Usha Andra

Department of Organization and Management

College of Business, San Jose State University

Spring Semester, 2012

 

Course Title:

BUS 162 – International and Comparative Management

Course Code:

22963

Course Section:

04

Class Hours & Location:

Wed,  18:00 – 20:45;  BBC 003

Office Hours:

Wed,  17:15 – 18:00; 20:45 – 21:15

Office Location:

BT 260

Office Phone:

(408) 924-3533

Email:

uandra@gmail.com

Website:

http://www.cob.sjsu.edu/andra_u

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

                                                                                                    

In today’s global economy, managers are increasingly called upon to creatively meet challenges and work with others in a multicultural context.  A manager who understands the role of culture in shaping management practices, organizational strategies, and team effectiveness will increase his or her chances of career success.  In this course you will gain an understanding of the key issues and challenges of international management, along with an introduction to theories, concepts and skills relevant to managing effectively in today’s global environment.  A comparative approach is used to examine management functions and practices within various political, economic, legal and socio-cultural environments. 

 

COURSE PREREQUISITES

 

Bus 100W and Bus 187

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES

 

The objectives of the course are to:

·         Introduce the key issues and challenges of management in the global economy;

·         Gain an awareness of how national cultures influence management practices;

·         Recognize the differences and similarities between the management techniques and systems of US organizations and the organizations of other nationalities;

·         Heighten your understanding of, and ability to work in, multicultural teams;

·         Develop your capability to apply theories and principles of international management to concrete situations;

·         Sharpen your capacity to recommend a range of solutions to address international management challenges;

·         Improve your professional skills of presentation and writing. 


COURSE FORMAT

The course covers a range of learning opportunities, including experiential exercises, case analyses, video film discussions, and lectures.  Classes will be conducted as an interactive exchange, where students and the instructor share in discussion. 

 

REQUIRED READING

Text

Hodgetts, R., Luthans, F., and Doh, J. (2011) International Management:  Culture, Strategy, and Behavior, 8th edn., McGraw-Hill.  ISBN: 0078112575.  (The text is referred to in the syllabus as ‘HLD.’)

 

BASIS FOR FINAL GRADE

Performance Categories                     % of Final Grade

Participation                                                   10%

Team Case Analysis                                        15%    

Individual Term Paper                                    20%

Examinations                                                  55%

 

Grading Scale

A+ =  97 – 100

B+  =  87 – 89

C+   =  77 – 79

D+   =  67 – 69

F   =  below 60

A   =  94 –  96

B    =  84 – 86

C     =  74 – 76

D     =  64 – 66

 

A-  =  90 – 93

B-   =  80 – 83

C-    =  70 – 73

D-    =  60 – 63

 

 

Participation: (10%) 

Your active participation in class discussions is welcomed and expected.  This includes evidence of thorough prior preparation of course materials, engaging in discussion, exercises, etc.  Your presence is important.  Absence from class sessions not only hinders your acquisition of the material and learning, but also deprives the remaining students of your contribution.  If class is missed, please get notes and assignments from your classmates.  You are responsible for class material and announcements made in class including changes to the syllabus.  Respect for the learning environment counts heavily towards the participation grade.   Please turn off your cell phones, and refrain from activities that disrupt the class.

 

Team Case Analysis:  (15%) 

Students will be assigned to one of eight teams for case presentations early in the term.  Cases are scheduled for presentation throughout the term.  Each team is responsible for a case analysis, which involves a presentation and a written case summary which are equally weighted for grading purposes.  Grading may be partially based on peer evaluation.  Presentation guidelines and internet resources for the case-study companies are posted on the instructor’s website.     

 

Individual Term Paper:  (20%)

A term paper with a research component is required.  Details of the assignment are posted on the instructor’s website. 

 

Examinations:  (55%: Midterms, 2@15%; Final, 25%) 

 

There will be two midterm examinations and a final examination.  The midterm exams will be non-comprehensive, and will be a combination of multiple-choice and short-answer questions.  The final examination will be comprehensive, with a greater emphasis on material covered in the latter part of the course, and will be a combination of multiple-choice and essay questions.  Please bring a SCANTRON Form No. 882-E to the midterm exams and a SCANTRON Form No. 886-E to the final exam.

Come to class on time.  The midterm exams will be held during the first half of each class period (18:00-19:15) on Feb 15. 2012 and Mar 21, 2012.  Please be on time. 

All exams are closed notes and closed book.  Please be aware that you are responsible for all assigned text material, whether or not covered in class, as well as material covered in class such as exercises, discussions, videos and other assigned readings.

Study guide materials.  End of chapter questions make a good study guide, since they are the basis of class discussion topics.  Also, the PowerPoint slides for each text chapter will be useful for review. 

There are no make-up exams.  In the event of a serious emergency or documented illness, a make-up exam may be considered in the form of a long (5 page) essay.  Exams will generally be returned the next class period. 

 

COURSE SCHEDULE

     

Week

Dates

Topic

Assignment/Activity

 

 

Part I:  The Global Environment

1

Jan 25

Introduction to the Course

What is International Management?

HLD, Chapter 1

Form  8 Teams

2

Feb 01

 

Globalization and the International Management Environment

Debate:  Pros & Cons of Globalization

HLD, Chapter 1, Chapter 2

Pharmaceutical Companies, Intellectual Property, and the Global AIDS Epidemic (p.94)

3

 

Feb 08

 

Ethics & Social Responsibility 

Team Presentations (Part I, Teams 1 & 2)

HLD, Chapter 3

T1: Colgate; T2: Nike

 

 

Part II:  The Role of Culture

4

Feb 15

Exam #1 (Part I, HLD Chs 1-3)

What is Culture?

Exam #1, bring SCANTRON 882-E

Exercise: In class exercise

5

 

Feb 22

 

Meanings & Dimensions of Culture

  Class Discussion

HLD, Chapter 4

Coca-Cola in India (p. 232)

6

 

Feb 29

 

Managing Across Cultures

Organizational Culture

HLD, Chapter 5, Chapter 6

Walmart’s Global Strategies (p. 258)

7

 

Mar 7

 

Cross-Cultural Communication and Negotiation

Negotiation Exercise (Corning–Vitro Joint Venture)

HLD, Chapter 7

8

 

Mar 14

Cross-Cultural Negotiation

Team Presentations (Part II, Teams 3 & 4)

HLD, Chapter 7 (cont.)

T3: Euro Disneyland; T4: Beyond Tokyo: Disney’s Expansion in Asia

 

 

Part III:  International Strategic Management

9

Mar 21

Exam #2 (Part II, HLD Chs 4-7)

Strategy Formulation & Implementation

Exam #2, bring SCANTRON 882-E

HLD, Chapter 8

 

Mar 28

Spring Break (No Classes)

 

10

 

Apr 4

Entry Strategies

Organizational Structure and Control

HLD, Chapters 9, 11

Sony (p. 393)

11

 

Apr 11

Managing Political Risk

Team Presentations (Part III, Teams 5 & 6)

HLD, Chapter 10

T5: Tata “Nano”; T6: AirAsia

 

 

Part IV:  International OB and HRM

12

 

Apr 18

Motivation Across Cultures

Leadership Across Cultures

Term Paper Due 4/18: Microsoft’s Patent, Piracy and Political Challenges in China OR "Frankenfoods" or Rice Bowl for the World

HLD, Ch 12, 13

13

 

Apr 25

 

Team Presentation (Part IV, Team 7)

HR selection and development  across Cultures

T7: HSBC in China

HLD, Chapter 14

14

May 2

 

Team Presentation (Part IV, Team 8)

Future Challenges for International Management

T8: Chiquita’s Global Turnaround

15

May 9

Term Paper Discussion

Course Review

Final Exam Study Guide

 

May 16

Study/Conference Day (No Classes or Exams) 

 

16

 

May 23

Open Book Final Exam (Chapters 8 through 14)

Wednesday, 18:00-20:45

Bring SCANTRON 886-E

You made it!

I look forward to seeing you in class, and to a challenging and fun semester!

 

College of Business Policies and Procedures

 

Academic Integrity:  Plagiarism will lead to grade penalties, and possibly failure of the course and/or a notation of the incident in your SJSU student records.  It is your responsibility to understand what constitutes plagiarism before you hand in written work.  For help, see the SJSU library tutorial at: http://tutorials.sjlibrary.org/plagiarism/index.htm.  The official SJSU academic integrity policy can be found at http://sa.sjsu.edu/judicial_affairs /index.html.

 

Americans with Disabilities Act:  If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment to see me as soon as possible. Presidential Directive 97-03 requires that students with disabilities register with DRC to establish a record of their disability.”

 

College of Business:  In classrooms, refrain from eating, answering or talking on cell phones, and using computers for other than course-related activities.  Refer to:

http://www.cob.sjsu.edu/cob/5_STUDENT%20SERVICES/cobpolicy.htm.