University of Texas at Dallas

Summer 2005 Course Syllabus for : Multinational Firm – IMS6200-521

Instructor: KURT SIKLAR
e-mail: KSIKLAR@sbcglobal.com phon e : 2 1 4 -5 7 5 -6 0 8 6

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Hello everybody!
As your instructor, it is my intention to provide you with an educational challenge while
assisting you in understanding today’s very dynamic global business environment. I will add as
much as I can from my own international business experience and from various other teaching
assignments I held in the same field over the years. Coming prepared to the classroom is gong
to help you the most in reaching the objectives of this course. What I would like you to do after
each class is not to ask what you learned that night, but what you contributed to the class either
through comments or questions.
Best wishes and good luck!
KURT SIKLAR

Instructor Bio
I am originally from Turkiye. I have been living in the DFW area since 1988 and I am a naturalized citizen of the US. I
attended University of Dallas and University of Texas at Dallas earning separate graduate degrees from each institution.
The degrees are in the fields of general business management and international management studies, respectively. I
obtained my Ph.D. in international business law through distance learning in 1999 (currently in the process of updating
my original thesis).
I have been working for a small export trading company since early 1990s and have been teaching international
business related courses part-time at various area colleges both at the undergraduate and graduate levels since 1998.
Also, I am a member of International Small Business Development Center’s Export Roundtable, and Richland College’s
Export Advisory Board.

COURSE OUTLINE:

1. Course Objectives:
This course focuses on how Multinational Firms (MNFs) operate in a global economy. It
will help the student understand the management challenges associated with developing
strategies and handling the operations of companies whose activities stretch across national
boundaries. It aims at preparing students to understand the foundations and practical
management issues of MNFs. This course will cover the strategy of international business,
organization structure of global firms, entry strategies and strategic alliances, global operations
in general and global export-import management and countertrade, global manufacturing and
materials management, global human resource management, accounting and financial
management in global business.
The course will introduce the student to prevailing terms and concepts surrounding the
complex activities of today’s MNFs establishing the theoretical foundation. Discussions on
various cases will then help the students build upon this theoretical groundwork and form their
perspectives in understanding MNFs.
2. Required course prerequisites: IMS 5200

3. Required textbook: Charles W. Hill (2005) International Business: Competing in the

Global Marketplace, (Irwin: Mc Graw-Hill,5th. Ed.)Point Values for the Course
Assignments

ASSIGNMENTS (see below weekly agenda for dates) WEIGHTED AVERAGE

Individual (70%)

Case Studies (see below description and the weekly agenda) 20

Mid-term examination (chapters 12-15) 15

Final Examination (chapters 16-20) + Strategic Simulation (see below weekly agenda) 25 (15 + 10)

Participation (strongly encouraged!!!) 10

Group (30%) (see below description of the group project) (five students per
group)

Global Analysis Paper and Presentation 10

Global Strategy and Operations Paper and Presentation 20

Total 100

How Points and Percentages Equate to Grades:

100- A
90

89-80 B

79-70 C

= 69 F

4. Case studies:
Discuss the closing case at the end of each chapter by answering its questions and submit
your answers (2-3 pages long) via e-mail using this course’s WebCT link at UTD’s
website. Please ensure your answers are in a MS-Word file format when attaching it to
your e-mail. Other file formats are not supported and missing answers for this reason
will be counted against the student. Please do NOT repeat the questions in your answer
attachment. Also, ensure that your answers are numbered as per the questions. Answers
to a case are to be submitted before coming to class to discuss that particular case.
Answers received after any such deadline will NOT be accepted.

5. Exams:
Exams will have true/false, multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank type of questions. The
instructor will provide study guides for the exams a week before any such exam.
A strategic classroom simulation follows the final exam. The particulars of this
simulation will only be made available on the date of the simulation where the students
will be asked to recommend strategies regarding a business concern’s global expansion.
However, a general guideline to this simulation will be provided a week earlier.
6. Classroom discussions:
Students are expected to come to the classroom having already read the chapters.
Students are encouraged to make comments and ask questions regarding the
chapter/lecture topics. Students are also expected to discuss their answers to that week’s
case questions.
7. Group Project (five students per group to be determined in the first week)
Global Analysis Paper:
With your instructor’s approval, select a product/service and a country for a global business venture. Conduct
an analysis for your selected product or service preparing an 8-10 page paper addressing below issues.
a. Introduction
Description of organization
Description of product/service
b. Mission statement for organization
c. Country analysis
Political
Economic
Cultural
Regional alliances

Global Strategy and Operations Paper:

Prepare a 12-15 page paper addressing below issues.
a. Select and justify an appropriate mode of entry for your global product or service.
d. Explain how you would manage the following organizational functions for your venture in the selected country:
Manufacturing and Materials Management
Marketing and R&D
Information technology (IT)
Human Resources Management
Accounting & Financial Management
c. Address any ethics issues pertaining to your global product or service.
Groups are to submit both written assignments and also present them in the class. (see below agenda)

7. Attendance Policy: Students are expected to regularly attend all classes in which they are
enrolled and to consult (preferably via e-mail) with the instructor in advance when any absence
occurs. Make-up exam(s) and/or late presentation of case(s) are not allowed. If a student is
unable to complete a course in which he/she is registered, it is the student’s responsibility to
withdraw from the course by the appropriate date. If a student fails to withdraw, the instructor
will assign a performance grade that is based on the performance of the student for the entire
semester.

8. Class Agenda:
MAY
16 : Introduction, discussion of the syllabus and identification of groups; Chapter 12
23 : Chapter 13 (answers due for closing cases of both Chapters 12 & 13)
30 : Memorial Day!
JUNE
6 : Chapter 14 (answers due for closing case of Chapter 14)
13 : Chapter 15 (answers due for closing case of Chapter 15)
Global Analysis Paper and Presentation
20 : Mid-term exam (chapters 12-15)
27 : Chapter 16 (answers due for closing case of Chapter 16)
 JULY
04 : Fourth of July!
11 : Chapter 17 (answers due for closing case of Chapter 17)
18 : Chapter 18 (answers due for closing case of Chapter 18)
25 : Chapters 19-20 (answers due for closing cases of both Chapters 19 & 20)
AUG.
01 : Final exam + strategic simulation + Global Strategy and Operations paper and presentation

Syllabus Addendum
Each student in this course is expected to exercise independent scholarly thought,
expression and aptitude. This addendum to the course syllabus is provided to assist you in
developing and maintaining academic integrity while seeking scholastic success.

General Comments:
• All academic exercises (including assignments, essays, laboratory experiments and reports, examinations, etc.) require
individual, independent work. Any exception(s) will be clearly identified.
• Be sure your name or identifying number is on your paper.
• Complete and turn in academic exercises on time and in the required format (hardcopy, electronic, etc.).
• Retain confirmation of document delivery if submitted electronically.
• Retain all research notes and drafts until the project or assignment has been graded.
• Obtain written authorization from your instructor prior to submitting a portion of academic work previously submitted for
any academic exercise. (This includes an individual or group project submitted for another course or at another school.)

Essays and Significant Papers:

Be prepared
• To present periodic drafts of work in process
• To correctly and completely reference all sources of information using the citation format prescribed
• To turn your completed assignment in timely and in the prescribed manner (electronic, hardcopy, etc.)

Examinations:
Be prepared
• To leave all personal belonging at the front of the room or other designated location (this includes cell phones, turned off of
course, and beverage containers)
• To present your UTD Comet Card
• To remove your cap or hat
• To remove the batteries from any electronic device (e.g. calculator)
• To exchange blue books or bring them early as required
• To change seating
• To sign out when exiting the testing room
• To be escorted for lavatory use

All episodes of suspected scholastic dishonesty will be reported according to University

policy. Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to
disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from
the University. Since such dishonesty harms the individual, all students and the University,
policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced. Penalties that may be assessed
for scholastic dishonesty may be reviewed in Subchapter D. Penalties at
http://www.utdallas.edu/student/slife/chapter49.html.