5. International Business (En) Hkt8.2023.Docx

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING

THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM

UNIVERSITY OF ECONOMICS HCMC

Independence-Freedom-Happiness

HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAM

MAJOR: International Business
MINOR: International Business/ Foreign Trade

SYLLABUS
1. Course title: International Business Management
2. Course code: ……………………………………………………….
3. Teaching Department: International Business and Marketing
4. Level of competency: Undergraduate – 2nd year
…………………………………………………………………………………….
5. Credits: 3
6. Time allocation:
+ Lecture:

25

+ Group works, practice, discussion:

15

+ Self-study:

5

7. Prequisite courses: none
8. Course description:
International Business course introduces the international business environment and the
fundamental issues in international business management. The main topics of the course
include: Introduction of globalisation; international business enviornment audit and national
diferences; international trade and investment theories and policies, international business
strategies, market entry modes, and functional strategies in organisation.

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9. Learning materials:
9.1 Text books:
Material 1: Hill (2018) Global Business Today (10e) Mc GrawHill
Material 2: Cavusgil, S. T., Knight, G., & Riesenberger, J. R. (2019). International
Business: The New Realities.
9.2 Referrences:
Material 1: Deresky, H. (2014). International Management (9e) Pearson
9.3 Others:
……………………………………………………………………………………….

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10. Course teaching plan:
Dates

Topic

Students’
preparation

Week 1

Welcome
Course introduction
Group formation
Topic: Globalization
- Concepts of globalization

Week 2

-

Drivers of globalization

-

Key changes in the global economy

-

Impact of globalization on business

Topic 2: National differences in political economy
- National differences in political, economic, and legal
environment
-

Week 3

Week 4

Read chapter 1

Read chapter 2

Why is understanding national differences vital to
international business?

Topic 3: Economic development and political economy
- Determinants of economic development
-

How the political economy can affect economic
development

-

Key information in understanding the business
environment of an international market.

Topic: National differences in culture
- Key concepts of culture
-

Determinants of Culture

-

Impact of Culture on business

Read chapter 3

Read chapter 4

Discussion:
1. Outline why the culture of a country might influence
the costs of doing business in that country. Illustrate
your answer with examples.
2. Why do you think cultural intelligence is important
(irrelevant) in international business?
Week 5

Topic: Trade theories

Read chapter 6
3


Week 6

-

Mercantilism

-

Theory of Absolute Advantage

-

Theory of Comparative Advantage

-

The New Trade Theory

-

The National Competitive Advantage (Porter’s
Diamond)

Topic: Government Policy and International Trade
- Trade tools
-

Read chapter 7

Impact on trade tools

Discussion
- What are trade barriers? Why do they exist?
Week 7

What impacts do trade barriers have on international
business?

Topic: Foreign Direct Investment
- Key concepts of FDI
-

Read Chapter
8

FDI policies

Discussion:

Week 8

LMS self-study and Topic Quizzes

Review

Group research and report, midnight Sunday, end of week 8, LMS
Week 9

Group presentation

11. Student assessment system:
Assignment

Type

Weigh
t

#1 Attendance and
Participation

Individual

10%

#2 Topic quizzes

Individual

15%

#3 Group tasks

Group

10%

#4 Group presentation

Group

15%

#6 Final exam

Individual

50%

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12. Student duties:
To successfully complete this unit, students must:
 Achieve a minimum of 50 marks;
 Complete all assessment items; and
 Attend 80 per cent of class time.
1.
Attendance and in-class discussion: This is a discussion-based course,
your participation is important to the learning experience. Participation includes
coming to class prepared and on time, taking part in class discussions (this involves
listening/reading as well as writing/speaking and completing all in-class activities),
asking questions, contributing your knowledge and insights in whatever form is
appropriate, and striving to make all your contributions excellent. Much of the
learning in this course will come from the chance to express your ideas and
exchange them with your peers. You are required to prepare all the assigned
materials and participate in discussion.
It is required that students attend at least 80% of class time. Absence for more
than three classes results in elimination of all participation points earned.
2.
Topic quizzes: There are quizzes posted on LMS at the end of each
topic. All quizzes are closed midnight Sunday of the last study week.
3.
Group tasks: a number of small group exercises will be scheduled
throughout the course and depend on time availability. It could be a surprise in class
when you need to gather in teams and work on a small group exercise. Everyone
needs to be ready for each of these tasks when they come. Only participants will
earn points for their work. In many cases, these small exercises are used for

subsequent class discussion and groups receive points upon their completion of
these tasks.
4.

Group presentation:

Students (in-groups) need to research and analyze the international market entry
strategy or global strategy of a multinational company.
This exercise is related to all of the learning objectives of this module. Students
need to choose a Vietnamese enterprise which has international business activities,
and research its market entry modes. Your task is to identify what the key factors
are in the international business environments contributing to the success and failure
of the focal company in the chosen case. You must analyse the company’s
approaches to address the issues arising from the international business
environment, evaluate these approaches and provide your reasoning. Also,
importantly, based on the company/case, you are expected to offer
recommendations for other firms in a similar situation. Keep in mind that in your
presentation, you need to refer to the textbook contents and elaborate on the
relevant concepts and theories highlighted in course materials.
13. Student support:
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Students can contact lecturers by email: (Nguyen Hue Minh,
PhD)
HCMC, date

December, 2020

Dean’s approval

Course coordinator

(signature with full name)

(signature with full name)

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