Class Schedule

Date         Topic                            

1st      Administration/Introduction

9/7    . Overview of international business

        . Factors affecting firms’ internationalization

        . Globalization

        Chapter 1

2nd     Trade theories and protectionism

9/14    . Trade theories

        . Trade protectionism

        Chapters 6, 7

3rd      Foreign market entry strategies (I)

9/21     . Evaluation of countries for operations

. Exporting

Chapters 13, 14

4th      Foreign market entry strategies (II)

9/28     . Forms of foreign production

         . Ownership and strategic alliances

         Chapter 15

5th     Case 1: IKEA Invades America (HBS 504-094)

10/5   Questions:

1. 1. What factors account for the success of IKEA?


2. 2. What do you think of the company’s product strategy and product range? To achieve the kind of growth that IKEA is hoping for, should the company change its product strategy? If so, in what way(s)?


3. 3. Despite its success, there are many downsides to shopping at IKEA. What are some of these downsides? How does IKEA address them?


4. 4. IKEA hopes to have fifty stores in operations in the US by 2013. Do you think IKEA is being optimistic in its growth plans? How would you improve IKEA’s value proposition to make it even more attractive to American consumers?
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
   6th   The international political and legal environments
   
   10/12 . Political risks
   
           . Legal systems
   
           Chapters 3
   
    
   
   7th     Cultural environment and managing global talents
   
   10/19   . Elements of culture
   
   . Managing cultural diversity
   
   . Expatriate management
   
   . Chapters 2, 20
   
    
   
   8th   *****Midterm examination*****
   
   10/26
   
    
   
   9th    Case 2: Nora-Sakari: A Proposed Joint Venture in Malaysia 
   
   11/2  (IVY case, 9B06M006)
   
          Questions:

1. 1. Why did the cooperation between the two firms have not succeeded yet?


2. 2. To make this cooperation successful, what are your recommendations to those unsolved issues?


3. 3. What should Zainal do if he decided to work with Sakari?
   
    
   
    
   
   10th     Economic environment
   
   11/9   . Economic systems
   
   . Economic integration and cooperation
   
   Chapters 4, 8
   
    
   
   11th    International marketing management
   
   11/16   . Standardization vs. adaptation
   
   . Marketing mix
   
           Ch. 17
   
    
   
   12th    International business strategy and multinational control
   
   11/23    . Strategy of international business
   
           . Organizational structure and control 
   
           Ch. 12, 16
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
   13th     Global Production and Supply Chain
   
   1130    . Supply Chain
   
           . Sourcing
   
           . Supplier Management
   
            Ch. 18
   
    
   
   14th     Semester Project Presentation
   
   12/7      
   
    
   
   15th    *****Final examination*****
   
   12/14

NA

Percentage

Class participation and preparation  20

(including current event group report)

Case Studies      20

Group Project      20

Midterm Exam                  20

Final Exam                  20

Total                           100

1. Daniels, J. D., Radebaugh, L. H., D. P. Sullivan, and Reid, W.C., International Business: Environments and Operations, 17th ed., NY: Pearson Education, Inc., 2022. (華泰書局) 

2. Two case studies: 

1. (1) IKEA Invades America (Harvard Business School Case 504-094)


2. (2) Nora-Sakari: A Proposed Joint Venture in Malaysia (IVEY 9B06M006)