AUSTRALIAN COLLEGE OF BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY

INB2102D – International Business

UNIT OUTLINE – TRIMESTER 1, 2017

DESCRIPTION: This unit offers a balance of sound business management practices that can be applied in an
overseas setting. The International Business program offers critical subjects that provide essential knowledge
and skills, both theory and practice in the field. Students will be offered challenging opportunities to enhance
their knowledge and skills in the field of International Business in topics highly relevant to
business/management strategies in the new millennium.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
The main objective of the unit is to help students think internationally. On successful completion of this unit,
students should be able to;

1. understand the major aspects and issues of international business;

2. understand Australia’s position in the international marketplace;
3. know strategic approaches for entering the international business arena;
4. have an awareness of the main ethical issues involved in doing business internationally;
5. have an appreciation of the major socio-economic, cultural, and political challenges facing international
business in the new millennium; have an ability to critically analyse the impact of international events
on international business

UNIT CONTENT:
1. Theories of International business.
2. Behaviour of multinational corporations.
3. Doing business in continents other than Asia.
4. Culture and business.
5. Approaches to international market assessment.
6. Political economy of international business.

TEACHING AND LEARNING PROCESSES:

Students attend one session per week of four hours contact time seminar style OR two hour lecture/seminar,
one hour tutorial and one hour workshop. Lectures are used to introduce main concepts and to guide students
through important points. Tutorials/workshops are used to assist students in the practical application of
concepts through problem solving exercises and class discussions. Assignments provide students with the
opportunity to demonstrate they have met the learning outcomes of the unit.
Please arrive on time to avoid interrupting the class.

LECTURER(S):
 Ms Thalanka Buwanake
Email: thalankab@hotmail.com
 Mr Suneth Upendra Sudasinghe
Email: suneth16@gmail.com
 Mr Fawas Farook (Kandy)
Email: mfawasfarook@gmail.com

STUDENT HANDBOOK:
For general information, refer to your ACBT Student Handbook or the online version at:
https://www.acbt.net/documents-and-forms

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ASSESSMENT:

Item On-Campus Assessment Value

Assignment Assignment I: Essay/Presentation 50%

Final Exam (closed book) 5 long answer questions 50%

In line with the ECC Moderation Policy, the ECC Unit Coordinator may scale student marks up or down. Marks
awarded are therefore provisional, and the student’s final grade will be subject to approval by the Board of
Examiners. See: Moderation Policy and the Assessment Policy at: https://www.acbt.net/policies

Assessment Marks Type Length Due Date

%
Assignment 1 40 Individual Max. 3000 Week 9
words
Assignment 1 10 Individual 10 minutes Week 11
Interview (based
on report
submitted in
week 9)
Exam 50% Long answer Type Exam
Total 100

Note: Information relevant to assessments.

 The Assignment 1 is an individual assessment, not a group activity. Any evidence of collaborative work will
result in penalties.

 Before you commence research for your assignments, be sure to read the Guide to Essay Presentation at
the end of this unit outline. Papers that do not comply with these guidelines will be penalised.

All assignments are to be submitted in electronic-copy format as a singular word document to your
local lecturer. Please keep a copy of your assignments secured.

Assignment 1 (Individual - 40%)

Assignment 1 40%
For this Assignment you must collect, read and analyse the minimum of 12 references you will utilise in your
Major Assignment:

Question: What are the International Business links between Sri Lanka and the country selected for
you by the lecturer in week 1 class? Explore how the Sri Lankan Business community are extending
the link to the country and what impact has this link has on the country? Provide example.

4 references are to be research books

4 references are to be journal articles
4 references are to other – English language international standard newspaper, internet, and documentary
sources.

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Marks will be awarded for: Also See Assignment Marking Sheet Below

10 Marks The use of facts to support assertions.

10 Marks
The use of theory.
10 Marks
The correct use of English & Self
Evaluation.
10 Marks
Critical Thought
Total 40 Marks

You must develop the report and an Executive Summary: Consisting of a maximum of 3000 words.

Issues you may wish to consider to help you answer the question set include:

The legal and political environment.

The financial climate.

The managerial and labour environment.

The regulatory environment.

Key players within the industry.

Key consumers.

Key international competitors.

The paper should display evidence of careful thought throughout.

In addition well respected sources such as The Economist, Business Week International Edition, The
International Herald Tribune and The Asian Wall Street Journal can also be utilised.

Marks will be awarded for: Also See Assignment Marking Sheet Below

1. Concise prose.
2. The use of facts to support assertions.
3. The use of theory.
4. The correct use of English.
5. Balance.
6. Critical thought.
7. Relevance.

Text length will be a maximum of 3000 words excluding appendices, quotations, executive summary and
referencing.

Interview (Individual – 10%): As an individual prepare and deliver a 10 minute interview on the subject
material you have examined in the Assignment one. The interview takes the format of a corporate presentation

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to your CEO or a potential investor. It is formal in nature and you should expect to be asked questions that
explore your logic, critical thinking and analysis of the case you have explored.

Students should utilise ECU library and learning resources on interview techniques and critical thinking and
building logical and analytical capacity.

Final Exam – Long answer question = 50 percent (Closed Book)

Questions will focus on the principles and concepts underlying a contemporary approach to international
business as revealed in class exercises, case studies, text, video, assigned and supplementary readings.

ASSIGNMENT MARKING SHEET

Student Name/s:
Student Number/s:
Students will be mark according to the marking guide shown below:
PART A: FUNCTIONAL: Shows the level of care you have taken to F P C D HD
ensure your report is readable.
The report is of a sound structure including an introduction and a conclusion.
The introduction and conclusion clearly support the argument and evidence
submitted by the student.
The report takes the position of an impartial observer (i.e. do not write in the
first person).
The report is written in a formal, academic style (i.e. do not write ‘chattily’ and
do not use contractions like ‘don’t’, for example).
The report used an ECU recognised referencing system (in text) and
includes a list of references cited in the body of the text at the end of the
assignment. NOTE: Wikipedia and other non-reviewed works are
unacceptable for use in assignments.
The report is devoid of typographical and grammatical errors – there is no
excuse for mistakes like these, given that spell checkers and grammar-
checkers are standard features of word processing packages these days.
The report displays a very high standard of written and/or graphical analysis.

PART B: CRITICAL AND ANALYTICAL: To obtain a Distinction or High

Distinction mark you must excel in these areas.
Empirical detail is effectively used to support the overall argument.
The report critically evaluates controversies in the literature and the different
interpretations of reality – a particularly good answer would draw on the work
of the various commentators not necessarily referred to in the unit study
material.
The reader is left with a clear understanding of the critical thinking and
thought processes of the author/authors of the report. Does the content entail
original critical analysis at the level expected of an academic exercise?
Does the report reflect an overall standard of writing and construction

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acceptable at a commercial level? Does the report possess the analytical
requirements to be accepted at a commercial level?
F = Fail (<50); P = Pass (50-59); C = Credit (60-69); D = Distinction (70-79); HD = High Distinction (80-100):
Refer to your Unit Plan Grade Related Descriptor
Mark:
Comments:

Criteria for Final Grade

HD High Distinction 80%-100%
D Distinction 70%-79%
CR Credit Pass 60%-69%
C Pass 50% - 59%
N Fail. 0% - 49%
I Incomplete – where unit requires you to pass exam or essential assessment

For further details see the ACBT Student Handbook in the portal on online at:
https://www.acbt.net/documents-and-forms

Back up your material: It is the responsibility of the student to keep a back-up of all materials submitted for
assessment.

Assessment Feedback: Feedback will be provided within 2 weeks of the submission of the assignment. After
your assignment has been returned to you, review the comments and grade given to you by your lecturer. If you
have a question regarding any comments or marks you should contact your lecturer immediately.

Late Submission:
If a student is unable to submit a within-semester assessment task (i.e. assignment) on or by the due date, the
penalty will be 5% per working day. The mark will be zero after 5 working days.
An exception may be granted if the student provides an Explained Absence form together with…
 Medical certificate (signed by lecturer and given to ACBT Manager Examinations by the student), or
 Written explanation (signed by lecturer and given to ACBT Manager Examinations by student), in the case
of personal circumstances which have the potential to significantly affect the performance of the student.
Evidence must be submitted within 3 days (or at the next scheduled class if the lecturer is not available – an
email to the lecturer is also recommended).

Complaints and Appeals:

Students who believe they have valid reasons to appeal marks awarded for an assessment should discuss the
matter informally with the lecturer. If valid reasons for an appeal exists, you must lodge the appeal within 15
working days as specified in the Complaints and Appeals Policy (https://www.acbt.net/policies)

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for
Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description,
Learning Outcomes, Graduate Attributes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. ECC will provide support
advice (within the limits of reasonable adjustment) to those with special requirements. For further information
regarding support for students with disabilities or medical conditions please contact the Senior Deputy
Principal or nominee.

TEXTS:
Ravenhill, John. (2011). Global Political Economy (3rd ed.). New York, Oxford University Press

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SIGNIFICANT REFERENCES:
Ball, D. A., & McCulloch, W. H. (2003). International business: The challenge of global competition (7th ed.).
Chicago: Irwin.
Hamilton, L. & Webster, P. (2009) The International Business Environment 1st Ed. Oxford University Press
Czinkota, M et al. (2009) Fundamentals of International Business 1st Asia Pacific Ed. Milton, Wiley.
Morrison, J. (2006) The International Business Environment 2nd Ed. Houndmills, Palgrave Macmillan

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REFERENCING:
ACBT adopts the APA (American Psychological Association) Referencing system which also complies with
protocols used by ECU.
 How to Reference APA Style – download from:
https://www.acbt.net/documents-and-forms

 Academic Misconduct Guidelines – ACBT portal (Section 4 Referencing and Plagiarism for useful links,
tutorials and videos)

More in-depth information can be found at:

 ECU Referencing Guide – downloaded free at: http://www.ecu.edu.au/CLT/pdf/refguide.pdf
 American Psychological Association (APA) provides free tutorials at:
http://www.apastyle.org/learn/tutorials/basics-tutorial.aspx

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT:
Honesty in study and research is highly valued at ACBT and ECU, therefore academic misconduct is regarded
as a serious offence. Academic misconduct includes…
 Plagiarism;
 Unauthorised collaboration;
 Cheating in examinations;
 fraudulently submitting the work of another person;
 purchasing assignments or paying another person to write an assessment
 Theft of other students’ work;
 any other fraudulent assessment practices

Staff are expected to be critical of student work, looking for any evidence of plagiarism/cheating. Staff may
use search software (e.g. Turnitin) to scan/record your work against the electronic works of others on the
Internet.

"Plagiarism” means to knowingly or unknowingly present as one's own work the ideas or writings of another
without appropriate acknowledgment or referencing, including…
 Paraphrasing text without acknowledging source (includes any copying)
 Paraphrasing text inadequately
 Copying another student's assignment (from any source)
 Copying of visual representations (cartoons, line drawings, photos, paintings, computer programs, images,
tables, graphs)

Penalty:
First Offence: Award of zero for assessment
Second Offence: Award of zero for the unit
Third Offence: Possible risk of suspension from ACBT

For further information see: Academic Misconduct in the student portal.

In order to ensure students are submitting their own work, if the lecturer believes that there is a disparity
between the writing or knowledge presented in assessments (compared to in-class activities or other examples
of student work), the lecturer is expected to confirm that the student actually did the work.

The lecturer may ask the student to define terms, explain concepts or give examples relating to the
assessment. Students who refuses to engage in this process risk being awarded zero for the assessment.

Also see Assessment Policy and the Student Misconduct Policy which can be downloaded at:
https://www.acbt.net/policies

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ATTENDANCE
Attendance is an important element of your success and as such it is compulsory, not only for visa regulations
(for international students) but also a requirement for local students.

Students who are sick or absent from classes for valid reasons must…
 Submit an Explained Absence form to each lecturer for a signature of approval. This should include a
medical certificate or proof of valid reason for the absence. This form must be submitted within 3 days (or
at the next scheduled class if the lecturer is not available).
 Once completed, it is the student’s responsibility to submit the form and evidence to ACBT as soon as
possible.

In the event that attendance is considered unsatisfactory, formal written warnings will be sent to students and
they may be required to see the Senior Deputy Principal or nominee.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT:
ACBT students have access to the following free support:
 Computing or Mathematics – meet Course Coordinators
 Drop-in Help Sessions – see the Course Coordinator.

For further information: See Progress and Graduation Policy at: https://www.acbt.net/policies

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WEEKLY SCHEDULE:
Beginning In Seminar Tutorial

Case Study
1 Course Outline and Standards Start Week 1

Part I: Theoretical approaches to global political

economy
1.John Ravenhill: The study of global political
economy
2 2: Matthew Watson: The historical roots of
theoretical traditions in global political economy

3: Vinod K. Aggarwal & Cedric Dupont:

Collaboration and co-ordination in the global
political economy

3. 4: Michael J. Hiscox: The domestic sources of

foreign economic policies

4. Part II: Global trade

5: Gilbert R. Winham: The evolution of the global
trade regime
6: John Ravenhill: Regional trade agreements
5. Part III: Global finance
7: Eric Helleiner: The evolution of the international
monetary and financial system

8: Louis W. Pauly: The political economy of global

financial crises.
6. Part IV: Globalization and its Consequences
9: Anthony McGrew: The logics of economic
globalization.

7. 10: Colin Hay: Globalization's impact on states

11: Eric Thun: The globalization of production

8. 12: Robert Hunter Wade: Globalization, growth,

poverty, inequality, resentment and imperialism

9. Individual Assignment 1 (40%) Assignment 1 - 40%

For this Assignment you must carry out a
Literature Review - collect, read and analyse
minimum 12 references that you will utilise in
your assignment.
4 references are to be research books
4 references are to be journal articles
4 references are to other – English language
international standard newspaper, internet, and
documentary sources.
10. 13: Nicola Phillips: Globalization and development

11. No Class: Interviews Assignment 1: 10%

You must undertake a 10 minute interview with your
lecturer exploring the critical thinking and analysis

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 found within the report in assignment 1.
12. 14: Peter Dauvergne: Globalization and the
environment
13. Exam Review

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GRADUATE ATTRIBUTES:
Learning is not just about acquiring a static set of knowledge and skills – it is also about developing generic skills that can be used to further
life-long learning and engagement with the community. ACBT has investigated the Graduate Attributes incorporated into ECU courses,
Foundation Skills as determined by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) and Skills for Success as defined by Graduate Careers
Australia and found overlap between learning outcomes identified by stakeholders. The ECC Teaching and Learning Plan developed these
Learning Outcomes through delivery of our courses, with different units sharing responsibility for different outcomes…

LEARNING OUTCOMES
Graduate Attributes Foundation Skills GCA Descriptor
Skills for Success
GA1 – Ability to
communicate

cation
Communi 

Literacy
Oral/written communication
 Clarity of written and
spoken expression; including public
 Technolog
presentation, for and through appropriate
y
use of technology
GA2 – Ability to work in  Teamwork  Teamwork  Collaborating and
teams  Emotional intelligence & contributing effectively in diverse settings
interpersonal skills
 Adaptability
GA3 – Critical appraisal  Problem  Numeracy  Planning, organising,
skills solving  Time Management problem solving and decision making
 Technolog  Critical/analytical thinking (includes use of technology and information
y  Ability to apply knowledge & literacy)
 Planning concepts
& Organising  Information gathering,
evaluation & synthesis
GA4 – Ability to generate  Initiative &  Creative problem solving  Having the courage and
ideas enterprise  Initiative & enterprise confidence to be creative and innovative
 Learning
 Self
Management

GA5 – Cross-cultural &  Communi  Adaptability  Engaging productively and

international outlook cation harmoniously with diverse cultures
 Teamwork

The Graduate Attributes incorporated into this unit are:

Unit Code Ability to Communicate Ability to work in teams Critical appraisal skills Ability to generate ideas Cross-cultural &
Problem-solving international outlook
INB2102D

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