An introduction to international business

The course introduces a range of international business and management topics. We begin by familiarising students with different views of international business organisations, clarifying definitions and classifying firms into ethnocentric, polycentric, regiocentric and geocentric orientation. The second lecture analyses and maps out the processes of international expansion. Questions to be answered in this session include: what are the motivations for internationalisation? and how do firms internationalise? The third session will focus on analysing multinational firm strategy. Strategic alternatives for balancing pressures for global integration and local responsiveness are assessed. Lecture four introduces and applies the Dunning Eclectic Paradigm, one of the main international business theories.

Lecture five is mainly geared to addressing the fact that as multinational companies grow and expand, it becomes increasingly important to manage subsidiaries, and human and knowledge resources across different countries. The sixth lecture discusses the management of logistics and supply chains: why do firms bother to engage in global manufacturing and international supply chains? Using the dynamic acquisition integration model, lecture seven highlights why most mergers and acquisitions fail. The eighth lecture captures current themes around globalisation, E-commerce and big data. Lecture nine looks at corporate social responsibility, how firms undertake CSR to protect and enhance society, and issues around regulating international business ethics are addressed. The last session is used to discuss global governance; we will explore supranational organisations like the World Trade Organisation and the role it plays in advancing international business.