Master 2020/2021

Strategies in International Business

Type: Compulsory course

Area of studies: Management

Delivered by: Department of Strategic and International Management

Where: Graduate School of Business

When: 1 year, 3, 4 module

Mode of studies: distance learning

Instructors: Mikhail Akim

Master’s programme: Business Strategies: Management and Consulting

Language: English

ECTS credits: 5

Contact hours: 40

Course Syllabus

Abstract

Course, provides training for masters, overview in international business strategy, emerging trends and challenges. The course for first year students of the program "Business Strategies: Management and Consulting". Prerequisites for participation: • Knowledge of the main provisions of the strategic management theory • English level from C1 • Experience in writing analytical work (in the form of a term paper) with a developed bibliographic apparatus.

Learning Objectives

• The objective of the course is to develop the students' master's program of competence in international business and management strategy for international companies.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Know the main discussion platforms where MB (magazines and conferences) are being discussed, as well as the world's leading research centers in the field of MB.
• Develop group skills on cases from international training materials bases. Be able to conduct and present research in a systematic review format.
• Develop the skills to analytically read scientific and specialized articles in English in the world's leading journals.
• Develop speaking skills with the results of analytical research (cases).
• To understand the key challenges and strategic challenges of international business development be able to diagnose applied problems in the field of MB and management of international companies and determine adequate paradigms of their analysis and solution.
• Know the key technological trends and challenges that affect the strategy and structure of international business To be able to formulate analytical tasks, determine formats and tools in the field of MB.
• Understand environmental trends, sustainable development principles and circular economics in the context of international business; ESG

Course Contents

• Introduction to the theory of a multinational firm
  The object of the analysis. The definition of an international company. The concept of distance. The positive and negative impact of an international firm on the economy and society as a whole
• P.I.T.C.H.
• «The World is Flat»
• CAGE
• History of the development of IB theories
  Hymer's Theory. Management of the multinational firm on Hymer. Limitations of theory. The concept of special advantages. The dilemma of attitudes to competition in international business. The theory of internalization. Cheating and Shirking. The paradox of decentralization. Limitations of theory. John Dunning. The eclectic paradigm is OLI. Evolutionary theories of the international firm Theory of Organizational Ability. The evolutionary theory of Kogut and Sander. John Cantwell's evolutionary theory. Contingency Theory Stopford Wells study. Manage an multinational firm in terms of Contingency Theory Business network theory. A multinational firm in terms of business networking theory. Mechanisms of influence on a multinational firm. The role of values in theory Theory of Institutionalization and the political role of an multinational firm. The theory of institutionalization. The political role of an multinational firm. Generalization of IB theories
• Risks influencing the development of international business
  Covid-19. Risk assessment. Key risks. The mitigation of risks
• Technological trends affecting the structure of international business
  Digitalization. New production technologies that affect the international division of labour
• Recourse scarcity and sustainability considerations – Agriculture’ case
  Specifics of development and use of technology in developed and developing countries
• The principles of sustainable development and their impact on the structure of global business
  Transition to circular economy of the SDGs, energy transition and impact on global business
• Technological development, political trends and decisions on the transfer and return of production (offshoring and reshoring)

Assessment Elements

• Exam
• Class discussion and participation
  Conceptual material will be illustrated and applied to the “real world” through rigorous class discussion and exercises. Most weeks we will carry out discussions which apply the tools or frameworks we have studied that week to real-world examples. This will include exercises where you will have to find examples of real-world companies to illustrate the class concepts, after which we will have in-class discussions of these examples.
• Сase analysis, group presentation and discussion

Interim Assessment

• Interim assessment (4 module)
  0.2 * Class discussion and participation + 0.4 * Exam + 0.4 * Сase analysis, group presentation and discussion

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Forsgren, M. (2017). Theories of the Multinational Firm: Vol. Third edition. Edward Elgar Publishing.

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Adriana Calvelli, & Chiara Cannavale. (2019). Internationalizing Firms : International Strategy, Trends and Challenges. Palgrave Macmillan.
• Farrell, D. (2006). Smarter Offshoring. Harvard Business Review, 84(6), 84–92.
• Huei-Ting Tsai, & Eisingerich, A. B. (2010). Internationalization Strategies of Emerging Markets Firms. California Management Review, 53(1), 114–135. https://doi.org/10.1525/cmr.2010.53.1.114
• Matthew C. Klein, & Michael Pettis. (2020). Trade Wars Are Class Wars : How Rising Inequality Distorts the Global Economy and Threatens International Peace. Yale University Press.
• Woetzel, J. (2015). Five myths about the Chinese economy. McKinsey Quarterly, 4, 60–65.
• Wolfgang Lehmacher. (2017). The Global Supply Chain : How Technology and Circular Thinking Transform Our Future. Springer.