BSc Management (Accounting & Finance) with Industrial/Professional Experience

This course unit introduces students to the background to and the key issues of International Business (IB). The first part introduces and explains the concept of international, the phenomenon of the multinational enterprise (MNE), and the two leading analytical perspectives in international business, the institution-based view and the resource-based view. The second part introduces students to relevant issues in the international economic and political context, ranging from international trade to foreign direct investment and regional economic and political integration. The third part discusses the processes of starting and developing an international business, while the fourth part of the course looks at the functioning of MNEs, introduction of Corporate Social Responsibility, and investigating the issues related to CSR and international people management.

Available as option for BSc Mgt/Mgt Specialism, IBFE and IMABS. Core for BSc International Management, BSc Management with IBE Specialism and BSc Management with IS Specialism.

None

This course aims to provide students with the analytical techniques, conceptual approaches and empirical evidence relevant to understanding the role of international business in the global economy. The module will introduce students to environmental forces and actors that help to shape the macro and micro environment for international businesses. It will examine how these forces and actors may shape business strategy and operations in the modern global economy.

•    Knowledge and understanding: Fundamental understanding of the foundations, motives, means and mechanics of international business. Ability to recognize the relevance of institutions and culture as well as of organizational resources and capabilities for management in an international environment.
•    Intellectual skills: Development of critical thinking and problem solving skills. Ability to analyse cases and make critical judgments. Ability to articulate and critically evaluate the precepts provided by conventional wisdom to produce bespoke management tools.
•    Practical skills: Ability to analyse case studies, apply core skills developed in earlier courses, and evaluate different policy options in international management.

Part 1: FOUNDATION OF INTERNATONAL BUSINESS
•    Introduction to the course, key concepts in international business
•    European Integration and Global Integration
•    Formal Institutions and Informal Institutions

Part 2: THE FIRM ON THE GLOBAL STAGE
•    International Trade and Foreign Direct Investment
•    Globalisation, Outsourcing and Value Chain Dynamics
•    Modes of International Operations
•    Strategic Alliances and Networks

Part 3: OPERATIONS IN THE GLOBAL MNE
•    Building Global Strategies, Organizing Multinational Enterprises
•    CSR
•    International Human Resource Management
•    CSR (2) and Multinational Enterprises, Course Overview

The course will be delivered through a series of lectures and seminars.
11 weeks of 2-hour lectures (1 week - 3 hours)
2 self assessment tests (2 hours)
5 weeks of 1-hour seminars

 

Summative: Group coursework - (20%);

Examination: Examination (80%)

Lecturer feedback on formative assessments during the seminars
Feedback on the assessment will be posted by the course co-ordinator on the course’s Blackboard page.

Peng, M. W., & Meyer, K. (2011). International Business. Mason: Cengage Learning.

Additional readings will be posted for each lecture topic.

Pre-requisites: None

Co-requisites: None

Dependent courses: None

Programme Restrictions: This course is available to students on the following programmes:

Core course for:
•    BSc International Management
•    BSc Management (International Business Economics)

Optional for:
•    BSc International Management with American Business Studies
•    BSc International Business Finance and Economics
•    All other BSc Management / Management (specialism)

For Academic Year 2023/24

Updated: March 2023

Approved by: March UG Committee