MSc Management and Information Systems: Change and Development (Distance Learning)

The International Management module presents theoretical models and analytical tools that provide a framework for understanding and explaining the field of international management. This module reviews the management of activities across diverse groups of people, countries and societies. In recent decades globalisation has reached almost every corner of the world. Many organisations both in the public and private sectors are involved in cross border activities. These activities mean that increasingly more people are now interacting with each other in order to achieve various individual and organisational objectives. This module is concerned with the management of such activities and the many levels of interaction involved.

MGDI71030 online conditions 06546 05764

• to explore the different types of international organisations and the activities in which they are involved
• to explain how national cultures influence the management of international operations
• to present analytical tools that can help in the understanding of the management of international activities
• to analyse the factors that can influence the management of international activities
• to identify the managerial skills, attributes and behaviour that are essential for successful operation in the international arena

This unit helps students employability through developing a robust understanding of the relationship between organizational strategy and associated resourcing and staffing decisions. Students learn about the importance of external environment conditions at international and domestic /home-country levels and how these affect organizations throughout the value chain.   They learn range of internal organizational analysis tools and methods that will help them discern what type of occupation or role they may be suited to, so enhance their career decision-making.

Study of international management will also equip students with critical awareness of the risks and opportunities of the processes of internationalisation empowering students to apply their learning across various potential occupational and cross-cultural settings. The emphasis on integration of theory and practice ensures that students obtain subject knowledge and understanding of management practice, acquiring skills that will transfer directly to securing future employment and making a positive contribution to their organizations.

The module will support continuous development of the following transferable skills:

• Analytical skills that are informed by theory and demonstrated in practice.
• Research competencies, including the rigorous engagement with quality evidence.
• Written and oral communication skills through the formative and summative assessment activities.
• Knowledge, intellectual- and practical- skills to engage in IS research and practice.

Unit One: Management functions and role
Unit Two: Globalisation
Unit three: Internationalisation
Unit Four: Strategic Management
Unit Five: International Operations
Unit Six: Strategic Alliances
Unit Seven: International HRM Recruitment and Selection
Unit Eight: Developing and paying international managers and employers

Students work through self-direct study materials which incorporate text, readings, and self-assessed activities and exercises.  They engage in online tutorial discussion for each unit of the overall module.  They utilise an e-learning space to complete formative learning evaluation tests, and access further guidance and topic-relevant materials. The emphasis is on self-study, using study materials and a unit text book, supported by tutor input, feedback and discussion within the group tutorials.

The unit booklets contain study materials, exercises, activities, journal articles and tutorial questions to support the programme content. The unit text book provides links to additional internet-based resources.

Students are encouraged to analyse their own organisational environment in the light of the academic theory throughout the unit (in the tutorials and in the final assignment). They are encouraged to apply the learning from the unit to their wider studies across the MSc programme, and to share the outcomes of their reflections and their learning with their fellow students. The participants benefit greatly from this shared learning in an international environment.

KU1 explain the environmental factors that influence international operations
KU2 identify, and undertake a comparative evaluation of the theoretical tools that can help in the understanding of how international organisations manage their operations
KU3 explain how national culture influences the strategy and structure of international organisations
KU4 describe how national culture influences management systems across countries

IS1 identify and analyse different types of international organisations
IS2 Undertake a comparative evaluation of the skills and behaviours that are required by managers to operate successfully in the international environment

Enhancement of Digital Literacy: This module supports the development of student’s digital skills through navigation of virtual learning environments and engagement with a range of digital media including library resources, videos and podcasts. The interactive pedagogy promotes skill development of online collaborative learning tools and students also develop competence in using digital presentation- and analysis- tools.

In accordance with the JISC framework, student will be supported in developing the following digital capabilities: Digital Proficiency and Productivity, Digital Learning, Digital Communication, Collaboration and Participation.
 

Formative Assessment Task:

Structured IM Assignment Proposal (Length 500 words): Expected outcome: Increased confidence in developing an analytical framework skills that underpin the individual summative assessment task..

Summative Assessment Tasks:

Tutorial questions (10%) appear in each unit (x8). As a fully online, distance learning module, student engagement takes the form of constructive, respectful, critical discourse through weekly discussions of these questions. Quality of engagement is assessed based on:

1. Quality of argument
2. Quality of research and evidence
3. Engagement with module concepts
    

Oral engagement during online group meetings (1.5hrs x 2)

Written engagement typically c.200 (±20%) words (x 6)

In order to receive marks for a Unit, students must engage with tutorial discussions within seven days of the dates the discussions are launched (later submissions do not contribute to constructive critical discourse)

All Units must include at least two synchronous online tutorial discussions.  In order to receive any marks for engagement, students must contribute to a minimum of four tutorial discussions (written contributions), at least one of which must be a synchronous tutorial discussion (oral contributions)(see also Section 9).

In order to obtain 50% of the oral engagement marks available for the unit a student must engage with a minimum of four tutorials.

In order to obtain 100% of the oral engagement marks available for the unit, a student must engage with a minimum of six tutorials.

According to a rota, each student is required either to introduce a topic and open the tutorial discussion, or to summarise the key learning points at the end of a topic.

One written report (90%)

Assessment is an individual, structured written assignment, based on a choice from different topics concerning international management theory and practice.

Length: 3,000 words

Formative Assessment Task:

Feedback provided by Tutor to individual by email

Summative Assessment Tasks:

Online Tutorials: Feedback provided by tutor and by other students throughout course unit and within 1-2 days of submission.

Written Report: Feedback provided by tutor/examiner comments following submission at the end of course unit.

Barrientos, S., (2019) Gender and Work in Global Value Chains: Capturing the Gains?  Cambridge University Press. Cambridge.  

Croucher, S. (2018) Globalization and Belonging. The Politics of Identity in a Changing World. (2nd Edition) The Rowman and Littlefield Publishing Company, USA.

Dicken, P. (2015) Global Shift (7th Edition), The Guildford Press. USA.

Edwards, T. & Rees, C. (2017) International Human Resource Management: Globalisation, National Systems and Multinational Companies (3rd Ed.), Essex, UK, Pearson Education Limited.

Hitt , M.A.. Ireland, R.D. and Hoskisson, R.E.  (2020) Strategic Management: Competitiveness and Globalization. Concepts and Cases (12th Edition) Cengage Learning, Boston.

Johnson, G. , Whittington, R. Regner, P. Angwin, D. and Scholes, K. (2023) Exploring Strategy. Text and Cases. 13th Edition .  Pearson, Education Ltd. Harlow.

Lund-Thomsen,P. Hansen, M.W. and Lindgreen, A (Eds) (2021) Business and Development Studies, Routledge, Abingdon.

Luthans, F. and Doh, J.P. (2021) International Management: Culture, Strategy, and Behaviour (11th Edition), McGraw-Hill Higher Education, Boston, Massachusetts.  

Contact Hours and Notional Hours of Learning

10 hours Tutorials
100 hours Self-study via directed learning materials
40 hours Assessment preparation
Total of 150 Notional hours of Learning

Statement to Support Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Study of international management will equip students with critical awareness of equality, diversity and inclusion through consideration of the variety and range of source texts and active inclusion of diverse voices, perspectives and current debates about international management research. The course also actively engages with questions of representations of national cultural differences and critically reviews gender inequalities in organizational staffing configurations and outcomes.

Students are regularly applying concepts – during formative activities and summative assessment – from their own professional context, drawing on their personal culture, experiences and background thereby significantly enabling inclusivity. Respectful critical discourse enables an environment that is conducive cultivate appreciation of diversity and the value of inclusivity.

If a course participant identifies concern or discomfort about the oral contribution element of the assessment, and the course leader deems the concern/discomfort to be caused by a potentially valid hidden anxiety/disability, an exception to the oral contribution requirement will be arranged.

Information
MGDI Programmes on which course unit is offered:
MSc Human Resource Management and Development (via Distance Learning) and MSc Management and Information Systems: Change and Development (via Distance Learning)