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.

Full module specification

Module title:	International Business
Module code:	BEM2048
Module level:	2
Academic year:	2023/4
Module lecturers:
Module credit:	15
ECTS value:	7.5
Pre-requisites:	None
Co-requisites:	None
Duration of module:	Duration (weeks) - term 1: 11

Module aims

The aim of this module is to equip you with a strong understanding and awareness of international business and management practice 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.

ILO: Module-specific skills

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

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

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

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

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
25	125	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Lectures	20	Whole cohort lecture sessions
Tutorials	5	Small group sessions organised around content areas and study skills
Guided Independent Study	125	Reading, research and discussion

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Project proposal for group report	1 side of A4	1-3,7,8	Written feedback from lecturer

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Group report	30	3000 word written report	1-3,7,8	Written
Individual report	70	3000 word written report	4-7, 9, 10	Written
	0
	0
	0
	0

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

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Group report	Individual 2000 word report	1-3,7,8	July/August
Individual report	Individual 3000 word report	4-7,9,10	July/August

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.

Syllabus plan

Indicative content for this module includes:

Globalisation revisited
Emerging markets and BRICS
Business decision making in the global context
Planning and implementing global strategies
Business models and global competitive advantage
Global operations/operations management
Organisational culture and communication
Managing people internationally
International and cross-cultural management
Measuring global businesses

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Basic reading:

Deresky, H. (2013) International Management: Managing Across Borders and Cultures. Boston: Pearson.
Luthans, F. and Doh, J. (2018) International Management: Culture, Strategy and Behaviour. London: McGraw Hill.
Brown, S., Bessant, J. and Lamming, R. (2013). Strategic Operations Management, 3^rd edition, Abingdon: Routledge.
Johnsen, T.E., Howard, M. and Miemczyk, J. (2014) Purchasing and Supply Chain Management, 1^st edition, Abingdon: Routledge.

Module has an active ELE page?

Yes

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.

Origin date

05/01/2021

Last revision date

13/04/2021