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Syllabus
MNC Strategy
1155‐MAN4633PCA1155_bbaol‐53195
GENERAL INFORMATION | IMPORTANT INFORMATION | COURSE DETAIL | COURSE CALENDAR
GENERAL INFORMATION
PROFESSOR INFORMATION
Instructor:
Albert Razon
Office Hours: By Appointment
Phone:
(954) 913‐5453
E‐mail:
[email protected]
NOTE: 48 hour response time on emails, excluding weekends
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE
An analysis of corporate strategies in a rapidly developing and changing global environment. Emphasis will be placed on
forecasting, planning and contingency strategies. This course is covered in part by case method and stresses the environmental
and institutional constraints on decision making within the organization.The approach in the course is to build on and extend the
principles learned in the International Business (MAN 4602). The course focuses on decision making in a global context and
requires both analytical and quantitative skills to analyze problems.
First, we will focus on strategic imperatives that face Multinational Corporations (MNC’s) each day. We will take a brief
introductory look at the formulation and implementation of corporate and business level strategy with particular reference to the
global competitive environment. This analysis will be given a global focus and the student will be asked to consider the
development of alternative strategic configurations designed to exploit and defend global competitive advantage. In addition, we will deal with the organizational challenges and roadblocks encountered by MNC’s by focusing on the
internationalization process. This refers to a firm's gradually increasing involvement in foreign operations, from fortuitous
exports to the emergence of a truly global firm. This entails not only an examination of the process itself over a period of time,
but also detailed discussion and analysis of the various forms of entry such as licensing, franchising, equity joint ventures, and the
development of wholly‐owned subsidiaries. Attention is given to the formulation and implementation of these mode‐of‐entry
strategies and the challenges that are typically encountered along the way. Lastly, we will address a series of implementation issues unique to international business strategy. This will include problems
associated with parent‐subsidiary relationships, issues in formulating global organizational structures, strategies for managing
political and economic risks, host country‐MNC relationships and management development in the global context.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
The course emphasizes analysis of problems in managing joint ventures, licensing, barter, and technology transfer. Its goal is to
provide an overview of the strategic management and international business concepts that frame strategic activity within MNCs
through the analysis of competitive business strategies in global and multi‐domestic industries.
At the end of this course student should be able to:
Explore and identify the development of alternative strategic configurations designed to exploit and defend global
competitive advantage
Describe the motivations, means, and mentalities involved in expanding abroad
Analyze the pitfalls of global expansion
Describe the importance of Multinational Corporations to the global economy
Recognize the increasing involvement in foreign operations, from fortuitous exports to the emergence of a truly global
firm.
Recognize the importance of Developing Transnational Strategies and how they build layers of competitive advantages.
Describe the traditional and emerging motivations to internationalize
Examine the internal and external triggers of globalization
Recognize the impact of worldwide innovation and learning
Examine the different advantages, goals, and means to develop Transnational strategies
Discuss the four types of strategies (International, Multinational, Global, Transnational) and how they differ
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Analyze of the various forms of entry such as licensing, franchising, equity joint ventures, and the development of wholly‐
owned subsidiaries.
Differentiate the challenges facing companies to maintain or achieve worldwide competitive advantage
Recognize implementation issues unique to international business strategy
Apply knowledge learned in this course to analyze and gain understandings of daily events in international marketplace.
MAJOR & CURRICULUM OBJECTIVES TARGETED
These objectives relate to Global Learning, International Business Major and General Curriculum Outcomes. In addition to the
MAN 4633 course learning objectives, this course will address all six College Curriculum Learning Objectives, including
Communications Ability, Use of Information Technology, Globalization Context for Business, Critical Thinking, Analytic Skills,
and Ethical Reasoning Abilities.
Students will be able to:
Develop strategies for the challenges of doing business in a global environment
Demonstrate appropriate responses to global conditions and cultural diversity Global ‐ students will be able to apply knowledge of political, legal, economic, and cultural country differences to develop
competitive strategies in foreign, regional, and global markets.
Assess the needs of and justify the advantages accruing from expanding into international markets Critical thinking ‐ students will be able to apply critical thinking skills to complex business problems. This includes:
analyzing complex business problems with no "right answers", identifying and evaluating relevant issues and information,
generating and evaluating possible solutions to the problems, recommending solutions based on well‐reasoned rationales,
and communicating these thought processes to others in an effective manner.
Explore the international integration of MNC’sand analyze implications for managers Use of information technology ‐ students will be able to use information technology as a tool to do essential business tasks.
These include: the ability to create documents, presentations, databases and spreadsheets; the ability to use the web to
find information and/or create, use webpages; and the ability to understand the information technology‐related
terminology.
Use quantitative tools to evaluate business problems
TEACHING METHODOLOGY
This course will proceed primarily through study, on‐line discussion and critical analysis of the text, cases, and other article
readings that have been assigned for the course. Thus, it is imperative that you have read these materials IN ADVANCE and are
well‐prepared to discuss them as they are assigned. PLEASE NOTE ‐ ALL items in each chapter of the text are your responsibility
to read ‐ this includes ALL the readings, notes and cases. Any of these items are fair game for the tests.
The ultimate goal of this course is to provide students with an in‐depth understanding of the nature and workings of the world's
multinational corporations as they formulate their strategies and structures to meet the demands of a fast‐moving, ever‐changing
global economy.
This goal will be accomplished through exercises and readings on multinational firm strategy and structure as presented in
theTransnational Management textbook and through the study, analysis and on‐line discussion of real‐world multinational
strategic management cases assigned from the textbook and other sources.
Case analysis will elaborate on basic issues in the field to ensure a breadth of understanding in the class. Reading assignments will offer more specific insights into particular areas of international business, providing depth of
understanding. Suggested Readings, such as The New York Times, will provide up‐to‐date, real‐life examples of the abstract theories and
generalizations of the textbook and lectures. Exams will afford students the opportunity to integrate everything they have learned in the course into a comprehensive
framework, which will help make concepts seem more real, and aid in applying those concepts to everyday life.
ASSURANCE OF LEARNING
The College of Business cares about the quality of your education. For more information please visit the Assurance of Learning
site to learn more on the College's commitment to this initiative.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
POLICIES
Please review the FIU policies page as it contains essential information regarding guidelines relevant to all courses at FIU and
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additional information on the standards for acceptable netiquette important for online courses.
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS & SKILLS
One of the greatest barriers to taking an online course is a lack of basic computer literacy. By computer literacy we mean being
able to manage and organize computer files efficiently, and learning to use your computer's operating system and software
quickly and easily. Keep in mind that this is not a computer literacy course; but students enrolled in online courses are expected
to have moderate proficiency using a computer. Please go to the "What's Required" page to find out more information on this
subject.
This course utilizes the following tools:
1. StudyMate
Please visit our technical requirements page for additional information.
ACCESSIBILITY AND ACCOMMODATION
Obtain more detailed information about the specific limitations with the technologies used in this course.
Review Blackboard's Accessibility Commitment for more information.
For additional assistance please contact our Disability Resource Center.
COURSE PREREQUISITES
MAN4602
This course has a prerequisite(s). Review the Course Catalog webpage for prerequisites information.
PROCTORED EXAM POLICY
Please note that the information contained in this section applies only if your course requires a proctored exam.
It is the student’s responsibility to determine whether this online course requires proctored exams by carefully reviewing this
syllabus. For detailed instructions please visit our Student Proctored Exam Instructions page on the FIU Online website.
This online section of the course does not require on‐campus, proctored exams; all exams are administered fully online.
TEXTBOOK
Transnational Management: Text, Cases and Readings in Cross‐Border Management
Christopher Barlett and Paul Beamish
Irwin/McGraw Hill, 7th Edition, 2013
ISBN‐10: 0078029392
ISBN‐13: 978‐0078029394
You may purchase your textbook online at the FIU Bookstore.
Other Readings:
Students are expected to keep up with current events as they affect international management throughout the course. This can
be accomplished through independent readings from a variety of sources including The Wall Street Journal and The Economist,
among others.
EXPECTATIONS OF THIS COURSE
This is an online course, meaning that most of the course work will be conducted online. Expectations for performance in an
online course are the same as for a traditional course; in fact, online courses require a degree of self‐motivation, self‐discipline,
and technology skills that can make them more demanding for some students.
Students are expected to:
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Review the how to get started information located in the course content
Introduce yourself to the class during the first week by posting a self introduction in the appropriate discussion forum
Take the practice quiz to ensure that your computer is compatible with Blackboard
Interact online with instructor/s and peers
Review and follow the course calendar
Log in to the course two times per week
Respond to discussion boards, blogs and journal postings within two days
Respond to emails/messages within 2 days
Submit assignments by the corresponding deadline
The instructor will:
Log in to the course four times per week
Respond to discussion boards, blogs and journal postings within two days
Respond to emails within two days
If you are unsure about something, ask!
COURSE DETAIL
COURSE COMMUNICATION
All students are expected to conduct themselves in a responsible, courteous, and professional manner in all course
communications with both the professor and other class members. Communication in this course will take place via Email. When you do send an email ([email protected])‐ please enter
"MAN4633‐ Your PantherID" in the subject field.
The Email feature is an external communication tool that allows users to send emails to users enrolled within the course
including the instructor and other students. Emails are sent to the students' FIU email on record. The Email tool is located on the
left side Course Menu (Blackboard user interface).
Visit our writing resources page for more information on professional writing and technical communication skills. DISCUSSION FORUMS
Keep in mind that your discussion forum postings will likely be seen by other members of the course. Care should be taken when
determining what to post. If you need to send a private message to an instructor or student, use Email. The instructor will
review the discussion forums and will reply to students posts as needed.
Students are encouraged to engage each other in course‐related discussions and debates. Class participation is highly important.
As the Course Requirement/Grading chart below indicates, active participation is heavily weighted. The discussion boards will
be used to submit the Introduce Yourself post, submit weekly Water Cooler Discussions & Debates and discuss specific cases.
In addition to the general discussion forum on Blackboard, each group once organized, will have its own private discussion forum
for group postings and other team‐only communications. You may also use the FIU email and Blackboard Course Messages and
chat features to hold meetings and discuss items of relevance to the course with one another.
ASSESSMENTS
In order to mitigate any issues with your computer and online assessments, it is very important that you take the "Practice Quiz"
from each computer you will be using to take your graded quizzes and exams. It is your responsibility to make sure your computer
meets the minimum hardware requirements.
Assessments in this course are not compatible with mobile devices and should not be taken through a mobile phone or a tablet. If
you need further assistance please contact FIU Online Support Services.
QUIZZES
There will be a quizzes administered online through Blackboard after each two assigned chapters. You may (and you are
encouraged to) retake the quiz one time if you are dissatisfied with your first performance. Quizzes will consist of multiple
choice and/or True/False questions. The quizzes are “open book”. Review the Weekly Schedule for quiz availability and due
dates. Quizzes will consist of the following: 20 questions in total (10 per chapter @ 2 chapters each quiz)
35 minutes
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2 attempts (Receive highest grade)
There will be absolutely NO exceptions for making up Quizzes. EXAMS
There will also be two exams administered online during the time periods allotted for each exam noted on the Weekly Schedule
below. Unlike the quizzes, the examination may NOT be repeated. Each exam will cover 4 chapters. While the material is not
cumulative it is important to retain the knowledge and skills built throughout the course. The examination will consist of any
combination of multiple choice and true‐false questions. Review the Weekly Schedule for exam availability and due dates. The
exams will consist of following:
60 questions in total (15 per chapter @4 chapters each exam)
2 hours
1 attempt
Make‐up Exam: Absence from exam will only be granted to you if you can provide official documentation of illness or personal
emergency. You are responsible for informing me as soon as possible (and preferably in advance) regarding a missed exam.
Otherwise, you will receive a score of zero for the missed exam.
Please note that the following information only applies if your course requires the use of the Respondus LockDown Browser to
take assessments.
Review the Respondus LockDown Browser Instructions on how to install, access your assessments and view your grades.
After installing the browser, please take the Practice Quiz to familiarize yourself with the testing environment and to
ensure that you have downloaded the Respondus Lockdown Browser correctly.
ASSIGNMENTS
INTRODUCE YOURSELF POST
This assignment will be submitted within the appropriate Discussion Board Forum. This assignment is due before Sunday by
11:59pm of the first week of class. Use these introductions to get to know your fellow classmates so that you may pick successful
team members for your group assignment. More information on this assignment will be made available within Blackboard.
WATER COOLER DISCUSSIONS
This assignment will be submitted within the appropriate Discussion Board Forum. You are to follow current events to be aware
of current and potential issues affecting international business. Also, you are required to subscribe online to the New York
Times or to read the paper in its printed version. I want you to post articles, videos, pose questions and start debates that are
relevant to the coursework. I would expect an average of one to two posts per week (for the weeks specified in the Weekly Schedule below) in the "Water
Cooler Discussions & Debates" forum as a minimum. I will be adding posts as well. If you have not participated, you will not receive credit.
CASE DISCUSSIONS
This assignment will be submitted within the appropriate Discussion Board Forums. Throughout the semester, we will discuss
two cases. More information on these cases and each assignment will be made available within Blackboard. Case Discussion posts
are due before Sunday by 11:59pm of the week they are listed in the Weekly Schedule below. In order to encourage your
classmates to respond to your postings, it is suggested to post earlier in the week than later.
GROUP PROJECT: CASE ANALYSIS PAPER & PRESENTATION
The group project requires students to explore various international strategic management issues through an analysis of the
activities of a multinational corporation. This deliverable provides an opportunity for students to apply their knowledge from
international management learned earlier in the course, such as techniques and strategies, weighing political risks,
Organizational complexity and diversity, international capital markets and sources of financing of the multinational firm, foreign
investment decision making, and implementation of strategical initiatives. Students will also develop the skills to identify and
evaluate data, conduct a multi‐perspective analysis of the evidence to make logical decisions, engage in global problem solving
and communicate his/her beliefs clearly and accurately.
Groups will have a choice from several cases in the text to make a case analysis project. As a group, you will work together to
deliver the following items:
Written analysis of the case (approximately 5 double‐spaced pages minimum length)
PowerPoint presentation of the case
Please note, any student who does not perform his/her share of the work or remain in communication with his team members
can be given notice by the team, a minimum of 48 hours in advance, that if he/she does not contact team/make arrangements
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regarding work share, that the student will be "fired" from the team by the other members. YOU WILL HAVE TO WORK IN GROUPS‐ NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE.
All teams are expected to manage their own interpersonal group dynamics and allocate the workload reasonably and equitably
amongst all team members. While teams can arrange in‐person group meetings if they like, no team can force a team member in
a fully‐online course section to attend face‐to‐face meetings. Students in online sections may not even be located in the same
country as one another at the time of the course, so all teams must make arrangements to meet online if there are team
members who cannot attend an in‐person group meeting.
Working in groups is an essential part of this class. These groups create interaction between students which is even more
important in an online class. To get around any issues I suggest you use the collaboration feature under My Groups, or Adobe
Connect (see below). You can meet using chat rooms and virtual teams, never meeting in person. You can also use
gotomeetings.com or Skype which works great too. More information about this assignment will be available in Blackboard.
Review the Weekly Schedule below for due dates regarding the Group Case Analysis Project and Group Presentation.
ADOBE CONNECT PRO MEETING
Adobe Connect is an online meeting room where you can interact with your professor and fellow students by sharing screens or
files, chat, broadcast live audio, and take part in other interactive online activities. We will be utilizing this tool to meet for
group work, should you choose to do so. Please let the professor know if you choose to use Adobe Connect (one week in advance
preferred) so that a meeting room can be set up for your group.
Requirements for using Adobe Connect:
Disable any window pop‐up blocker.
Adobe Flash Player is required to successfully run your Adobe Connect meeting. You can test your computer to make
sure your computer and network connections are properly configured to provide you with the best possible Adobe Connect
meeting experience.
Use of a combination headset and microphone with USB connection is recommended to ensure quality sound and reduce
technical difficulties.
Reference Adobe Connect (Tutorials & Help) for additional information.
GRADING
NOTE: Your professor retains the right to curve any grade component. The final grade in this course, once assigned, will not be
changed except in the event of a grading error. Grading Rubrics for each assignment will be made available within Blackboard.
Number
of Items
Points
for Each
Total Points
Available
Weight
Introduce Yourself Discussion
1
5
5
5%
Active Participation in Water Cooler Discussions
4
2.5
10
10%
Active Participation in Case Discussions
2
7.5
15
15%
Quizzes
4
3.75
15
15%
Exam 1 & Exam 2
2
15
30
30%
Group Case Analysis Paper, Group Presentation
2
10
20
20%
Group Project Peer Evaluation
1
5
5
5%
Course Requirements
Letter
Range (%)
Letter
Range (%)
Letter
Range (%)
A
Above 95
B‐
80 ‐ 83
D+
67 ‐ 69
A‐
90 ‐ 94
C+
77 ‐ 79
D
64 ‐ 66
B+
87 ‐ 89
C
74 ‐ 76
D‐
60 ‐ 63
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B
84 ‐ 86
C‐
70 ‐ 73
F
< 60
COURSE CALENDAR
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
DATE
Module 1
05/11‐05/17
Module 2
05/18‐05/24
Module 3
05/25‐05/31
Module 4
06/01‐06/07
TOPICS AND READINGS
TASKS
Review Syllabus & Course Introduction
Group Formation
Chapter 1: Expanding Broad‐ Motivations,
Means and Mentalities
Submit Introduce Yourself Post
Attempt Practice Quiz
Form Your Group (5 persons or less per group)
and select your case
before Sunday by 11:59pm
Read Chapter 1
Review Chapter PowerPoint Slides
Submit Water Cooler Discussion Post(s) before
Sunday by 11:59pm
Chapter 2: Understanding the International
Context‐Responding to Conflicting
Environmental Forces
Chapter 3: Developing Transnational
Strategies‐ Building Layers of Competitive
Advantage
Case 3‐3: GE's Imagination Breakthroughs‐
The Evo Project
StudyMate Review for Exam 1 becomes
available starting 5/18 at 8:00am
Read Chapter 2
Read Chapter 3
Review Chapter PowerPoint Slides
Submit Case 3‐3 Discussion Posts
before Sunday by 11:59pm
Complete Quiz 1 covering Chapters 1‐2
(available 5/18, 12:00am‐05/24, 11:59pm)
Chapter 4: Developing Transnational
Organization‐ Managing Integration,
Responsiveness, and Flexibility
Chapter 5: Creating Worldwise Innovation
and Learning‐ Exploiting Cross‐Border
Knowledge Management
Exam 1 covering Chapters 1‐5
Read Chapter 4
Read Chapter 5
Review Chapter PowerPoint Slides
Submit Water Cooler Discussion Post(s)
before Sunday by 11:59pm
Complete Quiz 2 covering Chapters 3‐4
(available 5/25, 12:00am‐5/31, 11:59pm)
Complete Exam 1 covering Chapters 1‐4
(available 5/28, 12:00am‐5/30, 11:59pm)
Chapter 6: Engaging in Cross‐Border
Collaboration‐ Managing across Corporate
Boundaries
Case 6‐2: Nora‐Sakari, A Proposed JV in
Malaysia
Chapter 7: Implementing the Strategy‐
Building Multidimensional Capabilities
Read Chapter 6
Read Chapter 7
Review Chapter PowerPoint Slides
Read Case 6‐2
Submit Case 6‐2 Discussion Post(s)
Complete Quiz 3 covering Chapters 5‐6
(available 6/1, 12:00am‐6/7, 11;59pm)
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Module 5
06/08‐06/14
Chapter 8: The Future of Transnational‐ an
Evolving Global Rule
StudyMate Review for Exam 2 becomes
available starting 6/8 at 8:00am
Module 6
06/15‐06/21
Exam 2 covering Chapters 5‐8
Read Chapter 8
Review Chapter PowerPoint Slides
Submit Water Cooler Discussion Post(s)
before Sunday by 11:59pm
Complete Quiz 4 covering Chapters 7‐8
(available 6/8, 12:00am‐6/14, 11:59pm)
Submit Group Project
(Case Analysis Paper & Presentation)
before Thurs. 6/11 by 11:59pm
Submit Peer Evaluation before Fri. 6/12 by
11:59pm
Submit Water Cooler Discussion Post(s)
before Friday by 11:59pm
Submit Course Evaluation via my.fiu.edu
(optional)
Complete Exam 2 covering Chapters 5‐8
(available 6/17, 12:00‐6/19, 11:59pm)
Florida International University Online
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