• University of Exeter Business School
• Module

Current Issues in International Business

Module description

The focus of this module is to engage you with a variety of issues pertinent to International Business Managers. Drawing from cross-disciplinary scholars from the field of Marketing, Finance, Accounting, Management, Leadership, and Economics, we will explore International Business Issues from a variety of stakeholder perspectives. This module enables you to learn from experts within their respective fields of study that use current research and thinking in International Business. The seminars are specifically designed to train students to look at business problems from a variety of different perspectives that ultimately inform organisational decision-making and strategy.
You will be guided by a single module coordinator over the course of two terms who will lead each session and invite guest speakers. The aim here is to help you make connections between your previous experiences, business practice and cross-cultural perspectives. You will learn how to take a cross-disciplinary perspective on international business issues and integrate them into your own worldview. Through a series of lectures, workshops and interactive role-plays we will equip you with international practice-based knowledge that you can take into the workplace.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module enables you to learn from a variety of examples of current research and thinking in International Business through attending and engaging in a programme of research seminars led by leading academic scholars. Because there is no ‘one way’ to approach International Business, we will draw from a range of different business disciplines, which include accounting, marketing, economics, leadership, and management to provide you with a cross disciplinary perspective on International Business issues. These seminars are specifically designed to introduce you to contemporary issues in the field, provide you with a multi-stakeholder perspectives and enable you to interact with and debate with trained academics. This module simulates real issues in International Business, which are essential tools for understanding and applying International Business strategy and essential to knowledge production. The aims are to:

• explore current debates in International Business by actively experiencing research presentations, offering you opportunities to interact with researchers and build knowledge
• develop your understanding of International Business research via exposure to research seminars, which include both formal and informal interaction.

The assignment is designed to:

• model the diversity of speakers and approaches to International Business
• integrate knowledge gained from the seminars into students’ own thinking
• allow for independent, creative written communication on a topic of interest

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Critique and evaluate contemporary International Business research and practice as it relates to the institutional fields that shape the global marketplace and the expansion of business into international markets.
• 2. Critique cross-disciplinary approaches to understanding the field of International Business.
• 3. Develop the ability to understand and disseminate knowledge about the contested nature of international business and globalisation.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 4. Critique research, evaluate arguments and assess research presentations.
• 5. Explain how global trends are affecting international business strategy.
• 6. Engage with colleagues in informal debate and dialogue.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 7. Assess business practice and research from cross-disciplinary perspectives.
• 8. Write about business practice and prepare critiques of those practices and approaches from a multi-stakeholder perspective.

Syllabus plan

Eleven 2-hour lectures delivered in term two. The module coordinator, school staff and visiting speakers will contribute. The range of topics varies from year to year, but could include seminars on:

• Globalisation
• Sustainability and the Circular Economy
• Ethics
• Financial Technology
• Business ethics and socially responsible business
• Marketing and branding in international environments
• Financial crisis and international markets
• Managing leaders across borders and cross-cultural contexts
• Global perspectives on consumer behaviour
• Management/ Marketing Strategy
• Financial stakeholder perspectives
• Social Networks
• International Business Strategy

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Each lecture will be based upon a reading(s) and lecture materials that will be provided by speakers. However, you may consider additional resources:
Indicative Reading List:
Peng, M. W. & Meyer, K. (2019) International Business 3rd edition. Cengage Learning.
Ritzer, G. (Ed.). (2016). The Blackwell companion to globalization. John Wiley & Sons.
Ritzer, G., & Dean, P. (2015). Globalization: A basic text. John Wiley & Son.
There are a number of texts on international business in the University Library, which can provide additional insights pertinent to international business and globalisation.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

Journal of International Business Studies

International Business Review

Journal of World Business

Critical Perspectives in International Business

Cross-Cultural and Strategic Management

Key words search

International business, globalisation, business ethics, sustainability, business strategy