BUSN 6031: International Business
NOTE: For registration please contact Bob Gaglardi School of Business and Economics General Program Inquiries (Email: mba@tru.ca or Tel: 1-877-663-4087).
Students are introduced to the basic concepts of international business and competition from a manager's perspective. Topics include country differences in political economy, the cultural environment, ethics in international business, international trade theories, the political economy of international trade, foreign direct investment, regional economic integration, the foreign exchange market, the global monetary system, global strategy, global marketing and research and development, and global human resource management.
Learning outcomes
- Explain how political, economic, and legal systems collectively influence a country's ability to achieve meaningful economic progress.
- Discuss how culture is different because of differences in social structure, religion, language, education, economic philosophy, and political philosophy.
- Describe the different approaches to business ethics that can be derived from moral philosophy, and show how these approaches can help managers to make international business decisions that do not violate ethical norms.
- Explain the important implications that international trade theory holds for business practice.
- Explain why some governments intervene in international trade to restrict imports and promote exports.
- Assess the costs and benefits of foreign direct investment to receiving and source countries.
- Describe the history, current scope, and future prospects of the world's most important regional economic agreements, including the European Union, the North American Free Trade Agreement, MERCOSUR, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.
- Demonstrate how currency exchange rates are determined.
- Assess the role played by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in the global monetary system.
- Interpret the three basic decisions that a firm contemplating foreign expansion must make: which markets to enter, when to enter, and on what scale.
- Appreciate why and how a firm's distribution system might vary across countries.
- Discuss the pros and cons of different approaches to staffing policy in international businesses.
Course topics
Module 1: The Context of Globalization
- Section A. Changes and Challenges in Globalization
- Section B. Understanding and Measuring Political, Economic and Social Differences
- Section C. Governments - The Political Economy of International Trade
- Section D. A critical approach to ethics in the context of international business
Module 2: Trade and Investment in a Global Economy
- Section A. Historical Context of International Trade Theories
- Section B. Foreign Direct Investment and the Role of Government (FDI)
- Section C. The Foreign Exchange and the Global Monetary System
- Section D. Understanding and evaluation regional integration
Module 3: Global Strategy and Practice
- Section A. Strategy in the context of international business
- Section B. Entry modes
- Section C. Determinants and implications of culture
- Section D. Global Human Resource Management
Required text and materials
Online students are responsible for sourcing and ordering their own textbooks. Please see the list of required textbooks here: https://www.tru.ca/distance/courses/MBA_Textbook_List.pdf.
Please note that publishers may offer several package options that include additional resource material not required in your course. You may purchase a package of your choice as long as it includes the correct author, title and edition listed for your course.
If you have any questions about obtaining the correct textbook, please contact OLMaterials@tru.ca. They will be happy to assist you.
Assessments
Please be aware that should your course have a final exam, you are responsible for the fee to the online proctoring service, ProctorU, or to the in-person approved Testing Centre. Please contact exams@tru.ca with any questions about this.
To successfully complete this course, students must achieve a passing grade of 70% or higher on the overall course, and 50% on the final mandatory examination.
This course utilizes ProctorU for virtual invigilation of the final examination. There will be detailed instructions in your course under the “Final Exam” tab that we recommend you review as soon as possible.
| Lecture Assignment | 12% |
| Module/Section Quizzes | 18% |
| Discussion Questions | 15% |
| Group Case Analysis | 10% |
| Individual Assignment and Multi-Media Presentation | 15% |
| Final Exam (mandatory) | 30% |
| Total | 100% |
Open Learning Faculty Member Information
An Open Learning Faculty Member is available to assist students. Students will receive the necessary contact information at the start of the course.
