7.
1. Critical Thinking and Discussion Questions #4
2. Case Analysis: Siemens and Global Competitivenes Instructions: The case must be analyzed within two doubt-spaced pages (approximately
600 words, one-inch margin and the Time New Roman 12-point). To analyze the case,
first of all, you are required to highlight the case within 200 words (around 15 lines), and
then directly and concisely address the case’s discussion questions. To reach that goal,
you must read the case carefully and use the pertinent knowledge you have learnt from
the course.
3. Please write a two-page reflective paper (doubt-spaced, approximately 600 words) to
critically review and insightfully analyze what you have learned from this international
management course. (20%)
Instructions: In the critical thinking and reflective course paper, you are required to
discuss both general and specific international business or management issues and
problems. Fundamentally, you are supposed to focus on a couple of important concepts,
models, matrixes, or theories and carefully examine why and how they are useful or
relevant to deal with the nature and implications of international business and how they
impact strategic decisions on a global dimension. In the paper, you should also specify
how and to what extent these frameworks or concepts help you to critically think and
solve some real problems and challenges that you may experience in the actual business
world and/or in your daily life, including increasingly high inflation, supply chain
management disruption, the prevalence of COVID-pandemic, ongoing Russian-Ukraine war,
and seemingly endurable labor shortage.
Topics from the course:
1. Modes of foreign entry; entry decisions
and choices; international strategic
alliances; green-field ventures vs.
acquisitions.
2.Supply chain management; logistics,
manufacturing location; strategic role of
foreign factories; make-or-buy decisions
3.Strategic role of international HR
management; staffing policy; training
and development; appraisal;
compensation; global labor relations
4.Global firm and strategy; global
expansion; cost reduction and local
responsiveness; strategic choices.
5.Global trend in FDI; theories of FDI;
benefits and costs of FDI; Levels of
economic integration; European Union
(EU), NAFTA, and other important
regional economic blocs.
6.Overview of international trade theory;
comparative advantage; H-O theory;
new trade theory; Porter’s Diamond.
7.Country differences in political,
economic, and legal systems; economic
development; international political
economy; economic transition.
8.Culture and its determinants; world
religions; language; culture and
workplace; cultural change.
I 9.Globalization and its drivers; change in
global economy and debates; global
managerial implications.
