IB6080 Asia and the Pacific Rim

Course Description:

This course on contemporary issues in International Business is designed to introduce students of international business to the opportunities and challenges of doing business in East Asia, with a particular focus on China. Students will examine the key role of China in the historical, cultural, and political evolution of modern East Asia in order to gain insight into contemporary economic and commercial issues. Discussions and presentations include topics on East Asian history, geography, societal structures, business ethics and values, and modern political and economic structures. The major research project for this course will be a group assessment of the business climate and risks associated with a direct foreign investment by a US-based multinational corporation in selected East Asian countries.

 

Course Outcomes:

On completion of this course, the student will:

    1. Understand the influence of China's geography and physical setting on the evolution of China's economic and social structures and concepts.
    2. Appreciate the importance of China's history and traditions to understanding modern Chinese culture and concepts of commercial activity.
    3. Discern the close connection between China's religious and philosophical traditions and its current political and societal structures.
    4. Understand the regional influence of Confucian thought and its significance to contemporary East Asia.
    5. Understand the nature of China’s political and economic relationships with it’s East Asian neighbors.
    6. Gain a broad understanding of Chinese cultural characteristics and their impact on business communications, personal and professional relationships and issues of business ethics.
    7. Appreciate the influence of history and geography on the Japanese model of economic development and important role that Japan plays in the contemporary economic affairs of East Asia.
    8. Comprehend the impact of contemporary economic and political structures on the business environments of East Asia.
    9. Identify several key issues involved in making a decision to do business in East Asia.
    10. Use the International Trade Data Network and other sources to develop specific business-related information regarding China, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong and other East Asian countries.
    11. Apply the knowledge gained in this course to a conduct a risk Assessment of direct investment in a selected country in East Asia.

Selected web sites:

http://www.asiannet.com/A s i a n N e t - The Number One Information Site of Asia

 http://www.pathfinder.com/asiaweek/Asiaweek Home Page 

http://www.xindeco.com/chimat/chinew2.htmlThe China Matrix

http://asiarisk.com/Political and Economic Risk Consultancy, Ltd. Home Page

http://coombs.anu.edu.au/WWWVL-AsianStudies.htmlW3C/ANU - Asian Studies WWW VL

http://gil.ipswichcity.qld.gov.au/bchana/asean.html ASEAN Information Superhighway 

http://www.cnd.org/CND Home Page

http://www.asiandevbank.org/ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK HOME PAGE

Return to home page: Dr Smith Global Business Web page

Some course-related readings

Chinese Philosophies: Confucian Ethics and the Tao

The Importance of Political Risk: The Importance of Political Risk

 

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