MM303-Strategy and International Business

Module Provider: International Business and Strategy
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites: MM1F27 Business in Practice: Accounting for managers and MM1F20 Business in Practice: Markets, Marketing and Management or MM296 Building competitive advantage: Business Strategy and Operations or MM230 Comparative International Management
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Dr Quyen Nguyen
Email: t.k.q.nguyen@henley.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

Aims:

This module provides an introduction to the variety of strategic issues confronting managers of multinational enterprises (MNEs), both within the firm and in the global marketplace.

This module is delivered at University of Reading and University of Reading, Malaysia.

Assessable learning outcomes:

Strategy and International Business helps students understand the classic components of a strategy and international business. It examines the factors that influence the development and the competitive positioning of multinational enterprises (MNEs). This requires an understanding of both the external international business environment and the internal nature of the firm, its strategy, structure and financial management. A firm’s strategy provides the context within which managers decide what to do, and what not to do, with respect to resource allocation, market selection and organizational development.

In this module we shall introduce you to:

• the core concepts and theoretical models underlying contemporary strategy and international business

• their theoretical and empirical foundations;

• their limitations, and the arguments surrounding them;

• their practical applications to real issues facing real world companies.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module you should be able to:

• describe the frameworks and models used in international business strategy analysis;

• explain the academic reasoning underlying them;

• engage effectively in discussions concerning their relevance and appropriateness, both in general academic terms and in the context of particular firms, situations and environments;

• analyse the strategic issues facing a particular company in a logical and disciplined way.

Additional outcomes:

Students will learn to work independently under pressure of time and make strategic decisions on the organization of their work. They will also develop generic skills for future employment and professional development.

Outline content:

1. Introduction to international business

2. FSA/CSA framework and applications (FSAs: Firm-specific advantages; CSAs: Country-specific advantages)

3. The multinational enterprise (MNE), broad triad regions and global versus regional strategies

4. International culture

5. National competitiveness/ country diamonds

6. Integration/responsiveness framework 

7. Multinational strategy

8. Organizational strategy

9. International financial management in the MNE

10. Flagship strategy framework

Global context:

Use of examples and case studies of firms from a wide range of countries operating in different industries around the world

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

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

Tutorials are compulsory to attend. The purpose of the tutorial session is to help students understand the key concepts and the key theoretica l frameworks by application to real world companies with the case study method.

Summative assessment- Examinations:
None

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Students will be organized into tutorial teams, which will be between 5 to 6 students, depending on the class size. 

The team assignment will be a collective piece of work, of the maximum length of 3,000 words in total (+10% variation is already included in the word limit). The word limit includes introduction, main body, conclusions, tables and figures, citations, notes and end notes in the text and in the appendices, but excludes the front cover sheet and references. Students are expected to answer all six questions (on average: 3,000 words/ 6 questions = 500 words per question). It must be submitted in Week 8 of the Autumn term of 2023. It is worth 50% of the total assessment weight.

The team assignment focuses on the practical applications of theoretical concepts and frameworks by analysing the international business strategy, the organizational structure, and the financial management of real world multinational enterprises (MNEs). Students are required to research, read, and analyse the firms’ annual reports and documents as well as other sources of information.

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

The in-class test will be administered by the School in Week 1 of the Spring term. It is online, two-hours, multiple- choice questions that are designed to test knowledge understanding and evaluate critical thinking, application, analysis, and synthesis, rather than recalling and memorizing. It also includes a written piece using short answer questions that require concise, focused, complete answers.   

All questions for the team assignment in-class test are directly related to lecture materials, tutorials, and reading lists.

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:

University penalties for late submission apply.  See: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/files/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

Assessment requirements for a pass:

A weighted average of 40%

Reassessment arrangements:

By individual assignment only. The mark is capped at 40%.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Required text books: £53.99 (for reference purpose only) - Core textbook: Simon Collinson, Rajneesh Narula and Alan M. Rugman (2020). International Business, the Eighth Edition. Pearson. 

Last updated: 30 March 2023