Unit Description

This is a postgraduate unit and only available to students enrolled in postgraduate courses. This unit addresses the issues of international business and is designed to assist in the development of knowledge and skills in relation to managing within an international business organization. This unit offers students the opportunity to explore the risks and rewards of an international approach to business from a theoretical point of view, to explore some of the cultural and ethical issues involved in international business, and to research the experience of a range of firms who operate globally. Its main objective is to provide students with an overview of international business functions so that international business opportunities could be identified and utilized more effectively.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit a student should be able to:
1. Discuss and describe globalisation processes and how they might affect markets and production.
2. Discuss and describe the key concepts and factors of international trade and investment.
3. Understand and describe the key differences between domestic and international business and how they might affect organisational decisions.
4. Develop an understanding of the motivators and deterrents that might impact an organisation’s decision to go international.
5. Analyse current trends and predict likely developments in international business and international management.

Teaching and Learning Strategies

The unit will be delivered as lectures delivered terrestrially and also on-line, with all the lecture materials made available as PowerPoint slides.

In support of the learning process, a student learning pack is available in a downloadable form from Learnline. These materials also contain guided readings in the required unit text and academic journal articles. Additional learning will occur through student/tutor interaction utilising the unit Discussion Board.

Assessment will be based upon two assignments, details of which are specified in the student learning pack. The unit is designed to be delivered both terrestrially and online. Face to face sessions are likely to be more problem solving and/or tutorial like.

Participation

Your contact requirements are 3 hours/week over a 12 week period based upon a combination of formal lectures and participation in on-line Learnline discussion board events (for which a broadband connection is required) plus 5 hours/week individual study over 12 weeks. Students should communicate with the tutor via the Learnline e-mail system. Additional 1-to-1 and/or group-based events utilising the Discussion Board designed to assist the student learning process may be scheduled as identified need arises during the unit. Hence students are advised to regularly check the Discussion Board to determine the time and date for any such additional activities

Learnline (Online Learning System)
Learnline is Charles Darwin University’s on-line learning system.
In this unit, Learnline will be used to:

• provide important announcements about the unit
• distribute lecture slides, and other study materials. It is likely this will include online audio files of lectures.
• complete online assessments
• access feedback from tasks and grades for assessable work
• provide a communication point where you contribute to discussions as part of your assessment, and to interact with other students in the unit

Assessments

Assessment Item 1
Description/Focus: The purpose of this assignment is to provide an opportunity to utilise your skills and knowledge in acquiring secondary (i.e. existing) information as the basis of developing a report.

The purpose of this assignment is to undertake an analysis of a new overseas market or an existing overseas market where significant expansion should be implemented.

Task:

Utilise the University library, the Internet and any information made available by the organisation (e.g. annual report, promotional materials) to provide an analysis of the organisation’s current operations as the basis for recommending an entry into a new overseas market or implementing a significant expansion in an existing overseas market where a major new opportunity exists.

Assessment criteria:

The submitted assignment is required to demonstrate the following:

1. An ability to utilise sources such as the Internet and University library facilities to search, locate and summarise data relevant to the assignment

2. An ability to utilise appropriate academic theories on international business that can provide a framework for analysing an overseas market.

3. An ability to develop an effective analysis of an overseas market.

4. An ability to present a well written, well-structured report

5. An ability to critically analyse information, formulate conclusions and exhibit original thought.

The levels of achievement for the assignment are measured by demonstration of:

1. The data acquired and summarised from sources such as the Internet and the University library facilities.

2. Presentation of appropriate international business theories about overseas market conditions and key variables in terms of being used as frameworks to support your analysis.

3. Identification of the factors within the selected overseas market which are key influencers of the organisation’s future performance in this market.

4. The submission of a well written, well-structured report.

5. A critical analysis of information to generate conclusions and provide evidence of original thought.

Assessments

Assessment Item 2
Description/Focus: This is an individual assignment. You are required to identify, review, analysis and report International Business Practice of a real organization of your choice.

Task:

The purpose of this assignment is to provide an opportunity to utilise your knowledge of international business to undertake an analysis of the practice of a real organisation. You may choose an organisation for the local environment or from overseas. Business press is full of reports about different aspects of international business strategy adopted by organisations – both local and international.

You need to not only report the development, but also analyse the relevance of such action. An overriding issue will be to assess, “is this action theoretically sound and justified”?

Assessment criteria: The submitted assignment is required to demonstrate the following:

1. An ability to utilise sources such as the Internet and University library facilities to search, locate and summarise data relevant to the assignment

2. Selection of a real international business strategy for the chosen organisation.

3. An ability to utilise appropriate theories about international business to assess if the new action or strategy is appropriate.

4. An ability to utilise appropriate theories to create frameworks to assess its relevance

5. An ability to present a well written, well-structured report

6. An ability to critically analyse information, formulate conclusions and exhibit original thought.

The levels of achievement for the assignment are measured by demonstration of:

7. Effective use sources such as the Internet and University library facilities to search, locate and summarise data relevant to the assignment

8. Presentation of an appropriate recommendations in case you identify any deficiency with the reported strategy or action

9. Submission of a well written, well-structured report

10. Evidence of critically analysis of information, formulation of conclusions and exhibiting original thought.

Assessments

Assessment Item 3

Description/Focus: To focus of this assignment is on your participation in-class, tutorials and discussion board activities.

Task:

The purpose of this assignment is to provide an opportunity to utilize your knowledge of international business issues to discuss and contribute to your own learning and sharing your views and understanding with others in your
group and or class.

Assessment criteria:

Your participation should demonstrate the following:

Attendance, preparation and contribution to discussions An ability to present well-structured and theoretically sound arguments An ability to critically analyse information, formulate conclusions and exhibit original thought.

The levels of achievement of participation are measured by demonstration of:

Effective use sources such as the Internet and University library facilities to search, locate and summarise data relevant to the issues Utilisation of appropriate theories about international business to take a position about the issues being discussed

Use of appropriate theories to create frameworks that can to justify your decisions

Evidence of critically analysis of information, formulation of conclusions and exhibiting original thought.