This course is a broad survey of the field of international business and provides the foundations for further specialisation in this field. It will begin with a brief overview of international business, focused on the concept of globalisation. The course will then examine the environment for international firms, particularly the political, social economic, technological and other configurations that support cross-border trade and investment. Amongst others, we will look at the role of national policies, cultures and business systems, the evolution of international markets in goods, services and finance, and the supernational mechanisms and infrastructures for trade, investment and finance. The course will then probe international firms: their strategies and organisational design, their entry modes into international enterprise, and their behavioural and control systems.

Discussion of current events/affairs and how these impact on international businesses is a major part of the course, for instance, issues relating to international trade, foreign investment, international political conflict, financial crises, etc.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Identify the main features of the international business environment and its main institutions;
2. analyse the political, social, economic, technological and other configurations that support cross-border trade;
3. apply an understanding of the nature of the multinational firm as an institutional structure for the conduct of cross-border trade and investment;
4. analyse the key decisions that multinational firms make in relation to the choice of markets and entry strategies;
5. apply an understanding of the different modes of engagement with international markets and explore the interconnectedness between these and the economic, legal, governmental, political, regulatory, cultural and other environments in which expanding companies operate;
6. research international business issues and apply theoretical insights to the analysis of such issues in the context of a complex international business environment; and,
7. communicate effectively in oral and written forms using the concepts, logic and rhetorical conventions of of the subject.

Research-Led Teaching

The lecture content will include scholarly research in the field of International Business including the lecturer’s own research. In addition, other data, research and concepts will be presented during the lectures that are not covered in the textbook. This material will be sourced from research institutes, consultants, and international agencies.

During the tutorials, students will have the opportunity to analyse, apply, and present on contemporary international business concepts, issues, and practices.

Field Trips

There are no field trips in this course.

Additional Course Costs

There are no additional class costs.

Examination Material or equipment

This course has a final examination. Further instructions will be advised by the convenor during the course and on Wattle by end of Week 12.

Required Resources

Hill, C.W.L. (2022) Global Business Today, 12th Edition, International Student Edition, McGraw-Hill Custom Publishing, North Ryde.

Details about how to purchase the e-book or hard copy will be provided on Wattle.

The textbook (hard copy and e-text) will also be available in the Chifley Library reserve & short loan collection.

Recommended Resources

Other Resources

Additional readings related to the weekly topics will also be provided via the links on Wattle.

The ANU Library subscribes (electronically) to a wide range of academic journals. Journals that may be helpful for your research include:

• Academy of Management Review
• Academy of Management Perspectives
• Academy of Management Journal
• Journal of Management Studies
• Journal of Management
• Journal of International Business Studies
• Journal of World Business
• International Business Review
• International Journal of Human Resource Management
• Journal of Business Research
• Asia-Pacific Journal of Management
• Management International Review
• Journal of International Marketing
• Strategic Management Journal
• Strategic Management Review

Useful Websites

• Academy of International Business: http://aib.msu.edu/
• Asian Development Bank: www.adb.org
• Australia and New Zealand International Business Academy: http://www.anziba.org/index.html
• Austrade (Australian Trade Commission): http://www.austrade.gov.au/
• Australian Bureau of Statistics: http://www.abs.gov.au/
• Australian Securities and Investments Commission: http://www.asic.gov.au/
• Australian Stock Exchange Limited (ASX): http://www.asx.com.au
• Company Annual Reports Online: http://www.carol.co.uk/
• Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade: http://www.dfat.gov.au/
• Doing Business (World Bank Group): http://www.doingbusiness.org/
• Global Edge: http://globaledge.msu.edu/
• International Monetary Fund: www.imf.org
• OECD: www.oecd.org
• Pacific Economic Cooperation Council: http://www.pecc.org
• The Economist: www.economist.com
• World Factbook (CIA): http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/
• World Bank: worldbank.org

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• Written comments
• Verbal comments
• Feedback to the whole class, to groups, to individuals, focus groups

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Week 1: Introduction to International Business / The challenge and future of globalisation	Lectures: delivered on campus and recorded (see Wattle for further details) Readings: Chapter 1
2	Week 2: Political environments and international business	Lecture: delivered on campus and recorded Seminar: delivered online (Zoom) Tutorial: Face-to-Face and Zoom (see Wattle for further details) Readings: Chapter 2
3	Week 3: Economic environments and international business	Lecture: delivered on campus and recorded Seminar: delivered online (Zoom) Tutorial: Face-to-Face and Zoom available Readings: Chapter 3
4	Week 4: Cultural environments and international business	Lecture: delivered on campus and recorded Seminar: delivered online (Zoom) Tutorial: Face-to-Face and Zoom available Readings: Chapter 4
5	Week 5: Ethics and international business	Lecture: delivered on campus and recorded Seminar: delivered online (Zoom) Tutorial: Face-to-Face and Zoom available Readings: Chapter 5
6	Week 6: International trade: theory and practice	Lecture: delivered on campus and recorded Seminar: delivered online (Zoom) Tutorial: Face-to-Face and Zoom available Readings: Chapters 6 & 7 Assessment: Online Group Presentation due 11:59pm Monday of Week 6 (28 March 2022)
7	Week 7: Foreign direct investment	Lecture: delivered on campus and recorded Seminar: delivered online (Zoom) Tutorial: Face-to-Face and Zoom available Readings: Chapter 8
8	Week 8: Regional economic integration	Lecture: delivered on campus and recorded Seminar: delivered online (Zoom) Tutorial: Face-to-Face and Zoom available Readings: Chapter 9
9	Week 9: Foreign exchange markets	Lecture: delivered on campus and recorded Seminar: delivered online (Zoom) Tutorial: Face-to-Face and Zoom available Readings: Chapter 10 Assessment: Business Environment Analysis Report due 11:59pm Monday of Week 9 (2 May 2022)
10	Week 10: The international monetary system	Lecture: delivered on campus and recorded Seminar: delivered online (Zoom) Tutorial: Face-to-Face and Zoom available Readings: Chapter 11
11	Week 11: Strategy and organisation of international firms	Lecture: delivered on campus and recorded Seminar: delivered online (Zoom) Tutorial: Face-to-Face and Zoom available Readings: Chapter 12
12	Week 12: Entry strategy and strategic alliances / Course review and preparing for the final exam	Lectures: delivered on campus and recorded Tutorial: Face-to-Face and Zoom Readings: Chapter 13 Assessment: The final examination will be held during the examination period.

Tutorial Registration

This course will have tutorials or tutorial-like teaching activities. Further details about the structure and teaching activities for this course will be available on the course Wattle site by the start of Orientation Week.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Tutorial Participation (10%)	10 %	*	*	7
Online Group Presentation (20%)	20 %	28/03/2022	08/04/2022	2,3,6,7
Business Environment Analysis Report (40%)	40 %	02/05/2022	23/05/2022	1,2,3,4,6,7
Final Examination (30%)	30 %	*	30/06/2022	1,2,3,4,5,7

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Attendance at and participation in all classes is expected. All assessment tasks should be attempted.

Lectures will be delivered on campus and recordings will be made available on Echo360 and Wattle. Seminars will be delivered online through Zoom and recorded. A choice of face-to-face and online synchronous (Zoom) tutorials will be offered.

Examination(s)

This course has a final examination. Further instructions will be advised by the convenor during the course and on Wattle by end of Week 12.

Assessment Task 1

Tutorial Participation (10%)

Details of task:

It is essential to your learning – and the learning of others in the class – that you are fully involved in the course. This means that you need to:

a) Attend class – though much learning will be done outside the classroom, class time is a valuable, scarce resource. You are expected to arrive ready to begin class on time; to not leave until class is over; and to attend all classes. If for any special reason you are unable to meet these requirements, please talk to the course convenor about it.

b) Come prepared – it will be assumed that you have completed any assigned readings and prepared for the discussion questions prior to class.

c) Actively participate in the learning – we owe it to ourselves and our colleagues to participate as fully as possible in the class sessions.

For students studying remotely, participation will be assessed through engagement via Zoom.

Purpose:

To evaluate the issues and challenges related to International Business

Marking Criteria:

This component is intended to evaluate the level and quality of your contribution to tutorial discussions, which should reflect your analytical and problem-solving skills. More specifically, it assesses your ability to understand situations and diagnose problems, and to recommend courses of action in relation to those situations and problems and to communicate your views effectively. This assessment specifically addresses Learning Outcome 7 by evaluating your ability to communicate effectively throughout the semester on international business concepts and issues. As the course will be delivered in a hybrid mode (face-to-face and remotely via Zoom), opportunities will be provided for all students to participate in the weekly seminars and tutorials. You will receive a progress mark in the grade book on Wattle by the end of Week 6, and your final participation grade will be available in the grade book within one week after Week 12.

Assessment Task 2

Online Group Presentation (20%)

Due dates:

11:59pm Monday of Week 6 (28 March 2022)

Instructions:

Students will form groups of 2 or 3 and present on a recent international business case/issue related to the topics in Weeks 1 to 5 of the course. Each group is required to prepare a 5-minute video presentation and PowerPoint slides on their chosen case/issue. The video presentation is to be pre-recorded and submitted by the due date via Wattle. The presentations should include an overview of the case, issues it raises (e.g. implications for international firms), application of international business concepts and/or theory, and any recommendations for managing the issue. It is expected that each group member will be involved in the presentation. You are expected to use PowerPoint slides (maximum of 5 slides) or other media to enhance your presentation.

Purpose:

The purpose of the group presentation is to sharpen your ability to link international business concepts to practice, develop your critical thinking skills, and to practice your oral communication skills. The group presentation will be marked out of 20.

Marking criteria:

Further guidelines and marking criteria will be posted on Wattle at the start of semester (Week 1).

Submission instructions:

The link to your group's video and PowerPoint slides or other media should be submitted via Wattle

Return of assignments:

Feedback on your group presentation and grade will be provided within 10 working days of the due date

Assessment Task 3

Business Environment Analysis Report (40%)

Due date:

11:59pm Monday of Week 9 (2 May 2022)

Word limit:

2,500 words ±10%. A penalty of 2 marks (5%) will be applied to reports that exceed the word limit. Further details will be provided on Wattle.

Instructions:

The individual Business Environment Analysis Report (BEAR) takes the form of a detailed report to the CEO of an Australian company chosen from the list provided on Wattle. The report should provide an analysis and assessment of the business environment of one country in which the company currently has operations.

A detailed task description will be provided on Wattle.

Purpose:

To develop skills in undertaking research, evaluation of relevant business conditions, and formulation of criteria for decision-making and recommendations. This assessment is intended to further develop your research and analytical skills in issues related to international business.

Marking criteria:

Further guidelines, marking criteria, and rubric will be posted on Wattle at the start of semester (Week 1).

Submission instructions:

Assignments are to be word-processed. The use of professional expression and presentation is expected. The Harvard referencing style is to be used. Links to documentation on referencing methods are available on the course website or from the ANU Library website.

You are required to submit an electronic copy of your assignment to Turnitin via the Watttle website. Further information about Turnitin is provided below.

Return of assignments:

Assignments with grade and comments will be returned via Turnitin within three weeks of the submission date.

Assessment Task 4

Final Examination (30%)

Due date:

As scheduled during the Examinations period

Instructions:

More information about the examination will be announced in the lecture and made available on Wattle at least 2 weeks before the examination period. The exam will be 2 hours in length and further details about the structure and expectations for the final exam will be announced in the lecture at least 2 weeks before the end of semester.

Purpose:

To demonstrate your ability to understand and apply International Business concepts and principles covered in the course. These are addressed in Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Hardcopy Submission

Not applicable

Late Submission

Late submission of assessment tasks without an approved extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for the open-book take-home examination during the examination period.

All requests for extensions to assessment in RSM courses must be submitted to the RSM School Office with a completed application form and supporting documentation. The RSM Extension Application Form and further information on this process can be found at https://www.rsm.anu.edu.au/education/education-programs/rsm-assessment-extension/

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

Please see relevant assessment task details above.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Not permitted.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information. In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service — including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy. If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes. Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students