To provide students with a solid foundation for analysing the major characteristics of the international business environment and to understand the major implications of these characteristics for organisations involved in international business activities; To give students a good understanding of the field of international business, why it matters, and what it entails;

To give students a good understanding of the complexity of the international business environment, how it influences both national and international business activities, and how organisations are affected by, and deal with the international business environment;

To provide students with a solid foundation for identifying and analysing the main characteristics of the international business environment;

To provide students with a solid foundation for making informed judgments on strategic choices on internationalisation and international management;

The major objective of the module is for studen ts to develop knowledge of international business, and to be able to use this knowledge to analyse different international scenarios resulting in informed and well thought-out choices.

Learning embodies Kolb’s experiential learning principles and will draw on students’ own experiences as well as examples of best practice from other sectors to help them to contribute to business and societal marketing goals.

(LO1) Understand the Challenges and Opportunities facing global strategy in the current era.

(LO2) Critically evaluate tools and concepts relevant to different global strategic challenges.

(LO3) Understand and evaluate the tradeoffs organizations make in choosing between different internationalization strategies and different modes of international operation.

(LO4) Be able to assess different international contexts and apply tools to develop effective strategies and implementation for local, regional and global scope.

(S1) Problem Solving

(S2) Commercial Awareness

(S3) Team Player

(S4) Excellent Communication

(S5) Organised and able to work under pressure

(S6) Flexible and adaptable

(S7) IT Literate

(S8) Ethically Aware

(S9) Internationally Aware

(S10) A lifelong Learner

Lectures are no longer than one hour blocks and will provide students with the opportunities to engage and discuss.

Students will be given opportunities to explore relevant theories, concepts, models relating to international business. talent management. Students will be encouraged to apply these to their own and other organisations to gain insights.

In order to expose students to a broader range of challenges and situations facing MNCs in a range of different contexts and stages of internationalisation, students will also use case studies of other organisations to apply their learning.

Students will be expected to complete schedule directed module pre-reading, to prepare for some exercises, tasks and assessments during the module and to research, develop and write a final written assessment. In addition to the suggested readings, students might be expected to develop their own reading, research and preparation of topics for the final assessment.

Key topics:

• The multinational enterprise (MNE);

• International trade and investment;

• Institutions and institutional voids;

• Liability of foreignness and distance;

• Strategic internationalisation choices;

• International functions of the MNE;

• The role of the subsidiary within the MNE;

• Cross-cultural management and communication.

Materials will be made available to students via VITAL and students will also be expected to read additional materials from the suggested and required reading list using online library resources