Courses September 2016 entry MSc International Business and Management (Management)

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1 Courses September 2016 entry MSc International Business and Management (Management) Course structure All taught course units are 15 credits. Semester 1 Comparative Business Management This course introduces you to comparative management, a field of study analysing the variation in management policies and practices of domestic firms and subsidiaries of multinational enterprises located in different countries. It explores, analyses and discusses the determinants of the variation in management policies and practices across countries, with a specific focus on culture and institutions, integrating different levels of analysis. It also introduces and discusses the most relevant analytical frameworks in comparative business and management research, with a special focus on key theoretical and empirical academic publications as well as available comparative datasets. The course will enable you to analyse cross-country variation in management policies and practices and draw on practically-relevant conclusions for managing domestic and/or multinational companies in an international environment. Fundamentals of International Business and Management This course unit provides you with an understanding of factors shaping international business activities of the firm. The course emphasizes on the interconnectedness of organisations with their direct and indirect stakeholders. More specifically, the course aims to highlight the societal impact of organisations in both their domestic and host environments. It helps to develop your analytical skills and critical approach to IB&M. Research Methods and Data Analysis The purpose of this course unit is to teach students qualitative and quantitative research methods commonly used both in academic research and in the business environment. It builds on the work carried out in the first semester concerning the theory of research methods by familiarising students with approaches and techniques, which they may use in carrying out their dissertation. Theories in International Business The aim of the course unit is to provide an understanding of fundamental theories in the domain of international business. This includes theories of the MNE, the core organisation within international business that brings nationally dispersed value-adding activities under common ownership, as well as theories of internationalisation and underlying theoretical bases such as TCE and RBV. There is also a detailed examination of the major explanations of this, covering theoretical, empirical and methodology issues.

2 Semester 2 Non-exchange Stream One compulsory course unit: International Business Strategy The course unit introduces you to international strategic strategic aspects of managing a multinational enterprise. It explores, analyses and discusses the key analytical approaches to international business strategy, focusing on global strategies and analytical frameworks, business-level strategic decisions in terms of foreign entry forms and modes, and equips students with corporate level managerial knowledge linked to corporate structures, governance and learning mechanisms. It introduces management frameworks, policies and practices across countries relevant to equip you with an understanding of how firms compete and operate on a global basis. Electives SET A (functional) - choose one elective unit from (A1 - A3) A1) Marketing Issues in International Business The course unit focuses on strategic aspects of marketing in international business. Extending beyond issues of domestic marketing activities, it aims to develop strategic thinking in an international marketing context. You are also expected to develop an appreciation of international marketing as an academic subject. Managerial issues are explored using an interactive computer simulation and tools and key methods are discussed for solving international marketing problems. A2) Managing Across Cultures The course unit focuses on the key aspects of international organisational behavior and the complexities of human behaviour in international business organisations. It explores the link between human behaviour in organisations and diverse national cultures, evaluates implications for managing human behaviour and performance effectively. You are introduced to analytical framework in international organisational behaviour, combining case examples and use of comparative datasets. It enables you to analyse cross-country variation in management policies and practice in relation to cross-cultural diversity, and learn practical skills of relevance to both domestic and multinational companies operating in a culturally-diverse environment. A3) Multinational Business Finance The objective of this course is to create an understanding of the fundamental theoretical concepts of multinational business finance and demonstrate their practical applications in real-world settings. This course initially provides an overview of the evolution and growth of global financial markets, present-day investment and regulatory environment, functioning of global financial institutions and newer financial models governing world economy. It then progresses to conducting an in-depth study of capital market movements and inflationary trends, currency volatility and foreign exchange transaction and operational exposure. Finally, it focuses on identification and evaluation of financial risks and formulating appropriate mitigation strategies in multinational settings.

3 Electives SET B (current themes) - choose two additional elective units (either one from SET A plus one from SET B or SET C; or two elective units from SET B and/or SET C) B1) Institutions and Firms' Internationalisation Strategies The module shows you how firms, alliances and markets are organized differently around the world. It examines the ways that this variation leads to the development of distinctive capabilities in firms in various parts of the world, analyses the ways in which firms from different countries internationalise, and assesses how multinational companies manage a number of activities around the world. Ultimately, the course ensures you understand how managers seek to overcome the managerial and organizational challenges that are associated with multinational companies. B2) Institutions and Knowledge Management in Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) This course unit investigates several important and inter-related topics that support an understanding of knowledge management and international competition. It introduces the specific practices for MNEs to develop firm-level and sectoral-level capabilities across various dominant economies, in a selection of key industries. First, this refers to the practices such as managing MNEs, knowledge creation and sharing, networks and embeddedness. Secondly, the course introduces you to the embedded character of national systems of innovation, and how these shape MNEs knowledge management for innovation. B3) International Business and Emerging Markets The module introduces you to the opportunities and challenges of conducting business in emerging economies. You explore, analyse and discuss the uniqueness in the socio-political, economic and business environments of emerging markets. Also you examine and discuss the competitiveness and patterns of internationalisation of emerging markets multinationals, including theoretical and empirical academic publications, as well as presentation of company case studies. B4) International Trade: Theory, Policy and Practice This course offers a thorough review of the economics and politics of international trade by introducing the most important trade theories and aspects of political economy. The course will helps you to develop skills that allow critical investigation, analysis and interpretation of economic data relating to current world trade events and how these might affect export/import firms. It analyses and explains how firms minimize trading costs by managing the risks associated with exporting/importing; the role of export financing instruments and countertrade transactions in mitigating payment risks and other constraints. B5) Multinationals and Technology Transfer in Economic Development This course critically analyses the role of multinational enterprises (MNEs) in technology transfer across the border. The course pays special attention to the business context of developing/emerging countries. The course aims to enable students to understand how large MNEs operate globally, and explain how technology transfer may/may not occur. It examines the positive and negative impacts of foreign direct investment (FDI) in technological development in developing/emerging countries. Appreciate the challenges in upgrading against the background of global competition. B6) Responsible Business in a Global Environment This course introduces key responsible business concepts in a domestic and international context, and illustrates their applications. It helps you to understand responsible mentalities and develop strategic and critical thinking in relation to responsible management. It focuses on the management challenges associated with developing domestic and international strategies and handling the operations of firms whose activities challenge the status quo.

4 Electives SET C (skills-based) C1) International Business Negotiations This course unit aims to equip you with both the analytical tools, techniques, models and practical aspects of international business negotiations. Owing to increased globalization, many companies now seek international trade and investment opportunities on an international basis. Treating negotiations as a technique that can be learned and adapted to international business relations, this course deals with two main inter-related themes: Business negotiations skills and; the impact and management of cultural differences on international business deals. C2) International Enterpreneurship (blended learning course) The unit provides you with the knowledge of the processes of internationalisation of SMEs and international entrepreneurship both from theoretical and practical standpoints. The main objectives of the course are: to inspire you with the vision inherent in international entrepreneurship and SME internationalization; to increase your awareness of the challenges and obstacles integral with this kind of international expansion strategy; to equip you with the insights, tools, frameworks, and skills necessary to successfully overcome the obstacles for international entrepreneurship, and to give you the knowledge how to prepare a plan for successful internationalisation from international entrepreneurship perspective. Semester 2 (Exchange Stream) Study in partner institutions abroad. As there are a limited number of exchange places available, the scheme is competitive and you can apply for a place once you are registered on the course. For more information, see As an exchange student, you will spend a semester at one of our partner institutions abroad. International exchange partners comprise: Copenhagen Business School EM Lyon Escola de Administração de Empresas de São Paulo Helsinki School of Economics Louvain School of Management National Taiwan University Norwegian School of Economics Rotterdam School of Management Stockholm School of Economics Università Commerciale Luigi Bocconi Universität St. Gallen University of Florida University of Kiel University of Melbourne University of New South Wales Universität zu Köln Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien

5 Summer research period Research dissertation (60 credits) You must complete a satisfactory dissertation to be awarded your MSc. Dissertation topics reflect the expertise of your lecturers and you may be asked to select a number of options from a list of dissertation topics. Supervision often starts with small groups of students meeting their supervisor, who then guides students in deciding on the focus for their individual dissertations. The dissertation itself normally consists of a literature review which drives a piece of empirical work, involving qualitative or quantitative research. Recent dissertations have covered: A systematic review of international joint venture studies in East and Southeast Asia A comparison of Generation-Y s value perceptions on luxury goods between China and the UK The reshoring trend of US manufacturing: exploring the key motivations and the role of the financial crisis Course recognition Students graduating with an MSc International Business and Management will gain partial exemption from membership to the Institute of Export, with the potential of a full exemption depending on the choice of options and research focus of the dissertation. If you have any queries about a course, please contact the admissions office, by telephone on + 44 (0) or by to pg@mbs.ac.uk Note: this document is prepared in advance of the academic year to which it relates, and some modules and tutors may change before the course begins in September 2016.