International Management

MGMT221

Course Coordinator / Lecturer

Venkataraman Nilakant

Lecturer

Anna Earl

Assessment

Assessment One: Group Assignment (50%)
Content assessed: all weeks
Due: weeks 3, 6, 8, 10, 12

There will be three group assignments in this course. Each group assignment will be based on Comprehensive cases from the assigned textbook. Students are asked to submit – through LEARN (as a word file attachment) answers to specific questions related to the comprehensive case. Group assignment 1 is worth 10%, group assignment 2 is worth 15% and group assignment 3 is worth 25%.

Group Assignment 1
This assignment is based on the case titled Hailing a New Era: Haier in Japan in the Textbook p. 223; Ninth Edition). Answer the following questions:

1. What is special about Haier’s current management system? Why did the company create this system?  (25 marks)
2. What role has CEO Zhang played in Haier’s development? How would you describe him as a leader? (25 marks)
3. What kind of tensions could arise for Haier when implementing its management system in Japan? (25 marks)
4. Should Haier adapt to the Japanese culture and change its management system? Or should Haier impose its system in Japan? (25 marks)

Answer to each question must start on a new page. Use 11-point or 12-point fonts. Upload your answers as a MS-Word file to Learn. Each group will upload only one submission.

Group Assignment 2
This assignment is based on the case titled Wal-Mart in Africa in the Textbook (p. 355; Ninth edition). Answer the following questions:

1. What were the reasons for Wal-Mart shifting its focus to Africa? Do you think Africa offers good growth prospects for Wal-Mart in the future? (30 marks)
2. Why did Wal-Mart face opposition from trade unions and other government departments over its acquisition of Massmart? Do you think the opposition coalition had a valid point in opposing the dear? Justify your answer. (30 marks)
3. What strategies should Wal-Mart follow to succeed in a market like Africa with its low income levels and high poverty incidence? Do you think its low cost model will be successful in Africa? Give reasons to support your answer.  (40 marks)

Answer to each question must start on a new page. Use 11-point or 12-point fonts. Upload your answers as a MS-Word file to Learn. Each group will upload only one submission.

Group Assignment 3
This assignment is based on the case titled Ethical Leadership: Ratan Tata and India’s Tata Group in the Textbook (p. 465; Ninth edition). Answer the following questions:

1. What is your opinion about the Tata group? What role did ethical leadership play play in the success of the group? (30 marks)
2. What do you think of Ratan Tata’s leadership? Do you think that Ratan Tata was able to carry forward the legacy of the Tatas in letter and spirit? (30 marks)
3. What should Ratan Tata do to ensure that the group carries forward the legacy of ethical leadership of the Tata Group and does not view it as a burden while operating in emerging markets like India? (40 marks)

Answer to each question must start on a new page. Use 11-point or 12-point fonts. Upload your answers as a MS-Word file to Learn. Each group will upload only one submission.


Assessment Two: Mid-term Test (20%)
Content assessed: weeks 1-4
Date: In class during week 5

The term test will consist of 10 short-answer questions (all compulsory to complete). The test will examine lecture material, text and course readings covered in weeks 1, 2, 3 & 4. The test will be undertaken in examination conditions. That is, only pens, student ID card and water bottle will be allowed on the desk during the test. No pencil cases, mobile phones, calculators or dictionaries will be allowed. Students must not forget to bring their student ID card. Questions will be drawn from the Discussion Questions at the end of each chapter in the textbook.


Assessment Three: Final Exam (30%)
Content assessed: weeks 5-12
Date: TBA, exam period

The final exam will consist of 12 short-answer questions (all compulsory to complete). The final exam will examine lecture material, text and course readings covered in weeks 5-12. Questions will be drawn from the Discussion Questions at the end of each chapter in the textbook (Ninth Edition).


Grading
The marks for each piece of assessment may be standardized before a final grade is determined.

Textbooks / Resources

Link to purchase the e-copy International management : managing across borders and cultures : text and cases; 9th edition.

E-text available

Course links

LEARN
Coversheets - Group and Individual

Notes

Class Representative
A class representative may be asked to volunteer in the first few weeks of class. Any problems with the course can be raised with the class rep. The class representative will take up any issues raised by class members with the lecturer concerned as they occur.

Departmental Academic Policies
The Department assumes that you have read this document.

You should also read the General Course and Examination Regulations

Dishonest Practice
The University of Canterbury considers cheating and plagiarism to be serious acts of dishonesty.  All assessed work must be your own individual work unless specifically stated otherwise in the assessment guidelines. Material quoted from any other source must be clearly acknowledged. You must not copy the work of another person (student or published work) in any assessment including examinations, tests and assignments. Any person, who is found to have copied someone else's work, or to have allowed their work to be copied, will receive a fail grade for that piece of assessment and may face disciplinary action which may lead to a fine, community service or exclusion from the university.

IMPORTANT: Where there are concerns regarding the authorship of written course work, a student can be required to provide a formal, oral explanation of the content of their work.

Indicative Fees

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

Minimum enrolments

This course will not be offered if fewer than 10 people apply to enrol.