This Course Guide has been taken from the most recent presentation of the course. It would be useful for reference purposes but please note that there may be updates for the following presentation.
IB B893
Strategic Issues for Management in the Asia Pacific Region
Welcome to IB B893 Strategic Issues for Management in the Asia-Pacific Region. IB B893 is a ten-credit, year-long, Master's level course for:
Students taking IB B893 are recommended to have taken MGT B820 Strategy.
IB B893 is the extension of MGT B820. IB B893 is designed to allow you to apply strategic management concepts in the Asia-Pacific region's business environment. The course will first take a broad perspective on world politics, economics and trade, including the development of regional groupings. It will then examine the role and place of the Asia- Pacific region within that setting, and the relevant processes of corporate internationalization.
No single textbook will be prescribed, since the selected issues are dynamic and real-world. Academic and current business literature will be recommended, and you are expected to keep abreast of these readings.
The course will stimulate your awareness of, and interest in, your world outside the classroom.
Course aims
The course aims to provide you with the means to analyse and evaluate current trends within the Asia-Pacific business community. It reinforces your ability to apply the current methods of analysing a complex business community, predicting future changes and assessing their likely impact. It also reinforces your articulation of the current methodologies, tools and techniques used to develop, implement and evaluate the effectiveness of business strategies. It extends the knowledge you gained in MGT B820 Strategy, or a similar course, to critically analyse and evaluate strategic management issues in relation to the regional business and international markets.
Course learning outcomes
On completion of this course, you should be able to:
Course materials
In addition to this Course Guide, the course has the following important components. Please ensure that you have all of these materials available.
Study units
There are ten study units in this course:
The course first provides you with a broad perspective on world politics, economics and trade, including the development of regional groupings. Unit 2 examines the role and place of the Asia-Pacific region within that setting, and also examines the relevant processes related to corporate internationalization.
Unit 3 describes and analyses the region's primary, industrial manufacturing and service sectors in terms of identity, location and achievements, identifying current strategies as implemented by selected transnationals and by key local players operating in the region. Unit 4 examines the current strategies being pursued in the areas of public security.
Units 5–7 evaluate the effectiveness of the range of strategies demonstrated within the business environment, and discuss the strategies being pursued in the areas of public security and education. These units also examine management thinking in the context of the formulation and implementation of strategy in the context of MNEs. In particular, these units will focus on strategic decision-making and management issues facing MNEs within the region.
The course concludes by describing a range of scenarios depicting the future political, economic, competitive and managerial aspects of MNEs of the region, identifying reasons for preferring one scenario over another, and outlining the benefits to be derived from each.
Readings
You may be instructed in the study units to read articles or other supplementary materials. These will be available online or provided as hard copies at the backs of the study units. For online readings, instead of typing in the URL, you can click the link in the online study unit provided on the OLE.
E-Library E-Reserve readings
You may be instructed to read articles in the E-Library E-Reserve. To read these items, go to the University's E-Library and click E-Reserve. Log in, click Accept/Agree on the Copyright Restrictions page, fill in the Course Code box, and click Search.
Set textbook
There is no set textbook for this course. However, you are strongly encouraged to read the assigned readings in the units and also make use of the references below and at the ends of the units to facilitate your learning and achieve the learning outcomes.
References
The following is a list of recommended titles that you may wish to consult during your study of IB B893:
Barney, J B and Hesterly, W S (2018) Strategic Management and Competitive Advantage: Concepts and cases, 6th edn, Prentice Hall.
Baron, D (2013) Business and Its Environment, 7th edn, Pearson.
Carpenter, M A and Sanders, W G (2009) Strategic Management: A Dynamic Perspective, 2nd edn, Pearson.
Cavusgil, S T (2008) International Business: Strategy, Management, and the New Realities. Pearson.
Chatterjee, S R and Nankervis, A R (2007) Asian Management in Transition: Emerging Themes, Palgrave Macmillan.
Conklin, D W (2010) The Global Environment of Business: New Paradigms for International Management, SAGE Publications.
Dunning, J H (2008) Multinational Enterprises and the Global Economy, 2nd edn, Edward Elgar.
Ferraro, G P (2012) The Cultural Dimension of International Business, 7th edn, Routledge.
George Frynas, J and Mellani, K (2014) Global Strategic Management, 3rd edn, Oxford University Press.
Grant, R M (2013) Contemporary Strategy Analysis, 7th edn, Wiley.
Griffin, R W and Pustay, M W (2015) International Business: A Manageical Perspective , 8th edn, Pearson.
Guy, F (2009) The Global Environment of Business, Oxford University Press.
Harrison, A (2013) Business Environment in a Global Context, 2nd edn, Oxford University Press.
Hasegawa, H and Noronha, C (eds) (2009) Asian Business and Management: Theory, Practice and Perspectives, Palgrave Macmillan.
Henry, A (2011) Understanding Strategic Management, 2nd edn, Oxford University Press.
Hill, C, Jones, G R and Schilling, MA (2013) Theory of Strategic Management with Cases: An Integrated Approach, 11th edn. South- Western Cengage Learning.
Hill, C W L (2015) International Business: Competing in the Global Marketplace, 10th edn, McGraw-Hill.
Hill, C W L, Wee, C and Udayasankar, K (2012) International Business: An Asian Perspective, McGraw-Hill Education (Asia).
International Monetary Fund (2016) World Economic Outlook April 2016: Too Slow for Too Long, Dangers Remain, IMF.
Jansson, H (2008) International Business Strategy in Emerging Country Markets: The Institutional Network Approach, Edward Elgar.
Kerin, R A, Lau G T and Hartley, S W, Rudelius, W (2015) Marketing in Asia, 3rd edn: Asian Global edn, McGraw-Hill.
Kotabe, M and Helsen, K (2014) Global Marketing Management, 6th edn, Wiley.
Kotabe, M, Ang, S H, Griffiths, K, Marshall, A, Voola, R and Helsen, K (2011) International Marketing, 3rd Asia-Pacific edn, Wiley.
Mooradian, T, Matzler, K and Ring, L (2012) Strategic Marketing, international edn, Pearson.
Peng, M W (2014) Global Business, 3rd edn, South-Western Cengage Learning.
Percy, L and Elliott, R (2016) Strategic Adverting Management, 5th edn, Oxford University Press.
Verbeke, A (2013) International Business Strategy: Rethinking the Foundations of Global Corporate Success, 2nd edn, Cambridge University Press.
Welch, L S (2007) Foreign Operation Methods: Theory, Analysis, Strategy, Edward Elgar.
West, D, Ford, J and Ibrahim, E (2015) Strategic Marketing: Creating Competitive Advantage, 3rd edn, Oxford University Press.
Wittmann, R G and Reuter, M P (2008) Strategic Planning: How to Deliver Maximum Value through Effective Business Strategy, Kogan Page Limited.
Audiovisual materials/software
You will need access to a computer with Microsoft Windows /XP/Vista or equivalent and an Internet browser.
Assignment File
The Assignment File (available from the Online Learning Environment, OLE) provides you with guidelines for working on your assignments. You can refer to the Course Guide section on assessment that follows, and to the Assignment File itself for more information.
Presentation Schedule
The Presentation Schedule is available on the Online Learning Environment (OLE). It gives you the dates for completing the assignments and attending live online tutorials, the day school (in person), and and so on.
Assessment
There are three assignments and one final examination for this course.
Assignments
You should submit the three required assignments to your tutor for marking in order to gain credits for this course. You should submit each completed assignment to your tutor, via the OLE, on or before the due date. The due date is the last day for the assignment to be uploaded onto the OLE. Please refer to the section 'How to submit your assignments' in the Assignment File. You should keep a copy of all assignments you submit. These will prove useful when you wish to refer to them during telephone conversations with your tutor.
The assignments are found in your Assignment File. The scores of all three assignment will count towards your final grade for this course. You will be able to complete all the assignments using the material contained in your study units and textbook. However, it is preferable in all
postgraduate-level education to demonstrate that you have read and researched more widely than the required minimum. Using other references will give you a different viewpoint and a deeper understanding of the subject. The nature of the assignments varies, but normally they require problem-solving and/or decision-making. It would be useful to illustrate any theoretical points with examples, as this would allow you to apply the theory you have learnt to real business situations.
Final examination
At the end of the course there will be a two-hour examination which is worth 40% of the total course grade. You should review course materials, with reference to the textbook when necessary, together with your practice exercises, assignments and your tutor's comments on them. The final exam will cover all parts of the course (Units 1–10). You will be provided with a specimen examination, similar in format to the final examination but with different questions.
How to submit assignments
You must use word processing software (such as Microsoft Word) to prepare the assignments, and submit the assignments via the Online Learning Environment (OLE). All the three assignments must be uploaded to the OLE by the due date.
Failure to upload an assignment in the required format to the OLE may result in the score of the assignment being adjusted to zero.
Assignment submission extension policy
The assignment policy of the University as stated in the Student Handbook should be observed. You are required to submit assignments for this course in accordance with the dates communicated by your Course Coordinator. You may apply for a submission extension on the grounds of illness, accident, disability, bereavement or other compassionate circumstances.
Applications for extensions must be submitted online via the OLE. Please note the following:
After an assignment is submitted via the OLE, it is your responsibility to check that the assignment has been successfully submitted. Extension applications due to any problem with uploading will not be accepted. The University cannot accept any responsibility for assignments that are not received by your tutor due to any problem with submission via the OLE. As a precaution, you are advised to keep a copy of each assignment you submit.
According to the University's policy, no extension of the due date will be allowed for the final assignment. This policy will be strictly enforced. Any late submission of the final assignment will result in the score of the assignment being adjusted to zero.
Course marking scheme
The assessment items are outlined in the following table.
| Assessment | Weighting |
| Assignment 1 | 20% |
| Assignment 2 | 20% |
| Assignment 3 | 20% |
| Examination (two hours) | 40% |
| Total | 100% |
You are required to pass both the continuous assessment component (i.e. the assignments) and the final examination to obtain a pass in this course.
The following table gives a general overview of the course structure. It suggests the amount of time you should allow for completing units and provides a broad schedule for you to plan your work. These times are intended as a guide only and should be adjusted to fit your personal needs more closely. This estimation includes time for reading the units, completing activities, self-tests and assignments, and attending live online tutorials.
| Unit | Title | Study time (weeks) |
| 1 | The global environment vs regional environments | 3 |
| 2 | Environment and strategy: The actuality of the Asia-Pacific region | 3 |
| 3 | Primary, manufacturing and services sectors | 3 |
| 4 | The public sector, education and national security | 3 |
| 5 | Planning of international business strategies and strategic analysis | 4 |
| 6 | Strategy implementation and control | 3 |
| 7 | Culture and strategic management issues within the regional context | 3 |
| 8 | New players from emerging economies | 3 |
| 9 | Strategic corporate social responsibility | 3 |
| 10 | Contemporary strategic management issues in the region | 4 |
| Total | 32 |
The course materials include a printed Course Guide, study units and Assignment File. You do not have to subscribe to other additional materials, though we do suggest that you keep up-to-date on this topic by reading newspapers often.
There are a total of ten units in this course. Each of the ten units consists of between two and three weeks of work and includes directions for study, commentaries on the activities, and summaries of key concepts and techniques. The units direct you to work on exercises and activities related to the material covered. They can both help you gauge your progress and reinforce your understanding of the material covered in the unit. More importantly, they give examples to help you fully understand the concepts presented in the text, and can assist you in applying these concepts and techniques in the working environment. Together with the assignments, these activities will assist you in achieving the learning objectives of the individual units of the course. Also, you can read quality journals, websites and newspapers on related issues to keep pace with the latest developments.
Please note that the biggest temptation that students face, when they are short of time, is just to read the course materials. When they get to a learning activity or self-test, they flip straight to the back of the study unit to see the suggested answer. It saves time, and students still know the correct answer, right? Wrong! Terribly wrong! Many contemporary educationists believe that learning is not a process that happens when people listen to a lecture or read a book passively. They think that learning takes place as people actively construct the knowledge. Do not take a shortcut that compromises your learning. Attempt the learning activities and self-tests presented in the study units.
When done properly, working with fellow students on difficult learning activities or assignments can be beneficial. However doing so without acknowledging the contributions of other students in your own work is plagiarism. It has happened that after enough cosmetic changes had been made, the act of cheating may not be caught by the tutor who is marking the assignment. But in this case, the student's learning will suffer and it will show in the final examination. Be an honest and virtuous student.
Tutors and learning support sessions
In the HKMU distance learning system, learning is mainly achieved through the course materials. To help you understand and learn from the course, a tutor is assigned to you. The tutor, in addition to conducting live online tutorials, is responsible for marking your assignments and answering any questions that you may have throughout this course. You are encouraged to contact the tutor during consultation hours whenever you have a question or problem with the course materials. Please contact your tutor should the following arise:
Your assignments will be marked and commented on by your tutor, who will keep an eye on your progress and assist you if you encounter problems during the course. Marked assignments will be returned to you as soon as possible.
It is good practice to keep a copy of each assignment submitted for marking, so that you can always refer to queries with the tutor during discussion.
Apart from providing self-study materials and supplementary lectures (pre-recorded videos), live online tutorials and a day school (in person) will also be organized to assist you in your learning process. Details of the dates and times of these learning support sessions as well as the name, email address and phone number of your tutor will be sent to you in due course.
Watching supplementary lectures (pre-recorded videos) and attending live online tutorials and the day school (in person) are optional, but you are urged to take advantage of them. Tutorials and supplementary lectures will be based on the major course units and tutors may also introduce further explanation, examples and readings. You can get the most from the learning support sessions by pre-studying the relevant materials, making comments and asking questions. Remember that learning does not happen passively. Your active participation is crucial.
It is strongly recommended that you watch all the pre-recorded supplementary lecture videos and attend all the live online tutorials and in-person day school, which will provide considerable assistance in your study of this course. Moreover, you will have the chance to meet fellow managers and distance learners who are studying at HKMU.
While you may think you are studying on your own, it doesn't need to be that way. You can be in regular contact with your tutor and, once you've met for the first online tutorial, you can be in contact with your fellow students. Make a point, when you meet fellow students, to exchange phone numbers or email addresses. In this way, you will be well on the way to developing a learning network of your own.
Online Learning Environment
This course is supported by the Online Learning Environment (OLE). You can find course materials and the latest course information from the OLE. Through the OLE, you can also communicate with your tutors, the Course Coordinator and other students. For details about the OLE and how to access it, please refer to the Online Learning Environment User Guide.
If you wish to defer your studies of this course until a later date, you should apply for deferment of studies. For the regulations governing deferment of studies, please refer to your Student Handbook. If you have applied for deferment of studies you should continue with your studies of this course and submit the required assignments until formal approval is given by the University.
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