2013/2014  KAN-1BST  International Business Strategy

English Title

International Business Strategy

Course information
Language	English
Exam ECTS	7.5 ECTS
Type	Mandatory
Level	Full Degree Master
Duration	One Semester
Course period	Autumn
Time Table	Please see course schedule at e-Campus
Study board	Study Board for BSc/MSc i International Business and Politics, MSc
Course coordinator
Jasper Hotho - Department of International Economics and Management (INT)
Main academic disciplines
Corporate and Business Strategy
Last updated on 01-05-2013

Learning objectives

The objective of this course is to familiarize the students with a wide range of different perspectives on MNEs and international business strategy, and to take the students from theory to strategy application through the use of case studies. The student will acquire knowledge about the various facets of international strategy and strategizing, and about the inherent tensions that underlie international strategy issues. An understanding of the different theoretical perspectives on MNEs and how different theories relate to different views on the nature of MNEs as economic actors. An understanding of the strategic challenges MNEs face today, and how MNEs can create sustained competitive advantage in an increasingly globalized world. The ability to both recognize and analytically reflect on the international strategy issues covered in the course, and to critically reflect on and connect the discussed theoretical perspectives to current management problems.

Examination

Oral Exam: Examination form Oral Exam Individual or group exam Individual Duration 20 min. per student, including examiners' discussion of grade, and informing plus explaining the grade Preparation time No preparation Grading scale 7-step scale Examiner(s) Internal examiner and external examiner Exam period Winter Term Make-up exam/re-exam Same examination form as the ordinary exam

Course content and structure

Strategic challenges are often described as ‘wicked’ problems: They tend to be complex, hard to clearly define, interconnected with other (organizational) issues, and characterized by uncertainty, ambiguity and conflict. And the complexity of strategic issues and strategy-making only increases further once firms expand abroad. For managers, that means that there often are no simple solutions to international strategy issues. Strategy issues are complex, and there are no quick fixes. This course prepares students for making strategic decisions in an international context by developing their ability to understand the complexity of strategy issues and to infer which strategic solution fits best given the circumstances. This requires that students are able to apply different theoretical perspectives to strategy issues. To this end, this course covers key insights from strategic management and international business, organizational sociology and institutional theory.

Teaching methods

Lectures