Time Schedule:
Alan R. Muller
I BUS 300
Seattle Campus
Prepares students to understand the most important aspects of the international political economy. Emphasis on the important relationships among nations and business and economic institutions that influence students' performances as managers, consumers, and citizens. Prerequisite: ECON 200. Offered: AWSpS.
Class description
IBUS 300 is the Foster School's Core Course in International Business, aimed at developing students’ understanding of the strategic issues and dilemmas that managers and organizations face when conducting business in an international setting.
Topics: •National business systems: How countries and regions differ in the organization of their economic systems, politically, culturally and socio-economically, and what this means for business •International trade and investment: The logic of “free” trade and investment, and the reality of “strategic” trade and investment policy •Regional- and multilateral integration: how institutions like the WTO, IMF, NAFTA and the European Union affect and reflect issues in international business •The global financial system: How exchange rates affect business and strategies for dealing with exchange-rate uncertainty •Operating internationally: modes of servicing foreign markets, modes of entering foreign markets, and the challenge of organizing and coordinating “far-flung” operations
Student learning goals
•Students will learn to think systematically about ways in which countries and regions differ
•Students will understand some of the key ways in which those differences affect businesses operating internationally
•Students will learn about some of the key strategic decisions that flow from those differences
•Students will acquire conceptual frameworks and practical tools to help them structure these issues and problems in a business setting
•Students will gain exposure to real-world examples of situations in which these issues manifest themselves, and how organizations (can/should) deal with them when they do
General method of instruction
This class is lecture based, with in-class exercises, guest speakers, and additional sessions for review and assignment development
Recommended preparation
ECON 200 is the only prerequisite for this course.
Class assignments and grading
Besides exams, students will write a 10-15 page research paper in groups of 4 and submit a small number of brief individual assignments.
Grades are based on a combination of exams (multiple choice and short answer), a group research paper, and a number of smaller individual assignments.
