The course provides an overview of business in the Middle East and an examination of specific issues for companies doing business in the region. The course focuses most on the Arab countries of the Middle East, but with some attention paid to Turkey, Israel and Iran as well. Specific topics include the Middle Eastern business environment, the cultural specifics of the region that impact on business, the legal framework, and specific strategies in international and cross-cultural marketing, human resource management, labour relations, logistics, and finance. Strategies for dealing with the public sector in the region also are covered, given the role of bureaucracies and state -owned enterprises in the region. The aim of the course is to enhance students' understanding of the Middle Eastern business environment and the ways in which various dynamics impact on business operations of firms in the region.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Demonstrate an understanding of various factors that influence the business environment in the Middle East, including the political and economic environments;
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the business culture of the Middle East and how this is related to the wider cultures of the region;
3. Demonstrate an understanding of several specific issues in Middle Eastern business; among these might include the dynamics of business leadership, human resources, marketing, banking and finance, logistics, e-business, and public relations; and,
4. Communicate their understanding of and knowledge about the above in a clear and concise way and in both written and oral formats.

Research-Led Teaching

This course has several research-led features and characteristics:

• Students will be given the opportunity to engage with emerging ideas in Middle Eastern political economy and business.
• Many of the course activities, and the course assessment, use enquiry-based learning formats that pose real-world examples of business issues and which require students to engage with and address these scenarios using scholarly approaches and sources to further develop research skills and analytical judgment,
• Discuss during the weekly tutorials encourage students to apply concepts and defend their ideas including through teamwork-based research skills.
• 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.

Field Trips

There are no field trips for this course

Additional Course Costs

There are no additional costs for this course

Examination Material or equipment

Further details will be provided on Wattle

Required Resources

Budhwar, P. & Pereira, V. (eds) (2023) Doing Business in the Middle East: A Research-Based Practitioners' Guide, 1st Edition, Routledge, U.K.

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

The textbook (print copy) will also be available in the Chifley Library reserve & short loan collection.

Recommended Resources

The ANU library has specially purchased access to Gulf States News, a political risk consultancy focused on the Arabian Peninsula, Iraq and Iran. It includes up-to-date analysis on the most recent events in the region, as well as overview of royal family politics, business families, and other key political actors. Access to GSN can be found here: https://www.gsn-online.com/

Other readings will be provided each week on Wattle. Students are also encouraged to conduct their own search for readings and resources on the region.

Staff Feedback

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

• Written comments
• Verbal comments

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: Course Introduction and Historical Overview	Lecture: delivered on campus and recorded (see Wattle for further details)Readings: Chapter 1 and other readings provided on Wattle
2	Week 2: Economic Environment in the Middle East	Lecture: delivered on campus and recorded (see Wattle for further details)Readings: Chapter 2 and other readings provided on Wattle
3	Week 3: Political and Legal Environments in the Middle East	Lecture: delivered on campus and recorded (see Wattle for further details)Readings: Chapters 3 & 4 and other readings provided on WattleAssessment: Group Presentation in the lecture (as scheduled)
4	Week 4: Religion, Culture and Business Practices (1)	Lecture: delivered on campus and recorded (see Wattle for further details)Readings: Chapters 5 & 11 and other readings provided on WattleAssessment: Group Presentation in the lecture (as scheduled)
5	Week 5: Religion, Culture and Business Practices (2)	Lecture: delivered on campus and recorded (see Wattle for further details)Readings: Chapter 14 and other readings provided on WattleAssessment: Group Presentation in the lecture (as scheduled)
6	Week 6: International Business and Investment in the Middle East	Lecture: delivered on campus and recorded (see Wattle for further details)Readings: Chapters 6 &15 and other readings provided on WattleAssessment: Group Presentation in the lecture (as scheduled)
7	Week 7: Public-Private Partnerships and State-Business Relations	Lecture: Pre-recorded (see Wattle for further details)Readings: Chapter 16 and other readings provided on Wattle
8	Week 8: Banking, Islamic Finance and Capital Markets	Lecture: delivered on campus and recorded (note: lecture will be rescheduled due to the ANZAC day public holiday)Readings: Chapter 8 and other readings provided on Wattle
9	Week 9: Leadership and Human Resource Management in the Region (1)	Lecture: Pre-recorded (see Wattle for further details)Readings: Chapters 7 & 10 and other readings provided on WattleAssessment: Group Presentation in the lecture (as scheduled)
10	Week 10: Leadership and Human Resource Management in the Region (2)	Lecture: delivered on campus and recorded (see Wattle for further details)Readings: Chapters 12 & 13 and other readings provided on WattleAssessment: Group Presentation in the lecture (as scheduled)
11	Week 11: Business Operations in the Middle East	Lecture: delivered on campus and recorded (see Wattle for further details)Readings: Chapter 9 and other readings provided on WattleAssessment: Group Presentation in the lecture (as scheduled)
12	Week 12: Emerging Trends in Business in the Middle East and course-wrap up.	Lecture: delivered on campus and recorded (see Wattle for further details)Assessment: Group Presentation in the lecture (as scheduled)Assessment: Final examination will be held during the Semester 1 Examination period

Tutorial Registration

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.” https://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/timetabling. 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 %	*	*	1,2,3,4
Group Presentation (20%)	20 %	*	*	1,2,3,4
Individual Research Report (40%)	40 %	15/04/2024	10/05/2024	1,2,3,4
Final Examination (30%)	30 %	*	27/06/2024	1,2,3,4

* 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

Participation is expected in all classes and assessment. All assessment tasks should be attempted.

Attendance at lectures and tutorials, while not compulsory, is expected in line with "Code of Practice for Teaching and Learning," Clause 2 paragraph (b). Where

students will not be able to attend a lecture and tutorial, they should advise the Convenor and discuss how to otherwise address the learning materials.

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. Information regarding the scheduling of examinations will be provided by the ANU Examinations office in due course. Additional examination information will be available on https://exams.anu.edu.au/timetable/

Assessment Task 1

Tutorial Participation (10%)

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. Written responses to the tutorial questions may be requested as evidence of your preparation.

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

Purpose:

To evaluate the concepts, issues and practices related to business in the Middle East.

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 4 by evaluating your ability to communicate effectively throughout the semester on Middle East business practices and issues. Opportunities will also be provided for students to participate in the during the interactive lectures, although participation is only assessed on your contribution to the tutorial discussions.

Feedback:

You will receive a progress mark, including feedback, 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

Group Presentation (20%)

Due dates: group presentations will occur in Weeks 3-6 and 9-12 and will vary according to the schedule determined in week 1.

Note: extension for this assessment item is not applicable, and thus won't be approved, as it is assessed on group basis.

Instructions:

In Week 1, or later as necessary, students will be asked to form groups (number in each group determined by course convenor depending on student enrolment) and assigned a week in which to present. Each group will deliver a 15-minute presentation in the second half of the assigned lecture on a topic relevant to that weeks' material (agreed upon at least one week in advance with the convenor). All members of the group need to present.

The presentation may comprise:

• A summary and discussion on one or more readings related to the week's topic.
• A discussion and analysis of a real-world example of business in the Middle East (for example, a particular company's experience, a specific regulation change in a particular country, etc). Further advice on the format and content of the presentations will be provided on Wattle and in the first lecture.

Purpose:

The purpose of the group presentation is to develop your ability to understand and analyse Middle Eastern business issues and practice, 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).

Feedback:

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

Assessment Task 3

Individual Research Report (40%)

Due date:

9:00am Monday 15 April 2024 (Week 7)

Word limit:

2,000 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 Research Report will give students the opportunity to analyse a contemporary Middle East business issue, assess the business environment of a chosen Middle East country, or to focus on a detailed case analysis of a foreign company operating in the Middle East. Please note that this is an individual assessment. A detailed task description will be provided on Wattle.

Purpose:

To develop skills in undertaking research, analysis, and evaluation of relevant business conditions related to the Middle East.

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 Wattle website. Further information about Turnitin is provided below.

AI USE: the use of AI such as ChatGPT to generate an essay or report is not allowed as it is akin to plagiarism. Students are required to demonstrate achievement of critical, analytical and synthesis skills in high quality works.

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 concepts and principles covered in the course. These are addressed in Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 3, and 4.

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.

All requests for extensions to assessment in RSM courses must be submitted through the CBE extension request portal: CBE Assessment Extension Request Form. Further information on this process can be found at https://rsm.anu.edu.au/study/students/extension-application-procedure

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

There is no scope for resubmission of assignments in this course.

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