Gb625International Business
Professor Name John J. HamptonEmail
Phone 201 761-6390Office Location: 104 Glenwood
Office Hours Tuesday-Wednesday 9:00-12:00 by appointment
Description
This course covers business risks when a firm enters a range of foreign markets. It starts with doing business in Russia followed by Central Europe. It covers Pakistan, the Middle East, and the unique business environment of the Arab emirates. The course concludes with Latin America, Africa, the emerging role of China in Africa, and global oil politics.
Outcomes
Students can expect the following outcomes in this course:
- They will improvewritten communications.
- They will have a better understanding of ethical responsibilities of the profession.
- They will recognize problems and apply strategic analysis.
- They will reason analytically and make data-driven decisions.
Required course materials
- Textbook. Managing Risk in Foreign Markets, (2014).
- Study Guide. This is it. It is also the syllabus.Copies can be downloaded from . Click the Study Guides button.
Hybrid or Web FormatThe course is offered in a web format:
Grading
The grade is based upon two submissions.
- Part #1 Exercises. 50 percent of the grade.
- Part #2 Exercises. 50 percent of the grade.
Part 1.
- Chapter 12. Doing Business in Russia.
- Chapter 21. Darker Side of Russian Business.
- Chapter 13. Doing Business in Eastern Europe.
- Chapter 14. Doing Business in Pakistan.
- Chapter 15. Doing Business in the Middle East and North Africa.
- Chapter 16. Unique Story of the Arab Emirates.
Part 2.
- Chapter 17. Doing Business in Latin America.
- Chapter 22. Corruption in Latin America.
- Chapter 18. Doing Business in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Chapter 23. Oil Production and Distribution.
- Chapter 24. China in Africa.
The Exercises
They are printed at the end of this syllabus.
Due Dates for Assignments
- Part 1. Exercises. January 7 (Tuesday)
- Part 2. Exercises. February 4 (Tuesday)
Requirements for Completing the Exercises.
Complete all exercises with at least 80% of them using the engaged format.
Completion of the Exercises
For the exercises, the guidelines are:
- Show you understand the point of the exercise.
- Add a little something to it.
- Choose either the basic or engaged format for each exercise.
Basic Format
Question: What are examples of a speculative risk not named in the book?
Basic Format AnswerA speculative risk exists when we have the possibility of a loss along with the chance to make a profit. Examples are betting on horse races, buying stocks and bonds, and real estate investment. This differs from a pure risk where only a loss is possible.
Engaged Format Answer
Since we know that pure risk is a risk in which loss is the only possible outcome, there is no beneficial result. Pure risk is related to events that arebeyond the risk-taker's control and, therefore, a person cannot consciouslytake on pure risk.
An example is the possibility that a person's house will be destroyed due to a natural disaster. In this example, it is unlikely that there would be any potential benefit to this risk.
There are products that can be purchased to mitigate pure risk. For example, flood insurance can be used to protect homeowners from the risk that their homes will be destroyed by an overflowing river.
Other examples of pure risk events include premature death, identity theft, and career-ending disabilities.
Submitting the Exercises
Provide your answer to each submission.
- Delete the syllabus material.
- Save the file with the name <Your last name> Course # Part #
- Type in your answer following each exercise.
- Complete the exercises in a single MS Word document.
- Send the file as an attachment to your submission to .
- We do not use BlackBoard for submissions.
Downloading the Textbook
The textbook is available for download at The steps are:
- Visit my Store.
- ClickBook Title or Add to cart
- Proceed to Checkout. Or proceed to checkout with PayPal.
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- I want to use a new billing address. Enter information. Bill to this address.
- To receive a 25% student discount, enter discount code SPU25
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- Proceed to Payment. Enter information. Pay for order.
- Download your files. Download files. Click on the link. Then sign out on top.
- Having Trouble? Email
Confirmation
The instructor will confirm receipt of the exercises and projectwithin four days. If no confirmation is received, query the instructor.
Plagiarism and Cheating
Saint Peters considers plagiarism to be an unacceptable practice under any circumstances. To promote and protect academic integrity, the University's policy against plagiarism must be unconditionally respected. Students found to be committing acts of plagiarism will face academic sanctions to be determined by the professor as well as the administration.
Part 1. Exercises
Exercises 12. Doing Business in Russia
12-1. What was the situation with respect to economic growth in Russia during the period following the year 2000?
12-2. How was Russia affected by the 2008 global financial crisis?
12-3. How is Russia doing today?
12-4. Did the existence of the KGB and Komosomol contribute to the level of corruption in Russia? Explain your answer.
12-5. What is the lesson learned from the story of the Russian factory manager in 1985?
12-6. The text describes a difficult situation with intellectual property protection in Russia. Find and describe a current story that deals with the topic. What is the lesson learned from the story.
12-7. The text describes a business meeting in a section called Business, Pleasure, and Reinsurance. What is the lesson learned from the story?
12-8. The text describes a business meeting in a section called Proof of Identity. What is the lesson learned from the story?
12-9. The text describes a business meeting in a section called Efficiencies and Modernization. What is the lesson learned from the story?
12-10. What is the current situation in Russia with respect to judicial reform?
Exercises 21. Darker Side of Russian Business
21-1. What is the current view of Russia presented in the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index? Be specific.
21-2. What is the current view of Russia presented in the COFACE Country and Business Climate Risk? Be specific.
21-3. What is the current view of Russia presented in the Aon Political Risk? Be specific.
21-4. What is the current view of Russia presented in the World Bank Ease of Doing Business? Be specific.
Exercises 13. Doing Business in Eastern Europe
13-1. Does it make any difference if we use the term Central Europe or Eastern Europe? Why or why not?
13-2. Choosing among the Baltic States, Central States, Former Yugoslavia, and Southeast States, which area has the most corruption. Explain your answer.
13-3. Choosing among the Baltic States, Central States, Former Yugoslavia, and Southeast States, which area would be most attractive for establishing a manufacturing operation? Explain your answer.
13-4. Choosing among the Baltic States, Central States, Former Yugoslavia, and Southeast States, which area offers the greatest political risk? Explain your answer.
13-5. Identify a recent story about corruption in Central and Eastern Europe. Insert a computer link to the web page. Does the story seem to refute the conclusion that the region is not all that corrupt? Explain why or why not.
Exercises 14. Doing Business in Pakistan
14-1. Find and describe a story of feudal tribal politicians in Pakistan. What is the business lesson from the story? Be specific.
14-2. Find and describe a story of corrupt army officers in Pakistan. What is the business lesson from the story? Be specific.
14-3. Find and describe a story of religious extremists in Pakistan. What is the business lesson from the story? Be specific.
14-4. From feudal tribal politicians, corrupt army officers, and religious extremists, which is the most powerful in Pakistan today? Explain your reasoning.
Exercises 15. Doing Business in the Middle East and North Africa
15-1. Is baksheesh in Egypt a form of corruption or is it simply a cultural mechanism to take money from those who have it and give it to those who have less? Explain your answer.
15-2. In 2008, Prince Bandar of Saudi Arabia was interviewed on British television. He said, “You tell me that building this whole country. Spending 350 billion out of 400 billion. That we had misused or kept grasp of 50 billion after 10 years. I’ll take that any day. What I have to tell you is (pause) SO WHAT! We did not invent corruption.” Does he have a point? Explain your answer.
15-3. Of Algeria, Iran, and Lebanon, which is the most corrupt? Explain your reasoning.
15-4. In early 2011, Egypt, Libya, and other countries in North Africa and the Middle East experienced civil disturbances and worse. What has the impact been on doing business in that region of the world? Cite your sources.
Exercises 16. Unique Story of the Arab Emirates
16-1. From Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, which is the most attractive for establishing a regional headquarters for a company’s Middle East and African operations? Explain your reasoning.
16-2. Is nepotism in the United Arab Emirates a form of corruption? Explain your reasoning.
16-3. Why did Dubai Drydocks succeed as a business venture? Be specific.
16-4. Dubai created Internet, Media, Maritime, and other cities. Are they really cities? Explain why or why not.
16-5. Dubai created a Healthcare city that has a wide range of medical capabilities. Does it have any serious competition in the Middle East or Africa? Explain your answer.
Part 2. Exercises
Exercises 17. Doing Business in Latin America
17-1. Of Brazil and Mexico, which country is a better place to open a manufacturing business? Explain your reasoning. Cite your sources.
17-2. Of Brazil and Mexico, which country offers the most political risk? Explain your reasoning. Cite your sources.
17-3. Of Brazil and Mexico, which has the most corruption? Explain your reasoning. Cite your sources.
17-44. Of Chile and Argentina, which country is a better place to open a manufacturing business? Explain your reasoning. Cite your sources.
17-5. Of Chile and Argentina, which country offers the most political risk? Explain your reasoning. Cite your sources.
17-6. Of Chile and Argentina, which has the most corruption? Explain your reasoning. Cite your sources.
17-7. Of Cuba and Nicaragua, which country is a better place to open a manufacturing business? Explain your reasoning. Cite your sources.
17-8. Of Cuba and Nicaragua, which country offers the most political risk? Explain your reasoning. Cite your sources.
17-99. Of Cuba and Nicaragua, which has the most corruption? Explain your reasoning. Cite your sources.
Exercises22. Corruption in Latin America
22-1. Of the Brazilian anti-corruption actions titled Operation Razor, Bloodsuckers, Checkmate, and The Big Monthly, which was most important for business in Brazil? Explain your reasoning
22-2. What is the link between illegal weapons and illegal drugs in Brazil? Be specific.
22-3. Of illegal logging or illegal wild life in Brazil, which is a more serious problem in your view? Explain your reasoning.
22-4. Do you think you personally would have the patience to start a business in Argentina? Explain your answer.
22-5. Does the view of the Duke University student who interned in Argentina show a different view of that country’s corruption than is perceived by the general population? Explain your answer.
22-6. The World Bank ranks Mexico fairly high on ease of doing business. Do you agree with the ranking? Why or why not.
22-7. Some observers think the 2006 Global Integrity Reporter's Notebook shows relatively minor corruption in Mexico. Do you agree? Explain your reasoning.
22-8. Some observers believe that the practice of mordida is little more than an unimportant tax on production and shipments. Do you agree? Explain your reasoning.
22-9. Some observers believe that Joaquín Guzman is a business person who should be admired for his success. Do you agree? Why or why not?
22-10. What is the lesson learned from the story titled Shootout in Acapulco?
22-11. The chapter describes bad economic conditions for business in Venezuela. Have conditions improved? Explain your answer. Cite your sources.
22-12. The chapter describes bad economic conditions for business in Cuba. Have conditions improved? Explain your answer. Cite your sources.
Exercises 18. Doing Business in Sub-Saharan Africa
18-1. Some business people believe South Africa is a good place to do business in Sub-Saharan Africa. Do you agree? Explain your reasoning. Cite your sources.
18-2. Some business people believe Nigeria is a good place to do business in Sub-Saharan Africa. Do you agree? Explain your reasoning. Cite your sources.
18-3. Some business people believe Ghana is a good place to do business in Sub-Saharan Africa. Do you agree? Explain your reasoning. Cite your sources.
18-4. With education accompanied by economic development and the energy of non-governmental organizations, sub-Saharan may begin to win the battle against endemic corruption that robbed the people of the food, health care, and other necessities of life. Do you agree? Why or why not?
Exercises23. Oil Production and Distribution
23-1. What is happening in the oil industry in Venezuela today?
23-2. What is the likely oil consumption in the world, the United States, and China this year? Cite your source.
23-3. What is the current situation in the United States with respect to oil refineries? Be specific.
23-4. One source says that China has more than 160 million vehicles. Another says the number is closer to 30 million. What do you think is the actual number? What is your source for the number?
Exercises 24.China in Africa
24-1. How is the Chinese role in Africa different from the role of western countries? Be specific.
24-2. Comparing the role of western countries and Chinese, which approach is better for Africa? Explain your answer.
24-3. What is the lesson learned from the story titled Chinese Migration to Africa? Be specific.
24-4. Is the Chinese activity in Sudan helping the country? Explain your answer.
24-5. Is the Chinese activity in Nigeria helping the country? Explain your answer.
24-6. Is the Chinese activity in Angola helping the country? Explain your answer.
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