2019/20 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

LUBS3805 International Business Management

20 creditsClass Size: 90

Module manager: Angelo Solarino
Email: A.M.Solarino@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2019/20

Pre-requisite qualifications

LUBS1940 Economics for Management
OR
LUBS1950 Economic Theory & Applications 1
OR
LLLC1363 Introduction to Economics
OR
SOEE2610 (BA Environment and Business only)

This module is mutually exclusive with

LUBS2405	Cross-Cultural Management
LUBS2860	Managing International Business
LUBS3810	Managing Across Cultures

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

The module is concerned with understanding the nature of the international firm, and how decisions are made about the activity to be internationalised, the choice of country and the method of doing business there; how to structure and co-ordinate internationally dispersed operations, and whether or not to enter into joint-ventures with foreign firms. The module explores the impact of political, economic and financial risk on the success or failure of managerial decisions. Naturally, greater internationalisation brings with it greater scope to encounter foreign cultures, attitudes and beliefs and a key element of this module is to teach an appreciation of how cultures differ and how such differences influence decision-taking. It considers, evaluates and communicates the principal factors governing the management of multinational firms in a modern global context.

Objectives

The objective of this module is to provide students with an understanding of the key theories and practices concerning the activities of multinational firms. Success in international business requires quick and effective decision-taking in an environment characterised by complexity, uncertainty and variety. This module aims to provide students with an understanding of the theory and practice of management in such a setting, placing particular emphasis on those complicating issues not found in a one-country context.

Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this module students will be able to:
- Evaluate a suitable host-country for foreign expansion, assessing the impact of the market and its culture on international business activity
- Interpret the nature of international firms and the relationship between their organisation, structure and foreign expansion choices
- Evaluate the impact of the external international business environment on international business strategy
- Make informed comment on the complexities of the scope and nature of international business activity
- Identify and evaluate the relationship between key operational issues facing managers from multinational firms specifically concerning international logistics and international trade finance

Skills outcomes
Upon completion of this module students will be able to:
Transferable
- Exercise personal responsibility in team-work and independent research
- Apply time-management, critical thinking and decision-making skills with appreciation of ethical, social and cultural sensitivity

Subject Specific
- Make strategic and operational decisions based on an evaluation of the key managerial issues facing international businesses
- Apply the values of commercial awareness, professionalism and deploy the transferable skills necessary for employment in international business management

Syllabus

Indicative content:
- Introduction to international business, the multinational firm, theories of internationalisation, which firms and countries trade
- Scale and scope of international activity: country and industry comparisons, top global firms
- Foreign expansion modes: export modes, intermediate and hierarchical modes, foreign direct investment, contractual modes and international sourcing
- Choice of foreign expansion mode, evaluation of host country characteristics and location advantages, evaluation of control, cost and risk
- International logistics and international trade finance: options for physical distribution of goods and managing the financial risks of international trade
- The relationship between organisational strategy, firm structure and foreign expansion mode choices
- The role of the family firm and large global conglomerates
- Culture in international business: models and measures, the impact of culture on managers of multinational firms and the role of culture in the global knowledge economy
- The impact of corruption on the multinational firm and the ethical, social and economic impacts of foreign expansion on the host country

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Workshop	1	2.00	2.00
Lecture	11	2.00	22.00
Seminar	8	1.00	8.00
Private study hours			168.00
Total Contact hours			32.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

For each 20 credits of study taken, the expectation is that the normal study time (including attendance at lectures and tutorials, self-study and revision) is 200 hours.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

- Feedback during and after seminars and lectures
- One-to-one meetings or emails with students
- Feedback on past paper attempts
- Feedback after assessed presentations

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Project	Individual 4,500 word written report	70.00
Presentation	Group presentation by whole group	30.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

The resit for this module will be 100% by 2 hour examination.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 21/08/2019

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