Tutorial Guide

MGW3681
International Management
Semester 2, 2019
Week 1 Why do people prefer to be an expatriate?
Establish housekeeping rules; Go through Unit Guide; Do self-introduction and familiarize with the
role expectations during tutorials. Form groups of 3 members for the purpose of tutorial
presentations and a group report. Complete the teamwork contract which is provided in Appendix
A.
Discussion:
The Star Corporation is a California-based manufacturing firm that is going to do business in
mainland China. The company’s contract with the Chinese government calls for it to supply
technical know-how and machinery for producing consumer electronics. These products are not
State-of-the-art, but they will be more than adequate for the needs of the Chinese consumers. Star
has agreed to sell the Chinese its U.S. plant, which was being closed because it no longer was
competitive. The Chinese will pay to move all the machinery and equipment to the mainland and
install it in a factory that currently is being modified for this purpose. The two then will become
partners in the venture. Star will provide the management and technical expertise to run the plant,
and the Chinese government will provide the workers and be responsible for paying for all output.
Star will receive an annual fee of $1 million and 5 percent of all sales.

The Star management is very pleased with the arrangement. Although they are of Chinese descent,
they have lived in the United States all their lives and know relatively little about doing business
either with or in mainland China. To provide Star with the necessary information and assistance, a
native of Beijing, educated there but having lived in California for the past five years, was brought
in. The individual told the company the following facts about mainland China:

• Chinese managers do not plan. They usually are told what to do, and they do it. Planning is
handled by others and simply passed on to them.
• Chinese managers are not concerned with profit or loss. They simply do their jobs and let the
government worry about whether the operation is making money.
• No rewards are given to workers who perform well; everyone is treated the same. If there is no
work, the workers are still paid, although they may not be required to come to the factory.
• There is a basic aversion to individual decision making; most decisions are collective efforts.
• The current government of China would like its managers to learn how to run a profit-oriented
operation and eventually eliminate the need for foreign managerial assistance.
• When outsiders tell the Chinese how to do things, they have to be careful not to insult or offend
the Chinese, who often are sensitive about the way they are treated.
Questions
1. What selection criteria would you recommend to Star when deciding whom to send to mainland
China?
2. What procedures should the company use in making the final selection?
3. What type of repatriation agreement would you recommend the firm use? Be specific regarding
some things you would suggest being contained in the agreement
Review Task: Explain the common causes of expatriate failure. What are the major success factors
for expatriate assignees? Explain the role and importance of each.

Preparation for next week’s tutorial:

Read the case outlined in the following week’s tutorial and consider the response to the questions
provided for discussion. When you attend the next tutorial, you will then discuss the case with your
group members and present the responses to the class.
Tutorial presentations are held from Week 2 – Week 11
Presenting groups need to refer to relevant unit materials and include additional readings in journal
articles, academic books, credible websites to prepare the content of your presentation that
addresses the case presentation task stated for each week. You are expected to do further research
on the case to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the organization and its strategic
position/challenges. Ensure that you include relevant concepts/theories and demonstrate strong
applications in the organizational context. Check the marking sheet for presentation marking
criteria. Please provide the marking sheet and slides handout to your tutor before you begin the
presentation
Week 2 Riding the Waves of Culture

Guidelines for Interviews

Analyse the Case “Changing business culture: theory and practice in typical emerging markets”
Present your response the following questions/tasks:

1. Explain eight cultural dimensions mentioned in the case. How are they important for
multinational companies?
2. What are some of the main cultural differences between Peru and Malaysia / your country
of origin?
3. What can be challenges for an American company having operations in Peru?

Week 3 How do you interpret messages? Hidden Meanings

Guidelines for Reflection Papers

Analyse the Case “Communicative sensitivity in palliative care: a case on the “Happiness Angels” of
Rajbala Foundation”. Present your response the following questions/tasks:

Discussion:
1. What are the challenges for Rajbala Foundation? Are these challenges applicable to private
companies?
2. What is communicative Sensitivity? What are the implications for Expats?
3. What are the basics of verbal and non-verbal communication? How Malaysia/ your country
differs from India?

Week 4 The organisations that you will/ will not want to work with
Analyse the Case “Vodafone Egypt (B), managing corporate cultural change and organizational
performance.” Present your response the following questions/tasks
1. How national factors (environment) is linked to HR strategies in the case?
2. how the corporate culture of a global firm like Vodafone was introduced and adopted by
local employees?
3. How principles of global talent management were key to the success of the enterprise
business outcomes as well as the decisions
4. What are challenges for Western and / Asian expats to work in an emerging/developing
middle east country?

The task for Presenting Group:

Review task: Write your responses to tutorial review form regarding question number 3 above
Week 5 Will you change your values with profitability?
The task for Presenting Group:
Analyze the Case “POSCO’s great Indian fiasco” Present your response the following
questions/tasks:
1. What POSCO had done wrong and what could POSCO have done differently to ensure
success for the project?
2. Was it unwise to fully rely on the local government support? Could it have engaged with the
villagers’ better
3. How should POSCO react if such instances repeat in the future?

Week 6 Organizations as Political Survivors: Game of Thrones

Analyse the Case Huawei In Canada: Can It Become A Trusted Player? Present your response the
following questions/tasks:
Discussion:
1. Why and how did Huawei enter Canada?
2. What impact will the 2012 US ruling have on Huawei Canada?
3. What recommendations do you have for Huawei’s future in Canada?
4. How China- USA trade war effect Huawei? What Huawei needs to do?

Week 7 Politics, National and International Systems: Are they effective?

Analyse the Case “The Turkish Soma Coal Mining Disaster: Antecedents, Consequences, and Ethics.
Present your response the following questions/tasks:

1. What caused the accident at the mining site? What role was played by the state for this
accident?
2. Economically who benefits when business logic is applied in a critical energy sector? Who might
lose? Do the gains outweigh the losses?
3. Should the contract labour system in mining be allowed in a developing country context?
4. Can the acceptance of an ILO mining solution help to improve safety conditions in the mining
sector in a developing country context?

Week 8 Be a consultant: Formulate strategies for your client companies

The task for Presenting Group:
Analyze the case “The Ascendance of AirAsia: Building a Successful Budget Airline in Asia” in the
prescribed textbook. Present your response the following questions/tasks:

1. What is the macro and industry environment in the Southeast Asian region for the entrance of
new budget airlines? What opportunities and challenges are associated with that environment?
3. Compare AirAsia’s generic strategy (cost leadership, differentiation, focus) with the strategies of
other incumbent carriers and with Southwest and Ryanair. How is it similar to and different from
the strategies of those carriers?
3. How should AirAsia respond to the challenges posed by (a) new low-fare carriers entering the
Asian marketplace and (b) low-fare strategies pursued by incumbent carriers? How would you
characterize the competitive dynamics in this market?
Review task: Write your responses to tutorial review form regarding question number 5 above
Week 9 Help companies to understand whether are they on the right track or not
Chapter 11 Management Decision and Control
Analyse the case “From Asia to Africa: the international expansion of Hon Chuan enterprise”
Present your response the following questions/tasks:

1. Given the Africa`s unique demographics, habits, cultures and competition, was the decision
to enter African market justifiable?
2. What are the HR related challenges?
3. How can Hon Chuan gain more market share against its powerful competitors?
4. Should the company launch self-owned brand products in Africa?

Week 10 Strategies to Survive and Prosper: Stay in your home or prepare yourself for an
adventure

Analyse the case “Expansion decision: HC Securities and Investment”. Present your response the
following questions/tasks:
1. What are customer, community, competition and cost features of prospective countries?
2. What are the risk for the company in terms of culture, economy and economies of scale?
3. Which entry mode is better? Can you advise alternative entry modes that is not indicated
in the case?
4. Which option is better whether to continue operating locally or expand to one of the two
Asian locations where the risks and potential growth were both higher.

Week 11 Whales, Spiders and Ants: Multinationals versus Born Global and SMEs
Analyse the case “International market expansion and diversification opportunities for KBB
Resources Berhad Malaysia”. Present your response the following questions/tasks:

1. Compare the major types of entry strategies and prospective organizational structures for
KBB
2. Analyse the advantages and disadvantages of different markets for providing sustainable
competitive advantage? What are the specific economic, political, cultural and social issues
in each market?
3. What is your advice to KBB for its sustainable competitive advantage? Do you advise KBB to
invest in related/unrelated industries? Do you advise KBB to stay in Malaysia or expand its
network?
Week 12
Important Note: Ensure that you attend the Week 12 lecture and tutorial for exam information.
Class Discussion will be held based on the company/country outlook excerpt which will be used for
the coming exam (available in the Moodle in end of Week 11), discussion on past year exam paper
and important exam advice.
 APPENDIX A: MGW3681 INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT
TEAM WORK CONTRACT
This contract is to stipulate the team work agreement of the following team members:
Group Name
Case Name
Team Member 1 (Team Coordinator)
Student Number
Telephone
E-mail

Team Member 2
Student Number
Telephone
E-mail

Team Member 3
Student Number
Telephone
E-mail

Team Agreement

We, the team members listed above, agree to the group values and critical rules of conduct
while working on our team assignment. We are aware that any deliberate form of
misconduct and lack of contribution in the team shall lead to appropriate actions
undertaken by the Chief Examiner, in accordance to the Monash Assessment policies:

Note:
Please take a photo of the endorsed team contract (each member should keep a copy), and
email a copy to your tutor by Week 3. Try to be explicit in your expectations for one another
and outline the ‘norms’ that will be required in the functioning of the group. This contract
(in addition to the group administration log) potentially serves as one of the evidence in the
event of any member being reported to have lacked contribution in the group.