B441 - IME Global Markets – Winter 2008

 


 

 

 

Instructor

Email

Office

Office Hours

Phone

Text

 

HBS material fee

Bruce C. Kusch

kuschb@byui.edu

Smith 313

By appointment

496-1479

International Marketing 13e, Cateora/Graham (on reserve)

- Limited quantity of custom texts also available in the bookstore

$12.00

 

Course Description

A doing and “teaching one another” experience focusing on the key factors influencing global marketing decisions and strategies.  Students should gain AWARENESS of differences in cultural, political, legal, and economic environments and how they affect marketing mix strategies.  Course structure requires students to take responsibility for understanding key concepts which are applied to assignments and the development of an international marketing plan.  A major part of the course is designed to simulate the work of an international marketing professional.

 

Course Objectives

  1. Develop a global mindset, awareness, and greater understanding of today’s global economy
  2. Develop an appreciation for the factors to be considered when making decisions for foreign markets
  3. Apply marketing concepts and principles through assignments, discussion, and projects
  4. Further develop oral, written, team, and strategic skills
  5. Strengthen capabilities and commitment to become disciple-leaders in a challenging world

 

Grading Elements & Course Activities

Grading in the course will be based on the following:

1.       Discussion Board & Lessons Learned                                 5%

2.       Q&A                                                                                5%

3.       Concept Exams (2)                                                  20%

4.       Key Concepts Wiki                                                   20%

5.       Marketing Plan                                                         50%

 

Discussion Board & Lessons Learned (50 points)

1.       Discussion Board 1:  What am I wearing, what do I own, and where does what I eat come from?

a.       Take an inventory of what you own, list countries of origin, and summarize what you discovered.

b.      Visit a local grocery store, studying country-of-origin for various products.  Document your findings by listing product name, country of origin, and where in the store you found the product.  Post your findings on a designated discussion board.

 

2.       Discussion Board 2:  Foreign Student Panel

a.       Prepare a summary report of the things you learned from the foreign student panel and describe how your views have changed or were affected by what you learned AND felt.  This will be a Discussion Board forum.  Post your comments and comment on the postings of at least two other students.

Q&A (50 points)

Four days in class are designated as Q&A days.  Students will submit questions in advance regarding course content for class discussion.  Students must also be present in class, participating in discussions. To receive credit, questions must be posted by 11:00pm the night before class.

 

Concept Exams (200 points)

There will be two online exams, each worth 100 points, covering key concepts from the text.  Copies of the text are on reserve in the library, or a custom version of the text is available in the bookstore.  Concept Exam 1 will cover chapters 1-2, 4-7, 9.  Concept Exam 2 will cover chapters 10-12, 14-16, 18.  It is highly recommended that students study these concepts in groups.  These exams will be administered online.

 

Key Concepts Wiki (200 points)

Listed below are twelve main concepts of importance in the course.  Each team will select two concepts and will develop explanatory content to be posted on a wiki, available to all students.  The content posted should provide a thorough explanation of the concept, which can be used to inform students on the topic.  Posted content should also include hyperlinks to other online sources of information.  Length of postings should be approximately 1500 words.  DO NOT copy and paste from online sources.  Wikipedia content cannot be used in any form.  Teams will select topics from two groups:  Group 1 consists of concepts 1-6; Group 2 consists of concepts 7-12.  These groups correspond to topics that are covered in the two concept exams.

 

Key Course Concepts

  1. International Marketing & Globalization
  2. International Trade
  3. The Hofstede Indices, Culture, & Business Customs
  4. Political & Legal Issues
  5. Emerging Markets
  6. Regional Trade Agreements & Market Groups
  7. Market Entry Strategies
  8. Product Development & Adaptation
  9. Integrated Marketing Communications
  10. International Pricing
  11. Managing Distribution Channels
  12. Exporting & Logistics

 

Teams will be asked to make a 10-minute presentation on their assigned concept (see class schedule).  Only one member of the team (two at the most) should present.

 

Marketing Plan (500 points)

Working in teams, you will assume the role of a product development team responsible for the development and introduction of a new product into an international market.  Here are the assumptions as you proceed with this assignment:

1.       You are a product development team for Procter & Gamble

2.       The product you will develop and market is a B2C sale

3.       The product cannot be food

4.       You are introducing a new consumer product AND brand that has not previously been introduced in your target market

5.       Your product idea can be a modification of something already on the market, but you are encouraged to create an original product concept, based on identified needs specific to your target market

6.       The product will not be manufactured in the country where it will be sold. You must consider export and import issues in your plan

7.       Teams will select one of the following countries:  Brazil, Russia, India, China, Ghana, Viet Nam

 

The marketing plan will consist of six chapters, described below.  Each chapter in the plan will have its own due date (in other words, you can’t procrastinate until the end of the course to submit everything!), and will be posted on a team wiki.  Teams will be asked to present their plans in phases (see class schedule).  One or two team members will make a 10-minute presentation on chapters 2 & 3 of the plan.  Teams will make a final plan presentation (approximately 20 minutes) as noted on the schedule.

 

The length of each chapter will vary.  No minimum or maximum number of pages for each chapter is or will be specified.  Just keep in mind that the marketing plan represents 50% of your grade.  A brief description of each of the chapters follows.  These are suggestions – feel free to expand on them as you develop the plan.

 

Chapter 1

Introduction & Executive Summary (you’ll write this section last)

 

Chapter 2

Target Market

·         Economic analysis

·         Trade issues & trade agreements

·         Foreign exchange considerations

·         Cultural analysis & considerations – based on Hofstede Indices

·         Justification of country selection

·         Market entry strategy

·         Business customs

·         Corruption challenges – CPI per Transparency International

 

Chapter 3

Detailed Product Plan

·         Definition

·         Specifications

·         Product cost

·         Development cost

·         Projected ROI

·         Development schedule

 

Chapter 4

Marketing & Promotional Plan

·         Product localization requirements

·         Branding strategy

·         Distribution channels

·         Best methods of promotion – IMC

·         Competitive analysis

·         Forecast – sales & profits

 

Chapter 5

Operational Plan

·         Manufacturing & Production – locations

·         Transportation

·         Warehousing & order fulfillment

 

Chapter 6

Organizational Plan

·         In-country plan

·         Use of locals vs. expatriates

 

Guiding Principles of Learning & Teaching

At BYU-Idaho we foster faith-building and life-changing learning.  Faith in the Savior, gifts of the Holy Ghost, the presence of the restored gospel and institutional efforts to build a Zion learning community motivate us to learn and teach by study and also by faith.

 

Please remember that EVERYONE at BYU-Idaho is both a learner and a teacher.  As such, these principles guide our actions.  We:

1.       exercise faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as a principle of power;

2.       understand that the Holy Ghost is the true teacher and invite the Holy Ghost to teach us;

3.       act, rather than be acted upon;

4.       accept responsibility for learning and teaching;

5.       integrate scholarly knowledge and sacred truth;

6.       love, serve, and teach one another.

 

Class Policies & Important Points

·         A good portion of the work for this course will be done in teams.  Learning to work as a member of a diverse team is essential to success in the world of business.  You have an obligation to other team members to do your part in making the team’s efforts a success. 

·         Written submittals and oral presentations should represent your highest quality work.  Oral presentations should be prepared using PowerPoint.  Written work should be typed, using a 10 or 11pt font.  Be sure you check for grammar and spelling errors.  Some of the most valuable skills you can acquire that will benefit you in the business world are excellent written and verbal skills. 

·         The Code of Honor and Dress and Grooming Standards apply.

 

·         Class Policy on Academic Integrity – Cheating, plagiarism, academic dishonesty, or anything like unto it is contrary to the Honor Code and principles of this university.  Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary describes plagiarism as: “use (another’s production) without crediting the source; present as new and original an idea or product derived from an original source.”  Any student involved in any behavior deemed academically dishonest puts credit for the course and their attendance at BYU-Idaho at serious risk, and cannot be tolerated.  Students will receive a “0” on assignments with no opportunity to make up for lost points, and the instructor reserves the right to drop the student from the course with a grade of “F.”  Additionally, the student’s behavior may be reported to the department Chair, college Dean, and the Dean of Students.  “I did not know,” or “I did not understand” will not be considered as valid excuses.

·         The following statement, with your written initials, should appear at the end of each assignment you submit:  “I/We certify that the work submitted is my/our own unique and original work.  Any non-original works have been cited, with proper credit given to the creator/author.  My/our efforts are in full compliance with the university Honor Code.”

·         If you have a diagnosed disability, or believe you have a disability that may require reasonable accommodation on the part of BYU-Idaho, please call 1-800-we-care to make an appointment with Red Taylor, Director, at the center for students with disabilities.  “In accordance with the applicable disability law, qualified students with a disability may be entitled to ‘reasonable accommodation.’  It is the student’s responsibility to disclose to the SSD office any special needs he/she may have and to provide the appropriate documentation of the disability.  The SSD office is located inside the Learning Assistance Center, McKay Library, first floor.”


The following is the anticipated course schedule – always subject to change! 

Assignments are due by midnight on the designated day.  They will be posted on I-Learn and must be submitted before the deadline.  Students must assume responsibility for managing deadlines and workloads.  Assignments and related class materials can be found under each Weekly Module.

Week

Dates

Topic

What’s Due?

Other notes/reminders

Text

1

March

12

Introduction to the course

Video: McDonald’s in India

 

Discussion board 1

Select teams and countries

 

 

13

Video: NAFTA & the New Frontier

HBR:  Abraham Lincoln and the Global Economy”

 

Select Key Concepts

 

 

14

Team Day

 

 

 

2

17

Exercise:  Cultural Constraints in the Workplace

HBR articles “Managing Multicultural Teams” & "National Cultures & Work-Related Values..."

Plan – Ch. 2

 

 

 

18

Foreign Student Panel

A foreign student

 

 

 

19

Team Day

Discussion board 2

Key Concept 1

 

 

 

20

Business Summit – no class