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Unit outline_

MIBS6001: Global Business Environment

Semester 2, 2020 [Normal evening] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit aims to build a systematic approach to analysing contemporary developments in the global business environment. Topics covered include political regulation and political risk, international cooperation on trade and investment, the diversity of capitalism, technological and social change, and business responses to climate change. Business responses to the global business environment is a focus, with students actively learning through real-world cases, problem-solving and workshops. The unit provides students with the opportunity to develop skills in comparative and country analysis, assessing and managing risk and identifying business opportunities, designing risk identification and forecasting systems, as well as a consideration of ethics and human rights in business.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit International Business
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
MIBS6002
Prohibitions
? 
IBUS6001 or IBUS6002
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Yi Li, yi.li2@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Record+) Type B final exam Final exam
Written exam
40% Formal exam period 1.5 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Assignment group assignment Group Report
Literature summary on assigned topic from the lecturer
30% Week 06
Due date: 04 Oct 2020 at 23:59

Closing date: 14 Oct 2020
3000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Assignment Individual report
Report to identify potential future research gaps on the selected topic.
30% Week 11
Due date: 15 Nov 2020 at 23:59

Closing date: 25 Nov 2020
3000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
group assignment = group assignment ?
Type B final exam = Type B final exam ?

Assessment summary

 

  • Group report: This is an Group Assignment. The maximun students in a group is 6.  All groups need to adopt the knowledge learned from this course to search for academic literature on the assigned international business topic. Through integrating recent literature, each group is required to write a report about the fact description of the assigned topic (minimum 2500 words, maximum 3000). The group assignment should have report format, and all groups are required to summarize literature findings on the fact of the assigned topic.
  • The group report is to be submitted through the Turnitin before the due date. No extensions of the deadline will be granted!

 

  • Individual report: This is an Individual Assignment. Students are required to draft a report (minimum 2500 words, maximum 3000) to identify potential future research gaps based on facts described in the Group Assignment. The assignment should have report format. Instead of repeating what have been found in existing reserach, students need to tease out important but unsolved issues for future investigation of this topic.
  • Important: To follow the requirements of Anonymous Marking, please DO NOT put your name on this individual report. A cover page is NOT needed for this assignment. Please add your SID only on each page of your submitted report. If you do not conform to these formatting instructions, 20% of the total points will be deducted.
  • The individual report is to be submitted through the Turnitin before the due date. No extensions of the deadline will be granted!

 

  • Final Exam: The final exam will test your understanding of and ability to apply key concepts from the unit. Students are required to finish an exam with following two components:
  • (1) 30 multiple choice questions (MCQs) with short clarification of your choice.
  • (2) 2 short answer questions related to knowledge learned from this course.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (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:

Late penalties apply as specified in the Business School and University policies and procedures:http://sydney.edu.au/business/currentstudents/policy. If you have technical problems submitting the report, please contact the ICT Service Desk below:https://sydney.edu.au/students/learning-in-canvas-and-blackboard.html

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.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction and Course Overview Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 02 Political and Regulatory Environment Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 03 Economic Environment Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 04 Social and Cultural Environment Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 05 Technological Environment and CSR Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 06 Report-writing Workshop Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 07 Theories of Global Business Environment Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 08 Global Business Environment in Practice Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 09 Trade Policy Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 10 Global Business Environment in Different Markets Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 11 International HRM Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 12 Unit Review for Article Submission Seminar (3 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

Lecture recording: All lectures and seminars are recorded and will be available on Canvas for student use. Please note the Business School does not own the system and cannot guarantee that the system will operate or that every class will be recorded. Students should ensure they attend and participate in all classes.

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

Hill, C., Hult, T., Wickramasekera, R., Liesch, P., and Mackenzie, K. (2017). Global Business Today. Asia-Pacific Perspective. 4th Edition. McGraw-Hill.

All further readings for this unit can be accessed on Canvas.

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. use conceptual frameworks for analysing the political, economic, social, technological and ecological factors impacting on global business operations
  • LO2. apply your knowledge about the global business environment to actual business situations
  • LO3. conduct a country attractiveness assessment and understand the implications of country risks and opportunities for a firm expanding internationally
  • LO4. enhance your report-writing and written communication skills
  • LO5. incorporate ethical and social responsibility into business decision-making.

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.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

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.