PURPOSE:
We will be discussing a broad range of issues in class and during our visits to the companies while abroad. Nevertheless, there are likely to be international business topics which interest you, but which we will not have the time to pursue, or perhaps not in the detail you would like.
The research project affords you an opportunity to apply the lecture and reading material and expand it, in most cases, applying these concepts to your industry. This assignment will allow you to investigate an issue of personal significance and share your research findings with the class.
One major goal in this course is to have people view "International" somewhat differently than they had perhaps in the past. Typically the term "global or international business" is viewed as quite dissimilar from "domestic business." Nevertheless, while differences do exist, the same basic business principles apply. Whether we operate within national boundaries or not, we must still take into account certain internal, firm-specific characteristics (for example, are the managers autocratic, or do they tend to be more democratic?). We must also consider industry-specific and other environmental characteristics (political, legal, and cultural). To state that we can ignore any of these factors when operating on a domestic level is ludicrous, yet as soon as we mention "international," we tend to forget that these internal and external dimensions are at work in our home environment as well.
This assignment is designed to address the goal stated in the course description. That is, you should understand the differences between domestic and global business and why those differences exist. On completion of this assignment, it is hoped that the terms, global business and domestic business are viewed as inseparable concepts.
FORMAT: top of page 5
A formal oral and written presentation are due on the dates specified on the syllabus (at the end of the semester).
A formal position paper (of 4-5 pages) containing a statement of the issue you will be investigating, an outline of the paper, and a preliminary bibliography is due on the date specified (around the middle of the
semester).
Topics must be international business oriented. When choosing a theme, keep in mind your current position, career plans, academic major and/or outside interests. Pick an aspect of your job and then compare and contrast this topic in two countries (your home country and one we will visit makes a lot of sense). Your project should involve research and analysis of the topic chosen and you must use sources other than the assigned text and class lectures. We will meet many people on our trip, use them as another resource if time and situation allow. (You might ask the host for their telephone and facsimile number, or e-mail address, or the name and numbers of an individual more suited to help.) Please, if you use these people as a resource, follow up with a thank you note. Europeans (including English) are typically more formal than Americans. Please keep this in mind in correspondences, using titles and surnames, rather than given names.
This is a research project. As such, it should include an indication that research was performed - i.e., include a sufficient number of recent citations to indicate that a fairly extensive literature review was undertaken. An anecdotal description or case study ("my company …") is insufficient. You could, however, compare theoretical text material with actual practices using your firm and one we visit as examples of actual or 'real world.' You must include at least one source from electronic media.
If you were to research and discuss foreign exchange risk management, for instance, it would not be sufficient to describe risk management, its many variations and trends. It is expected that you include this information in your report, but in addition to describing your topic, you must compare it with business practices in another country. Of course, it is expected that you cover the material in some depth and you must cite evidence to support your arguments.
A few specific ideas are provided on the "Research
Topics" page, but they are only suggestions from which you can develop your own theme. Please feel free to use one if you have difficulty identifying a topic, yet I insist that the topic to be related to your life or career situation except in special circumstances.
Your written report is to be a maximum of fifteen pages, not including any graphs, appendices, endnotes, and bibliography. The endnotes (preferable to footnotes, although footnotes are acceptable) and bibliography can be of any generally accepted format as long as it is complete (author, title, publisher, page numbers, etc.).
Plan on making a 12-14 minute oral presentation on the assigned date, followed by a brief question and answer period.
Author/contact information:
Prof.Steve Frumkin, Ph.D.
Philadelphia University
School of Business Administration
School House Lane & Henry Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19144-5497
Ph: 215-951-2764
Fx: 215.951.2652
E-mail: FrumkinS@PhilaU.edu
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Date of creation: July 02, 1997.
Date of last update: December 19, 2005
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Copyright © 1997, 1999.
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