Dr. Stephen M. Rutner
GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY

Table of Contents

CATALOG DESCRIPTION

"World trade patterns. Management and marketing principles applicable to international business.  Comparative marketing analysis of selected countries with an emphasis on cross cultural analysis and communication.  Prerequisite: Marketing Principles (MKTG 3131) or consent of the instructor.”

COURSE OBJECTIVES

In their continuing quest for new ways to establish and maintain a competitive edge, many leading companies are recognizing the benefits of operating in an international market.  These advantages includes sourcing materials, capital, labor and expertise, relocating manufacturing, and distributing product and services to new markets.  Many companies are attempting to increase their sales and profitability by “going overseas” for some part of their business process.  Some examples of large US companies include Boeing, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, and General Motors.  However, these four companies only represent the tip of the international iceberg.  Thousands of small and medium companies are realizing the benefits of international strategies.

In recognition of the new emphasis on international operations, this course provides the basics necessary to make informed decisions about the potential of operating in the international environment.  While there are many benefits, each company must identify the potentially huge risks taken when begin the process.  The net impact of international operations may be the ability to provide superior products at a lower cost.  However, the uneducated company may suffer tremendous set backs before realizing any benefits.

While companies attempt to enter new markets, local governments either facilitate or hinder imports and investments within their country.  The demographics, cultures, politics, resources, and infrastructure all contribute to a county’s desirability as location for international business.  Part of the international process is to evaluate potential countries and companies as partners for operations.

Goals:

The objectives of this course are:

1. To provide the student with an understanding of the opportunities and challenges of marketing operations in an international setting;
   

2. To appreciate the role of unique cultures in making business decisions;
   

3. To identify issues and challenges which are critical to marketing managers in today's international business environment;
   

4. To become familiar with some of the basic concepts, terminology, and approaches which are helpful for analyzing and resolving international problems; and
   

5. To develop an interest in the area of international business and marketing.

PREREQUISITES

MKTG 3131 - Principles of Marketing

REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS

Text: Cateora, Philip R. and John L. Graham, International Marketing, 10^th Edition, Boston; Mass., Irwin McGraw-Hill, 1999.

Notes Packet: There is also a notes packet available at the bookstore from Eagle Print Shop.  It contains the vast majority of the overhead slides that will be used during the semester.  This packet is optional and is presented to help students take accurate notes.

OFFICE HOURS

Professor: Stephen M. Rutner, Ph.D.
Office: Business Building 2238
Phone: 912-681-0588
Fax: 912-681-0253
E-Mail: srutner@gasou.edu
Web Page: www.rutner.com
Web Page #2: www2.gasou.edu/facstaff/srutner/
Web Page #3: www2.gasou.edu/coba/centers/lit/

Office Hours: TR 3:15-5:00 pm

Class Schedule: TR 5:00-6:15 pm

STRUCTURE OF COURSE

This course meets twice times a week throughout the semester.  The principal types of classroom activities include the following:

There are nine sections of material:

Individual/group Presentations

            Every student(s) must make one 15 minute presentation during the semester.  There are numerous topics listed on the course outline page.  The student(s) must choose one and make that presentation on the date assigned.  Since all students will be responsible for the material, each student(s) is required to provide some form of handout based on their presentation.  You may work in groups of TWO people if you choose and get permission from the professor.

Group International Marketing Project

            Every group will also complete an international marketing project.  There are two options for this project.  The students may choose which option that want to perform based on their individual preference.  The basic options are to create a group of advertisements for an American product in a foreign country, or to complete a mini case study of marketing blunders overseas.  The project counts for 20% of the final grade.  Groups will be selected by the students and consist of FIVE students.  More information about this project will be given out in class. 

Class Participation

            Finally, all students are expected to participate.  For the class to be a successful learning experience, every student should contribute on a daily basis.  Every student is required to present at least two “current topics” during the semester.  These should be specific examples relating to the classroom instruction of companies operating in an international setting.  A fictitious example would be an article about Coke’s new ad campaign in Russia when we cover international promotion.

GRADING POLICIES

As mentioned previously, each exam, assignment, etc. has a point value. Based on the values of these assignments, final course grades will be based on the following minimum standards.

The professor reserves the right to add extra credit assignments throughout the quarter. Any extra credit assignments will add points directly to the end total. 

POLICIES

EXAMINATION MAKEUP POLICY

General course policy is that no makeup examinations will be given unless a student can prove in writing that circumstances of an extraordinary nature necessitated an absence from a particular examination. Since examination dates have been announced well in advance, employment interviews or plant visits will not be a valid excuse for missing a regularly-scheduled examination. All of the exam dates for this course have been announced as of the first day of class. Students should view these dates as firm, and schedule other commitments around the exam dates.

Providing that a valid excuse has been approved by the instructor, anyone missing one of the first three regularly-scheduled exams will be permitted to take a special makeup exam during the last week of class. This makeup exam will consist of fifty (50) questions, and will be comprehensive over the material from the first three exams. This exam will be given on near the end of the quarter based on the student’s and professor’s schedules.

Any student missing more than one examination, for whatever reason, will not be offered any opportunity to take the comprehensive makeup, and will not receive a passing grade for the course. Any student in this situation is encouraged to re-take the entire course at a time when circumstances may permit attendance at all of the regularly-scheduled examinations.

The offering of any makeup examination is entirely at the discretion of the instructor. Each situation will be dealt with as fairly and objectively as possible.


ATTENDANCE POLICY

Although prompt, regular attendance will prove to be helpful to students in this course, there is no easy way to require and monitor attendance on a daily basis. Thus, this important aspect of the course is left up to each individual student.

Arriving late and/or leaving class early, however, is extremely disruptive and annoying to the instructor and to other students taking the course. For this reason, anyone attending class should plan to stay until all material has been covered, and the instructor has dismissed the class. Otherwise, it would be better not to show up at all, and thus avoid inconveniencing others.

INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY

If inclement weather (e.g., snowstorm, hurricane, etc.) makes it difficult or impossible for a significant number of students to be in class on an exam day, the examination will be postponed until the next regularly-scheduled class period. While this policy probably will be an inconvenience to those who are able to get to class, it will assure all students that everyone takes the same exam under identical circumstances. The idea of giving a make-up exam to large numbers of students simply is not feasible in a class as large as Logistics 375. Thus, everyone will need to be as flexible as possible if an exam date needs to change due to inclement weather.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

The policy of the College of Business Administration is that any academic dishonesty shall result in a grade of "F" for the course. This policy will be enforced strictly in this course. Please refer to Hilltopics or The Eagle Eye student handbook for a discussion of academic dishonesty.

ADDITIONAL COURSES OFFERED IN LOGISTICS

LOGT 3231: Principles of Transportation

LOGT 3232: Business Logistics

LOGT 4231: LIT Operations

LOGT 4232: International Logistics

LOGT 4263: Seminar in Intermodal Transportation

LOGT 5204: Special Topics in Logistics

LOGT 5835: LIT Independent Study

LOGT 7432: Logistics Fundamentals and Strategy (MBA)

HOW TO SUCCEED

The key to success in the class consists of a number of simple steps.

1. Attend all classes

2. Participate in class

3. Keep up with the material throughout the term

4. Don’t snivel!

INTERNATIONAL MARKETING - MKTG 4136
Course Outline ­ FallSemester, 2000