International Business INB 300
 

 
Purpose of course

INB 300 provides the foundation for the basic domains of business (accounting, economics, finance, management, marketing and production) in the international context in which modern businesses increasingly interact with their various stakeholders. It provides the basics to make informed and effective business decisions. This course focuses on business decision making and enforces your leadership skills with a sensitivity and knowledge of internationalization in order to be successful in the today’s global economy. Particular emphasis is given to cultural, political, legal, economical aspects. The goal is to provide a deeper understanding on globalization, cross-cultural businesses, politics and law in business, economic systems and development, international trade, business-government trade relations, regional economic integration, international financial markets and monetary systems. In the context of corporations, it provides a deeper understanding of international strategy and organizational structure, selecting and managing entry modes, developing and marketing products internationally as well as managing international operations.

 

Objectives of course

The following outlines the main course objectives of this course.

  • Globalization
  • Cross-Cultural Business
  • Politics and Law in Business
  • Economic Systems and Development
  • International Trade
  • Business-Government Trade Relations
  • Foreign Direct Investments
  • Regional Economic Integration
  • Internantional Financial Markets
  • International Monetary Systems
  • International Strategy and Organization
  • Analyzing International Opportunities
  • Selecting and Managing Entry Modes
  • Develooping and Marketing Products
  • Managing International Operations

Book Used

International Business: The Challenges of Globalization, John J. Wild, Kenneth L. Wild, and Jerry C.Y. Han; 4th Edition, Prentice Hall, 2008 (New Edition!). ISBN 0131747436

Assignement of the course

Learning facilitators enable you to add richer and deeper meaning to the course context. They enable you to “own” the content of the course to make it tangible, personally valuable, and useful. Learning facilitators will include, next to lectures, the following:

1.1. Harvard Business School Cases
Case method presents students with a “real” business situations managers faced. Read carefully the case, identify the problems, options and you have to respond to the questions based on fact-based analyses (quantitative and qualitative). In class discussion enable you to debate about the various answers you come up with.

1.2. Country Presentation
The team which presents the Harvard Case also has to provide before the case presentation a very short country presentation of the company’s country or where the case mainly takes place (i.e. headquarter of company).

2. International Business Simulation Game (team)
This web based simulation game, challenges students to make realistic business decisions in a competitive, fast-paced market. The game chosen is the “Introduction to Business and Strategy”. It allows students to develop and execute a complete business strategy. Simulation participants learn to study competitive tactics and adjust their business strategy to stay ahead of the competition.

3. “My Type” in International Business (individual)
It gives you the opportunity to research and explore your own personality, culture, perceptions, etc.You will gain an understanding of yourself to identify your strengths and weaknesses as these relate to your learning, communication (verbal and written), decision making, and leadership/followership propensities.

4. Tests & Papers
During the semester you will be asked to write in total 5 short papers or do tests. They will assess the acutal content learned in the above mentioned assignments. Each assignment is given in one class and needs to be completed for the following class. You need to follow the instructions provided in/during class.

5. Final Exam (individual)
The final exam assesses the student’s knowledge about the course thought. The exam enables the student to look if s/he has understood the material, where s/he stands, what are the course requirements and course level.

INB Discovery Project