MM308: Institutions and Emerging Firms

Module code: MM308

Module provider: International Business and Strategy; Henley Business School

Credits: 20

Level: 6

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Denise Tsang, email: d.tsang@henley.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: No placement specified

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 19 November 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

As the global economic dominance shifts away from the USA and Europe, an understanding of firms originating from emerging economies is essential. This module aims to introduce frameworks that allow description and understanding of national institutions and competitive dynamics related to emerging economies such as China, Russia, Brazil, India and South Africa. It aims to explore the features of emerging economies firms, their continuities and changes, as well as the associated opportunities and risks in relation to their business operation. The module aims to provide students with an understanding of how managers can address the challenges of different national institutions in product markets, labour markets and financial markets in the face of competition.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Discuss key models in which national institutions are conceptualized.
2. Evaluate the political, economic, social and judicial situation encountered by firms in leading emerging economies.
3. Identify and explain the principal relationships between institution, competition and performance.
4. Develop practical solutions concerning challenges arising for firms operating in different emerging economies.
5. Organise their material and articulate their arguments effectively in writing under timed conditions and assessed essays.

Module content

The module will introduce real-world case studies that highlight the contextual variations of national institutions and their impacts on the intensity of competition among firms. Topics may include:

• Institution, national context and emerging firms
• Country Risks and Opportunities
• Guanxi and the growth of Chinese technology
• Foreign investment in India
• Oil and gas and Russian country advantages
• Institutional change and development in South Africa
• Indonesia as an investment location
• 5G infrastructure in Kenya
• Food processing and the global supply chain in Thailand
• Competitive strategy and the globalization of Chilean wine

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures, seminars and independent research.

Study hours

At least 20 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs