GLOBAL PROJECT - 2020/1

Module Overview

This is an advanced module on contemporary theory and strategic management practice in international business. The module examines key features of the global business environment, and explains the economic, social and political influences on international business strategy. It also looks into how companies formulate and implement strategic decisions in an international context. The module provides research-led insight into latest developments, current issues and anticipated trends in international business strategy. 

In terms of student experience, there are two distinct parts of the module: (1) the on-campus learning and teaching and (2) the international study trip. 

The former is comprised of three learning components: workshop (introduction of International business (IB) concepts), discussion (internalization of IB concepts), and case analysis and data search (application of IB concepts to real world examples). In today’s global economies, the growth of global networks emphasizes the importance of both individual competencies and teamwork in formulating and implementing international business strategies.This course emphasizes the use of case analysis as a way of practicing both business thinking skills and writing and presentation skills. Through the module, students are expected to build both individual and collaborative abilities and apply knowledge learned from the lecture and class discussion to solve the problems in real business world.

The latter, i.e. the international study trip, is designed to give students the opportunity to experience a different business and economic environment and develop their cultural awareness and international business acumen. Locations for the international study trip are chosen for their particularly salient business/economic/cultural characteristics, e.g. a city, region or an entire country may stand out for its specific economic conditions, industry, or culture.

Module provider

Surrey Business School

Module Leader

PARK Hyeyoun (SBS)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

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

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None.

Module content

Indicative content includes: • International business environment and impact on international business strategy; Internationalisation, globalisation and the transnational corporation. • International strategic management and foreign market entry strategies • Emerging economies and newly developed countries around the world: challenges and opportunities. • Dynamics and constraints of managing internationally, including optimising headquarter-subsidiary relations. • Managing strategically across borders • Contemporary issues in international business.

Students will also travel to an overseas destination, where they will participate in a series of lectures and presentations by academics and business practitioners and visit local institutions an companies to learn more about the context-specific challenges and opportunities as well as business strategies, solutions and capabilities.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Coursework (individual) 80%

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their mastery of the learning outcomes through theoretically-informed practical application and personal reflection. The main element of assessment is an integrative collaborative project that showcases students’ subject-specific knowledge and cognitive skills as well as their practical ability to apply their learning to complex problems and tasks in the relevant domain of professional practice. The other element of assessment is a group presentation, which is based on the international study trip and provides an opportunity for students to reflect on the experience and learning from it. The two elements of assessment are thus designed to complement each other in relation to the structure of the module. Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of: • Group project report: 3,000 words, 70% • group presentation on the learning from the international study trip: 20 minutes (30%). In the event that any student would not be able to contribute to the group report, they will be given an alternative assessment. Alternative Assessment: individual coursework (3,000 words, 70%).In the event that any student would not be able to contribute to the group presentation, they will be given an alternative assessment: individual coursework (1,500 words, 30%). Formative assessment Formative feedback is offered on an ongoing basis during seminars/group discussions, active learning sessions and project tutorials, which may be done face-to-face or online (synchronously). Feedback Formative feedback is provided as detailed above. Summative feedback is provided in writing, separately for each of the elements of assessment.

Module aims

• Explain contemporary theories pertinent to international business management
• Explore current trends in international business management practice.
• Develop critical appreciation of the international business environment from the perspectives of multinational firms in both developed and emerging economies.
• Develop an advanced understanding of how companies design, implement and manage global strategies.
• Develop critical awareness of current developments in the social, economic and political arenas worldwide, and their impact on the behaviour, decision-making and strategy of transnational corporations.
• Develop a critical appreciation of the dynamics, constraints, and trends in managing internationally.
• Provide students with an immersive international learning experience to gain a first-hand, in-depth understanding of a different business, cultural, and economic context.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed on the principles of project-based experiential pedagogy and thus combines research-informed academic content with applied learning through project work. Learning and teaching is research-led and follows a student-focused, experiential, flipped-classroom methodology with online elements. It comprises lectures, seminars, group discussions, Masterclass sessions, study trips and project tutorials. It also includes active and self-directed learning – both group and individual. Prior to attending the lecture and seminar, students are expected to undertake the essential reading and complete any set work for the sessions. The project work, which is the basis of both active learning and module assessment, is designed to give students the experience of working in an international and cross-cultural context. It is supported by engagement with practice through a study trip and a series of Masterclass sessions, which may include talks from guest practitioners, research seminars, webinars and company visits. Together with dedicated group project tutorials – run face-to-face or online (synchronously) - these sessions are designed to support student learning through project work and provide formative feedback in preparation for the assessment. The learning and teaching methods include: • Lectures are mainly designed to illustrate and explain theoretical concepts and models. • Seminars/group discussions are designed to develop a more practical insight into the applied nature of the various topics covered: they help explore the theoretical concepts and models by reference to a range of topical issues and case studies. • Active learning includes engaging in classroom practical exercises, video and case analyses, and group project work. • Active learning through online study (synchronous and asynchronous); • Self-directed learning pertains to engaging with learning materials and undertaking desk-research required for classroom participation and assessment. • Study trips are designed to allow students the opportunity to observe the phenomena they study in practice and engage with the relevant practice and practitioners in their own setting and context. • Masterclass sessions are there to support the student-led projects, which run throughout the duration of the module and are the basis for the module assessment. Masterclass sessions deal with current issues of direct relevance to student projects and are informed by the latest research and business practice. • Project tutorials support students in their project work through systematic review of progress, discussion and formative feedback from an academic tutor. These may be run face-to-face or online (synchronously).

Students will also travel to an overseas destination to learn, in an experiential and immersive way, about the context-specific challenges and opportunities as well as the business strategies, solutions and capabilities relevant in that context. They will participate in a series of lectures and presentations by academics and business practitioners and visits to institutions and companies.

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: MANM452

Other information

This module is capped at twenty (20) students due to the logistics of organising educational events overseas.

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.