format of the oral case discussion is open. Use whatever methods you believe may be most effective for
leading the discussion. If you require the use of a computer for your discussion, please email me a copy
of your virus-free file(s) at least one day before you lead the discussion so my laptop can be used. If
you need any materials in addition to the LCD panel, VCR, DVD player, document camera, or white-
board, please let me know in advance so I can try to arrange for it.
4
The above outline shows the main areas that should be covered. While you do not need to follow the
exact wording and structure of these sections and sub-sections, I expect your report to include
information on these topics. If there is additional material that is especially relevant to your company,
product/service or country, you may also include it.
A detailed outline of your Global Business Plan Report is due on October 25. The outline should
contain the main points to be included in the paper based on thorough research and analysis, as well as a
general structure to be used in the final report. Groups will meet with me to answer questions and
obtain feedback on the content and structure of the paper.
The Global Business Plan Report is due on November 22. It should be in essay format, clearly and
concisely addressing the main topics listed above. The report should be 18-22 pages in length (typed in
10-12 point font, double-spaced, and error free), excluding appendices. In addition to the main content,
all written reports should include a cover page, a table of contents, page numbers, a list of references
(minimum of 10 with a mix of both online and non-online references), and an appendix of relevant key
figures, charts, and the like. With the exception of websites (in which the URL is sufficient), references
should be written in American Psychological Association (APA) or Modern Language Association
(MLA) format. It is strongly recommended that each group have others proofread their report, as points
will be deducted for spelling and grammar mistakes.
In addition to a hard copy of the Global Business Plan Report, each group is also required to email me a
soft copy of the report before class on the due date (i.e. November 22) for a plagiarism check. Both a
hard and an e-copy are required to receive a grade for the Global Business Plan Report and there will be
a ten percent penalty from the total possible assignment grade for all late assignments.
Papers that have excessive plagiarism (over 50%) will automatically receive a grade of zero, while those
with varying degrees of plagiarism will have points deducted based on the extent of the violation. The
“scholastic dishonesty” section of the syllabus outlines this in further detail. You may check your
reports for plagiarism before the final deadline by using turnitin.com. A description of how to submit
papers to turnitin.com will be discussed in class.
The Global Business Plan Report will be graded as follows:
I. Content issues (80%) – clear and well-developed mission statement, understanding of
the environment, recognition of major risks in the country, effective use of concepts and
theories covered in class, thorough analysis, appropriate and well-justified
recommendations/conclusions
II. Process issues (20%) – readability, flow, logic, organization, page numbers, and writing
mechanics such as no grammatical or spelling errors
Note that I will not re-assign individuals to a different group after the initial assignment has been made.
It is the group’s responsibility to work together. Students desiring guidance on working with group
members are welcome to ask me for advice. If group members are unable to work together, they have
the right to fire themselves or another group member(s) from their group. In this case, the fired
individual(s) must complete a new Global Business Plan Report individually, with the same
specifications described above. Fired individual(s) should email me about being fired and provide an
introductory summary of a new company, product/service, and country in which to expand for approval.
This individual Global Business Plan Report (in both hard and soft copy form) is also due on November
22 and is worth 25% of the total grade for the course, since individuals will not give a presentation to the
class.
5
Global Business Plan Presentation:
Each group is responsible for presenting the highlights of their global business plan. Group
presentations should be 30 minutes in length and should cover key points. It is not necessary to present
everything in your papers: you should focus on a sub-sample of the most interesting points and include
your recommendations along with the rationale for them. You should also leave time for questions and
comments from the class.
Note that all students are expected to participate in global business plan presentations, asking relevant
questions, providing feedback, and giving suggestions to each group.
Creativity is encouraged in all presentations. Groups may wish to consider using role plays, mock
business meetings, interview formats, or other devices to maintain interest. You should inform me two
weeks prior to your presentations if you need any audio-visual equipment in addition to a podium, LCD
panel for a laptop, DVD player, VCR, document camera, or whiteboard. Groups requiring use of a
laptop should email me the necessary, virus-free materials one day prior to the presentation so that my
laptop can be used for the presentation. This will reduce set-up time in class. Paper copies of any slides
or other materials used in the presentation should be given to me at the beginning of class on November
22, the day of the presentation.
The Global Business Plan Presentation will be graded as follows:
1) Content – 70%
This aspect corresponds to what was written above about the global business plan report.
Evidence of thoroughness, effective use of concepts, and a quality analysis should come
through in the presentation.
2) Presentation – 20%
This area refers to general presentation skills. Students should be audible, come across as
confident and knowledgeable, and clearly state their points. Practicing in advance is important
and helpful.
3) Creativity – 10%
Be creative and have fun when giving presentations. Let your creative juices flow. Do not
simply read the paper aloud, but engage yourselves and the class in an active, interesting
presentation.
6
Peer Evaluations:
Because I cannot assess the degree to which group members are performing their fair share of work,
group members will anonymously evaluate the performance of each member. Members will assess each
other (as well as themselves) on their contribution to the Global Business Plan Report and Presentation,
attendance at meetings, timely contribution to individually assigned tasks, and overall performance.
Groups will multiply the number of people in their group by 100 points and assign their total points
among the members. All members must receive between 80 and 120 points from each evaluator (i.e.
you cannot give someone a zero score). Each individual’s average score will be the basis for his/her
peer evaluation score, which is multiplied by the overall group Global Business Plan Report score to
obtain the final Global Business Plan Project score for that individual. For example, an individual who
was a member of a group of six people that earned 80 points out of 100 on the Global Business Plan
Report and who was given the peer evaluations shown in the table below would receive the overall
global business plan project grade as listed in the “individual project grade” column below. Thus,
student E whose group received a Global Business Plan Report score of 80 and whose average peer
evaluation score was 510/600, or 0.85, would obtain an individual Global Business Plan Project grade of
68. Note that the instructor maintains the right to disregard self-ratings that are substantially higher than
peer ratings.
WEBCT
Class notes, the syllabus, and other relevant course-related materials will be posted on WEBCT. You
may download this material from the website. In addition, you are advised to check your messages on
WEBCT prior to each class session. This will be my main way of disseminating any messages or
instructions relating to the course. Furthermore, groups will have a message area on WebCT to facilitate
communication about the Oral Case Discussion and Global Business Plan Report and Presentation.
WebCT can be accessed at webct.utdallas.edu using a UNIX ID and password.
Common Courtesy
You are expected to be courteous during class time. Please respect your fellow students by turning off
cell phones and beepers before class, refraining from talking with others when someone is speaking, and
arriving punctually to class. Also, note that laptop usage during class is prohibited, as this is distracting
to fellow students.
7
Scholastic Dishonesty:
Anyone who commits an act of scholastic dishonesty is subject to discipline. Scholastic dishonesty
includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarizing, colluding, submitting for credit any work or
materials that are attributable in part or fully to another party, taking an exam for another person, and
engaging in or attempting to engage in any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student. The
University of Texas at Dallas has several procedures to deal with students who commit acts of scholastic
dishonesty. Visit http://www.utdallas.edu/student/slife/TitleV.html for further information on this topic.
Note that this course has specific grade reductions due to plagiarism. Plagiarism is a serious offense and
points will be deducted for committing it. As noted in the section on group case analysis reports, papers
that have excessive plagiarism (over 50%) will automatically receive a grade of zero, while those with
varying degrees of plagiarism will have points deducted based on the extent of the violation. Five points
will be deducted for 1-9% of the paper being plagiarized, ten points for 10-19%, twenty points for 20-
29%, thirty points for 30-39%, and forty points for 40-49% of the paper taken from other sources. If
you are not sure what plagiarism is or how to properly recognize sources, you are strongly encouraged to
talk with me before submitting written work.
Aug. 30 Managing MNCs “The MNC: Definition, scope and influence” pp. 1-13
and International
Reading 1-1 “The tortuous evolution of the multinational
Expansion
corporation” pp. 61-70
Case 1-1: Jollibee Foods Corporation (A)
Sept. 6 National Culture and Reading 2.1 “Culture and organization” pp. 154-178
the Organization
8
Sept. 13 Social (available on reserve at the UTD library)
Responsibility and Reich, R. (1998). The new meaning of corporate social
Ethics in MNCs responsibility. California Management Review, 40(2), 8-17.
Donaldson, T. (1996, September-October). Values in tension:
Ethics away from home. Harvard Business Review, pp. 48-62.
Fadiman, J. (1986, July-August). A traveler’s guide to gifts and
bribes. Harvard Business Review, pp. 122-136.
Nichols, M. (1992, January-February). Third world families at
work: Child labor or child care? Harvard Business Review, pp. 12-
14.
Unbridgeable difference? The debate over wild rice. (2004, August
1). The Star Tribune.
Case 2-3: Hitting the Wall: Nike and International Labor
Practices
Introductory Summary of each group’s selected company,
product/service, and country in which to expand for the
Global Business Plan Report
Oct. 4 Exam 1
9
Oct. 18 Creating and “Creating and leveraging knowledge: The worldwide learning
Leveraging challenge” pp. 456-465
Knowledge
Reading 5-1 “Unleash innovation in foreign subsidiaries” pp. 529-
535
Reading 5-3 “The knowledge-creating company” pp. 546-555
Case 5-2: McKinsey & Company: Managing Knowledge and
Learning
Nov. 29 Exam 2
10
Oral Case Discussion Options
11
Case 5-2: McKinsey & Company: Managing Knowledge and Learning
1. How was this obscure little firm of “accounting and engineering advisors” able to grow into the
world’s most prestigious consulting firm fifty years later? What was the unique source of
competitive advantage developed by James O. McKinsey and later Marvin Bower?
2. How effective was Ron Daniel in leading McKinsey to respond to challenges identified in the
Commission on Firm Aims and Goals? What contribution did Fred Gluck make to the required
changes?
3. Judging by the evidence in the three mini-cases of front-line activities in the mid-1990s, how
effective has the firm been in its two-decade long change process?
4. What is your evaluation of Rajat Gupta’s “four-pronged” approach to knowledge development
and application within McKinsey? As a senior partner, what specific advice would you give
him?
12
Student Information Sheet
IMS 6360 – Fall 2005
General Information
Name: ____________________________
Phone # ____________________________
Hometown: ____________________________
Work experience:
International experience (study abroad, travel, work, etc.) – include length of time and
country(ies)
Personal goals:
13