Course Outline

IBS321 International Business Strategy: Sustainable and Digital Perspectives

Course Coordinator:Katie McIntyre (kmcintyre@usc.edu.au) School:School of Business and Creative Industries

2026Trimester 2

UniSC Sunshine Coast

Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Online

Online You can do this course without coming onto campus, unless your program has specified a mandatory onsite requirement.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

This course focuses on developing and implementing international business strategy and policy.  Sustainable and digital perspectives will be embedded into classical international business frameworks and concepts. The course will teach you how to evaluate competitive issues that affect firms competing internationally as they expand offshore or face non-domestic competitors in their domestic market. It addresses the influence of global competitive forces and the resources needed to compete effectively in global markets.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – Interactive online learning activities. 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Scheduled face to face workshops. 2hrs Week 1 10 times
Online
Learning materials – Interactive online learning activities. 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Scheduled online workshops (Recorded). 2hrs Week 1 10 times

Course Topics

Globalisation of competition, sustainable development and social responsibility, global strategy, country attractiveness, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, global marketing and operations, global human resource management, emerging markets

What level is this course?

300 Level (Graduate)

Demonstrating coherence and breadth or depth of knowledge and skills. Independent application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts. Meeting professional requirements and AQF descriptors for the degree. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory or developing knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally undertaken in the third or fourth full-time study year of an undergraduate program.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... Professional Standard Mapping * Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
1 Analyse international strategies of firms drawing on current theories and concepts in the field, including sustainable and digital strategies. Creative and critical thinker
Engaged
Sustainability-focussed
Applying technologies
PC1.2, PC6.2
2 Identify strategies for competing internationally, including sustainable and digital strategies adopted by organisations, drawing on relevant sources of information. Knowledgeable
Sustainability-focussed
Applying technologies
PC1.2, PC3, PC6.2
3 Evaluate opportunities for competing internationally, drawing on current theories and concepts in the field. Creative and critical thinker
Empowered
PC1.2, PC3, PC6.2
4 Apply advanced written and oral communication techniques for professional business situations. Knowledgeable
Empowered
PC1, PC1.1, PC1.2

* Competencies by Professional Body

CODE COMPETENCY
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
PC1 Communication
PC1.1 Written Communication
PC1.2 Oral Communication
PC3 Creative and Critical Thinking
PC6.2 Discipline Knowledge

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

BUS104 or IBS100

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

The first assessment task is due over weeks 2, 4 and 6 to get early feedback on your progress. Additionally, tutorial activities in all weeks allow for
formative feedback on course concepts.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Activity Participation Individual 50%
2000 words
Refer to Format Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 2 Report Individual 50%
2,000 words
Week 12 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All - Assessment Task 1:International business strategy portfolio
Goal:
To demonstrate knowledge of international business strategy, including sustainable and digital issues and an ability to conduct in-depth research and analysis of those issues.
Product: Activity Participation
Authorship Statement:
Format:
Between weeks 2 and 6, you will complete a range of activities related to the weekly topics. You will work on these in class and hand them in. For each tutorial, you will analyse a real-life business case and be required to discuss the answers to the case in class. In your written piece, you will conclude with the most suitable strategy for the company, taking into account sustainable and digital issues. 

A detailed task description is provided on the course site, and will be discussed in class.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Identification of strategies for competing internationally
2
2
Analysis of international strategies
1
3
Evaluation of opportunities for competing internationally
3
Generic Skills:
Communication, Problem solving
All - Assessment Task 2:International business strategy report
Goal:
To demonstrate understanding and application of international business theories and conceptual frameworks, including considering sustainable and digital perspectives.
Product: Report
Authorship Statement:
Format:
Business report. You should prepare this assignment individually. Select relevant frameworks of analysis to demonstrate your knowledge of a firm's international strategy, taking into consideration sustainable and digital perspectives. Additional information regarding assessment structure and formatting will be provided on the course site.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Identification and analysis of strategies for competing internationally
1 2
2
Evaluation of opportunities for competing internationally
3
3
Organisation and structure of written content
4
4
Development and articulation of informed arguments
4
5
Accuracy and presentation of written work and referencing
4
Generic Skills:
Communication, Organisation, Information literacy

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Required Philippe Lasserre,Felipe Monteiro 2022 Global Strategic Management 5th Bloomsbury

Specific requirements

Not applicable

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.

The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.  

For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: