1. Critically review and apply concepts, terminology & theoretical models associated with international business policies and strategies.

PGBM04 International Business Environment

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this module, students will have demonstrated.

Knowledge

K1 Their understanding of the concepts, terminology & theoretical models associated with international business policies and strategies.

K2 An understanding of the political, socio-cultural, economic and technological factors that have been found to influence variations in international organisational business structures and management styles.

K3 An awareness of the relationship between national and organisational cultures

K4 Their knowledge of the conceptual theories of ‘internationalisation, innovation and competitive advantage’ to different industries and locations Skills

S1 How to apply relevant theoretical concepts to real-world business (environment) dilemmas and issues, producing a diagnosis and possible solutions.

You are expected to develop your own arguments for each, based on your own critical reflection, as well as reading and discussion in the workshops. This is not a closed-book assessment. You are expected to use research-based academic work, such as journal articles, books, and other sources. Remember to provide full references, using Harvard referencing, at the end of each answer for any material that you refer to.

Knowledge:

1. Critically review and apply concepts, terminology & theoretical models associated with international business policies and strategies.

2. Demonstrate an understanding of the political, socio-cultural, economic and technological factors that have been found to influence variations in international organisational business structures and leadership and management styles

3. Critically assess the relationship between national and organisational cultures

4. Relate the conceptual theory of ‘internationalisation’, innovation and competitive advantage to different industries and locations

1. As an individual apply relevant theoretical concepts to real-world business (environment) dilemmas or issues, producing a diagnosis and suggesting possible outcomes.

1. Drawing on relevant theory, critically compare and contrast the activities of two companies (of your choice) in the same industrial sector, as they develop new technology to try to maintain their competitive advantage. In doing so consider their current achievements and potential for sustaining high performance.

2. To what extent will the alleged rising power of the BRICs and the MINTs alter the balance of power in the global financial and political institutions? What are the implications for multinational enterprises seeking to access and develop business in these markets?

3. For a global company from a BRIC economy contemplating a joint venture with a foreign partner in a European Union country (of your choice) what are the cultural difficulties likely to be 4 | Page encountered? In addition what are your recommendations for how to enable the joint venture to succeed? 

4. As an adviser to a government of a developing economy, you are asked to provide a critical analysis which sets out what policies the government could pursue to

(a) bolster national innovative capacities;

(b) maximize the benefit of the from technology transfer afforded by its inward investors in manufacturing