MMM095-Multinational Enterprise Strategy and Performance

Module Provider: International Business and Strategy
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites: MMM001 International Strategic Management
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2019/0

Email: t.k.q.nguyen@henley.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module is designed to provide students with an understanding of international business strategy and the implications of such a strategy on the financial performance of the multinational enterprise (MNE). 

Students who plan to enrol for this module are required (1) to complete the module of international strategic management (MMM001) and (2) have some prior fundamental understanding of accounting and/or financial management (MMM031).  

MMM095 is offered as a compulsory module for MSc. Management (International Business) and MSc. Management (International Business and Finance) and as an optional module for MSc. Accounting and Financial Management students only. 

Aims:

This module examines international business strategy and financial performance of the MNE. 

Specifically, this module helps students understand the following topics:? 

(i) what does globalization and regionalization mean for today’s managers?? 

(ii) How can you best extend your knowledge of how multinational enterprises function?? 

(iii) How can you turn the messages from the academic literature into effective business strategies within an MNE?? 

(iv) How can you measure the financial performance of the MNE? 

Assessable learning outcomes:

On completion of this module, students should be able to:? 

• Understand the nature of globalization and regionalization and the prominent role of MNEs.? 


• Understand the interaction between the internal (firm factors) of the MNEs and relevant external country environment factors. 


• Understand seven central themes for successful international business strategies and unifies them into a clear framework that can be applied to real world businesses worldwide. 


• Analyse the strategic issues facing MNEs in a logical and disciplined manner. 


• Analyse the relationship between international business strategy and financial performance of the MNE. 

Additional outcomes:

Students will learn to work collaboratively with other team members and also independently under pressure of restricted time frames and make their own decisions on the organisation of their work. In addition, in-class, team work and independent learning activities will help students to develop transferable skills (commercial awareness, critical thinking, analytical analysis, integration skills and communication skills), which are important for their future employment and professional development. 

Outline content:

Core textbook

Alain Verbeke (2013). International Business Strategy, Second Edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.   

1. Conceptual foundation of international business strategy: seven concepts and one unifying framework. 


2. Implications of international business strategy for MNE performance: Review of financial analysis. Practical application exercise. 


3. Workshop on seven concepts and one unifying framework. 


4. The critical role of firm-specific advantages (FSAs) 


5. The nature of home country specific advantages and the problems with host country specific advantages 


6. Workshop on location-specific advantages. 


7. Combining firm-specific advantages and location-specific advantages. 


8. Workshop on MNE subsidiary roles. 


9. Introduction to international financial management in the MNE. 


10. Seminar of practical application exercise on international financial management in the MNE subsidiary. 

Global context:

The lectures and workshops will use a wide range of examples of real world firms across the broad triad of North America, Europe and Asia Pacific for classroom illustration purposes, which aim to help students understand the module materials. 

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Detailed guidance on the main topics of the syllabus and key references are provided in sessions of lectures. Students are required to do a significant amount of reading of the textbook, journal articles, chapters of books, statistical sources and websites of national and international organisations. 

Lectures: Lecture attendance is compulsory. 

Workshops: Workshop attendance is compulsory (You are required to attend all workshops). The primary objectives of workshops are to help you to apply theoretical concepts and frameworks to analyse real world firms using the case study method (practical applications). 

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

A team assignment is a piece of collective team work of maximum 3,000 words in total (+10% variation is already included in the maximum word limit) answering ALL eight questions, worth a weight of 50% of the overall assessment, submitted in Week 7 of the Spring term (between February 24 and February 28, 2020) 

An individual assignment is a piece of individual work of maximum 1,500 words in total (+10% variation is already included in the maximum word limit) answering ALL five questions, worth a weight of 50% of the overall assessment, submitted in Week 3 of the Summer term (between May 4 and May 8, 2020). 

Any paper exceeding the maximum word limit will be penalized and marked down. 

Relative percentage of coursework 

Coursework has a 100% weight in the overall assessment. 

Formative assessment methods:

N/A

Penalties for late submission:

Penalties for late submission on this module are in accordance with the University policy. Please refer to page 5 of the Postgraduate Guide to Assessment for further information: http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/exams/student/exa-guidePG.aspx

Assessment requirements for a pass:
A weighted average mark of coursework of 50%.

Reassessment arrangements:

Reassessment is an individual essay. The mark is capped at 50, submitted in week SV50 of the summer vacation period (between August 10 and August 14, 2020). 

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 8 April 2019