30215 - INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT

This course has two broad objectives. First the course is designed to teach students “about” international business issues. That is, the course intends to help students understand how business practices vary widely across regions and countries. Secondly, this course is designed to teach students “how to” formulate and evaluate winning global strategies. The course aims at bringing the students closer to the problems facing firms that conduct international activities. The course offers insight on the impact of globalization on business organizations and strategies and on how managers can deal with these issues. The course combines strategic and managerial approaches to global issues.

Students are  able to deal with the phases, the difficulties, and the conceptual tools that characterize the geographic expansion of the firm beyond the national boundaries, as well as strategic decisions on location, entry-modes, organization and global marketing etc. The course unfolds the factors that enhance or inhibits the geographic stretching of the different activities. During the course, we scrutinize how the internationalization is affecting functions (like marketing, operations and innovation) and the global organization of value chain activities in the firm.

• Identify and assess the main drivers of globalization.
• Understand the implications of globalization for firm strategies.
• Understand the nature of global challenges and implications for management and organization.

• Apply the learnings on real problems facing companies as:
  • Analyze the process of globalization.
  • Analyze the context in which firms operates.
  • Analyze the different strategic options for firms operating abroad.
  • Demonstrate implications for management and organization.

• Face-to-face lectures
• Guest speaker's talks (in class or in distance)
• Exercises (exercises, database, software etc.)
• Case studies /Incidents (traditional, online)
• Individual assignments
• Interactive class activities (role playing, business game, simulation, online forum, instant polls)

The course alternate between lectures where theories and frameworks are presented and discussed, exercises and case studies. Exercises and case studies used in the course helps you develop your analytical and decision-making skills.