• University of Exeter Business School
• Module

International Business

Module description

This module extends and deepens your exploration of key issues in international business, with a particular focus on the operations and strategies of firms to compete in the globalised economy. Integrating content from across both the Business School and Humanities, it adopts a critical perspective when exploring subjects such as international development and how business is conducted in emerging markets.  This will also deepen your awareness of cross-cultural management and global communications.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The aim of this module is to equip you with a strong understanding and awareness of international business and management practices with an emphasis on the operational and strategic contexts. We will engage you with both long standing and emerging research on these aspects throughout the lecture programme, and develop your ability to critically analyse operations and strategy in international business contexts, recognising key trends, issues and impacts.

Internationalisation

You will identify and appreciate the global challenges that businesses face while taking a global perspective in your critical review process.

Employability

During this module, you will acquire confidence and skills in presenting, writing reports, conducting independent research, working in teams, managing conflicts, and working to deadlines. You will also get an understanding and experience of working in informal networks, peer review, and reflective writing.

Sustainability

This module will recognise and investigate sustainability related issues within the international context, and where relevant will make links to Exeter’s sustainability research groups.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

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

• 1. Explain the range of strategies available for operating and managing a business in an international environment
• 2. Analyse the effectiveness of operations and strategies in the globalised economy
• 3. Evaluate the role and importance of cross-cultural management and global communications

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

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

• 4. Analyse environments that organisations are located and operate within, demonstrating awareness of international business behaviour and practice
• 5. Critically evaluate the models, theories and concepts used in exploring and understanding the international business context
• 6. Apply a range of models, theories and concepts in order to understand or justify international business

ILO: Personal and key skills

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

• 7. Work both on independent assignments and within group-based contexts, developing your ability to work positively with others, managing any conflict arising
• 8. Select and synthesize material from a range of sources (both academic and practitioner based) to support key ideas and recommendations
• 9. Present in-depth analysis in both written and verbal forms
• 10. Analyse, communicate and present ideas, principles and evidence that support a reasoned and consistent argument

Syllabus plan

Indicative content for this module includes:

• Introduction to the module. Globalisation revisited
• International Business Environment and Emerging markets
• Role of culture; Cross-cultural communication
• Cross-cultural negotiation and decision-making-  
• Strategic management
• Organisational structure and control
• Motivating and leading across cultures
• International Human Resource Management
• Ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Sustainability
• Managing knowledge

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)

Re-assessment notes

A student will be referred in all components of the assessment that they have failed, if the student fails the module with an overall mark below 40%.

A student if deferred via a single component will be re-assessed in that component only.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Deresky, H., and Miller, S.R (2022)  International Management: Managing Across Borders and Cultures, Text and Cases, Global Edition, 10^th edition. Boston: Pearson.
• Luthans, F. and Doh, J. (2021) International Management: Culture, Strategy and Behaviour. London: McGraw Hill.
• Thomas, D. C., & Peterson, M.F. (2018) Cross-cultural management: Essential concepts. Fourth edition. Los Angeles: SAGE.
• Hitt, M. A., Ireland, R. D., & Hoskisson, R. E. (2017). Strategic management: competitiveness & globalization. Concepts and cases. 12^th edition. Australia: Cengage Learning.

Further Reading:

• Christopher, E., (2012) International Management: Explorations Across Cultures, London: Kogan Page

Relevant Academic Journals:

• Harvard Business Review
• International Business Review
• Journal of International Management
• Cross-Cultural & Strategic Management
• Journal of International Business Studies
• Strategic Management Journal
• Academy of Management Journal
• International Studies of Management & Organization
• International Journal of Cross-Cultural Management

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE – College to provide hyperlink to appropriate pages

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

• Students are expected to keep up to date with contemporary issues for International Business by accessing current (and historical) news and opinion articles from reputable international sources and referencing these appropriately.
• Good analysis of contemporary events affecting international business can be found in The Economist (available online) and quality newspapers such as the Financial Times.

Key words search

International Business, International Management, , cross-cultural management, global strategic management