IGESSIGESS (Institute for Global Economics and Social Sciences)

This course introduces students to key concepts and theoretical frameworks of international business. The course is more theoretical than practical.
The course focuses on key topics in international business such as institutional and sociocultural environments (global business environments), geographical diversification (internationalization) of firms, entry strategy, global business strategy, staffing of foreign subsidiaries, and language barriers.
At the end of this course, students will be able to understand how firms enter foreign markets, manage foreign subsidiaries, and gain competitive advantage.

Objectives of this course are:
1. To develop the ability to analyze national difference in institutional and sociocultural environment.
2. To understand theories of firms’ internationalization.
3. To understand entry strategy, global business strategy, and the theoretical foundations of the strategies.
4. To understand the theoretical foundation of foreign subsidiary staffing.
5. To develop the ability to moderate language barriers inside multinational enterprises.
6. To build skills in analyzing firms’ success and failure in foreign markets using the theories of international business.

英語 / English

This course is conducted in a classroom. However, in cases where students cannot enter Japan, the course will take the hybrid-flexible form (HyFlex, which is in-person lectures in parallel with online real-time). Students who cannot enter Japan attend lectures online.
Sessions consist of lecture and discussion. Lecture introduces students to basic concepts and frameworks of the session’s topic. Discussion and in-class exercises with regard to the concepts and frameworks, as well as case analysis, are conducted.
Students also work on a team project during the semester. A team consists of 3-4 students. Each team is required to conduct and write up a case analysis. In Week 14, teams make a presentation of the project. Details regarding the team project will be announced in class.
Assignments are submitted in class or using Hoppii. Feedback will be given either in-class or on Hoppii.

あり / Yes

なし / No

※各回の授業形態は予定です。教員の指示に従ってください。

Week 1：Course orientation: Introduction and overview

Course overview.
What is globalization and what is international business?

Week 2：Local business environments 1

Legal, political, and economic environments that firms confront overseas.

Week 3：Local business environments 2

Sociocultural environments that firms confront overseas.

Week 4：Foreign direct investment and multinational enterprises

What is foreign direct investment?
Multinational enterprises (MNEs) and MNEs from emerging economies.

Week 5：Internationalization of firms 1

Theories to explain the internationalization of firms.

Week 6：Internationalization of firms 2

Intra-regional diversification.
Internationalization and firm performance.

Week 7：Entry strategy

Wholly owned subsidiary and international joint venture.
Entry mode choice.

Week 8：Global business strategy

Strategies of MNEs.
Global integration and local responsiveness.

Week 9：Project proposal

Proposal of team projects.

Week 10：Foreign subsidiary staffing 1

Roles of parent country nationals and host country nationals.

Week 11：Foreign subsidiary staffing 2

Choice of staffing policy.
Localization of subsidiary staffing.

Week 12：Language barriers 1

Roles of language in MNEs.

Week 13：Language barriers 2

Strategy to moderate language barriers.

Week 14：Presentation of projects

Final presentation of team projects.

Preparatory study and review time for this class are 2 hours each.
Students are required to read assigned readings and cases. They also work on the team project with team members.

Hill, C.W.L. & Hult, G.T.M. 2018 International Business: Competing in the Global Marketplace (12th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education, NY.

Textbook may be changed subject to availability. Detailed information on textbook will be announced in the first lecture.

Ball, D.A., Geringer, J.M., McNett, J.M. & Minor, M.S. 2012. International Business: The Challenging of Global Competition (13th ed.). McGraw-Hill: NY.
Cavusgil, S.T., Cavusgil, S.T., Knight, G. & Riesenberger, J.R. 2008. International Business: The New Realities (2nd ed.). Prentice Hall: NJ.
Cullen, J.B. & Parboteeah, K.P. 2011. Multinational Management: A Strategic Approach (5th ed.). Cengage Learning: OH.
Rugman, A.M. & Collinson, S. 2012. International Business (6th ed.). Pearson Education: UK.
Shenkar, O. & Luo, Y. 2008. International Business (2nd ed.). Sage Publications: CA.

Newer editions may be available.

Class participation: 50%
Class participation is evaluated based on active participation
in discussion and in-class exercises and contribution to the
class.
Team project: 50%
More information regarding the team project will be announced
in class.

The course is being held for the first time.

None.

Please note that the teaching approach may vary according to which threat level we are at: at level 1, this course will be held on campus, though at level 2, it will be held online.