Course 2010-2011 a.y.

20343 - STRATEGIC DESIGN OF THE MULTINATIONAL FIRM


CLMG - M - IM - MM - AFC - CLAPI - CLEFIN-FINANCE - CLELI - ACME - DES-ESS - EMIT

Department of Management and Technology

Course taught in English

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

Classes: 31 (I sem.)
Instructors:
Class 31: 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 has created new growth opportunities for international managers by accessing resources and serving markets worldwide. At the same time, managing across different cultures and nations poses its own managerial challenges. This course will focus 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 will help them 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 global presence by choosing countries, products and modes of entry? How firms organize for international business? This is a predominantly case-based course. Cases will be supplemented with classroom exercises, lectures and guest speakers. A case study approach will help students to frame the big picture of the nature of multinational firms and global business environments. An in-class discussion of recent article on up-to-date topics will be part of the learning experience.

Class participation is critical to success in this course 


Course Content Summary

The course is structured as follows: l We begin with a discussion of the meaning of globalization and of the imperatives that drive firms to invest abroad as they seek growth, efficiency, knowledge and diversification. We then address how firms build global presence, and take a specific look at ‘late globalizing’ firms and countries. 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


Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

 

Student evaluation consists of a written exam at the end (60% of the total grade) of the course, a project work completed during the course (40% of the total grade).


Textbooks

  • Ghemawat P., Redefining Global Strategy: Crossing Borders in a World Where Differences Still Matter, HBS Press, 2007

 

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

Exam textbooks & Online Articles (check availability at the Library)
Last change 20/04/2010 15:46