COURSE SYNOPSIS
The course aims to introduce the core knowledge of international
School of Management
Semester 1, Academic Session 2017/2018
Bachelor of Management
COURSE OUTLINE
ATW 395/3 – International Business
Lecturer: Assoc. Professor Dr.Shankar Chelliah (DKD)
Dr.Ainul Mohsein Abdul Mohsin (DKA)
Dr.Khairul Anuar Mohammad Shah (DKG)
Day/Time: Monday/9.00-10.50am
email: shankarchelliah1@gmail.com
Tel: 04 653 3426/3878/012-4618731
Office: Level 2, Room 216, & Main Office of
School of Management
1
business as a core subject in the bachelor program. The students
will be exposed to globalization, international business theories,
government intervention in international business, emerging
market, foreign market entry strategies and the existence of
regional economic integration that affect international business.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the course are:
1. To enable students to understand the impact of globalisation
and the key issues facing international businesses
2. To explain the environment in international business such as
politics and law, emerging market and the regional economic
integration
3. To make students appreciate the existence and use of
fundamental international business theories and its evolution
4. To enable students to understand the various entry modes
available to capture international market
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
1. Acquire the pre-requisite knowledge of venturing a business
at international level and describe the key concepts that
driving globalization
2. Comprehend the environment of international business where
the firm operates, and the challenges and threats posed by
external factors in determining the success of the firm
3. Applying the international business knowledge in real
business cases in understanding the firm current position and
recommending viable solutions in becoming internationally
viable business.
 4. Finally, the students should be able to become good decision
makers in the future by able to evaluate an international firm  Knowledge (K)
or local firm by understanding the important dimensions of  Comprehension (C)
international business.  Application (AP)
 Analysis (AN)
STUDENT LEARNING TIME (SLT)  Synthesis (S)
 Evaluation (E)
SLT Descriptions Hours
Face to face  Lecture 28 DESCRIPTION OF ASSESSMENT:
Activities  Tutorial 10
 Consultation (discuss 14 Coursework (40%) :
cases/project etc.) The coursework portion (40%) for this course is divided into four
Self-Learning  Independent Learning 34 components as follows:
Activities (students preparation for
assignment/case study/ Group Assignment (20%):
presentation etc)
 Revision 14 Students are required to find a firm that involves in international
 Preparation for 14 business. A group will be formed to complete this project. Please
Assessment submit the names by group to lecturer by filling up the forms given
Formal  Continuous Assessment 4 in second week of lecture. The students need to analyze the firm on
Assessment (Mid-term/Quiz/Test) a group basis based on the questions given. The composition of the
 Final Exam 3 group should be diverse. A report needs to be produced.
TOTAL SLT 121

COURSE ASSESSMENT
Tutorial Case Study (10%)
Coursework 40%
Group Assignment 20% Students need to form groups (number of students in a group
Case Studies during Tutorial 10% determined by size of class) and submit the names on the second
Mid-Semester Test 10% Assessment Course Learning *Levels Of
Final Exam 60% Lear
Total 100% ning
Case Study 2, 3, 4 ,5 3, 4, 5 AP, AN, S, E
(Individual)
Group 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 3, 4, 5 AP, AN, S, E
Assi
* Levels of Learning: gnm
ent
2
Mid-Semester 1, 2 1, 2 K, C
Test
Final Exam 2, 3, 4, 5 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 K, C, AP, AN, S, E
week. Cases will be assigned by lecturer and communicated
through e-learning. Assigned group shall do a presentation and
submit a written report based on the questions in the case study.
The case questions are from the main text book which follows after
a week the chapter taught during the lecture (refer to Course
Content).
Mid-semester test (10%):
This mid-semester test will comprise of case study questions to
evaluate students’ knowledge and understanding of the concept of
international business taught on the first half of the semester. The
mid-semester test usually takes about 1.5 hours and is conducted in
the middle of the semester.
Final exam (60%) :
The final exam is a 3-hour exam paper consisting of theory based
questions, case-related questions, and essay questions.
DESCRIPTION OF TEACHING-LEARNING METHODS:
 Lecture
 Tutorials
 Presentation
 Library Search
GROUP ASSIGNMENT
1. Each group should have 5 members (appropriate numbers
will be determined by the instructor). Group members
should be heterogeneous as far as possible in terms of
gender and ethnicity.
2. Each group should select a leader. The group leader must
register the group members, along with their e-mail
addresses and telephone numbers to the respective
instructor by the second week of class.
3
3. Each group should select a firm of their choice. (A firm that
able to answer the assignment questions, not based on
convenience by going to shopping complexes, please!) The
list of firm should be communicated to instructor for
approval. Each group will be required to work as a team to
visit the firm and come up with a report.
4. Project assignment should be submitted as specified by the
instructor (Week 12, before 5 pm). No marks will be given
for late submission. Group leader submit to the lecturer
he/she attends lecture.
5. Each report should have a cover and table of content. The
report should be typed in English using font 12 (Times New
Roman) with double spacing. A4-sized papers should be
used.
6. The report should be comprehensive and systematic. The
length of the report should not be less than 20 pages but
not more than 25 pages (excluding appendices).
7. Report writing should follow the format given by the
instructor as follows:
(i) Background (max 5 pages);
(ii) IB issues based on the assignment questions;
(iii) Conclusion;
(v) References;
(vi) Appendices (if any).
8. References used in the report should be recorded either as
footnotes or in the references section.
9. Each member of the group should declare their own
contribution at the beginning of the report. Marks will be
given accordingly.
 10. Students that do not contribute to the group project got to a guide as students has to make own judgment based on the
be reported to the lecturer by week 6 or anytime it has writing font size.
impacted the quality of the work produced. 3. Use diagrams, tables, and examples to add variety to your
writings. All these will help to earn marks.
11. Information on the front cover should include the following: 4. Each answer should have introduction, content and conclusion.
(i) Course: 5. Finally, and most importantly, DO NOT CHEAT during the Final
(ii) Semester: Exam.
(iii) Academic Session:
(iv) Name of Instructor:
(v) Title:
(vii) Name of members, matric numbers, year of study &
signature of each member.

FORMAT OF FINAL EXAM

Format of Final Exam

Section A: Questions to test understanding of International Business
Theories (50 marks)
- Total two (2) questions with 25 marks each. Answer both
questions.

Section B: Questions to test concepts in International Business (Short

Essay Questions) (30 marks)
- Total four (4) questions, answer only three (2) questions
with 15 marks each.

Section C: Questions to test how students can apply concepts in the

real international business environment (Application Type
Questions) (20 marks)
- Total two (2) questions, answer only (1) question with 20
marks.

Guideline to Answer Final Exam Questions COURSE CONTENT

1. Please write in paragraphs, no bullet forms.
2. Please write according to marks. For instance, for questions with
25 marks, it has to be at least 3 full pages. For 15 marks, it has to be Week Topic Remarks
at least 1.5 full pages. For 20 marks, it has to be 2 full pages. It is just
Week 1 Course Introduction Form your group
4
11/9/17 for Assignment Week 10 Chapter 5: Understanding Tutorial 7
Part A Fundamentals in 13/11/17 Emerging Market Closer Continent
International Business Registration for
Tutorial slots Week 11 Part C Internal Scenarios in Tutorial 8
Chapter 1: What is International 20/11/17 International Business TATA
Business?
Chapter 6: Strategies of SMEs in
Week 2 Continue Chapter 1: What is Registration for Exploring International Markets
18/9/17 International Business? Tutorial slots Week 12 Case Review Tutorial 9
27/11/17 Jollibee
Week 3 Chapter 2: Theories of Tutorial 1
25/9/17 International Trade and Harley Week 13 Chapter 7: International Market Tutorial 10
Investment 4/12/17 Entry Modes Kodak in Russia

Week 4 Continue Chapter 2: Theories of Tutorial 2 Week 14 Case Review

2/10/17 International Trade and Hyundai 11/12/17
Investment
Week 15 Review of past year questions
Week 5 Part B: External Scenarios in Tutorial 3 18/12/17
9/10/17 International Business Soybean
Chapter 3: Government
Intervention in International
MAIN TEXT BOOK
Business
Week 6 Mid Semester Break
Shankar, C. (2016). (1st Ed) International Business: An Introduction,
Text and Cases, Pearson Education Ltd: Malaysia.
Week 7 Mid-Semester Test Tutorial 4
23/10/17 Google in Asia
(Chapters 1-2)

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES
Week 8 Case Review Tutorial 5
30/10/17 (Convocation week: 28 Oct- Airbus and Boeing
Cavusgil, S. T., Knight, G., & Riesenberger, J. R. (2014). (3 rd Ed)
2 Nov)
International Business: The New Realities, Pearson Education Ltd:
Week 9 Chapter 4: Regional Economic Tutorial 6 England.
6/11/17 Integration Russel

5
Hill, C. W. L., Wee, C.H., & Udayasankar, K. (2012). International Please refer to the APA Publication Manual (2001) as a guide in
Business: An Asian Perspective, 1 st edition, McGraw-Hill: citing and referencing other people’s work to avoid being accused
Singapore. of plagiarism.

The penalty for plagiarism is an F for the course, RM200 fine, and if
STUDENTS’ RESPONSIBILITIES found guilty by the University Disciplinary Committee, is ground
for suspension and academic dismissal.
1. Students are required to attend classes and tutorials at the
registered slots. All the best!
Assoc.Professor Dr.Shankar Chelliah
2. Students must read the relevant chapter/s that is/are listed in 29/8/17
the course outline prior to attending lecture.

3. Reading the particular case for the weekly Tutorials is a MUST

prior to attend. This will ensure enriching discussions during
the Tutorials.

4. Students must show satisfactory attendance in lectures and

tutorials. Those who fail to meet the minimum attendance
requirements will be barred from sitting the final examination.

PLAGIARISM

Kindly take note that USM and the School of Management will not
tolerate any form of plagiarism by undergraduate students in their
term papers, projects, dissertation, or examination. The American
Psychological Association (APA) defines Plagiarism as
representing “portions of another’s work or data as [your] own,
even if the other work or data source is cited occasionally”
(http://www.apa.org/ethics/code2002.htm1#8_11).

Students may be guilty of plagiarism if they use someone else’s

work as their own without citing the source in their work (report,
term paper, dissertation, etc.). This includes direct copying,
rephrasing, summarizing, taking someone else’s idea and putting it
in different words, or directly quoting passages or ideas but citing
the work as a general source.