COMPARATIVE COUNTRY STUDIES - 2023/4

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 strategic decisions in foreign direct investments. The class test and Comparative Country analysis coursework, in combination, will provide the opportunity for students to demonstrate and apply their knowledge of relevant theories to country and industry conditions. Assessment will also aid students to consider the implications of their analysis on international business strategies by multinational corporations..

The assessments offer a clear relationship between lectures, tutorials, subject resources, and what students are expected to demonstrate they know and can apply in critical analysis.They also embody the nature of knowledge and skills that students are expected to demonstrate. Assessment involves comparing key macro-economic indicators to assess strategic market conditions and institutional influences on business systems.

The Summative Assessment for this module consists of:

• Online Class Test - The mixed format mid-term test (MCQ and short answers) provides the student with the opportunity to test their recall and understanding of key taught theory as well as gauge their capacity to differentiate between competing arguments in international business analysis. It will inform on teaching progress and feedback will assist students to better understand their progress as they prepare for the written assessment (Coursework).


• Comparative Country Coursework (Individual, 2500 words) - Offers students the opportunity to demonstrate their capacity for critical thinking and analysis. Students will be able to demonstrate the use of theories presented in the lectures to compare and contrast market and business environments in different countries in order to better understand the nature of different national business environments. This involves comparing key macro-economic indicators to assess strategic market conditions and institutional influences (cultural, political, financial, and labour systems) and its impact on business systems (including the nature of economic actors, market institutions, work coordination and regulatory systems).

Formative assessment and feedback

Students will receive formative feedback during weekly tutorials, where a variety of exercise and case studies will be presented. Students will be free to discuss and critique cases relating to weekly topics. Collectively, these exercises will prepare students for their class testas well as the written assignment at the end of the module. On-demand learning will also include on-line MCQ and short answer type formative tests along the course of the module. Feedback for the summative assessments will be provided in the written form.   

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 2023/4 academic year.