GUIDELINES FOR THEORY TESTS (30%)

While the majority of this course focuses on the application of concepts, it is essential to have clear
conceptual understanding of concepts in order to be able to apply them effectively. Theory Tests are
designed to test a clear conceptual understanding of the theoretical readings and concepts we discuss
throughout the course. These tests are closed book and will be conducted during class. The standard
length of time for completing each test is one hour. If you are an exchange student coming from a
university in which English is not the principal language of instruction, you will have an additional 15
minutes to complete the test and you may bring one language dictionary. If you have accommodations
for testing, please ensure you submit your accommodation form to the professor by x at the latest in
order to ensure that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Theory Tests will take the form of multiple choice questions and short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

Multiple choice questions are not intended as memory tests of miniscule details; they are designed to
assess your mastery of essential theoretical concepts. You will be expected to have conceptual clarity
in your understanding of the course readings and frameworks, not to just remember key words. An
example of the type of multiple choice question you might see on the tests is the following:

According to Hansen & Nohria, (“How to Build Collaborative Advantage”), information

systems are most appropriate for reducing which of the following barriers to
collaboration?

a) Unwillingness to help (unwilling to help)

b) Inability to seek and find expertise (unable to find expertise)
c) Inability to work together and transfer knowledge (unable to transfer knowledge)
d) (a) and (b) but not (c)
e) (b) and (c) but not (a)

Short Answer Questions

Even though short answer questions are more open-ended, compared to multiple choice questions,
your answers to short answer questions must be to the point, clearly organized and succinct. Points
will be deducted for answers that are overrun with irrelevant information. In a short answer question,
you might be asked to define a particular concept and provide an example that illustrates your
understanding. If you are asked to provide an example that illustrates a particular concept, your
example may be drawn from COMM 374 class content (i.e. case material or examples mentioned in
class), your own external knowledge (i.e. an example discussed in another class, from the news, or from
your own reading, or may be hypothetical (i.e. a fictional example you construct to illustrate the
concept). Regardless of the type of example you use, it will be evaluated based upon how well you use
the example to illustrate your understanding of the concept. Simply providing the name of a firm
you think is relevant is not an effective illustration. An example of the type of short answer
question you might see on the tests is the following:

According to Santos, Doz & Wiliamson (“Is Your Innovation Process Global?”), what
does “assessing” mean in the process of meta-national innovation? Describe an example
to help illustrate your answer.
 Timing and Content of Theory Tests:

Theory Test 1: Thursday October 11 Theory Test 2: Tuesday November 20

Review List for Theory Test #1*:
 Content of class lectures, classes 1-10
(you are not responsible for case
material**);
 “Frameworks of MNE Strategy and
Structure”
 “How to Build Collaborative Advantage”
 “Joint Venture Partner Selection
Criteria”
 “Getting Offshoring Right”
 “Intended vs. Emergent Strategy”
Review List for Theory Test #2*:
 Content of class lectures, classes 12-20
(you are not responsible for case
material**);
 “Mapping Frontier Economies
 “L’Oreal Masters Multiculturalism”
 “Headquarters and Subsidiaries: Forms of
Control”
 “Unleashing Innovation in Foreign
Subsidiaries”
 “Is Your Innovation Process Global?”
 “Global Teams That Work”

*While you will not be tested directly on the content of the pre-requisite readings, an understanding of
the pre-requisite material is necessary in order to fully understand many of the concepts and readings of
the course.

**While you will not be tested directly on the case material, you may use your knowledge and
understanding of the cases to help provide example(s) to illustrate your understanding of a given
concept on the test.