COURSE

BUS 373 (3 credit hours), Summer 2009

International Business and Cultures in Far-East Asian Countries

SECTION

Farmer School of Business Pacific Rim Summer Program

CLASS MEETS

Varied times, see schedule

INSTRUCTOR

Professor Sooun Lee

OFFICE

305B Upham Hall and where the group is at.

EMAIL/Web

Email:  lees@muohio.edu     

Pac Rim Class Website: http://www.sba.muohio.edu/mis399/

Dr. Lee’s Website: http://www.sba.muohio.edu/lees/  

PHONE

9-2715 (Dr. Lee) OR  9-4826 (MIS department office)

OFFICE HOURS

TBA

TEXTBOOKS

Bus 373 Course Booklet will consists of many current articles about economical, business, political, and cultural issues in China, Korea, and Japan. This reading packet will be available at the Oxford copy center in early Spring.

Optional Reading: Memoirs of a Geisha, by Arthur S. Golden, Professor of Japanese History, New York University, Alfred A. Knopf, Inc, 1997.

Suggested reference books :

Competing in the Global Marketplace, by Charles L.W. Hill, Irwin/McGraw-Hill, 4th edition, 2003.

International Business, by Fred Maidment, 12th edition, ISBN 0-07-254849-5, McGraw Hill/Dushkin, 2005.

Culture Shock, by Sonja and Ben Hur, Graphics Arts Center Publishing Company, 2005.

Japanese Etiquette & Ethics in Business, by Boye DeMente, ISBN 0-8442-8530-7, 6th edition, NTC/Contemporary Publishing Company, 1995. 

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Students will learn about the basics of the international business, cultures, and business environments of the Far-East Asian countries, China, Korea, and Japan.

Students will learn the subjects through reading, class discussion, and more importantly actual cross cultural experience through e-mail exchanges and host family programs. It will increase our students’ understanding of international business and enhance their sense of business adaptability in a global business environment.

TOPICS (these topics will be covered during the spring classes and the classes/seminars/field trips during the trip time. Major emphasis will be placed on three Asian countries we will visit, China, Korea, and Japan)

Globalization/International Business: (emphasis on China, Korea, and Japan)

Principles of International Trade/Globalization

Trade barriers/Free Trade Zone/Trade blocks in Asia

Entry strategies to China

Cultures:

Habitat (Geography, living environment, and weather) and its impact on business

Summary histories and their impact on the Asian business/economy

Religions and their impact on society and business practices

Asian life (family/food/transportation/living condition/leisure)

Contemporary cultural development

Economic Environment: (BUS 373 and ECO 399)

Current economic conditions

Exchange rates and its implication on international trade

Business Environment:

Business practices/etiquettes

Selected FDI (foreign direct investment) issues

Manufacturing/Quality control in Japan

Selected Marketing strategies

Political /Legal Environment:

Countries’ political systems

Copy rights/Intellectual Property Rights

Other important international issues in the region:

Career and life of US expatriates in Asia 

Population Issues

Pollution Issues

Corruption Issues

North Korea issues

Places to visit

(May 11-June 15)

China: Beijing & Shanghai

S. Korea: Seoul

Japan: Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, & Toyota City

Hawaii: Honolulu

Click here for tentative itinerary

EVALUATION

Student’s active preparation for and participation in each of the pre-trip classes and all of the classes and field trips during the trip will count as their initial grade. In addition, the student’s attitude/behavior during the trip will be graded; in particular student’s success in conforming/cooperating in his/her conduct with the cultural expectations for which earlier phases of the course prepared him/her. Cooperating with organizational expectations of the program, including punctuality and curfews (if any) will be a part of this grade also.

Grading criteria and/or standards for participation and conduct include:

• Is punctual in all activities
• Cooperates with flexible, mature attitudes about conforming personal behavior to group norms
• Is well-prepared for all activities
• Listens attentively and participating willingly
• Asks questions that display proper preparation for and careful attention to presentations
• Displays sensitivity to cultural norms, including appropriate use of courtesies in local language, conformity to local cultural expectations about dress and demeanor, and other forms of proper business etiquette
• Displays professional attitude and behavior in all professional situations

The second dimension of a students’ grade will be based on exams, readings, & writings. Writing assignments include reflective essays on cultural/business difference and host family experiences, and a report about the e-mail exchange project with Japanese students based on a case study. Grading criteria and/or standards for the second part, other than exam scores, include:

• Major points addressed/summarized in the reflective essays
• Quality of cultural learning in the reflective essays
• Organization and quality of writing/presentation assignments

Graded components (will be curved)

Plus/Minus Grading   Grades for the section are based on the following scale: points/GPA

A+ 97.5-100/4.3       B+ 87.5-89.49/3.3      C+ 77.5-79.49/2.3     D+ 67.5-69.49/1.3  

A   92.5-97.49/4.0    B   82.5-87.49/3.0      C   72.5-77.49/2.0      D   62.5-67.49/1.0 

A-  89.5-92.49/3.7    B-  79.5-82.49/2.7      C-  69.5-72.49/1.7     D-  59.5-62.49/0.7

F : <59/0.0

CULTURAL EXCHANGES

E-mail exchange project with:

        Doshisha University students, Japan* (a case study project)

Host family experiences: (tentatively)

        3-4 days in Kyoto, Japan (Doshisha Univ. Students)

MAKE-UPS

I will provide a make-up test/quiz in the case of serious illness or other comparable official situation.  You must notify me, or the MIS office 311 Upham, in advance and fill out an excused absence form prior to the make-up.  All assignments are due at the beginning of a class on a due date.

CLASS & TEST PREPARATION

For each class it is my expectation that you will read the assigned material and complete any related homework assignments. By doing this you will be prepared for the in-class quizzes and the hands-on exercises.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

No form of academic dishonesty will be tolerated and any incident will be dealt with according to the Miami Student Handbook.

ATTENDANCE

Class Meetings: You are required to attend all class meetings. If you miss a meeting, it is your responsibility to obtain notes from a fellow student. Class attendance is useful to the student as a means of acquiring knowledge and clarification, and is a prerequisite for class participation. Class participation is the active engagement in questions and answers, and contribution of comments in class sessions.

COVER PAGE

A student’s and a team’s (if it is a teamwork) identity should appear on the cover page of every assignment. Student’s name, team’s ID, course and section number, project number, and due date should be clearly indicated on the cover page of assignments for full credit. Multiple pages should be stapled.

NOTE

No attempt is made at the college level to discuss all the materials in the texts during class lectures. No INCOMPLETE (I) will be given for this class.

This syllabus is subject to changes.

EXAM GUIDELINES

Students can not bring any communication devices (cell phones, PDAs, etc.) and any photo taking devices to any exam rooms, without an earlier permission of your instructor. If you happen to bring any device with you, you need to leave them with your instructor until you leave. Students need to write their names both on the test, and on the scanner form and turn both.

               Tentative Course Schedule (Spring-Summer)

In Oxford

Spring class 1

Program Overview/Team formation

Principles of understanding foreign countries

Habitat of East Asia

Spring class 2

Economical/historical backgrounds of China, Japan, and Korea

Globalization/International Business

Spring class 3

Cultures/Religions/Society/Life of China, Japan, Korea

Last Spring class 4

Exam and culture test/experience

In China: Beijing & Shanghai

Chinese Imperialism (Forbidden City)/Modern History

Modern China-Financial Market (China Stock Market)/Student exchange experience

Imperial China (Great Wall) & Religions (Lama & Buddhism)

Living & life style of Chinese people (Futong Old Village)

Chinese students buddy experience

Suzhou field trip/Suburban life/US manufacturing firm

In Korea

Business leader seminar (Byucksan, IBM & Papa John's Korea)

History and culture of Korea (National museums field trips)

Korea buddy experience

Seminar (Asian economy/education)

In Japan

Japanese doll crafting experience

Quality Control/Future Energy (Toyota Motor)

Kyoto City Tour/Culture/History

Cross-country communication issue/e-mail case study (Doshisha University)

Host family experience in Japan

Hiroshima A-Bomb Museum/Peace Park/History

In Hawaii

Student presentations

Review of field trips/cultural experiences in Asia/Culture presentation

Evaluation