School of Management MSc in International Management Postgraduate Student Handbook Section 1 2015-2016 1
Contents Page MSC INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT AT THE SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT... 1 PROGRAMME DIRECTOR... 1 DIRECTOR OF GRADUATE STUDIES, SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT... 1 POSTGRADUATE ADMINISTRATOR... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION... 2 CORE COURSES... 3 ELECTIVE COURSES... 4 CORE COURSE SUMMARIES... 5 SIX COURSES OF CORE MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS... 5 MN5111 International Accounting and Finance... 5 MN5113 International Marketing... 5 MN5114 International Strategy... 5 MN5118 Business Economics... 5 MN5121 Information Systems and Operations Management... 5 MN5131 International Human Resources Management and Organisational Behaviour... 5 FOUR ADDITIONAL CORE COURSES... 5 MN5117 Professional Business Skills... 5 MN5241 Research Projects... 5 MN5270 Business Research Methods... 5 MN5252 Independent Research Paper... 6 ELECTIVE COURSE SUMMARIES... 6 MN5104 ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL COMMUNICATION... 6 MN5105 INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATIVE STRATEGY... 6 MN5107 INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT... 6 MN5115 MARKETING RESEARCH... 6 MN5191 MULTINATIONAL ENTERPRISE AND GLOBAL ECONOMY... 6 MN5193 ENTREPRENEURSHIP... 7 MN5211 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS LAW... 7 MN5215 INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES ON CORPORATE GOVERNANCE... 7 MN5216 DIGITAL MEDIA MARKETING... 7 MN5281 INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY MANAGEMENT... 7 i
MSc International Management at the School of Management Welcome to the MSc International Management offered by Royal Holloway, University of London (RHUL). You are studying on one of a small number of programmes in the UK accredited by the Association of MBAs (AMBA) under its Masters in Business and Management (MBM) category. You will be studying on an academically rigorous and rewarding postgraduate qualification in general management with an international orientation. We have designed it as a conversion programme, so we have accepted from a wide range of academic disciplines from around the world. The pre-experience orientation of the programme prepares all of you to enter the globalized world of work on a competitive footing, which is about maximising your potential and widening your choices. As for future careers, graduates of the MSc International Management may combine the qualification with their first degree studies to indicate a market sector; likewise, interest in a functional specialism, such as marketing or human resources management, may indicate a career route with a multinational enterprise; important skills are gained for those entering fields such as finance with its CFA qualification, or accountancy with its professional, regulatory bodies; we also recognize the role of family and closely held business enterprises for some of you. RHUL is widely recognised on the world stage as one of the UK s leading teaching and research university institutions. One of the larger colleges of the University of London, Royal Holloway s character and location attract scholars and students from across the world. At the School of Management, there is a full complement of academic experts across the range of subjects forming the MSc International Management programme. We also pride ourselves on providing a friendly, welcoming environment. Academic Administration of MSc International Management: Programme Director Dr Alex Reppel Alexander.Reppel@royalholloway.ac.uk Director of Graduate Studies, School of Management Dr Niran Subramaniam Niran.Subramaniam@royalholloway.ac.uk Programme Administrator Jane Chandar Jane.Chandar@royalholloway.ac.uk
Programme Specification The MSc International Management Programme Specification can be found in the Programme Specification Repository at the following link: http://www.rhul.ac.uk/studyhere/progspecs/home.aspx This document describes the Postgraduate Taught Degree programme and Postgraduate Diploma in International Management. The 2015 Programme Specification is valid for new entrants from September 2015. 2
Core Courses The table below outlines the core courses that you will study along with the assessment breakdown and programme weighting: Six core management functions (MN5111, 5113, 5114, 5118, 5121 and 5131) include assessment by examination Personal Business Skills (MN5117) and Research Projects (MN5241) both span two terms Business Research Methods (MN5270) and Independent Research Paper (MN5252) MN5111 MN5113 MN5114 International Accounting and Finance International Marketing International Strategy Assessment Breakdown One in class test (20%), one 2 hour unseen paper examination (80%) One written assignment (20%), one 2 hour unseen paper examination (80%); One in class test (20%), one 2 hour unseen paper examination (80%) Overall Programme Weighting % MN5117 Professional Business Skills No summative assessment 0 MN5118 Business Economics One in class test (20%), one 2 hour unseen paper examination (80%) MN5121 Two online tests (10% each), one 2 Information Systems and hour unseen paper examination Operations Management (80%) MN5131 MN5241 International Human Resources Management and Organisational Behaviour Research Projects One 3,000 word written assignment or group presentation (20%), one 2 hour unseen paper examination (80%) Two Group presentations, approximately 12 minutes (25% each), Two Group team-based reflective reports approximately 1,000 words (plus individual peerassessment reports), (12.5% each), Two Individual project reports approximately 2,000 words (12.5% each) MN5270 Business Research Methods No summative assessment 0 MN5252 Independent Research Paper 8-10,000 word written assignment (100%) 14.29 3
Elective Courses The table below outlines the elective courses MSc International Management available along with the assessment breakdown and programme weighting. Two electives are required. Note: Not all electives courses are offered each academic year. Elective courses will be offered subject to minimum enrolment. In cases of an elective course being over-subscribed, the School allocates places based on student s statements of interest. MN5104 MN5105 MN5107 Advertising and Promotional Communication International Co-operative Strategy International Investment Management Assessment Breakdown Overall Programme Weighting % One group project (100%) One in-class test (100%) One in-class test (100%) MN5115 Marketing Research One group project (100%) MN5191 Multinational Enterprise and the Global Economy One in-class test (100%) MN5193 Entrepreneurship One group project (100%) MN5211 MN5215 International Business Law International Perspectives on Corporate Governance One in-class test (100%) One individual essay (80%), one individual presentation (10%) and one group project presentation (10%) MN5216 Digital Media Marketing One group project (100%) MN5281 International Sustainability Management One individual essay (50%), one presentation (15%) and a one hour in-class test (35%) 4
Core Course Summaries There are ten core courses in total Six Courses of Core Management Functions (MN5111, 5113, 5114, 5118, 5121, and 5131), which include assessment by individual examination: MN5111 International Accounting and Finance You will discuss the role of accounting information in external and internal decision making and will learn to understand the properties of profit and the main techniques for measuring it. You will discuss the nature and role of the major financial statements, prepare basic financial statements, and become familiar with different regional and national influences on financial reporting requirements and expectations. MN5113 International Marketing You will develop a working knowledge and a critical understanding of popular normative marketing concepts through a series of lectures and application in practical cases delivered in workshops. You will appreciate the appeal but also engage critically with Peter Drucker s dictum that marketing is a philosophy that emphasises an orientation towards customers. MN5114 International Strategy You will evaluate the factors that need to be considered in analysing a firm s external environment. You will explore the internal core competences of a firm, formulate strategy for a firm, understand the nature of corporate strategy and understand the nature of international strategy. MN5118 Business Economics You will develop an understanding of economic analysis and reasoning relevant within a business context and gain an appreciation of the economic underpinnings of business strategy. MN5121 Information Systems and Operations Management You will explore strategic issues in information systems and ways in which organisations might strengthen their competitive position through the use of well-designed and well-managed information systems. You will analyse the development of manufacturing and service operations management as a subject and to outline the strategic concerns involved in operations decisions. MN5131 International Human Resources Management and Organisational Behaviour You will critically analyse the relationships between personnel management, employee relations and human resource management. You will evaluate the impact of internal and external labour markets on the kinds of human resource strategies drawn up by organisations. Four Additional Core Courses (MN5117, 5241, 5260 and 5252): MN5117 Professional Business Skills You will improve your skills in the area of personal development, including career management, and working in teams. You learn to communicate in a professional manner and will develop influential and persuasive interpersonal communication skills. MN5241 Research Projects You will develop teamwork, presentation and analytical skills, by working in a group linking theory and practice to produce a group presentation and written report. MN5270 Business Research Methods You will learn to understand and apply the basic principles underlying good business research methodologies, for instance relevant interviewing and questionnaire survey techniques to gather data. 5
You will be able to devise and critically assess various research designs, and explain, produce and display descriptive statistics from various data sets. MN5252 Independent Research Paper You are presented with an opportunity to analyse a management or business issue in depth. By the end of the IRP, you will be able to plan and manage a research paper, define the aims of the research paper, identify the data sources and methods appropriate to conduct the research, identify the potential pitfalls to conducting your research, execute the IRP plan, and construct an effective argument in writing the IRP. Elective Course Summaries Please note: that for all of the elective courses to run, a minimum number of students must have enrolled in each (usually 10 students). MN5104 Advertising and Promotional Communication You will develop a working knowledge of the management processes and practices of international ad agencies. You will understand processes and practices of international marketing communications and brand planning; demonstrate awareness of the complimentarily and inter-dependence of discrete marketing activities within a strategic perspective (by undertaking a strategic promotion project); and appreciate the complexity and salience of ethical issues in marketing and advertising, especially with respect to the wider social influence of marketing activity. You will also be able to deconstruct promotional communications in terms of their likely intended segmentation and positioning rationale. MN5105 International Co-operative Strategy You will develop an understanding of the role of cooperative strategy, and its expression through strategic alliances, in the modern business context. You will get to know perspectives from different disciplines that contribute to an understanding of cooperative strategy and strategic alliances. You will also be able to understand the considerations involved in establishing alliances, selecting partners and choosing an alliance form; understand issues arising in the management of strategic alliances, with special reference to crossborder alliances; and provide an insight into factors impacting on the achievement of alliance objectives (including learning) and on how you may evolve over time. MN5107 International Investment Management You will critically analyse the main valuation models for bonds and equities. You will understand the problems of international investment strategy and the relative merits of different approaches. You will analyse the current state of financial markets and devise a relevant portfolio strategy. MN5115 Marketing Research You will identify and obtain appropriate marketing information, and develop the analytical skills and critical thinking to interpret the results of market research. Marketing research comprises one of the most important and fascinating facets of marketing practices. Research plays a fundamental role in providing a modern organisation s decision makers with timely and objective information. The focus is on providing you with the necessary skills that will enable them to carry out marketing research projects within the business environment. You will conduct a primary market research project, analysing the data and writing a comprehensive market research report. MN5191 Multinational Enterprise and Global Economy You will gain insights on the development and contemporary vicissitudes of the key players on the international economic stage: multinational enterprises (MNEs). Attention is placed on the development of MNEs and foreign direct investment (FDI), as well as on the underlying reasons for foreign investment and globalization. From this basis, we will consider strategy, organizational forms, cultural differences, ethical issues, and the relationship between MNEs and host governments. Therefore, the emphasis is on the political economy of MNEs rather than about their strategic decision-making. 6
MN5193 Entrepreneurship You will gain an understanding of key aspects of entrepreneurship: the entrepreneurship process; the key differences between large companies and SMEs; and the financing options available to start-up and developing companies. Furthermore, you will acquire an appreciation of the role of start-up and entrepreneurial activity in the hi-tech and bio-pharma sectors. MN5211 International Business Law You will develop a sound knowledge of the main principles of international business law with reference to English law and other jurisdictions, where relevant. You will develop an understanding of the practice of international business law within a contemporary context. Moreover, you will develop an understanding of contract law, commercial law, employment law, company law, international commercial arbitration law, and international business law within a merging global environment. In addition, you will develop an understanding of international business ethics within modern business environment. MN5215 International Perspectives on Corporate Governance You will gain an understanding of international and theoretical perspectives on corporate governance through a critical analysis of agency theory, stakeholder approaches, and neo-liberal views on corporate governance and stock market performance. You will also learn about prevailing debates on insider- versus outsidercontrolled corporate governance regimes, and the role of regulation in governance, in particular in UK and US markets. In addition to the case studies based on western corporations, you will examine corporate governance issues in a range of emerging economies and sectors; such as the Norilsk metal (Russia), ENRC (Kazakhstan), the Tata Group (India), CNPC (China), Petrobras (Brazil) and the Koc Group (Turkey). MN5216 Digital Media Marketing You will gain an understanding of digital media within contemporary marketing practice and its impact on marketing theory. The influence that digital media and the internet have had a significant impact on marketing practice. This includes the ways consumers are able to communicate with others interactively, digital technologies incorporated into products and new terms such as blogging, podcasting, Voice over IP (VOIP). You will develop both the knowledge and practical experience of digital media and marketing concepts available via these developing technologies. You will develop an understanding of the application of marketing tools to engage consumers online and offline via digital media. Note: this is NOT a technical course; as such requires no technical knowledge other than how to use a PC and the internet. MN5281 International Sustainability Management You will evaluate the factors that need to be considered by politicians in encouraging the adoption of corporate social responsibility (CSR). You will evaluate the factors that need to be considered by corporate strategists in developing a business and corporate strategy including CSR. You will also evaluate the economic and cultural factors involved in the adoption of CSR by firms. Moreover, you will identify the implications for a firm in terms of risk and competitiveness of the adoption of a CSR agenda when other firms in its markets may not have done so. In addition, you will understand the implications of CSR for capital markets, and understand the implications of implementing and embedding CSR in a corporation. 7
School of Management Royal Holloway, University of London Egham Hill, Egham Surrey, TW20 0EX Telephone +44 (01784) 276213 Email: management-school@royalholloway.ac.uk www.royalholloway.ac.uk/management/home.aspx