COMPARATIVE COUNTRY STUDIES - 2021/2

Module Overview

In an ever broadening set of interdependent relationships among countries, the need to recognise the opportunities and restrictions presented by different world markets has gained significance. This module is designed to impart you with the analytical skills to assess the socio-economic differences between countries, and to identify how these differences impact business and management behaviour across countries through comparative studies. It is based on the rationale that you as managers will be expected to analyse and compare market and business environments in different countries to attain business success.

Module provider

Surrey Business School

Module Leader

WORSDELL Filipe (SBS)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 5

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

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Indicative content includes:​

• Comparative perspective in International Trade and Factor Mobility Theory


• Country Evaluation and Selection


• Approaches to Comparative Country Studies and the Societal Environment


• Comparative Institutional Analysis: National Business System and the Societal Effect Approaches


• Comparative Financial and Legal Systems


• Comparative Human Resource Management


• Comparative Corporate Governance


• Multinational Comparative Corporate strategy and national competitiveness


• Regional strategies: European Union; North America, Asia Pacific Business

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Not applicable

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to enhance students’ ability to undertake a comparative country analysis, to understand the main international business and comparative theories, and to make informed investment decisions in particular industries. Both the case analysis and the Comparative Country Factbook compilation will provide the opportunity to students to put their knowledge of relevant theories and tools to practice. They will also enable students to consider the implications of their analysis for future strategizing by companies.

The assessments offer a clear relationship between lectures, tutorials, subject resources, and what students are expected to demonstrate they know and can do. Hence, the expectations are unambiguous. They also embody the nature of knowledge and skills that students are expected to demonstrate. The talks mirror the skills needed in the workplace. They involve comparing key macro-economic indicators to assess strategic market conditions and institutional influences on business systems.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• Comparative Country Factbook (individual, max 3000 words, 40%) which aims to provide an application of the theories presented in the lectures to analyse and compare market and business environments in different countries for an understanding of the nature of different national business environments. This involves comparing key macro-economic indicators to assess strategic market conditions and institutional influences (the cultural, political, financial, and labour systems) on business systems (including the nature of economic actors, market organisation, work coordination and control systems).


• Final term examination (60%), in which there will be approx. 50 multiple choice questions. All exam questions are covered in our lecture classes and seminars. This assessment method encourages active learning, and naturally connect what we teach with what we assess.

Formative assessment and feedback

Feedback will be provided in print within two weeks of submission of the assignment. It will be constructive, identifying areas that can be strengthened. It will offer guidance on what students can do to improve in the future in the light of links to clear assessment criteria. The students will also have the opportunity to discuss comments on assessments after they have received feedback. There will also be formative verbal feedback on performance in mid-term seminar where students will gain support on drafting a comparative country factbook outline.

Module aims

• To expose students to various theories and tools that can be employed to conduct country analyses and comparisons, and
• To develop in students the analytical skills to assess differences in strategic market conditions and national business environments between countries through Country Factbook compilation.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• Introduce theories and tools to conduct country analysis and comparison


• Systematically develop a Comparative Country Factbook

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

The learning and teaching methods include:

Part 1 formal lectures aimed at providing students with the knowledge of relevant theories and tools used in the development of a comparative country-context Factbook. Lectures will encourage class discussions via topics for debate. Lectures will run for 11 weeks and last two hours each.

Part 2 seminars aimed to be practical and interactive. Students will be encouraged to put their knowledge to practice by analysing cases and illustrative country comparisons. In this way, students will be given the opportunity to put together their own Comparative Country Factbooks over the course of the module. Seminar will run for 10 weeks and last one hour each.

The teaching and learning methods will be supported by the Surrey Learn space where lecture material 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: MAN2138

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 2021/2 academic year.