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Lone Star College - Kingwood Library

Assignment Guide for

  IBUS 2341

   International Comparative Management

The best library assignments are those that use a variety of resources including books, newspapers,  journal articles, and internet sites. We encourage you to use all of these sources for this paper. Books provide some of the best information for business topics. You may apply for a library card and request materials online. We hope you will take full advantage of the many resources our libraries offer.  Please contact Lone Star College-Kingwood Librarians or your class librarian, Jimmi Rushing, using WebCT email with any questions you may have during your research. Course and assignment questions should be directed to your instructor, Shanaz Jessa, using WebCT email.

         BOOKS      DATABASES       INTERNET     SUPPORT

1890's librarian reading a book. Librarian talk about Getting Started!  
As you begin, consider keywords that will help you find the information you need. These can be the name of your country, names of officials from the country, events, or broader identifying terms.  Use these keywords for locating information in the library catalog, electronic databases, and on the internet. 

Sample Keywords:  Culture, cross-culture, international relations, body language, intercultural business communication, "doing business in...," business etiquette, ethnocentrism, values, customs, human relations.
 


More about getting started (30 sec.)


ASSIGNMENT:  Use your Web CT classroom to link into each of the two Cultural Awareness Papers.  Each link will take you to the specific requirements for that paper.


BOOKS

1890's librarian reading a book. Librarian talk about Books!
Apply online for a library card.   Use your card to 1) Place a Hold on a book  2) Access databases from home. 
  • The catalog is online at Lone Star College - Kingwood Library
  • Online books are available at NetLibrary.  Use your library card barcode number to view eBooks from off-campus.  Search for keywords in the text of the book to find specific pages. The library catalog will show electronic books and link you right into that book when you are on campus, or you can search the NetLibrary database to find books when you are at home.
More about finding books(31 sec.)

To locate books in the North Harris Montgomery County Community College Library Catalog, electronic books in NetLibrary, or materials in any other library catalog, use keywords such as: the country name, Business Etiquette; Intercultural Communication. You can also search for Culture Shock and or Doing Business in and your country name. Those are series that should prove useful. We also recommend the following Reference Books.

REF HF 1359 .G5854 - Globalization: Encyclopedia of Trade, Labor and Politics - National tax rules and government policies, emerging markets, corruption, European Union, NAFTA, culture. Arranged by topics, not country..

REF HF 1416 .M78 - Dun & Bradstreets Guide to Doing Business around the World. Visa requirments, holidays, cultural tips, trade and investment policies. Arranged by country.

Culture Shock! Travel Guide series by Graphic Arts Center Publishing Co. focuses on working and living in other countries.


DATABASES

1890's librarian reading a book. Librarian talk about Finding Journal and Newspaper Articles!
Electronic databases are purchased by the libraries for your research use. Use your updated or current  library card to login to the following databases to find articles in newspapers and journals, letters, reference books, illustrations, photographs and more. If you find an interesting article that is not full-text, please give the correct bibliographic information to our Reference Librarians and they will see that you get the article. They will need full bibliographic information - and your name and address. Send your phone number as well, so they can contact you if they need to. There is some overlap of articles in the following databases. However, we encourage you to use more than one. All are excellent sources for this topic.   HINT: For a full list of article databases, go to Lone Star College - Kingwood Library Subject Guide to Databases and use your library card to access these full-text databases from home.


More about databases(25 sec.)

The following databases contain information on countries, culture and international business operations.

INTERNET

1890's librarian reading a book. Librarian talk about the Internet!  

The Internet can be a wonderful source of original documents. Browse the sites we have suggested below. Remember, you do want to find reputable sites. Look at: 

  • Accuracy - The information should be researched and show proof that it has been 
  • Source - Look at the domain:  .edu   .gov   .org  .net  are valid research sources. 
  • Authority - What are the author's credentials? (Don't quote from another college freshman's paper.) 
  • Coverage - Does the page have the information you need for your research? 
  • Objectivity - If a work is biased, use it - just make sure your professor knows YOU know. Offer both sides of issues, where applicable. 


  • More about finding internet sources (25 sec.)

    Suggested Web Sites: or try a search engine such as Google.com and use keywords business etiquette; doing business in ...; culture business; etc.

    MALKAM Cross Cultural Training - A company specializing in training professionals in cross-cultural communications, MALKAM Cross-Cultural Training offers this paper on exploring cross-cultural diversity. This site points out some keys to success when doing business in other countries. Each issue has a short quiz. See Cultural Training issue #3 on women and international assignments.

    The Open Directory Project compilation of sites for expatriates from all over the world.  Information on various social and cultural attributes of countries.

    Consulates in Houston - Links to Houston consulate web pages.

    Getting through Customs - Cultural taboos and customs advice in brief.

    Travel information from the United States government This site offers consular information sheets for countries worldwide based on information from the U.S. State Department.  Choose your country from the alphabetic index provided.  


    SUPPORT: Getting Help with your Assignment

    Citing Sources Using the APA Style Guide | Lone Star College - Kingwood Library guide. Examples of both paper and electronic citations.

    Avoiding Plagiarism   |   Excellent information and guide on how to avoid plagiarism from the Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University.

    University of Texas Copyright Crash Course | This helpful guide on copyright is suggested by Lone Star College-Kingwood Teaching and Learning Center.

    The Learning Center | Check our hours for in-house tutoring.

    Attach your paper to and email to Dr. Janis Terry, Assistant Dean. Dr. Terry or one of the writing tutors will read through your paper and make brief comments on your paper and return it to you.

    REMEMBER, the expert on this paper is Ms. Jessa. Contact her through your WebCT email.


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           Page created by Becky Bradley, Librarian. September, 2002. Updated May, 2008, BB.

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