COMMGMT 3500 - International Management III

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2015

The objective of this course is to provide students with a basic understanding of the fundamental principles and practices of International Management. The course focuses on the foundations of international management, the role of culture, cross-cultural communication and negotiations, MNC strategies and structures, and international human resource management. There will be a focus on appropriate theory and the course will aim to provide opportunities for the practical implementation of the main concepts covered.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code COMMGMT 3500
    Course International Management III
    Coordinating Unit Adelaide Business School
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Assumed Knowledge COMMGMT 2501 or COMMGMT 1001
    Course Description The objective of this course is to provide students with a basic understanding of the fundamental principles and practices of International Management. The course focuses on the foundations of international management, the role of culture, cross-cultural communication and negotiations, MNC strategies and structures, and international human resource management. There will be a focus on appropriate theory and the course will aim to provide opportunities for the practical implementation of the main concepts covered.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Peter Sandiford

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
     
    1.            Critically analyse the drivers and consequences (political, economic, socio-cultural, technological, legal and ecological) of globalization, its impact on specific regions and the emerging
    concerns about its influences on countries around the world.

    2.            Understand and appreciate the need for ethics and social responsibility in international management, and the growing pressures on firms to act in an ethically and socially responsible manner in their global business operations

    3.            Compare different theoretical approaches to the concept of culture (at national, regional organisational levels) and implications of these differences for international management

    4.            Apply theories of culture and management to address the challenges of managing organisations in an increasingly diverse global context

    5.            Integrate and apply the basic elements of international strategic management, including the pressures and cost/benefits of strategies that emphasize global integration versus local adaptation; evaluate the specialized strategies required for emerging economies and for international new ventures

    6.            Compare and evaluate practices related to the management, motivation and leading of employees in an international context

    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised. 1,2,3,5,6
    The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 1,3,5,6
    An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems. 4,5
    Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication. 3,5,6
    A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies. 4
    A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life. 4
    A commitment to the highest standards of professional endeavour and the ability to take a leadership role in the community. 2,4,5
    An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities. 1,2,3,4,5
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Because of the nature of this course no single text book is required. Each week readings will be specified to help prepare for the lecture.
    Recommended Resources
    There are a number of textbooks available in the library (including some of those specified as lecture preparation). These can be useful to ‘get started’ with a topic area. However, it is important to refer to more specialist sources, especially when preparing for the written assessments, such as the following (some of these have multiple editions):

    Gannon, MJ. (1994) Understanding Global Cultures, London: Sage

    Hofstede, G. (2001) Culture's Consequences: Comparing Values, Behaviors, Institutions and Organizations Across Nations, 2nd Ed., London: Sage.

    Porter, ME. (1990) The Competitive Advantage of Nations, London: Macmillain Press

    Stiglitz. JE. (2007). Making Globalisation Work. New York: WW Norton.

    Trompenaars, F. (1993) Riding the Waves of Culture: Understanding Cultural Diversity in Business, London: Nicholas

    The course lectures will include some key references that you might find relevant, interesting and useful in following up key issues and theories. You should make use of the on-line and electronic databases and other information sources available in the main library. Familiarity with these information sources is important for searching the academic literature — for example, journal articles
    via EBSCO databases and business/industry information via Dow Jones Interactive.

    There are also a number of relevant academic journals including (but not limited to):
           
    Cross Cultural Management: An International Journal

    International Journal of HRM
           
    Journal of International Management.
           
    International Journal of Commerce and Management.
           
    International Journal of Hospitality Management
           
    Management International Review.
           
    International Business Review.

    Online Learning
    Lecture slides and recordings, general course information, assessment details and tutorial preparation exercises will be uploaded to MyUni.

     
    Some recommended www-pages with regards to International Business/Management are:

    Austrade                      www.austrade.gov.au

    CIA World Factbook     https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook  

    Global Edge                 http://globaledge.msu.edu/

    New Internationalist    http://www.newint.org

    OECD                           http://www.oecd.org

    UNCTAD                       http://www.unctad.org

    WTO                            http://www.wto.org


  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This course will be taught by1½ hour weekly lectures supported by 1½ hour weekly tutorials. Tutorials are an important component of your learning in this course and are integral to the course assessment. The communication skills developed in tutorials by regularly and actively participating in discussions are considered important by the School and are highly regarded by employers and professional bodies.



    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements. The University expects full-time students (i.e. those taking 12 units per semester) to devote a total of 48 hours per week to their studies. This means that you are expected to commit approximately 9 hours for a three-unit course or 13 hours for a four-unit course. This time commitment will include reading the relevant text book chapter, preparing for tutorials, and other assessment tasks. Students in this course are expected to attend all lectures throughout the semester plus one tutorial class each week. Please NOTE tutorials begin in Week 1 of the semester, so some tutorials may precede that week’s lecture.

    Learning Activities Summary
    Theme one: Living in a Globalised world

    Week 1. W/C Mon 02 March 
    Course introduction: Globalisation and the international environment

    Week 2. W/C Mon 09 March
    Models and Theories of Culture
    Because of the public holiday Monday, a rearranged lecture will be held on Tuesday 10-March, 5pm to 6:30pm in  Mawson Labs G19 

    Week 3. W/C Mon 16 March
    Culture shock, Responsibility and ethics
     

    Theme two: Internationalising management

    Week 4. W/C Mon 23 March
    Cross-Cultural Communication and Negotiation

    Week 5. W/C Mon 30 March
    International strategy

    Week 6. W/C Mon 06 April
    Analysing international management: synthesising theory and practice
    Because of the public holiday Monday, a rearranged lecture will be held on Tuesday 7-April, 5pm to 6:30pm in  Mawson Labs G19 

    Mid-semester Break

    Theme Three: The Practice of International Management

    Week 7. W/C Mon 27 April
    Managing international business relationships

    Week 8. W/C Mon 04 May    
    International employment practice: Expatriation or Local?

    Week 9. W/C Mon 11 May    
    Working in International Organisations: Motivation Across Cultures

    Week 10. W/C Mon 18 May  
    International Performance Management: Training and Skills

    Week 11. W/C Mon 25 May  
    International Management as Managing Diversity

    Week 12. W/C Mon 01 June
    Course review and examination preparation

  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment item                        Due date and time                 Weighting    Related learning outcome

    Learning Log phase one             10 April 2015 at 4:30pm        15%             1, 2, 3,

    Learning Log phase two             22 May 2015 at 4:30pm         15%             2, 5, 6,

    Group Report                               01 June 2015 at 4:30pm       30%             2, 3, 4, 5, 6

    Examination                                 During exam period               40%             1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,

    Total                                                                                          100%


     




    Assessment Detail
    Learning log (weighting – 30%)

    Students are required to submit a reflective learning log (journal/diary) based on the weekly tutorial tasks.

    The objective of the learning log is to encourage students to structure and reflect on their learning throughout the course. Tutor feedback will help students prepare for their written assignment and examination.

    The learning log will be assessed in the following way:

    Phase one: Students must submit a minimum of THREE learning log entries, submitted by 10 April at 4:30pm.

    Phase two: Students must submit a further minimum of THREE entries, submitted 22 May at 4:30pm.

    Students will select ONE of their learning log entries from each phase for full, formal assessment and marking by the tutor. The other entries will be assessed on a pass fail basis.

    Students who do not submit their choice of log entry for marking by the deadlines above will have one entry selected at random by their tutor.

    Each log entry should include the following elements:
    1) A brief account of your tutorial preparation activities; this should refer to any key reading that you found helpful and a reflective discussion of any other preparation task.
    2) A brief account of the activities that you participated in during the tutorial itself. This can highlight what you found particularly interesting/useful or less helpful/relevant about the experience.
    3) Critical reflection on the value of the learning activity/experience; you are particularly encouraged to show how their
    learning will change future behaviour in educational, personal or work situations.

    It is essential that your log should include specific examples of relevant reading and classroom activities. Published sources should be carefully referenced using Harvard referencing. You are required to refer to at least one research source (ie refereed journal article or research based monograph/book and not a student textbook or unrefereed webpage) in each log.

    A minimum of three logs must pass for each phase. All logs submitted must include all three of the elements specified above AND a quality research source. If any one of the logs does not meet these minimum requirements the maximum mark available for that phase of the log will be 49%.

    Please note, the learning log is intended as a constructive tool; if you disliked a reading or activity you should clearly explain why and explore any problems that you faced. It is important to seek learning from any such negative experiences as well as positive ones, so you could consider how you could still learn from this. For example, if you found a theory irrelevant or an activity boring, ask yourself ‘why’ and ask whether you could take any appropriate action yourself (ie could you constructively raise an issue/question in the tutorial itself to raise your point of view and discuss with coursemates and tutor).

    Each log entry is expected to be approximately 800 words long.

    Assessment criteria for learning logs:

    Critical evaluation of relevant theory/research evidence
    Personal reflection on learning experiences (Acknowledgement of challenging aspects of learning; application of theory to
    real world experience; specific examples to illustrate concepts/ideas/theories)
    Appropriate reference support
    Clear expression, correct grammar and punctuation
     

    Group Report (weighting – 30%)

    Submission by: Mon 01 June 2015 at 16:30.

    Your tutor will arrange groups of 3-4 for this assignment early in the semester.

    Length: no more than 3000 words.

    Purpose: the purpose of this assignment is to give you the opportunity to explore the challenges of international management from theoretical and practical perspectives.

    Task: You are required to select one country as your focus and prepare a report exploring the implications of that country’s current situation for international management.

    You should choose one of the following industries/sectors:

    International Tourism
    Agriculture, particularly foodstuffs
    Financial Services/Banking
    Clothing/textiles

    You have been hired by an organisation in your chosen industry as a management consultant who specialises in internationalisation. This organisation can be based EITHER in your chosen country OR Australia. The organisation plans to expand their operations to the other country (ie an Australian country planning to expand to your chosen country or vice versa).

    Your report should:
    analyse the planned expansion particularly paying attention to key differences and similarities between the two countries.
    Identify key issues/possible challenges associated with such national differences relevant to the chosen industry.
    Present a specific and justified strategic recommendation to address the challenges identified.
    Present a brief action plan for these recommendations.

    You should include specific attention to some of the main forces associated with globalization (such as technology, trade and integration, off-shoring and outsourcing, migration, transportation, environmental pollution) and the impact of these forces on different stakeholders (such as domestic companies, workers, farmers, indigenous cultures, customers and different demographic groups) within that country.


    You will need to support your analysis with appropriate references. This may include academic articles, practitioner journal sources, demographic data or employer association/InternationalManagement publications as well as the source text. Unreferenced reports, or those that do not include a minimum of 5 refereed references (journal articles), will receive a grade of no more than 49%.

    Assignments must be submitted through turnitin on the course Myuni page.

    Assessment criteria:

    Critical analysis and comparison of two countries (Australia and one other) from and international management
    perspective.
    Identification of key challenges.
    Specific recommendations for dealing with these challenges.
    Appropriate reference support.
    Clear expression, correct grammar and punctuation, Professional layout and presentation.

     

    Examination (weighting – 40%)

    There will be a 2 hour closed book examination during the examination period. The examination will include a
    choice of essay-type questions and a case study.

    Further details will be provided later in the semester.

    Submission

    Learning logs should be submitted on myuni as a single word document.

    Students must specify their chosen learning log entry for full marking at the same time as their learning logs. If this choice is not received in time, the tutor will select one entry at random for marking.

    Assignment reports must be submitted through turnitin on the course myuni site.

    Extensions to the due date of written assessments may be granted under special circumstances. An extension request based on illness or on exceptional personal circumstances must include the "Supporting Statement / Certification Form" that is on p. 4 of the replacement and additional Assessment application available at:

                    http://www.adelaide.edu.au/student/exams/supps.html

    Students applying for an extension based on medical reasons must visit their medical practitioner, with the approved University form, and have the medical practitioner complete it.  A normal doctor's certificate will not be accepted.

    Please note that all requests for extensions should be directed in writing to the Lecturer-in charge no later than 48 hours before the due date. Extension requests after this time will only be granted for exceptional circumstances. This does not include poor time
    management or poor file management.

    All assignments (learning logs and group reports) are to be lodged at, or prior to, the due date and time.  A late assignment where no extension has been granted will be penalised by a reduction of 5% of the mark given for each day, or part of a day, that it is late.

    Assessment marks prior to the final exam will be displayed on the course website. 
    Students are encouraged to check their marks and notify the Lecturer-in-Charge of any discrepancies.

    Legible hand-writing and the quality of English expression are considered to be integral parts of the assessment
    process.  Marks may be deducted in the final examination because of poor handwriting.

    Students in this course are not permitted to take a DICTIONARY (English or English-Foreign) into the examination. 


    Presentation of Assignments:

    Students must retain a copy of all assignments submitted.

    All individual assignments must be attached to an Assignment Cover Sheet that must be signed and dated by the student before
    submission.  Lecturers will withhold students’ results until such time as the student has signed the Assignment Cover Sheet.

    Students may not submit work for an assignment that has previously been submitted for this course or any other course.

    Markers can refuse to accept assignments that do not have a signed acknowledgement of the University’s Policy on Plagiarism:  www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/230/

    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

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