International Business and the Multinational Enterprise

INB450

Code	INB450
School	EBSL
Description	With International Business accounting year in year out for an increasing percentage of economic activity, a large proportion of EBS-L graduates will be employed in an international environment as soon as they leave the school, and will be asked to participate proactively in international operations. Our MA students appropriate a wide range of business theories, logics and thought processes - but their understanding may be at a generalised and/or domestic level.This module will help them to see how cross-border phenomena are enacted in a host of specific contexts, thereby enhancing their capacity for relativisation. It offers the international perspective that our learners absolutely require if they are to gain a realistic perception of the cognitive framework that applies in international business interactions. It starts with a macro/contextual/qualitative approach to the subject before moving on to a macro/advantageseeking/quantitative orientation.
Module Level	4
Module Code	INB450
Available Summer	N
Semester	1
Credits	30
ECTS Credits	13
Contact Hours	66
Course Aims	The module aims to: Define the academic framework within which international business has developed and distinguish this from globalization. Provide analytical tools for systematically dissection the various motivations behind international business at both the macro and micro levels. Emphasize the various ways in which companies seek to gain competitive advantage at the international level. Apply current research innovations to interpretations of international business strategies.
Learning Outcomes	Apprehend corporate internationalisation motivations in a systematic manner Critically distinguish between the various processes of internationalisation Practice international control and structure management Rationalise terms of international strategies for the whole of the value chain Conduct and critique a realistic cost/benefit analysis of international opportunity Incorporate current research concepts into their understanding and gain awareness of certain precepts’ limitations
Reading Recommended	Hill, C. (2007) International Business: Competing in the Global Marketplace, McGraw-Hill (7th edition) Below are available from Tate Library Dicken, P. (2007) Global Shift: Mapping the Changing Contours of the World Economy, Sage Ghauri P. & Usunier, J.C. (2003) “International Business Negotiations”, Pergamon Jones, G. (2005) “Multinationals and Global Capitalism”, OUP Kline, J. (2005) “Ethics for International Business”, Routledge
Asseseement Methods	Team presentations on themes relating to topic of the week (37.5%) Individual Paper (50%) Classroom participation (12.5%)