Course 2012-2013 a.y.

Go to class group/s: 31

CLMG (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07) - M (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07) - IM (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07) - MM (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07) - AFC (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07) - CLAPI (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07) - CLEFIN-FINANCE (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07) - CLELI (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07) - ACME (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07) - DES-ESS (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07) - EMIT (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07)

Course Director:
GABRIELLA LOJACONO

Course Objectives

The aim of this course is to prepare students for their future career in a multinational company (MNC). Globalization of markets and industries has created new growth opportunities for companies by accessing resources and serving markets worldwide. At the same time, managing across different cultures, administrative systems, geographic distances, economic structures (so called, CAGE Model) pose its own managerial challenges. This course focuses on the strategic and organizational challenges involved in managing activities across borders, in an increasingly interconnected world. Students can expect to come away with a set of frameworks that helps them to understand: Why firms do (or don’t do) international business? How do they do it? What are the international strategies firms use as they go overseas? How firms build a global presence by choosing countries, products and modes of entry? How firms organize themselves for international business? Lectures are supplemented with classroom exercises (e.g. the 3M simulation on market selection), articles and academic papers on up-to-date topics (e.g. offshoring), and guest speakers. This is a predominantly in class discussion-based course. Interactive approach helps students to frame the big picture of the nature of multinational firms and global business environment. Class participation is critical to success in this course. To be Attending Students at least 18 sessions are required (the Attendance Sheet passes during each class).

Course Content Summary

The course is structured as follows: we begin with a discussion of the meaning of globalization and the imperatives that drive firms to invest abroad as they seek growth, efficiency, knowledge and diversification. Difficulties, such as liability of foreignness are also taken into consideration. We then address how firms build global presence (e.g. market selection, entry modes) and how internationalization choices influence the firm's performance. We move on to an examination of the organizational challenges involved in exploiting the strategic benefits of global presence.
MODULE 1: The Context for Internationalization MODULE 2: The Process of Internationalization MODULE 3: Organization of Multinational Corporations and Role of Subsidiaries.

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

Student evaluation consists of a written exam at the end of the course (60% of the total grade) and a teamwork completed during the course (40% of the total grade). The project work includes the presentation of an in class debate based on a set of papers for a selected topic (e.g. market spreading vs market concentration). Students are evaluated according to the following criteria: effectiveness, quality of written and oral presentation, ability to find out extra-case information, ability to stimulate and manage in class discussion. Extraordinary in class contribution (in particular in discussing cases and participating to debates) is awarded with one extra point at the end of the grading process.

Textbooks

• P. GHEMAWAT, Redefining Global Strategy: Crossing Borders in a World Where Differences Still Matter, HBS Press, 2007
• Slides, cases and readings discussed in class and not included in the above mentioned book are accessible on Course Reserve or saved on the E-Learning Platform (Course: 20343).

Exam textbooks & Online Articles (check availability at the Library)

Last change 14/05/2012 12:11