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Unit outline_

IBUS2101: International Business Strategy

Semester 2, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit of study aim to understand how multinational enterprises strategize and operate in global competition. Major topics include the International Business Environment (e.g. the differences in economic, political, legal, and cultural environments); International Business Strategy (e.g. International expansion strategy, entry mode choices, cross-border strategic alliances, and mergers and acquisitions); and International Business Management (e.g. design, structure and control of international operations; and foreign subsidiary management). The emphasis of the unit is on the application of contextual knowledge about international business and strategic management theories as tailored to the Asia Pacific, to analyse and make decisions faced by companies operating in the Asia Pacific region.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit International Business
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Zhan Wu, zhan.wu@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 September 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Supervised exam
? 
Final exam
Supervised and closed-book final exam on campus.
50% Formal exam period 1.5 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Participation Tutorial participation and contribution
Participation and contribution
15% Ongoing Ongoing
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Small test Mid-term exam
Supervised and closed-book test on campus during lecture in Week 8.
15% Week 08 60 mins during lecture time of Week 8
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Presentation group assignment Consulting project presentation
group presentation in tutorial in Week 12 and Week 13.
20% Week 12 Group presentation 30 min
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Mid-term exam: This test will test the understanding of basic concepts and theories in international business strategy. The mid-term exam will cover the lectures up to the teaching sessions before the exam. It will measure students’ mastery of international business strategy expertise. It is closed-book. 
  • Consulting project: Students will work on a group-based term project, focusing on the international entry strategy and expansion strategy of a real company from Australia. As a consultation team, students will make a group presentation on your consulting project.
  • Tutorial participation: We will engage students in different learning activities such as business case analysis, discussion of influential scholarly papers, debates, and many others. Students are expected to attend tutorial, contribute to the discussion, and demonstrate their DEEP understanding.
  • Final exam: This exam will test the understanding of international business strategy theories and concepts It will require students to answer the questions through critical thinking and problem-solving. It is closed-book. Details will be provided in the last lecture. 

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Please follow late submission policy in the University of Sydney Business School.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction & Course Overview Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 02 Globalization: overview and implication Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 03 International business overview Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 04 What is strategy? Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 05 Industry-based view Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 06 Emerging topics in Industry-based View Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 07 Resource-based View Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 08 In-semester test Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 09 Emerging topics in Resource-based View and Institution-based View Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 10 Public holiday Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 11 Entry strategy I Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 12 Entry strategy II Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 13 Review and discussion Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

Lecture recordings: All seminars are recorded. 

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library's reading list system Leganto, available on Canvas.

Textbook:

  • Peng, Mike W. (2021) Global Strategy. 5th Edition. Cengage.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. evaluate and explain concepts, frameworks, and theories in the domain of international business strategy
  • LO2. critically apply the different business concepts, frameworks, and theories in the domain of international business strategy
  • LO3. identify, collect, classify, evaluate, and utilise useful information to prepare an international business project
  • LO4. explain and analyse key problems of MNCs, and conclude with convincing solutions within real-world constraints
  • LO5. develop skills to work with people from diverse national backgrounds with inclusiveness, open-mindedness and integrity.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Session topics are updated to reflect my expertise and contemporary topics. Dates are updated. Increase the final exam duration from 80 minutes to 2 hours to reflect the 50% weight.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.