INTERNATIONAL RETAILING - 2020/1

Module Overview

Internationalisation is a substantive feature of the retail industry. This can be witnessed in, among other aspects, growing international retail competition and international retail knowledge and capital flows. Its effects can be identified through the analysis of both developed and developing markets. Considerable academic and practitioner interest surrounds international retailing; providing a multi-disciplinary body of knowledge to inform the retail and related business industry leaders of tomorrow.

Module provider

Surrey Business School

Module Leader

ALEXANDER Andrew (SBS)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

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

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None.

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• An Overview of International Retailing


• Retail Internationalisation Theory


• International Retailer Expansion Formats, Approaches and Patterns


• Society and Culture in International Retailing


• Regulation and Market Structure


• Market Selection and Sourcing & Supply Chain Management


• International Retail Divestment and Learning from “Failure”

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Individual essay (2,000 words)

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to:

The group project work consists of an applied research essay.  This will consist of one or more applied case studies examining international retail strategy and must be embedded within the academic literature as well as practical industry insight.  It provides an opportunity to assess learning outcomes numbered: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 listed above.

The examination will be essay-based where students have the opportunity to choose from a list of questions.  These questions will assess both the students’ theoretical and practical knowledge as well as their ability to critically analyse.  This component of assessment provides an opportunity to assess learning outcomes numbered: 1, 2, 3, 4 listed above.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• Group Essay (3,000 words) will be set in Week 1 and handed in approx. Week 9 (normally the week immediately after the Easter vacation)


• Examination (2 hours – 2 essay questions from a choice of 4) will occur in the exam period following Week 11.

• Early in the module (around Week 4 there will be a feedback session on group work proposals with the module convenor)

• Feedback and discussion will occur during student seminar sessions each week.


• The module convenor will be accessible through the module for feedback during taught periods and during student office hours.

Module aims

• Develop students' appreciation of the extent and characteristics of international retailing.
• Provide students with insight into the management issues faced in the retail internationalisation process.
• Develop students' knowledge of the key theoretical frameworks of retail internationalisation, and assist them in developing a critical evaluation of these in the context of current research and commercial developments

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

The lecture programme provides a framework of knowledge upon which students can base their learning and develop their understanding through a structured seminar programme, small group work, guided learning and independent study.

The learning and teaching methods include:

lectures, seminar work, practical case studies, guided learning, independent learning and guest speakers. Students will receive formative feedback, including discussions in seminars.

The module is supported by additional reading material and other media, and discussion/feedback forums in Surreylearn.

The module timetable is organised around one two hour lecture class and a one hour seminar class each week.

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: MAN3107

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.