INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS - 2019/0

Module Overview

This module focuses on key topics related to international business and management in the context of a global economy. It provides students with an overview of the most important topics in the field of international business management and a solid understanding of the political, economic, legal, and cultural differences that exist among countries. It also looks at how these differences impact international business. The module also describes and explains cross-border trade and investment, focusing on international trade theory, foreign direct investment, and regional economic integration. Finally, the module examines the structures and managerial strategies that international firms typically adopt to compete effectively in the global marketplace. These strategies include marketing, manufacturing, and HR strategies.

Module provider

Surrey Business School

Module Leader

WANG Jean (SBS)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 5

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• The emergence of global institutions


• Political, economic,  and legal systems


• Culture and cultural change


• Comparative advantage and theories on international trade


• Benefits and costs of foreign direct investment


• Levels of economic integration and the case for and against regional integration


• Organizational architecture and decisions on international strategy


• Strategies for competing globally and foreign market entry modes


• The globalization of markets and brands and new-product development


• Strategic role of different approaches to staffing policy in international business

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate

• knowledge of the political, economic and cultural differences among countries and their impact on international business,


• knowledge of the models, concepts and theories related to international business,


• an ability to apply the knowledge on country differences and theoretical frameworks to real international business contexts,


• an ability to identify and critically evaluate strategic issues and dilemmas that managers face when doing business in the global marketplace,


• an ability to apply the theory in a critical and constructive way in order to solve strategic issues and/or balance strategic dilemmas in an international business context.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

Assessment 1: Individual project coursework – 40% weighting

• The individual project coursework consists of a case analysis related to a specific company entering an international market and/or doing business internationally.

Assessment 2: Exam – 60% weighting

• 2 hours, closed book exam combining various questions testing your knowledge and understanding of theoretical concepts and frameworks, and their limitations, relevant to international business.


• 50 multiple choice questions

Formative assessment and feedback:

We will provide students with feedback in weekly tutorials, where a variety of exercises, such as case study, multiple choice questions, and essay questions will be covered. Collectively, these exercises will prepare students for their end-of-semester examination.

Module aims

• to provide students with a solid foundation of the political, economic, and cultural differences that exist among countries in the global marketplace.
• to enhance students' understanding of cross-border trade and investment by providing an overview of international trade theory, foreign direct investment, and regional economic integration,
• to develop students' analytical skills to assess the way in which international firms can expand into new markets,
• to enable students to develop an understanding of the strategic issues and dilemmas that managers face in their efforts to expand and operate in the global market place,
• to enable students to appreciate the distinctive characteristics of managerial processes that allow firms to compete in the global marketplace.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• develop an awareness  of country differences in order to understand how they impact international business


• critically understand and assess models, theories, and concepts related to international business


• evaluate the strategic issues and dilemmas that concern the development of firms in the international marketplace,

Students are expected to undertake regular reading of the topics discussed during each session.

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Each session consists of two parts:
  
  
  
  • Part 1 consists of a formal lecture aimed at providing students with the knowledge of relevant theories (2 hour lecture x 11 weeks)
  
  
  • Part 2 is aimed to be practical and interactive. Students will be encouraged to put their knowledge to practice by analysing cases related to international business (1 hour tutorial x 11 weeks).
  
  
  
  


• The teaching and learning methods will be supported by SurreyLearn, where lecture materials and other relevant information on the module will be made available on a weekly basis.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: MAN2096

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2019/0 academic year.