MMM001: International Strategic Management

Module code: MMM001

Module provider: International Business and Strategy; Henley Business School

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Professor Rajneesh Narula, email: r.narula@henley.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Mr Karim Kirollos, email: k.r.w.kirollos@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: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 28 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This course provides key analytical and conceptual tools from strategic management, international business and economics as applied to international strategy. The course examines the complexity that accompanies international operations as a result of geographical diversification, and changing market and technological, conditions.
International strategic management is concerned with 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 structure and strategy. A company’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 students to:

• the core concepts and models underlying contemporary international strategic management;
• their theoretical and empirical foundations;
• their limitations, and the arguments surrounding them;
• their practical application to real issues facing real world companies;
• their environmental and social impact in the global and local contexts

Module learning outcomes

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

1. describe the frameworks and models used in international strategy analysis.
2. explain the academic reasoning underlying them.
3. engage effectively in discussions concerning their relevance and appropriateness, both in general academic terms and in the context of particular firms, situations and environments.
4. analyse the strategic issues facing a particular company in a logical and disciplined way.

Module content

The module will draw on both strategy and international business content. The topics covered include: 

• Globalisation
• General Frameworks in International Business
• International Culture
• Multinational Strategies and Structure
• Macro-environment analysis
• Industry analysis
• Entry strategies 
• Corporate strategy
• UN SDGs, Stakeholder and Governance

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The teaching of this course is inspired by the case study method approach. Knowledge and understanding of the subject areas will be developed from the lectures, and readings.
Application of knowledge and critical evaluation will be developed through lectures that will draw on real company case studies.  Tutorials will draw on students to analyse companies and the assignments will be based on a consulting report for the coursework, and analysis of real-life company for the presentation and oral exam.  

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 50% 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