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Fundamentals of Communication in a Global Context Study Guide

This guide explores the significant role of major world religions in shaping global business practices. It covers the origins, demographics, and core tenets of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Confucianism. Understanding these religious influences is crucial for effective international business strategy, marketing, and policy development, as religious beliefs impact consumer behavior, dietary laws, holidays, and organizational structures.

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International Strategy, Organization, and Business Ethics

International Strategy and Organization

An examination of company analysis techniques, planning and strategy processes, and the impact of business environments on international strategy.

  • Planning and strategy processes
  • Mission statements and stakeholders
  • Core competency
  • Value-chain analysis
  • PESTLE analysis
  • Business environment national differences
  • Low-cost business strategy

Levels and Types of Strategy Formulation

An overview of corporate, business, department, and international strategies used to manage scale, scope, and competitive positioning.

  • Multinational multi-domestic strategy
  • Corporate-level growth strategy
  • Corporate-level retrenchment strategy
  • Corporate-level stability strategy
  • Corporate-level combination strategy
  • Low-cost leadership strategy
  • Differentiation strategy
  • Focus strategy
  • Department-level primary and support activities

Issues and Types of Organizational Structure

An examination of how companies divide activities, coordinate units, and implement different structural models like centralization, decentralization, and global matrix structures.

  • Organizational structure coordination
  • Centralized decision making
  • Decentralized decision making
  • Lines of authority
  • Chains of command
  • International division structure
  • Global matrix structure
  • Self-managed teams
  • Cross-functional teams
  • Global teams

Ethics, Social Responsibility, and Sustainability

This chapter explores theories of ethics, corporate social responsibility, stakeholder theory, and the importance of sustainability and climate change in international business.

  • main theories of ethics
  • resolving ethical dilemmas
  • corporate social responsibility
  • stakeholder theory
  • sustainability and climate change
  • competitive advantage through ethical behavior
  • benefits of social responsibility
  • ethical conduct and legal compliance

Overview of Ethical Theories

An examination of various ethical theories including utilitarianism, rights theory, justice theory, and cultural relativism.

  • Ethical behavior and dilemmas
  • Utilitarianism maximizing good outcomes
  • Rights theory and human rights
  • Justice theory and egalitarian economic systems
  • Cultural relativism and morality within specific cultures

Business Ethics and Resolving Ethical Dilemmas

An overview of ethical theories, codes of ethics, and the sources of unethical behavior in business.

  • resolving ethical dilemmas
  • utilitarianism
  • rights theory of ethics
  • justice as fairness
  • cultural relativism
  • code of ethics
  • ethical imperialism
  • moral integrity of individuals
  • managerial setting or policies

Corporate Social Responsibility and Stakeholder Theory

An overview of corporate social responsibility perspectives, stakeholder theory, and the role of benefit corporations.

  • Corporate social responsibility
  • Porter's profit maximization theory
  • Stakeholder theory
  • Internal and external stakeholders
  • Benefit corporations
  • Certified B Corporation movement

Sustainability and Global Business Issues

An overview of sustainability practices, environmental impacts, and key global business issues including ethics, human rights, and diversity.

  • Sustainability and climate change
  • Carbon footprint and greenhouse gases
  • Circular economy approach
  • Greenwashing and ESG funds
  • Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
  • Working conditions and human rights
  • Diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • Impact sourcing

Cross-Cultural Business and Global Culture

Cross-Cultural Business and Globalization

An exploration of culture, including values, attitudes, behavior, and the importance of cross-cultural literacy in international business.

  • Culture
  • Cross-cultural literacy
  • Ethnocentricity
  • National culture
  • Values
  • Attitudes
  • Manners
  • Customs

Global Religions and Cultural Influences

This content examines the history, adherents, and regional distributions of major religions including Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Confucianism.

  • Christianity denominations
  • Islam five pillars
  • Hinduism reincarnation
  • Buddhism three jewels
  • Judaism
  • Confucian ethical principles
  • Religious distribution by region
  • Impact of religion on business policy and consumption

Governments and Trade Intervention

Governments and Trade Intervention

Governments intervene in trade for political, economic, and cultural motives despite the advantages of free trade.

  • free trade
  • political motives
  • economic motives
  • cultural motives
  • infant industry argument
  • strategic trade policy
  • national security
  • domestic production
  • dual-use products
  • protection of national identity

Foundations and Theories of International Trade

The Nature of International Trade

An examination of the definition, benefits, economic importance, and global patterns of international trade.

  • definition of international trade
  • benefits of international trade
  • measuring trade as a share of GDP
  • merchandise versus service exports
  • trade interdependence
  • impact of national culture on business
  • globalization and efficiency

Principles and Flaws of Mercantilism

An overview of mercantilism as an economic philosophy focused on accumulating wealth through trade surpluses, government intervention, and colonialism.

  • Accumulation of financial wealth
  • Maintaining trade surpluses
  • Government intervention through tariffs and quotas
  • Colonialism for raw materials
  • Neomercantilism and economic nationalism
  • Zero-sum game belief
  • Restrictions on international trade

Theories of Absolute and Comparative Advantage

An examination of international trade theories including absolute advantage, comparative advantage, and factor proportions theory.

  • Absolute advantage
  • Comparative advantage
  • Gains from specialization and trade
  • Positive-sum game
  • Factor proportions theory
  • Labor versus land and capital equipment

International Product Life Cycle and New Trade Theory

An examination of the international product life cycle stages and limitations, alongside the principles of new trade theory.

  • International product life cycle theory
  • New product stage
  • Maturing product stage
  • Standardized product stage
  • Limitations of the international product life cycle theory
  • New trade theory
  • Economies of scale
  • Barriers to entry
  • Productivity

New Trade Theory and National Competitive Advantage

An examination of first-mover advantage and Michael Porter's theory regarding how nations develop competitive advantage through specific industry capacities.

  • First-mover advantage
  • National competitive advantage theory
  • Basic and advanced factor conditions
  • Sophisticated domestic demand conditions
  • Related and supporting industries
  • Role of government and chance

Fundamentals of Personal Communication

Instruments of Trade Promotion and Restriction

Instruments of Trade Promotion and Restriction

Government efforts to achieve trade objectives through managed trade, subsidies, export assistance, foreign trade zones, and trade restrictions.

  • Managed trade
  • Subsidies
  • Export assistance
  • Foreign trade zones
  • Special government agencies
  • Trade restriction
  • Local content requirements
  • Administrative delays
  • Tariff-Quotas

Culture in the Global Workplace

Culture in the Global Workplace

This topic explores how people in different cultures perceive time, view work, and navigate cultural dynamics.

  • Polychronic time (P-time)
  • Monochromic time (M-time)
  • Cultural trait
  • Cultural diffusion
  • Cultural imperialism
  • Hofstede Framework
  • Individualism versus collectivism
  • Uncertainty avoidance
  • Masculinity vs. femininity
  • Long-term orientation
  • Indulgence versus restraint
  • Power Distance

Evolution of the Global Trading System

The Global Trading System

The Global Trading System includes the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) to promote free trade and regulate trade among nations.

  • General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
  • World Trade Organization (WTO)
  • Tariffs
  • Nontariff barriers
  • Uruguay Round of Negotiations
  • Doha Round of Negotiations
  • Principle of nondiscrimination
  • Dispute settlement
  • Dumping
  • Subsidies

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