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Course profile

Doing Business in Asia (IBUS7312)

Study period
Sem 2 2024
Location
St Lucia
Attendance mode
In Person

Course overview

Study period
Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
Study level
Postgraduate Coursework
Location
St Lucia
Attendance mode
In Person
Units
2
Administrative campus
St Lucia
Coordinating unit
Business School

With the economies of China and India growing rapidly, Asia is emerging as one of the key drivers of global economic growth. The purpose of this course is to understand the environmental and organisational issues confronted by firms doing business in Asia. These include various aspects of the external environment such as social, economic, political, cultural, legal, customer and competitive factors, as well as the strategic and organisational responses of firms to the complex, diverse and dynamic business challenges in Asia. Using real-life company cases, participants will learn how to take managerial decisions and solve business problems confronted by firms in Asia.

Asia is a key growth region of the word economy. Asia plays a key strategic part inᅠmany of the global value chains and global value networks of international companies. Whilst Asia is viewed by some as a single, homogeneous entity, in reality, there are great differences between countries in the Asian region, as well as between sub-national regions within each country. To capture the diversity of the Asian region, we will study the key business systems, environmental factors and important characteristics of selected countries in Asia, including, Japan, South Korea, Singapore,ᅠChina, India, Philippines, Vietnam and others. We will examine the similarities and differences among these countries, as well as the opportunities and challenges ofᅠdoing business in these countries.

To do business in Asia, managers need to develop a deep understanding of the contextual factors in each country and design and implement international business strategies that fit the unique context of the country. The country analysis part of the course will focus on a deeper understanding and critical analysis of the contemporary and historical characteristics of each country, including the macro-environment such as social, economic, and political factors, and the micro-environment such as firm's supplier, customer, stakeholders, competitiveᅠcharacteristics and country-specific negotiation dynamics. ᅠ

Before attempting this course, students are advised that it is important to complete the appropriate prerequisite course(s) listed on the front of this course profile. No responsibility will be accepted by the School of Business, the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law or the University of Queensland for poor student performance occurring in courses where the appropriate prerequisite(s) has/have not been completed, for any reason whatsoever.

It is the student's responsibility to attend classes, completeᅠassessments on time,ᅠand consult designated notice boards and websites for correct and up-to-date information regarding the course, including examination times. Relying on fellow students to pass on information may result in incorrect information for which the University will not be held responsible.

Course requirements

Assumed background

Some understanding of international business concepts. Initiative to learn, think, and apply and share knowledge about doing business in Asia.

Incompatible

You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:

IBUS3304

Restrictions

Quota: Minimum of 15 enrolments

Course staff

Course coordinator

Lecturer

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

Please note: Teaching staff doᅠnotᅠhave access to the timetabling system to help with class allocation. Therefore, should you need help with your timetable and/or allocation of classes, please ensure you emailᅠbusiness.mytimetable@uq.edu.auᅠfrom your UQ student email account with the following details:

  • Full name,
  • Student ID, and
  • the Course Code

Aims and outcomes

The course aims to provide you with a foundation in the principles and practices of doing business in Asia - one of the most dynamic regions in today's global economy. Through a variety of individual and team-based pedagogical activities, you will learn aboutᅠthe key aspects of the business environment in the major economies of Asia, the problems and issues confronted by firms operating in Asia, and the ways in which multinational firms successfully manage their opeartions in Asia.ᅠ

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

LO1.

Communicate knowledgeably about the business environment in Asia.

LO2.

As an individual and in groups, identify the environmental and organizational challenges and opportunities for doing business in Asia.

LO3.

Analyse the problems and issues confronted by firms doing business in Asia.

LO4.

As an individual and in groups, recommend strategies to managers on how to do business in Asia.

LO5.

Appreciate the commonality and diversity in business principles and practices in Asia.

Assessment

Assessment summary

Category Assessment task Weight Due date
Presentation, Reflection Asian Country Analysis - WKS Oral Presentation
  • Team or group-based
  • In-person
30% (20% team presentation; 10% individual reflection)

12/08/2024 - 25/10/2024

Each team will be allocated a seminar week to present and all team members are required to present at their respective sessions.

Essay/ Critique Business In An Asian Region
30%

18/10/2024 2:00 pm

As per details available on Blackboard.

Paper/ Report/ Annotation Take Home Assessment
  • Online
40%

4/11/2024 - 11/11/2024

This assessment will be scheduled by the school and run for 48 hours during the examination period

Assessment details

Asian Country Analysis - WKS Oral Presentation

  • Team or group-based
  • In-person
Mode
Activity/ Performance, Written
Category
Presentation, Reflection
Weight
30% (20% team presentation; 10% individual reflection)
Due date

12/08/2024 - 25/10/2024

Each team will be allocated a seminar week to present and all team members are required to present at their respective sessions.

Other conditions
Peer assessment factor.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L04

Task description

This assessment with 30% of weighting is composed of two tasks including presentation (20%) and individual reflection (10%) 

Task 1 (20% team presentation and a compulsory practice-run team pre-presentation): Students will be organised into teams by the lecturer. Each team will deliver an oral presentation during one of the seminar weeks on their assigned country as per the schedule that will be posted on the course Blackboard site. Countries/presentation groups will be allocated in the first two seminars and finalised by week 3.

The team presentation will be based on a current new development or event in the particular Asian country assigned to the team.

The team will need to identify the problems/decisions, link with country & industry analysis frameworks, and implications for doing business in the country from the perspective of a particular international company operating in Asia.

The presentation and accompanying ppt slides will identify alternatives, evaluate alternatives against criteria, and provide recommendations to solve the problem/leverage the opportunity, including implementation plan and qualitative and quantitative analysis.

Team presentation timing will be 20 mins max with 5-10 mins Q&A/class activity engagement led by the presentation team.

  • All team members must be present at the time of delivery of the presentation
  • Use focused and relevant theories and an outline and avoid reading word for word from notes or computer screen at the presentation.
  • Include a minimum of 10 authoritative references with 5 from refereed journals.
  • The presentation slides must be submitted before the commencement of the seminar. 
  • Please Note: The presentation will be recorded for marking purposes per UQ Policy.

Peer assessment is available upon request. Additional details are available in the Assessment section of Blackboard including marking rubric, team formation, schedule of presentations, etc.

Task 2 (10% individual reflection): Each student of the team will submit an individual reflection document in the Blackboard based on the learning achieved from your team country analysis. A template with specific questions (on both individual and team level) for you to complete for this assessment. You must submit this tasks in the same week of your presentation as required and detailed in the Blackboard.

AI use is not allowed for this assessment. 

Submission guidelines

Submit slides before presentation and at least two hours prior to presentation the latest. Submit reflection note the same week of the presentation and no submissions later than that are accepted or allowed.

Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

Late submission

You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.

This applies to reflection note 10% only beyond the date assigned for presentation groups.

Business In An Asian Region

Mode
Written
Category
Essay/ Critique
Weight
30%
Due date

18/10/2024 2:00 pm

As per details available on Blackboard.

Other conditions
Student specific.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

This essay assessment item will be completed individually by students. All students will be given the same essay topic relating to the most significant challenges/opportunities of doing business in the Asian region from a particular international company's perspective operating in Asia. The essay topic statement will be released in the first half of the semester. Students will conduct secondary research and use an in-text referencing format (Harvard or APA).

A minimum of 10 authoritative, relevant references (e.g., at least 50% refereed journals) must be included.

Word count is a maximum of 2000 words excluding references and tables or figure. Students will complete this assessment item individually.

Full assessment details will be available on the course Blackboard site including topic statement, assessment task description and marking criteria. 

AI use is permitted with attribution. Students may appropriately use AI tool (e.g., Grammer Checker) but they must clearly reference any use of AI in each instance. A failure to do so may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. 

Submission guidelines

Essay file submission is via online submission link on Blackboard.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Take Home Assessment

  • Online
Mode
Written
Category
Paper/ Report/ Annotation
Weight
40%
Due date

4/11/2024 - 11/11/2024

This assessment will be scheduled by the school and run for 48 hours during the examination period

Other conditions
Time limited.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

This assessment involves application of knowledge of Asian countries, business theories and frameworks covered during the course and references to readings and cases are required in light of the knowledge and insights gained in this subject to support your answers and arguments. The take home assessment will cover all materials and all countries covered during this course. 

The take home assignment be online and the format will be made up of short answer and short essay-style questions. 

Students will only receive the take home assessment item upon link being made available at the assessment start time. Note that this is a 48-hour exam. If students fail to submit by the submission deadline a late penalty is applied. The assessment questions will be based on all course content covered this semester. 

AI is not allowed for this assessment. More details about this take home assessment will be posted to the course Blackboard site.

If you have extenuating circumstances which prevent you completing this assessment within the timeframe given, please apply for an extension of assessment via my.UQ (not a deferral).

Submission guidelines

Submit via the take home assessment online submission point on the course Blackboard site

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Grade Cut off Percent Description
1 (Low Fail) 0 - 29

Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.

2 (Fail) 30 - 46

Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.

3 (Marginal Fail) 47 - 49

Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes

4 (Pass) 50 - 64

Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes.

5 (Credit) 65 - 74

Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes.

6 (Distinction) 75 - 84

Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes.

7 (High Distinction) 85 - 100

Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes.

Additional course grading information

Grades will be allocated according to University-wide standards of criterion-based assessment.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.

Additional learning resources information

Asian business and management

A large number of references are available in the library on the topics covered in the course, including books, academic journals, business magazines and the internet. Students are encouraged to actively use these resources to prepare for the lectures, and to do research for their country and case analyses projects. The following is a brief but not exhaustive list of useful references for the course.

BOOKS ON ASIA

  • Oxford Handbook of Asian Business Systems - Oxford Handbooks (uq.edu.au)ᅠ(online)
  • Harukiyo Hasegawa, Carlos Noronha 2019. Asian business and management: theory, practice and perspectives. Basingstoke. 2e. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan (online)
  • Low, P. K. C (2020). Successfully negotiating inᅠAsia: 36 success pathways to arguing well and dealing with various negotiator types. Cham, Switzerland: Springer
  • See more weekly readings on the Blackboard

JOURNALS

  • Harvard Business Review
  • The Economist
  • Asian business and management
  • Asia Pacific Journal of Management

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

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Learning period Activity type Topic
Week 1
Seminar

1. Course Introduction and Overview

Overview of the course and introduction to key concepts of framework of analysis.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L05

Week 2
Seminar

2. Country Analysis - Assessment Skills

Country Analysis Assessment Skills to assist with the Assessment items and activities to practice applying relevant skills.

Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04, L05

Week 3
Seminar

3. Strategies/Framework for Doing Business in Asia

Strategies/Frameworks for Doing Business in Asia and hands-on activities to practice relevant strategies and negotiation skills.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04

Week 4
Seminar

4. Japan - Country Analysis

Japan - Analysis of both macro contextual and micro levels of communication and meaning sharing for corporations.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04

Week 5
Lecture

5. Singapore

Country analysis and presentations start.

Readings see Blackboard.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04

Week 6
Lecture

6. China

Country analysis.

Readings see Blackboard.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Week 7
Lecture

7. Malaysia

Country analysis. Readings/Ref see Blackboard.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04

Week 8
Lecture

8. Vietnam

Country analysis.

Readings see Blackboard.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04

Week 9
Lecture

9. South Korea

Country analysis.

Readings see Blackboard.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04

Mid Sem break
No student involvement (Breaks, information)

In-Semester Break

No Seminar

Week 10
Lecture

10. The Philippines

Country analysis.

Readings see Blackboard.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04

Week 11
Lecture

11. India

Country analysis.

Readings see Blackboard.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04

Week 12
Lecture

12. Indonesia

Country analysis.

Readings see Blackboard.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04

Week 13
Lecture

13. Course Review

Course overview and revision.

Readings see Blackboard.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04

Additional learning activity information

Sustainable Development Goals

This course integrates the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through lectures and assessment.

Goal 4: Quality education

Goal 5: Gender equality and women’s empowerment

Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth

Goal 9: Industries, innovation and infrastructure

Goal 10: Reduced inequalities

Goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.