COMPARATIVE COUNTRY STUDIES - 2024/5

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.

The module is based on the rationale that managers will be expected to analyse and compare market and business environments in different countries to attain business success though foreign direct investment (FDI).

Module provider

Surrey Business School

Module Leader

LOO Benaliza (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

Summative Assessment Strategy:

The 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 on-line test and coursework, in combination, will provide the opportunity for students to demonstrate their knowledge and apply relevant theories to country and industry conditions. Assessment will also aid students to consider the implications of their analysis on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), by multinational corporations.

The combination of the two assessments provides a clear relationship between lectures, seminars, and module resources. It offers students the opportunity to demonstrate their capacity for critical analysis. Assessment embodies the nature of knowledge and skills that students are expected to demonstrate in the workplace. Coursework particularly 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:

1. 
   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.
    
   


2. 
   Coursework (Individual) - 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 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 against established academic frameworks in order to assess strategic market conditions and institutional influences i.e., 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 Strategy:

Students will receive formative feedback during weekly face-to-face tutorials. It is their opportunity to recognise gaps within their learning and will receive support in how best to improve their course outcomes. In addition, on-demand learning provides students with the opportunity to prepare for the summative test by way of formative on-line Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQ) that can confirm knowledge retention. Last, extra-curricular workshop(s) are offered to aid in the preparation of the summative coursework, formative support includes research methods, and academic writing skills training.  

Module aims

• To introduce novel IB theorises to students which can be employed to conduct country analysis and comparisons.
• To develop students' analytical skills in order to identify and assess differences in country conditions and national business environments, and then make comparison against other competing countries and/or economic systems.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• Introduce theoretical frameworks and tools to conduct country analysis and comparison


• Systematically develop a Comparative Country analysis framework

Students are expected to undertake regular reading of the topics discussed during each session. The learning and teaching methods include:

1. Formal lectures aimed at providing students with the knowledge of relevant theories and the tools used in the development of a comparative country-context analysis.  


2. Tutorials aim to be practical and are interactive. Tutorials will encourage class discussions via topics for debate. Students will be encouraged to put their knowledge to practice by analysing comtemprary issues and illustrative country comparisons. 

 

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

Other information

The module embeds the five pillars of the SBS curriculum framework.

Global and Cultural Capabilities: Students are encouraged to work in a multicultural global working environment that either draws on countries/industries/businesses outside their countries of origin or internationalisation of these businesses to other countries for their assessment. Furthermore, students and staff on this module come from diverse and culturally rich backgrounds. Most assessment elements, as well as the activities embedded in the delivery of the module require students to work creatively to tackle cross-border and people management challenges. As such students broaden their own world view, perspectives, and interpretations by interacting in a culturally varied environment. Students, guest speakers, and members of staff are global and diverse, which provides students with an internationally excellent educational experience.

Digital Capabilities: Students are of the generation of information and communication technology. In this module, students acquire and develop a range of digital capabilities. Using a hybrid teaching strategy, they are taken through the analysis of global trade and international markets using in the process various digital tools as well as country, industry, and firm level data in the process.

Employability: One of the main objectives of this module is to prepare the students for the business word; to be business ready. The students learn all necessary concepts, decision-making steps, and techniques for assessing, planning, and implementing required internationalisation strategies and actions in the context of international business.

Sustainability: The module aims to advance students’ understanding and awareness of aspects of sustainability and ethical people management. Sustainable and ethical people management principles inform this module. The module is informed by the three pillars of sustainability – economic, social, and environment as evident in the module content.

Resourcefulness and Resilience: The module exposes students to the competitiveness of global trade and international markets and encourages awareness of the resourcefulness and resilience of countries, business, and industry as they strive to achieve their objectives. The assessment strategy supports students to rise to the challenge of delivering effective analysis of global factors that impact on business whilst acknowledging the value of time and respecting the need for (business and academic) deadlines.

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 2024/5 academic year.