International Business and Globalisation
| Module title | International Business and Globalisation |
|---|---|
| Module code | BEMM490Z |
| Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Dr Himadree Phookan (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
Module description
This module provides the theoretical foundations of international business and its practical applications in explaining the dynamics and constraints of firms’ international strategies. It analyses changes in the international economic environment as a result of globalisation as well as the increased interdependence between countries and firms in terms of flows of goods, services, finances and people. It also considers political, economic and institutional differences and the strategies companies adopt when conducting business across national boundaries. While many practical examples are provided, focus is given to developing an analytical approach to addressing these questions, drawing on several theoretical perspectives.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The module aims to give you a working knowledge of the underpinning principles of international business, and the capacity to critically analyse existing theories and concepts to formulate your own suitable strategic approaches. As international business draws upon several disciplines, it will also instil a holistic understanding of the subject which incorporates related aspects of marketing, economics, sociology, human resource management, and logistics and supply chain management.
The overarching module aims are to enable you to understand:
• Why and how businesses trade and invest internationally;
• Which factors impact upon international business;
• Role of international business in society.
In pursuing those aims, you will adopt a balanced, ethical approach which embraces the perspectives of multiple stakeholders, particularly by considering the three pillars of the Triple Bottom Line: profit, people, and planet.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Describe how an international business differs from a domestic business
- 2. Discuss the various institutional factors and their influence on businesses that characterise an international business environment
- 3. Discuss different strategic approaches taken by firms to internationalise
- 4. Apply understanding of internationalisation strategies and approaches to critically analyse a firms activities
- 5. Assess challenges of international businesses from the perspective of multiple stakeholders
- 6. Synthesise existing concepts with your own emerging subject knowledge to refine strategies and recommend appropriate organisational approaches to undertaking international business
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Apply accepted international business concepts and theories to analyse business environment and real-life business contexts
- 8. Apply an international business mind-set:the ability to evaluate an organisation from a global multi-stakeholder perspective.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 9. Present analysis ib written and oral forms
- 10. Advance your problem-solving skills
- 11. Analyse structured information in a systematic and critical manner
Syllabus plan
0: Welcome and introductions
1: Globalisation and International Business
2: Institutions-Formal and Informal
3: Informal institutions and Firm Resources
4: International Trade
5: Foreign Direct Investment
6: Internationalisation and Foreign Entry Strategies
7: Ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability
8: Global Integration and Multilateral Organisations
9: Organisational structures and Operations
10: Key issues and challenges in International Business and Module summary
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 200 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 100 | Lectures and skill-based workshops. |
| Guided Independent Study | 200 | Reading, researching and writing assignments |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly MCQ quizzes with tutor expansion upon answers | 1hr x 9 weeks | 1-11 | Verbal qualitative feedback, and self-generated quantitative feedback, on understanding of core assessed module content |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Narrated infographic presentation | 50 | 8-10 Powerpoint slides (excl. title page and reference page/s) with 2mins narrated explanation per slide (i.e. 16-20mins total) | 1-11 | Quantitative feedback provided on online platform summarising performance against assessment marking criteria, and areas for learner development |
| Strategic business plan | 50 | 2,500 3,000 words (excl. references) | 1-11 | Qualitative feedback provided on online platform summarising performance against assessment marking criteria, and areas for learner development |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Narrated infographic presentation | Narrated infographic presentation (50%) | 1-11 | Re-assessment period |
| Strategic business plan | Strategic Business Plan (50%) | 1-11 | Re-assessment period |
Re-assessment notes
Non-synoptic reassessment (i.e. – students only resubmit if their total module mark was a fail, and they only resubmit the assessed element/s which had received a fail mark – not both elements where one element had already received a pass mark).
Students are permitted to improve upon a failed piece of assessed work as their resubmission (i.e. – they will not be penalised for self-plagiarism from their first submission on this module), or to produce an entirely new piece of work.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
• Supplied course material
• Peng, M. & Meyer, K. (2019). International business (3rd ed.). Andover: Cengage.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/
Indicative learning resources - Other resources
•All recommended textbooks and related sources are listed in the recommended reading list, which provides e-book access.
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | Yes |
| Origin date | 20/01/2022 |
| Last revision date | 23/06/2022 |
