1.

General Information

Course Subject STRA

Course Number 3703

Course Title Multinational Corporations

Academic Years 2023-2024

2. Instructors
Mr. Baniel Cheung
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
WhatsApp: (852) 94399728

3. Course Description

Course This course studies the multinational enterprise (MNE) and the theoretical approaches that
Description have been formulated to explain the growth and operation of this form of business on an
international scale.
Recent general theories and best industry practice will both be considered in a critical manner
to allow judgments to be made on their strengths and limitations.

4. Course Objectives

1. To provide a detailed understanding of the theories of international business, multinational corporations’

external and internal environments, and international business strategy

2. To provide an understanding of the challenges and opportunities that multinational corporations face in a
global environment

3. To prepare students for career in the international business field

5. Faculty Learning Goals

Goal 1: Acquisition and internalization of knowledge of the programme discipline

Goal 2: Application and integration of knowledge

Goal 3: Inculcating professionalism

Goal 4: Developing global outlook

Goal 5: Mastering communication skills

Goal 6: Cultivating leadership

6. Course Learning Outcomes

Aligned Faculty Learning Goals

Course Teaching and Learning Activities
1 2 3 4 5 6

CLO1. Explain the international business theories and concepts

CLO2. Develop cultural sensitivity to manage cross-cultural employees

and develop skills necessary to conduct effective cross-national
negotiation

CLO3. Explain the complex business opportunities and problems in a

global context

CLO4. Apply theories and concepts to analyze international

management problems and issues; and to formulate and implement
international business strategies

CLO5. Demonstrate effective communication skill

7. Course Teaching and Learning Activities

Expected Study Load

Course Teaching and Learning Activities #
Study Hours (% of study)

T&L1. Lectures 36 28.6

T&L2. Case analyses 30 23.8

T&L3. Group discussion 25 19.8

T&L4. Self study 35 27.8

Total: 126 Total: 100

8. Assessment Methods

Assessment Description Weight % Aligned Course

Methods Learning Outcomes

A1. Group Each team will be responsible for making 40% 1,2,3,4,5
Project presentations of a new foreign investment project.
The investment project involves making or selling a
specified product or service in a host country. Your
team will choose one multinational corporation (either
a well-established company or a growing startup
firm), in one industry, and one host country.
Examples of the topics of your presentation include
Tesla’s entry in Europe, Alipay in Africa, Wada Bento
in Japan, etc. Students assume the role of
international managers and present your analysis and
recommendations to the senior management of your
company. Your analysis should be focused primarily
on organizational and management issues rather
than marketing/finance issues. You have to submit
the topic of your group project to Teaching Assistant
on or before 21st Feb and get approval from your
instructor beforehand. No two teams can work on the
same topic. To secure your topic, you can submit your
topic for approval as soon as your team has made a
decision. Your presentation should be within 25
minutes. Each presentation will be followed by a 5-10
min Q&A session. There are no rules for the selection
of presenter(s). The presentation portion of the grade
8. Assessment Methods

will be the same for all members of the team. The

group presentation will be held at the end of the
semester.

A2. Class You are encouraged to actively participate in all class 20% 1,2,3,4,5
participation activities and discussions during lectures and guest
lectures. Your class participation is crucial to
successful learning. Active class participation will
not only facilitate your learning process but also
make the class discussions lively and exciting. Class
participation will be evaluated based on the
quantity and quality of an individual’s contribution. I
will greatly reward students who actively participate
in the discussion of cases and role-play activities,
make insightful comments and connections to
course materials, constructively analyze
classmates’ arguments, and introduce a unique
perspective into a discussion.

A3. Individual You are required to submit one case write-up. You are 40% 1,2,3,4,5
case write-up expected to identify the main issues in the case, to
evaluate the alternatives and to make
recommendations.

Your case write-up should be no more than 1,000

words (excluding cover page, tables, figures,
appendices, references, and endnotes). The case
write-up should be double-spaced and typed in 12-
point type with one-inch margins. It is due at the end
of the semester. You should upload your case write-
up to Moodle. No late assignments will be accepted.

Detailed information and requirements about the case

write-up will be distributed after the add-drop period.
9. Assessment Rubrics

A1. Group -Focus

Project -Logic
-Understanding of topic
-Presentation skills
-Timing

A+,A,A- Content of presentation-The presentation was highly successful at communicating the

essential elements of the analysis and conclusions to the audience in a logical
manner.-Concepts were thoroughly explained and clarified when necessary.-The
presentation demonstrated a deep understanding and comprehension of the topic (theory
and practical application). -There was clear evidence of independent and critical thinking.
Execution of presentation-The presenter(s) displayed excellent verbal skills and delivered a
highly interesting and coherent presentation. -Visual aids were appropriately used and
clear.-The presentation was completed within the time limit.

B+,B,B- Content of presentation-The presentation was successful at communicating the essential

elements of the analysis and conclusions to the audience in a logical manner. -Most
concepts were thoroughly explained and clarified when necessary. -The presentation
demonstrated a sound understanding and comprehension of the topic (theory and
practical application).-There was evidence of independent and critical thinking. Execution
of presentation-The presenter(s) displayed good verbal skills and delivered an interesting
and coherent presentation. -Visual aids were appropriately used and clear.-The
presentation was completed within the time limit.

C+,C,C- Content of presentation-The presentation adequately communicated the essential

elements of the analysis and conclusions to the audience in a logical manner. -Most but not
all concepts were thoroughly explained and clarified when necessary. -The presentation
demonstrated an acceptable level of understanding and comprehension of the topic
(theory and practical application). -There was limited evidence of independent and critical
thinking. Execution of presentation-The presenter(s) displayed mediocre verbal skills and
delivered a somewhat interesting and coherent presentation. -Visual aids were
appropriately used and clear.-The presentation was completed within the time limit.

D+,D Content of presentation-The presentation only covered some basic elements of the
analysis and conclusions to the audience in a somewhat logical manner.-Very few concepts
were thoroughly explained and clarified when necessary. -The presentation demonstrated
very limited level of understanding and comprehension of the topic (theory and practical
application). -There was very limited evidence of independent and critical thinking.
Execution of presentation-The presenter(s) displayed minimal verbal skills and the
presentation lacked in coherence.-Visual aids were somewhat appropriately used but
unclear.-The presentation was completed within the time limit.

F Content of presentation-The presentation failed to address the basic and key issues of the
analysis and conclusions.-The presentation did not demonstrate sufficient understanding
and comprehension of the topic. Execution of presentation-Verbal skills were
inadequate.-Visual aids were inadequately used. -The presentation was not completed
within the time limit.

A2. Class -Attendance

participation -Voluntary and consistent participation
-Quality of comments (accuracy, clarity, relevance)
-Analytical ability
-Link to theory and concepts

A+,A,A- Attended all case sessions and missed minimal amount of lectures. Consistently
participated voluntarily in case discussions and other class discussions. All or almost all
contributions to the discussion are relevant, clear, well articulated and insightful and
consist of relevant and helpful examples and analyses, creative and insightful solutions,
thereby appropriately challenging assumptions and perspectives, showing outstanding
ability to apply theory and concepts to practical examples.

B+,B,B- Attended all case sessions and missed minimal amount of lectures. Consistently
participated voluntarily in case discussions and other class discussions. Most contributions
to the discussion are relevant, clear, well articulated and insightful and consist of relevant
and helpful examples and analyses, creative and insightful solutions, thereby appropriately
9. Assessment Rubrics

challenging assumptions and perspectives, showing strong ability to apply theory and
concepts to practical examples.

C+,C,C- Attended all case sessions and missed minimal amount of lectures. Occasionally
participated voluntarily in case discussions and other class discussions. Some
contributions to the discussion are relevant, clear, well articulated and insightful and
consist of relevant and helpful examples and analyses, showing some creative and
insightful solutions, thereby showing moderate ability to apply theory and concepts to
practical examples.

D+,D Attended all case sessions and missed minimal amount of lectures. Occasionally
participated voluntarily in case discussions and other class discussions. Few contributions
to the discussion are relevant, clear, well articulated and insightful and consist of limited
relevant and helpful examples and analyses, showing very limited creative and insightful
solutions, thereby showing very limited ability to apply theory and concepts to practical
examples.

F Missed multiple case sessions and/or failed to participate voluntarily or simply recited
comments made by others.

A3. Individual -Identification of critical issues

case write-up -Understanding and correct application of theory
-Articulation of arguments
-Relevance, logic and creativity of recommendations
-Structure
-Use and correct citation of relevant sources of information
-Language and style (grammar and spelling)

A+,A,A- Analysis and application of theory:

-Demonstrates an outstanding understanding of, and the ability to apply theory and
concepts to the case chosen.
-All relevant aspects were addressed and researched in sufficient depth.
-Draws widely from relevant sources and cites sources correctly.

Recommendations and Conclusions:

-Outstanding ability to adopt a critical perspective and provide adequate, feasible and
creative recommendations.
-Conclusions follow logically from analysis.

Writing and Structure:

-Logical structure of report as a whole.
-Excellent development of arguments and offers a logically consistent and well-articulated
analysis and insight into the subject.
-No spelling or grammar mistakes.

B+,B,B- Analysis and application of theory:

-Demonstrates a good understanding of, and the ability to apply theory and concepts to
the case chosen.
-Most relevant aspects were addressed and researched in sufficient depth.
-Draws widely from relevant sources and cites sources correctly.

Recommendations and Conclusions:

-Good ability to adopt a critical perspective and provide adequate, feasible and creative
recommendations.
-Conclusions follow logically from analysis.

Writing and Structure:

-Logical structure of report as a whole.
-Good development of arguments and offers a logically consistent and well-articulated
analysis and insight into the subject.
-No spelling or grammar mistakes.

C+,C,C- Analysis and application of theory:

-Demonstrates a sufficient understanding of, and the ability to apply theory and concepts
to the case chosen.
9. Assessment Rubrics

-Some relevant aspects were addressed and researched in depth.

Recommendations and Conclusions:

-Mediocre ability to adopt a critical perspective and provide adequate, feasible and
creative recommendations.
-Conclusions follow logically from analysis.
-Draws widely from relevant sources and cites sources correctly.

Writing and Structure:

-Logical structure of report as a whole.
-Good development of arguments and offers a logically consistent and well-articulated
analysis and insight into the subject.
-No spelling or grammar mistakes.

D+,D Analysis and application of theory:

-Demonstrates limited understanding of, and the ability to apply theory and concepts to
the case chosen.
-Some relevant aspects were addressed and researched to a moderate degree.
-Limited use of sources of information but correct citation of sources.

Recommendations and Conclusions:

-Mediocre ability to adopt a critical perspective and provide adequate, feasible and
creative recommendations.
-Link between analysis and conclusions drawn is weak.

Writing and Structure:

-Flaws in the logic of the structure of report as a whole.
-Mediocre development of arguments offering limited insight into the subject.
-No spelling or grammar mistakes.

F Analysis and application of theory:

-Demonstrates lack of understanding of, and the ability to apply theory and concepts to
the case chosen.
-Relevant aspects events were not addressed.

Recommendations and Conclusions:

-Inability to adopt a critical perspective and provide adequate, feasible and create
recommendations.
-Conclusions do not follow logically from the analysis.

Writing and Structure:

-Flaws in the logic of the arguments and the structure of the report.
-Failure to use available software for grammar and spelling checks, resulting in poor
writing, typos and grammatical errors.

10. Course Grade Descriptors

A+,A,A- Strong evidence of superb ability to fulfill the intended learning outcomes of the course at
all levels of learning: describe, apply, evaluate and synthesis.

B+,B,B- Strong evidence of ability to fulfill the intended learning outcomes of the course at all
levels of learning: describe, apply, evaluate and synthesis.

C+,C,C- Evidence of adequate ability to fulfill the intended learning outcomes of the course at low
levels of learning; such as describe and apply, but not at high levels of learning such as
evaluate and synthesis.

D+,D Evidence of basic familiarity with the subject.

F Little evidence of basic familiarity with the subject.

11. Course Content and Teaching Schedule

Lecture
Teaching Content and Assignment Submission Tasks
Date
- Introduction to Multinational Corporations
- Assess the Macro-Environment: Political, Economic, Legal, and Technological Factors
17th Jan
- Study the Micro-Environment and Competitive Environment
- Case Study: Mapxus Technology
- No Lecture
24th Jan
- Students form groups and conduct outside class meetings for group project topic
- No Lecture
31st Jan
- Students form groups and conduct outside class meetings for group project topic
- Understand the Importance of Cross-Cultural Management
- Major Cross-Cultural Management Academic Frameworks
7th Feb
- Cross-Cultural Communication in Multinational Corporations
- Case Study: Ginza West

14th Feb – Chinese New Year Holiday

- Seven Value Dimensions and Its Application

- Hofstede’s Five Dimensions and Its Application
21st Feb - Negotiation and Decision Making in a Cross-Cultural Context
- Case Study: Japanese Management System – Part 1
- Submission of Group Project Topic
- Strategy Formulation and Execution
28th Feb - Digital Transformation Strategy in Multinational Corporations
- Case Study: Japanese Management System – Part 2

6th Mar – Reading Week

- No Lecture
13th Mar
- Students conduct outside class meetings and field works for group project
- Organizational Culture and Team Culture in Multinational Corporations
- Organization Structure and Control Systems
20th Mar
- Explore Balanced Scorecard System
- Case Study: Memorigin

27th Mar - Guest Lectures by Senior Management of Multinational Companies

- No Lecture
3rd Apr
- Students conduct outside class meetings to prepare for group project presentation

- No Lecture
10th Apr
- Students conduct outside class meetings to prepare for group project presentation
Lecture
Teaching Content and Assignment Submission Tasks
Date
17th Apr
and
20th Apr - Group Project Presentation
(make-up
class)

30th Apr - Submission of Individual Assignment

12. Required/Recommended Readings & Online Materials

Textbook

13. Means / Processes for Student feedback on Course

Conducting SETL around the end of the semester

Online response via Moodle site

Others

14. Course Policy

15. Additional Course Information