INDEPENDENT UNIVERSITY, BANGLADESH

School of Business
BBA Program Course Outline
Semester
Autumn
2016

Course
Code
INB 301

Course Title
International Business

Sectio
n
01

INSTRUCTORS DETAILS:
Instructor : Abu Sayeed Arif
Office : 4007
Phone
:
Only available to class
monitor (s)
Email : abuarif.bd@gmail.com

Class Time: ST: 1:40 pm - 3:10 pm

Class Room: 3011
Office Hours: ST: 12:50 pm - 1:40 pm
Web Address: www.abuarif.weebly.com

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
At the dawn of the 21st century, nations are more economically integrated than at any
other point in human history. This presents business leaders with unprecedented
opportunities & challenges. On one hand it gives businesses access to larger markets,
henceforth giving them the opportunity to increase profitability and on the other hand,
the era of globalization has also increased the potential competitors as firms now not only
compete with local firms but also have to compete against international competitors.
Henceforth such competitive business environment requires managers who are capable
of strategizing in an international context. Therefore the main aim of this course is to
provide knowledge about business and management issues in the global perspective.
Furthermore this course also provides students with the opportunity to explore business
knowledge of different culture, legal policies, and impact of globalization which will in turn
help them in formulating strategies in order to compete in this heterogeneous
International Market.
PREREQUISITE (IF ANY):

No prerequisite
COURSE POLICY:
1. It is the students responsibility to gather information about the assignments and
covered topics during the lectures missed. Regular class attendance is mandatory.
Points will be taken off for missing classes. Without 70% of attendance, sitting for
final exam is NOT allowed. According to IUB system students must enter the
classroom within the first 20 minutes to get the attendance submitted.
2. The date and syllabus of quiz, midterm and final exam is already given here,
however, announcements will be given ahead of time. There is NO provision for
make-up quizzes.

Page 1 of 9

3. The reading materials for each class will be given prior to that class so that student
may have a cursory look into the materials.
4. Class participation is vital for better understanding of sociological issues. Students
are invited to raise questions.
5. Students should take tutorials with the instructor during the office hours. Prior
appointment is required.
6. Students must maintain the IUB code of conduct and ethical guidelines offered by
the School of Business.
7. Students must refrain from any type of cheating and/or plagiarism in a course. Any
student acting otherwise will receive an F grade in the course. School of Business,
IUB, maintains a zero tolerance policy regarding violation of academic integrity.
8. Students are not allowed to keep bags, handouts, books, mobile phones, smart
watches or any other smart electronic devices with them during any exam. Students
are advised to keep everything in the front of the class room before the exam starts.
Please note that, just carrying any smart electronic devises (even if the devise is
turned off or put it in silent mode) during the exam will be considered as cheating.
Moreover, during the exam, anything written on hand palms (or anywhere else) and
carrying paper materials (whatever is written) will be considered as cheating. Any
sorts of cheating will result in an F grade with no exception. During the exam,
students are only allowed to carry pen, pencil, eraser, sharpener, ruler, highlighter
and calculator in a clear plastic bag.

ASSESSMENT AND MARKS DISTRIBUTION:

Type of Evaluation

Class Attendance and

Participation
Quiz (Best two will be counted)
Project and Presentation
Midterm Exam
Final Exam
Total

Nos.

Weight

100%

4
01
01
01

10
20
30
35
100%

[Class attendance is mandatory; failure to do so may deduct the final marks]

GRADE CONVERSION SCHEME:
The following chart will be followed for grading. This has customized form the guideline
provided by the school of Business.

Page 2 of 9

A
AB+
B
9085-89 80-84 75-79
100
* Numbers are inclusive

B70-74

C+
65-69

C
60-64

C55-59

D+
50-54

D
45-49

F
0-44

REQUIRED TEXT:
The course will be based mostly on the following books [some other books and journals
may be referred time to time]:
John D. Daniels, Lee H. Radebaugh and Daniel P. Sullivan: International Business:
Environments and
Operations (13th Edition), Pearson Prentice Hall, 2011.
Link to virtual learning system: http://103.254.86.4/sb/ (School of Business
Faculty name- Login as a guest- password is 1234).
MORE READINGS:
Hill CWL (2009), International Business: Competing in the Global Marketplace, 8th
Edition, London: McGraw-Hill and Irwin.
CLASS AND EXAM SCHEDULE, TOPIC AND READINGS:
Sessions
Session
-1
Session
-2

Session
-3

Page 3 of 9

Date
04/09/16
Sunday

06/09/201
6
Tuesday

18/10/16
Sunday

Topic
Introduction

Globalization
and
International
Business

Globalization
and
International
Business

Learning Outcomes
Introduction to International
Business, Explanation of Course
Outline
The concept on
globalization and
international business and
explain how they affect
each other
Grasp why companies
engage in international
business and why its growth
has accelerated

Readings
Course
Outline

Discuss globalizations
future and the major
criticisms of it
Illustrate the different ways
a company can accomplish
its global objectives
Recognize the need to apply
social science disciplines to

Daniel &
Sullivan,
Chapter1

Daniel &
Sullivan,
Chapter1
Handout
available
on virtual
learning
system

Handout
available
on virtual

understand how
international and domestic
business differ
Session
-4

Session
-5

20/10/201
6
Tuesday

25/10/16
Sunday

The Cultural
Environments
Facing
Business

The Cultural
Environments
Facing
Business

Understand methods for learning

about cultural environments
Grasp the major causes of
cultural difference and change
Discuss behavioral factors
influencing countries business
practices

Recognize the complexities of

cross-cultural information
differences, especially
communications
Analyze guidelines for cultural
adjustment
Grasp the diverse ways that
national cultures may evolve
Distribution and explanation
of Term Case

Session
-6

27/10/201
6
Thursday

The Political
& Legal
Environments
Facing
Business

Quiz 1

Session-7

Page 4 of 9

02/10/16
Sunday

The Political
& Legal
Environments
Facing
Business

Discuss the philosophy and

practices of the political
environment
Profile trends in contemporary
political systems
Describe current trends in
political ideologies and their
implications to MNEs choices
Explain political risk
management
Compare the relative benefits
and drawbacks of proactive
versus passive political risk
management
Discuss the principles and
practices of the legal system
Profile trends in contemporary
legal systems
Identify and describe key legal

learning
system

Daniel &
Sullivan,
Chapter 2
Handout
available
on virtual
learning
system
Daniel &
Sullivan,
Chapter 2
Handout
available
on virtual
learning
system
Case
Handout
and
Questions
Daniel &
Sullivan,
Chapter 3
Handout
available
on virtual
learning
system

Daniel &
Sullivan,
Chapter 3

Handout

Session
-8

Session
-9

04/10/201
6
Tuesday

09/10/16
Sunday

The Economic
Environment

The Economic
Environment

issues facing international

companies

available
on virtual
learning
system

Communicate the importance of

economic analysis
Discuss the idea of economic
freedom
Profile the characteristics of the
types of economic systems

Daniel &
Sullivan,
Chapter 4

Introduce the notion of state

capitalism
Profile leading indicators of
economic development,
performance, and potential

Handout
available
on virtual
learning
system
Daniel &
Sullivan,
Chapter 4

Handout
available
on virtual
learning
system
Session
-10

Session
-11

Page 5 of 9

11/10/201
6
Tuesday

16/10/16
Sunday

International
Trade &
Factor
Mobility
Theory

International
Trade &
Factor
Mobility
Theory

Understand how different

approaches to international
trade theories help policy
makers achieve economic
objectives
Comprehend the historical and
current rationale for
interventionist trade theories
Explain how free trade improves
global efficiency
Distinguish factors affecting
national trade patterns

Daniel &
Sullivan,
Chapter 6

Recognize why a countrys

export capabilities are dynamic
Detect why production factors,
especially labor and capital,
move internationally
Describe the relationship

Daniel &
Sullivan,
Chapter 6

Handout
available
on virtual
learning
system

Handout

between foreign trade and

international factor mobility
Grasp scenarios of possible
changes in trade patterns

available
on virtual
learning
system

Discuss the three major

approaches to economic
integration
Identify the major characteristics
and challenges of the World
Trade Organization
Discuss the pros and cons of
global (the WTO), bilateral, and
regional integration
Identify how the different
approaches to economic
integration can be a free trade
agreement, a customs union, or
a common market

Daniel &
Sullivan,
Chapter 8

Describe the static and dynamic

impact of trade agreements on
trade and investment flows
Compare and contrast different
regional trading groups
Describe other forms of global
cooperation such as the United
Nations and OPEC

Daniel &
Sullivan,
Chapter 8

Quiz 2
Session
-12

Session
-13

18/10/16
Tuesday

23/10/201
6
Sunday

CrossNational
Cooperation
And
Agreements

CrossNational
Cooperation
And
Agreements

Session
-14

25/10/16
Tuesday

Midterm
Exam

Session
-15

30/10/16
Sunday

Governmenta
l Influence on
Trade

Page 6 of 9

CHAPTERS 1-4 & 6

Explain why governments try to

enhance and restrict trade
Show the effects of pressure
groups on trade policies
Compare the potential and
actual effects of government
intervention on the free flow of
trade
Illustrate the major means by

Handout
available
on virtual
learning
system

Handout
available
on virtual
learning
system
Daniel &
Sullivan,
Chapter 14&8
Daniel &
Sullivan,
Chapter 7

Handout
available
on virtual
learning
system

which trade is restricted and

regulated
Session
-16

Session
-17

Session
-18

Session

Page 7 of 9

01/11/201
6
Tuesday

06/11/16
Sunday

08/11/201
6
Tuesday

13/11/16

Governmenta
l Influence on
Trade

Country
Evaluation &
Selection

Country
Evaluation &
Selection

Export And

Demonstrate the business

uncertainties and opportunities
created by governmental trade
policies
Discern how businesses may
respond to import competition
Fathom how the growing
complexity of products and
trade regulations may affect the
future
Grasp company strategies for
sequencing the penetration of
countries
See how scanning techniques
can help managers both limit
geographic alternatives and
consider otherwise overlooked
areas
Discern the major opportunity
and risk variables to consider in
deciding whether and where to
expand abroad
Know the methods and problems
of collecting and comparing
international information
Distribution and explanation
of Term Case
Understand some simplifying
tools for helping decide where to
operate
Consider how companies
allocate emphasis among the
countries where they operate
Comprehend why location
decisions do not necessarily
compare different countries
possibilities
Fathom the conditions that may
cause prime business locations
to change in the future
Explain the idea of exporting

Daniel &
Sullivan,
Chapter 7

Handout
available
on virtual
learning
system
Daniel &
Sullivan,
Chapter12

Handout
available
on virtual
learning
system
Case
Handout
and
Questions

Daniel &
Sullivan,
Chapter12

Handout
available
on virtual
learning
system

Daniel &

-19

Sunday

Import
Strategies

Quiz 3

Session
-20

Session
-21

Session
-22

Session
-23
Session
-24

Page 8 of 9

15/11/201
6
Tuesday

20/11/16
Sunday

22/11/201
6
Tuesday

27/11/201
6
Sunday
29/11/201
6

Export And
Import
Strategies

and profile its elements

Explain the idea of importing
and profile its elements
Evaluate the relative benefits
and drawbacks of the export and
import of e-waste
Describe the problems and
pitfalls that challenge
international traders

Sullivan,
Chapter13

Define the idea of an export plan

Discuss the practice of
countertrade
Describe the resources and
assistance for international
traders
Identify and discuss the
platforms that support
expanding international trade

Daniel &
Sullivan,
Chapter13

Handout
available
on virtual
learning
system

Handout
available
on virtual
learning
system
Hill,
Chapter14

Entry
Strategy
and
Strategic
Alliances

Explain the three basic decisions

that firms contemplating foreign
expansion must make: which
markets to enter, when to enter
those markets, and on what scale.
Outline the advantages and
disadvantages of the different
modes that firms use to enter
foreign
markets.

Entry
Strategy
and
Strategic
Alliances

Identify the factors that influence

a firms choice of entry mode.
Evaluate the pros and cons of
acquisitions versus green-field
ventures as an entry strategy.
Evaluate the pros and cons of
entering into strategic alliances.

Hill,
Chapter14

Project
Presentation

Case Presentation

Project
Presentation

Case Presentation

Project
Presentatio
n
Project
Presentatio

Handout
available
on virtual
learning
system

Handout
available
on virtual
learning
system

Session
-25
Session
-26

Tuesday
30/11/201
Project
6
Presentation
Monday
As per IUB Final Exam
Examinatio
n Schedule

Case Presentation

Chapter8,7,12,13 and 14

n
Project
Presentatio
n
Daniel &
Sullivan,
Chapter
8,7,12,13
and Hill,
Chapter 14

AUDIT:
Students who are willing to audit the course are welcome during the first two classes and
are advised to contact the instructor after that.
NOTE:
Plagiarism- that is the presentation of another persons thoughts or words as though they
were the students own must be strictly avoided. Cheating and plagiarism on exam and
assignment are unacceptable.
UNIVERSITY REGULATION AND CODE OF CONDUCT:
Please see the green book for further information about academic regulation and policies,
including withdrawal and grading, apples and penalties for pilgrims and academic
misconduct.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:
Students with disabilities are required to inform the School of Business/ Department of
Economics of any specific requirement for classes or examination as soon as possible.

Page 9 of 9