3. Section A: Short Answer Questions
ANSWER ONLY 4 OUT OF 6– worth 10 marks each each worth 7.5
marks (Total 30 marks)
1. Culture in International Business (Week 3)
2. Theories of International Trade and Investment (Week 4)
3. The Regulatory Framework (Week 5)
4. Foreign Direct Investment and the Multinational Enterprise (Week
6)
5. Cooperation among Nations (Week 7)
6. 6.Foreign Exchange and the International Monetary System (Week
8)
7. Strategies of International Business (Week 9)
8. Entry Strategies for Internationalising (Week 10)
3
4. Section B: Essay Questions
ANSWER ONLY 1:
Section B
Questions drawn from two topics covered in
– Weeks 1,2 & 11
The International Business Environment
– (Weeks 1 & 2)
Globalisation and International Business
– (Week 11)
4
5. Common Pitfalls
Not answering question
Not providing examples
Not answering the required number of questions
Avoid these!
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6. Indicate question number clearly (must correspond to the
number on the exam paper)
Start a new question on a new page
Write legibly
Two hour CLOSED book examination
10 minutes reading time
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8. PRACTICE EXAM
The practice exam is a carbon copy of the
structure of the final exam.
Familiarise yourself!
Actually do it, under timed conditions!!
Think of other questions that may be asked in the
actual exam..
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9. 9
Read the question carefully
Look for key words
Address all components of the question
- They will all be assigned marks
Provide examples
No need for an essay structure – JUST MAKE IT
CLEAR, Bullet points are also fine, Prefer a
Paragraph
WE don’t need you to reproduce the exact
textbook definition!
Answering Short Answer Questions
10. ANSWERING ESSAY QUESTIONS
Use a more formal essay style of writing.
Do not try to spill out everything you know!!
Remember to look back at the question and ensure
you stay on track.
Answer all the sub parts in the question.
Remember to clearly number your questions.
10
11. 11
Use reading time well
– Understand what the question is asking
– Choose which questions you will answer
– Think of examples
If you don’t know, guess!
– You cant lose marks, only gain them!
Relax!!!
12. 12
Plenty of case studies in the text book
Also throughout the course we mention
many others!!
When you are writing your revision notes,
include examples and how they can be used
to support each topic.
EVERY Exam question requires examples.
Don’t make up examples!
WHERE TO FIND EXAMPLES??
13. 13
What is a political economy?
– Political, economic, and legal systems of a country are
interdependent
Political systems
– Collectivism (socialism, communism) vs. individualism
– Democracy vs. totalitarianism (communist, theocratic, right-wing,
and tribal)
Economic systems
– Command
– Market
– Mixed
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
ENVIRONMENT
14. 14
Legal systems
– Common, civil, and theocratic law
Important issues for international business
– Contract law
– Property Rights and Corruption
– Protection of Intellectual Property
– Product Safety and Liability
Economic development
– GNI, PPP, HDI
Transition economies
– Attractiveness, costs, risks
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
ENVIRONMENT
15. 28th February 2011Presentation title 15
A system of values and norms that are shared among a group of people
and that when taken together constitute a design for living.
Culture, society and the nation-state
Monocultural & multicultural societies, Western, Asian, African
cultures
Cross-cultural literacy
Generalisation, stereotypes, ethnocentrism
Elements of culture
Political and economic philosophy, language, education, religion,
and social structure
Hofstede’s cultural dimensions
Individualism/collectivism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance,
masculinity/femininity, long-term/short-term orientation,
indulgence/restraint
CULTURE
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THEORIES OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE
What is free trade?
Government does not intervene in matters
relating to trade
Classical country-based trade theories
– Mercantilism
– Absolute Advantage
– Comparative Advantage
Modern firm-based trade theories
– Product Life Cycle Theory (Vernon)
– New Trade Theory
– Porter’s National Competitive Advantage
17. 28th February 2011Presentation title 17
Why Governments Intervene in Trade:
Political
– Protecting jobs and industries
– National security
– Retaliation
– Protecting consumers
– Furthering foreign policy objectives
– Protecting human rights
Economic
– Infant industry
– Strategic trade policy
THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
18. 18
THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
How Governments Intervene in Trade/Instruments of Trade
Policy:
– Tariffs
– Subsidies
– Import Quotas
– Voluntary Export Restraints
– Local Content Requirement
– Administrative Policies
– Anti-dumping policies
The World Trade Organisation
– Purpose
– Benefits
– TRIPS
– What do the critics say?
19. 19
FDI and the MNE
What is FDI / What is an MNE?
Trends and direction of FDI
Flows of FDI increased, North-North, now increasingly
North-South, increasing in service sector
Forms of FDI
–Greenfield Investment
–Mergers and Acquisitions
Why Choose FDI over other modes of entry?
Benefits/Costs of FDI to home and host nations
Political Ideology
–Radical view
–Free Market View
20. 20
COOPERATION BETWEEN NATIONS
What is economic integration?
Different types of economic integration
– Bi-lateral, multi-lateral, regional, international
Why pursue economic integration?
– Nation-state perspective
– Business perspective
Trade related concepts
– Trade creation, diversion, and deflection
Different levels of economic integration
– Free trade area, customs union, common market, economic union,
and political union. Examples of each.
21. 21
International monetary System
WWII, Bretton Woods, IMF, World Bank
What is the Foreign Exchange Market?
– Currency conversion
– Insure again foreign exchange risk
Types of Foreign Exchange Systems
– Floating
– Pegged
– Dirty float
– Fixed
Role of the IMF
Monetary union
FOREIGN EXCHANGE AND THE
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY SYSTEM
22. Demand and supply of foreign exchange
Occurs for multiple reasons
Influences on exchange rates
Free market forces, government intervention, IMF
Monetary union (e.g. Euro)
Benefits and costs
Factors influencing currency fluctuations
Interest rates, inflation rates, market expectations
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Manage & control global financial flows, lender of last resort,
moral hazard
World Bank
Providing loans for economic development
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23. What is strategy?
Profitability and profit growth;
low cost vs. differentiation
Configuration of firm
operations
Primary activities (R&D,
marketing, production,
customer service)
Support activities (HRM,
logistics, information
systems)
How Internationalisation
Improves Profitability
–Market Expansion
–Location Economies
–Experience Effects
–Subsidiary Competencies
Pressures of the Global
Market
– Local Responsiveness
– Cost Reductions/COST
EFFICIENCY
Strategies for International
Business
– International
– Localisation
– Global Standardisation
– Transnational
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STRATEGIES OF IB
24. 24
Which market?
When to enter?
On what scale?
How to enter?
– Exporting, turnkey projects, licencing, franchising, joint ventures,
FDI
– Consider core competencies
– Pressures for cost reduction vs. local responsiveness
Core competencies and entry mode
– Technological know-how vs. managerial know-how
• Pressures for cost reduction and entry mode
– Exporting or wholly owned subsidiaries
ENTRY STRATEGIES
25. 25
GLOBALISATION
What is globalisation? Production and Market, Interconnected
and Interdependent economy.
Drivers of Globalisation
– Declining trade barriers
– Technology
– Environmental standards
– Civil society
– Culture
Global governance and institutions
– WTO, IMF, UN, World Bank
Debate on Globalisation (Preble article)
– Jobs
– Inequality and poverty
– National sovereignty and cultural diversity
– The natural environment
27. Presentation title 27
SHORT ESSAY:
Question: Identify the three types of economic systems. Explain the
differences and similarities between them. Use valid examples in your
answer.
The three economic systems are: Command Economy, Market Economy
Mixed Economy. They are different from each other with respect to
“ownership”, “role of government” and “type of government system”.
Free Market Command Mixed
Resources are owned
privately. The consumers
and firms decide the
allocation of resources.
Government has no
control over the
economy. E.g. USA
Resources are owned by
the government. The
government decides the
allocation of resources;
that is what to produce,
how to produce and for
whom to produce. Firms
are not very efficient as
they do not earn profits.
E.g. Soviet Union, Cuba
Resources are owned
both privately and by the
government. Important
sectors like
health,medical,education
are under the government
and less important ones
are under private
ownership. Eg.India
28. Your Turn
What are the four basic strategies that firms use to compete in
international markets? Under what conditions is each strategy most
appropriate? Use valid real-life examples in your answer.
Why is Vernon's product life-cycle theory considered not relevant for
explaining modern patterns of international trade and investment? Use
valid real-life examples in your answer.
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29. Part B: Long Essay
Question: The degree to which a country’s political system is
individualist or collectivist is critical in determining a firm’s ability to
enter and succeed in that market as an international business.
Critically discuss this statement with the use of relevant theory and
real-life examples.
Answering Strategy:
1.UNPACKING
1. Key Terms and definitions
2. Impact of individualism
3. Impact of collectivism
4. Examples
2. STRUCTURING
3. WRITING UP
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