| Unit name | International Business Perspectives in a Turbulent World |
|---|---|
| Unit code | MGRCM0012 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Professor. Johns |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Management - Business School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
The contemporary global economy is experiencing much turbulence, presenting real challenges to international business. An important aspect of the unit will be positing a ‘holistic’ focus to explain and critically evaluate contemporary globalisation and International Business theories through the agency of: (i) MNCs originating from different geographical jurisdictions and business systems (ii) the service economy and (iii) new platform architectures.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
This unit, in the context of the MSc International Business and Strategy programme, serves as a core overview of the activities of international business in context. It outlines the core international business theories, bringing them alive by applying them to real world, current world events.
An overview of content
In the International Business Perspectives in a Turbulent World unit students will explore the many ways in which the contemporary global economy is experiencing turbulence. We will consider the core international business theories and debate the degree to which they are able to explain the impact on international businesses. The course also engages with frameworks from the social sciences to provide a holistic overview of the ways in which students can understand international business operations and the contexts in which they operate.
This unit will seek to understand the complexities of globalisation and international business in the turbulent world of the early 21st century. The unit will be highly interactive and will cover issues such as globalisation; varieties of capitalism; the rise of platform capitalism; the relevance of extant International Business theories and frameworks. It will also encompass foreign market entry; the role of ‘Western’ and non-Western MNCs in Foreign Direct Investment and the business risks and challenges of internationalisation. In unpacking the uneven geography of internationalisation particular consideration will be paid to the global north vs global south with respect to R&D, financial MNCs, global production chains, global financial centres and the ensuing New(er) International Division of Labour.
We cover technological, ecological and other aspects of the contemporary global economy and engage with current news and events throughout the course.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit.
The unit’s focus on small group teaching and the team-work element provides students with the opportunity to learn from others and share their knowledge of international business systems from their own geographical jurisdictions. The unit will also provide an opportunity for students to develop their analytical and transferable skills. Students will develop their critical thinking abilities and advance their knowledge of the many different contexts in which international business takes place and how they are connected.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the unit a successful student will be able to:
The unit combines the delivery of the relevant conceptual and empirical material to support learning (via lectures). Lectures use videos, contemporary examples etc to illustrate the theoretical concepts. Seminars are student-led, working through challenges in the course reading and discussion and debates.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Continuous feedback will be given on individual and group work in seminars, facilitated by the reading feedback assessment; seminar discussions will focus on the subject area of the two summative assignments thus linking formative to summative.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Seminar reading feedback form (10%),
The seminar reading feedback forms are submitted before each weekly seminar. Students will answer three questions about the reading and these responses will be used to structure the seminar by the tutor. For each weekly reading you receive 1% if it is complete. There are 9 weekly readings and you gain an extra 1% if you complete all 9. [ILOs 1, 2, 3 & 4].
Group presentation (20%)
The group presentation will focus on the key causes of disruption in a country chosen by the group members, analysing the context using relevant international business theoretical models or frameworks. The purpose of the presentation is to provide an opportunity for the students to develop their group work, analytical and transferable skills. [ILOs 1, 2 & 5].
Individual assignment, 2500 words (70%).
The individual essay is an in-depth analysis of the contemporary global economy. Students are offered a choice between two essay questions – one typically focusing on a core international business theory or framework, the other on an interdisciplinary approach. [ILOS 1, 3, 4, 5].
When assessment does not go to plan
Students who do not pass the unit overall and are eligible for reassesment will be reassessed using like-for-like assessments:
If the weekly seminar readings have not been passed, students will write a 300 word review of a journal article from one of the weeks of the course. [ILOs 1, 2, 3 & 4]
If the group assessment has not been passed, students will record an audio presentation lasting 3 minutes on one disruption in a national economy of their selection. [ILOs 1, 2 & 5]
If the essay has not been passed, the students will write a 2,500 word essay (choosing one essay question from a choice of two). [ILOS 1, 3, 4, 5]
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. MGRCM0012).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
