International Business MSc drafted

Students will study a combination of modules that address the increasingly integrated and interdependent global economy within which international business is conducted, and the core functional areas of business from an international perspective. A dissertation is also required.

Modules are focused on core theories and contemporary issues related to international business strategy, accounting and financial aspects of international business, international supply chain networks, human resource management, marketing, as well as supporting methods for business and research.

The MSc International Business programme is run in a multicultural teaching environment with local and international students working and engaging together.

This module aims to reflect on multiple theories in strategic management and evaluate several theoretical models and underpinning strategic management concepts. It will also address more practical analytical tools by applying them to contemporary cases of major global companies. International Business Strategy requires the analysis of complex, uncertain and incomplete information and the ability to bound this ambiguity and develop, and implement, firm wide judgements. Ultimately, it is concerned mainly with the holistic, strategic level perspective of management decision making in an international business environment.

The contents of the module are focused around several key themes. First, strategic thinking and analysis is impacted by industrial, resourcing and institutional effects. Second, strategic implementation focuses on internationalisation and diversification issues. Third, strategic execution incorporates both structural and social issues

The Multinational Enterprise

The aim of the module is to familiarise students with an organisational form unique to international business and explore some of the issues these firms face.

The module focuses on the Multinational Enterprise (MNE), complimenting the broader content in the Fundamentals of International Business Strategy (FIBS) module. MNEs are a unique business organisational form, with firm activities spanning national boundaries and have received significant attention in the International Business literature for this reason. MNEs are key actors at the supra-national, regional and national levels and it is impossible to understand the conduct of international business without an appreciation for the unique nature of the MNE.

Accounting in an International Environment

The aim of this module is to equip students to critically assess managerial control systems used in International and /or Multinational Companies (MNCs). The module also explores the impact of those control systems on management behaviour and effectiveness in domestic and foreign subsidiaries. The module begins by examining global financial systems, financial crisis and short termism. We will explore the impact of short-term performance pressures on management control systems together with contemporary approaches to performance measurement and performance management. We will then examine fundamental macro-economic variables and their potential impact on MNCs management control systems. The traditional and contemporary techniques and practices used by managers in long-term capital investment decisions are examined. This is followed by performance evaluation of foreign operations and their managers under centralised decision making in multi-divisional businesses. In the context of improving organisational effectiveness, exchange rate considerations in operating budgets of foreign subsidiaries and their impact on foreign subsidiary managers’ behaviour are explored. The module will then examine international transfer pricing and its impact on management control systems. Published academic work will be critically evaluated for the purposes of identifying the potential impact of current issues and recent developments.

Sustainable Supply Chains and Networks

The focus of this module is on the theory and practice of global supply chain management and logistics. In particular, course content covers main managerial challenges in decision making at strategic, tactical and operational level by taking into account economic, social and environmental contexts of a business and exposure of supply chains to internal and external risks. The module context considers also business aspects of circular economy, as well as innovative technologies that impact way of doing international business such as block chains, Internet-of-Things, 3D printing, etc.

Thus, on completion, students will have gained an understanding of the decisions that face supply chain managers in a global environment. More specifically, students will be able to apply concepts and theories to make decisions and communicate those decisions to the stakeholders.

Within international business, understanding the management of human resources and their interaction with their immediate environment is of critical importance. Global HRM is a module designed to give students an advanced appreciation of the changing nature of work, as well as key aspects of international human resource management.

This module will focus on three key themes. First, the nature of changes being placed on work systems due to increased global competition. Second, the module will provide a focus on the issue of managing across borders within the modern business organisation. Finally, the module will focus on enabling students to understand key issues involved in the comparative study of work and work systems.

International Marketing

The focus of the module is on the theory, practice and challenges faced by marketing managers working in a global/international environment and the concepts and theories that can be used to inform marketing decision making in these contexts. Indicative themes during the course include principles of Marketing, Global/International Marketing in the Firm, Emerging Markets, Cultural Dynamics, Finding New Global/International Markets, Export Marketing, Product and Service Decisions 1: Branding Concepts, and A Review of the Top 100 Global Brands, Product and Service Decisions, Current Issues in Global/International Marketing, Communications – Competing in the Digital Economy, A Review of Standardisation Vs. Adaptation Debates in Global/International Marketing

Research Methods and Techniques

This module aims to provide students with a range of skills to undertake effective research in business and management. The skills learned in this module will be applicable across professions as the relevance and importance of being able to design research, interpret, critically analyse and evaluate qualitative and quantitative information is crucial in today’s management world. The general aim of the module is to introduce students to the research process and present the tools and methodologies of social science required to carry out your thesis research.

Focus will be placed on equipping students with the necessary knowledge and skills to choose the most appropriate research methodology and method(s) for a particular research issue/problem. Building upon this, the module will develop students’ knowledge and skills in terms of qualitative and quantitative research methods, which have direct applicability in terms of future employment. On completion of this module students will have gained a comprehensive understanding of both the philosophical and practical aspects of conducting research and thus should be able to make more informed decisions about research strategy, design and methodology. Students should also feel confident in writing a dissertation/consultancy project.

Global Innovation Management

The main aim of this module is to develop an insight into innovation and how it has developed in a globalised world. Additionally, how knowledge is created, shared and transformed through collaboration and coordination across differentiated national innovation systems in order to develop global innovation networks is a key focus of this module. The module also addresses how knowledge is created, transferred, assimilated, transformed and used internationally through processes of innovation, learning, research and development (R&D). This module is broken into several overarching themes. Firstly, it will look at innovation theories more generally and apply these in an international context through globalisation insights. Secondly it will consider the importance of geography and space and how innovation may be rooted in national innovation systems of both cities and clusters of knowledge activity. Thirdly, the focus will be on how firms innovate and manage technology, knowledge and product innovation.

More specifically, some of the main themes explored in this module include; globalisation of innovation, innovation strategies, knowledge management, business model innovation, national innovation systems, managing the location of R&D, geography and space, technology and information management, and sustainable innovation.

Dissertation

A dissertation is an original and substantial piece of written work, in which a problem, hypothesis or question of importance is subjected to analysis and elucidation using an explicit method or methods. The originality of the dissertation lies in it being the new work of an individual author tackling an issue of practical and/or academic significance. The dissertation is expected to make a contribution to knowledge. This means that your research must be linked satisfactorily to what is already known about the topic. This requires a thorough review of the literature that already exists about the topic. The dissertation project normally entails the collection of primary data, a detailed discussion of the research methodology and conclusions/recommendations and the contextual value of the findings.

Consultancy Based Project

The aim of the consultancy based report module is to allow students to draw on their range of knowledge and skills and use this to provide solutions to a live business problem/challenge/issue or case.

A Consultancy Project involves working with a client organisation to make recommendations for solving a pre-set consulting problem, challenge or issue. The purpose of the Consultancy Project is to enable students to develop critical skills in effective client engagement, leadership and project management. This module challenges students to develop and advance their ability to read and think critically, question received wisdom, and develop logical and reasoned arguments. There is a limited number of consultancy projects available; obtaining the consultancy project is a part of a competitive process.

Academic Research Project

Instead of completing a traditional dissertation or a consultancy project, students can elect to do an academic research project. The Academic Research Project is essentially a super-module that comprises three inter-related elements. The first two elements are similar to normal modules (Contemporary Issues in Management and Business Governance and Ethics), but are taught in bloc form. These modules, along with the other modules student complete on their respective programmes, help students prepare for the third element, the Critical Literature Review.