English   Danish

2010/2011  KAN-IMM_IM55  International Business and Strategy

English Title
International Business and Strategy

Course Information

Language English
Point 7,5 ECTS (225 SAT)
Type Mandatory
Level Full Degree Master
Duration One Semester
Course Period Spring
Time Table Please see course schedule at e-Campus
Study Board
Study Board for MSc in Economics and Business Administration
Course Coordinator
Ulf AnderssonPhillip NellStephanie Schleimer
Main Category of the Course
  • Economics, macro economics and managerial economics
Last updated on 29 maj 2012
Learning Objectives
This course aims to give students a thorough hands-on knowledge on strategic analysis, strategic decision making and action. The course will be based on cases to facilitate learning by doing process as well as entailing a decision maker perspective.
Marking Scale 7-step scale
Exam Period April and May/June
Individual 4-hour written exam. (All written and technical aids (including internet and personal PC) are allowed at the exam). Cf. The Regulations for written tests at CBS. The exam is internal and the evaluation is made by one teacher alone, cf. General Degree Regulations § 25, S. (1). The regular exam takes place in May 2011. The make-up/re-exam takes place in June 2011. The make-up/re-exam project must be written individually Irrespective of the above provisions, make-up exams and re-exams can be held as oral exams, if the situation calls for this
Examination
4 hour open book written exam “scenario exam”. The exam will test the student’s ability to use the knowledge gained through the course to solve particular problems related to the overall themes. As it is not about learning the texts by heart but rather understand and reflect on topics covered the exam is an open book exam. It is made to simulate a crisis situation in a company where the student has to come up with a solution to the problem; the solution will be presented by the management at a press conference. To reflect the focus on simulating reality the written output will consists of a 2 page executive summary and 8 PowerPoint slides rather than the usual 10 pages written material. One examiner will evaluate the students’ answers only.
Prerequisites for Attending the Exam
Course Content

The course builds on Foundations of Strategy (IM47) and presupposes a working knowledge of strategic management. The emphasis will be on:

Strategic issue diagnosis where problems of a strategic nature are identified,
Strategic analysis where external, internal, and financial problems are analysed,
Strategic decision making where strategizing takes place,
Strategic action where implementation of strategic decisions are contemplated and carried out.

This approach to strategic management builds on the schools of thought already taught and discussed in IM47. However, this course on International Business Strategy will provide the students with a progression from IM47 with a more normative approach on strategic management. In any given situation, a firm decision maker can use a number of different tools and models supporting the decision. With the foundation of the theoretical understanding from IM47, students will in this second strategy course be able to reflect upon decision situations, strategic decisions, and consequences of these decisions.

The international aspect will primarily be seen in the cases where companies facing strategic challenges of an international nature are the basis of the learning process.

Literature

Grant, Robert M. (2010). Contemporary Strategy Analysis, 7th Edition, (Text and Cases Edition), John Wiley and Sons, UK. The book will be available in the bookshop SL books.
All additional readings can be accessed via the CBS library homepage (Links are available on sitescape).
Please note that there might be slight changes in the final readings before the respective class sessions.