GLOBAL BUSINESS CONTEXTS - 2020/1

Module Overview

The focus will be the international business environment and the theoretical and conceptual frameworks which underpin it. The characteristics of different economies will be explored and compared, along with the operations of multinational businesses. The strategic issues which face organisations in a global context will also be examined. The module will build awareness of political, cultural and socio-economic dynamics in and between market economies. There will be an opportunity to develop some of the ethical considerations which have been explored in the Introduction to Decision Making module.

This module will build on the knowledge and skills gained in Semester 1. Students will be able to take either a predominantly quantitative or largely qualitative approach to the analysis of different national economies and/or organisations and can compare and contrast accordingly. This exercise will reflect personal preferences and guide students to focus on their progression choices. Data analysis will be a significant factor in order to provide an insight into numerical skills development.

Module provider

Surrey Business School

Module Leader

WHITE Erivan (SBS)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 3

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

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• Core international and economic theories and frameworks

• Contemporary economic trends

• Historical, cultural, political and socio-economic influences

• Ethical considerations

• Data analysis and interpretation

• Numerical skills development

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of the international business environment and the theoretical and conceptual frameworks which underpin it. Students will be able to enrich their numerical skills development whilst experiencing the pressures of examination conditions.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• A multiple choice examination

• An examination

Formative assessment and Feedback

Verbal formative feedback will be provided in seminars where students will apply taught theoretical and conceptual frameworks, present data, and engage with class debates and roleplays. In addition to this, students will individually present in front of their peers and constructive feedback and questioning will be applied. 

Module aims

• Develop an up-to-date knowledge and understanding of current trends in the international business environment
• Build knowledge of how different economies function and how business outcomes are influenced by historical, cultural, political and socio-economic influences
• Develop the capacity to compare and contrast economic data in order to draw conclusions about the economic performance of nations and organisations
• Build and develop the ability to critically analyse the global strategies of multinational organisations

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to introduce students to the international business environment and the theoretical and conceptual frameworks which underpin it. Using the taught theory, students will then be able to compare and contrast varying economic data in order to draw conclusions about the economic performance of nations and organisations. This will cultivate an analytical and critical mind set within the students. In addition to this, students will be empowered to engage in discussions and debates on the international business environment and current economic trends.

Emphasis will be placed on data interpretation and analysis in order to prepare students for the demands of FHEQ level 4.

The learning and teaching methods will include lectures (2 hours per week) and seminars (2 hours per week). Lectures will introduce students to the international business environment and the theoretical and conceptual frameworks which underpin it. An emphasis will be placed on how business outcomes are influenced by historical, cultural, political and socio-economic influences. Seminars will seek to apply the theoretical knowledge taught in seminars through real world case application, flipped learning, class debates and roleplay.

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: MAN0004

Other information

N/A

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 2020/1 academic year.