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School of Business & Economics (SBE)

E/MBA Program
Revised Course Outline EMB670 1
Course Name: International Business
Course Code
& Section No: EMB 670 Section 1

Semester: Spring 2021

INSTRUCTOR & DEPARTMENT INFORMATION

1. Instructor Dr. Abdur Rob Khan (AdK), Professor of Political Science, and Dean, School
Name: of Humanities and Social Sciences (SHSS), North South University, Dhaka
2. Instructor’s NAC 1051
Office
3. Office Hours: Saturdays 4.30-6.30 pm. Please feel free to call or e-mail during this time or any other
convenient time.
4. Phone: NSU PABX 880 55668200 ext.: 2000, 2103, Mobile: 01715050636
5. Email Address: [email protected]
6. Department: E/MBA Program, SBE
7. Links: North South University Website: http://www.northsouth.edu
School of Business Website: http://www.northsouth.edu/academic/sob/
NSU Website //10.220.2.10

COURSE & SECTION INFORMATION

Saturdays, 7.00-10.10 pm NAC 990 [Google Class code: uqzin75]

Class Time & Meet link

Location https://meet.google.com/lookup/humhngobwf

Course
Relevant foundation and advanced courses
Prerequisite(s)
Course Credit Hours 3.0
Course Description This course aims at providing a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics and
challenges of international businesses in this age of globalization compounded by
unprecedented uncertainties posed by the ongoing Coronavirus Pandemic.

Topics include major business actors (MNCs) and global business environment, drivers of
globalization, theories of international trade and foreign direct investment (FDI),
formulation of national trade policies, international monetary system and development
institutions, international competitive strategy, organization design and control.
Course Objectives 1. Understand the dynamics of international business - theory and practice
2. Basic understanding of international trade and FDI
3. Understand justification and tools of formulation of national trade policies
4. Learn about international monetary systems and development institutions;
5. Learn about the tools available to improve management and business decision
making in contemporary international setting

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Student Learning Following the principles of Outcome Based Education (OBE), a student is, at the end of
Outcomes the Semester, expected to:
1. demonstrate critical appreciation of dynamic nature of global business: role of
major business actors like MNCs and their motivations for entering foreign
markets - cognitive ability and ability to relate to real life experiences
2. apply concepts and theories on international trade, trade policies, competitive
strategies, organizational design and structures in the context of developing
countries like Bangladesh;
3. demonstrate analytical and communication skills on issues relating to
International Business (class participation, assignments, group projects)

LEARNING RESOURCES AND TEXTBOOK(S):

**SOFT COPIES WILL BE SENT TO STUDENTS AHEAD
OF CLASS SCHEDULES

Publisher,
Author Relevant Chapters
Title Edition & Year
Ball, D.A., Geringer, International Business: The McGraw- Ch. 1: The Challenging World of
McNett, J.M. and Challenge of Global Competition Hill/Irwin International Business
Minor, M.S. 13th (Global) Ch. 2 International Trade and
edition Foreign Investment
(2012) Ch 3: International Institutions
from an International Business
Perspective
Ch. 9: International Competitive
Strategy
Ch. 10: Organizational Design
and Control
Griffin, Ricky W. & International Business: A Pearson, 8th Ch 9: Formulation of National
Pustay, Michael W. Managerial Perspectives Edition, 2015 Trade Policies

TEACHING STRATEGY :

Twelve 3-hour classes will be conducted through online lecturers, discussion, active student participation
and initiatives, problem solving in group sessions, and presentations.

-Classes will continue to be online unless otherwise decided by NSU Authority to go on campus, in classes.
-Students should feel free to ask questions and raise issues until they are clear what the faculty is talking
about. First half an hour will recap the last class. Questions from each student will be appreciated

Students are reminded to remind the faculty to put the class recording on from the beginning of the class.

REVISED ASSESSMENT STRATEGY AND GRADING SCHEME

Revised Grading tool Percentage
Class attendance and participation 10%
3 Quizzes(online real time): best
20%
two to be counted
Assignment based on Selected Text 15%
Case Study 10%
Group Project uniform 10%
Viva based on presentation of Group
5%
Project (individual)
Final Exam (Online Real time) 30%
TOTAL 100%

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CLASSROOM RULES OF CONDUCT

**STUDENTS ARE REQUESTED TO BE PRESENT IN THE CLASS ALL THE DURATION OF THE CLASS, THEY ARE ALSO REQUESTED TO KEEP THE CAMERA ON
AND MUTE THE AUDIO UNLESS THEY WANT TO SPEAK UP. SHOWING UP FACE AND THEN VANISHING FROM THE CLASS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTABLE.

**ONLINE ATTENDANCE WILL BE TAKEN WITHIN THE FIRST 15 MINUTES OF THE CLASS. JOINING CLASS AFTER THAT WILL LEAD TO MISSING THE
ATTENDANCE

CLASS PARTICIPATION POLICY

Online attendance will carry 5% weight and participation will carry 5% weight. Assessment of Class participation
will be a continuous process of class discussion and Q/As throughout the semester. Students in their own interests
should speak up, raise and problematize issues

1. Students are advised to frequently refer to the student code of conduct of North South University on the following
link: http://www.northsouth.edu/student-code-of-conduct.html

2. Academic Integrity Policy:

School of Business does not tolerate academic dishonesty by its students. At minimum, students must not be involved
in cheating, copyright infringement, submitting the same work in multiple courses, significant collaboration with other
individuals outside of sanctioned group activities, and fabrications.

QUIZ POLICY
Quizzes will be online in real time. There will be two quizzes as prescribed in the class calendar. Scores will be averaged.
No make up will be allowed for quizzes.

MID-TERM EXAMINATION POLICY

Mid term exam will be online in real time. There will be one Mid-term Examination carrying 20% weight.
Duration of the Mid-term examination is One Hour. Details have been specified in the class calendar.

ASSIGNMENT/CASE STUDY POLICY

Case study or assignment will be individual responsibility. Topics will be assigned to individual students.
Students will prepare reports offline and submit online.

GROUP PROJECT POLICY

Students are advised to form groups of 3-4 students to conduct a group project. Allocation of topics will be made in the
third class after students have submitted group names. Group sessions will be held for briefing of modalities and
division of labor among the group members. The groups will conduct studies and submit a Report of about 2000 words
by a designated date beyond which reports will not be accepted. Presentation sessions will be arranged in consultation
with the class – to be scheduled in between last class & Final Exam dates. The Report will carry 10 marks which will
be uniform and presentation will carry 5 marks which will be individual.

MAKE UP POLICY:
In order to complete the course, students must submit all the required assignments and sit for the exams. Make-up
exams are not given unless there is compelling and convincing reasons. Documentary evidence/support will be needed
for allowing make up exams. Cell phones are prohibited in exam sessions.

If students do not report of their compelling circumstances by phone and definitely by e-mail before the exam, no make
up will be taken.

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CLASS SCHEDULES AND COURSE CONTENTS

Class & ‫ا‬Chapter/topics Exams/Assignm

Dates Topic ents
1-2 Ball et al: Chapter 1: The Challenging Chapter 1- Defining International Students are
World of International Business Business, International business advised to form
20, 27 activities, Major actors in IB, Growth
groups of 3-4 for
of international firms and MNCs,
Feb group project by
Business environment, Globalization
of business – drivers of Globalization, March 6
Why enter foreign markets? 8-22
-Global businesses during the
Pandemic (Case discussion)
3-4-5 Ball et al : Chapter 2: International Chapter 2: International Trade p. 33- Quiz 1: March
Trade and Foreign Direct Investment 35; Explaining Trade –Int’l trade 20, Syllabus: Ch 1,
theoriesp.37-46; 46-49 [Add from Classes 1-2 10 SQs,
6, 13 &
Slides Heckscher-Ohlin Theory of 30 Minutes
20 March Factor Endowment and Leontief
Paradox from 12th Edition], Linder Allocation of Group
Theory of Overlapping Demand topics : 20 March
International Product Life Cycle, 44-
46 - Assignments and
Foreign Investment – Concept, Case Study
Theories, pp. 48-56 materials to be
distributed
6-7 Ball et al : Chapter 3: International Chapter 3: What is International -Last 30 minutes
Institutions from an International Institution, Typology, Case Studies: Session on Group
27 Mar, United Nations, IMF, World Bank, Projects
Business Perspective
World Trade Organization, pp. 62-73
3 Apr
8-9 Griffin & Pustay: Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Rationales of Trade Quiz 2 17 April
Formulation of National Trade Policies Intervention; Industry level Chapter 2 (pages 1-
10, 17 arguments; National trade policies; 34), classes 3-4: 5
Quiz 2 Revised syllabus Slide nos. 1-34
Barriers to International Trade; SQs 30 minutes
April Date 17 April 2021 7.10 pm Promoting International Trade Online Real time
pp. 262-283

10 Ball et al : Chapter 9: International Chapter 9, Ball et al: International 24 April

Competitive Strategy Strategy, why is it important?, why Assignment based
plan globally? Global strategic on select text,
24 April
Planning Process, Formulation of Chapter 2 Theories
competitive strategies of International
Trade & FDI,
offline 24 hours
11-12 Ball et al : Chapter 10: Organizational Chapter 10:Organizational design Quiz 3 : 8 May
Design and Control and structure, relations with Classes 6-7, Ch
8, 18 competitive strategy, evolution of
3, 10 SQs, 30
international company into global
May company, Global forms of minutes
organization, Current organizational -Submission of
trends, Control in case of 100% Individual
owned subsidiaries. Assignment

-Submission of
Group Project
22 May Final Examination (subject to directive of Syllabus: Classes 8-12 Two Hours:
2021 UGC) online/offline
real time, 2 BQs,
5 SQs, 10 MCQs
(provisional)

Calendaring of classes is subject to the date-wise classes, prepared by the MBA Program, NSU
Note: The instructor, in the interests of the students, may make changes to the syllabus if necessary. Students will be duly notified.