2012/2013  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 - Center for Strategic Management and Globalization
Main Category of the Course
International Political Economy
Last updated on 23-08-2012

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

Written exam

Written exam: Type of test Written Exam Marking scale 7-step scale Second examiner External examiner Exam period Winter Term Aids Closed Book Duration 4 Hours

Examination

Re-take exam: Same as ordinary exam.

Course content

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