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2015/2016  KAN-CCBDO1001U  Business strategy in Developing Countries and Emerging Markets

English Title
Business strategy in Developing Countries and Emerging Markets

Course information

Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Mandatory
Level Full Degree Master
Duration One Semester
Start time of the course Autumn
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board for BSc og MSc in Business, Language and Culture, MSc
Course coordinator
  • Andrew Crabtree - Department of Intercultural Communication and Management (ICM)
  • Søren Jeppesen - Department of Intercultural Communication and Management (ICM)
Main academic disciplines
  • Strategy
Last updated on 02/11/2015
Learning objectives
To achieve the grade 12, students should meet the following learning objectives with no or only minor mistakes or errors:
  • Understand and describe the particular challenges and opportunities that relate to business strategy and management seen from the perspective of the local firm in emerging markets and developing countries, inter alia in relation to the presented theoretical and strategic approaches.
  • Compare and critically discuss theories and approaches that address the particular challenges and opportunities of business strategy and management for local firms in developing countries and emerging markets.
  • Apply these theories and approaches to concrete cases of local firm business strategy and management in developing countries and emerging markets and assess their respective relevance and applicability.
  • Describe and discuss the relevance of the presented methods (undertaking a literature review and a Critical Realist case study approach) to the investigation of the above mentioned issues (strategies and cases).
  • Communicate effectively the conduct, results and significant contribution of social science research in Academic English, including the ability to: a) Use a sophisticated range of vocabulary and grammatical structures relevant to academic English, b) Formulate a relevant and effective research question, and c) Structure, develop, and support an effective argument or thesis.
Course prerequisites
Bachelor degree – Knowledge of International Business theory literature is an advantage, but not a pre-condition. This course is an approved CEMS elective.
Prerequisites for registering for the exam
Number of mandatory activities: 2
Examination
The exam in the subject consists of two parts:
Business strategy in Developing Countries and Emerging Markets - Content:
Sub exam weight50%
Examination formWritten sit-in exam
Individual or group examIndividual
This course has only one exam, and it consists of two part: 50 % language and 50 % content. This grade is given for the content of the synopsis and the oral presentation.
Assignment typeWritten assignment
Duration4 hours
Grading scale7-step scale
Examiner(s)Internal examiner and second internal examiner
Exam periodAutumn
Aids allowed to bring to the examLimited aids, see the list below:
  • Books and compendia brought by the examinee
  • Notes in paper format brought by the examinee
  • Access to personal drive (S-drive) on CBS' network
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
If the number of registered candidates for the make-up examination/re-take examination warrants that it may most appropriately be held as an oral examination, the programme office will inform the students that the make-up examination/re-take examination will be held as an oral examination instead.
Description of the exam procedure

No electronic aids permitted.

Business strategy in Developing Countries and Emerging Markets - Language:
Sub exam weight50%
Examination formWritten sit-in exam
Individual or group examIndividual
This course has only one exam, and it consists of two part: 50 % language and 50 % content. This grade is given for the students' language skills.
Assignment typeWritten assignment
Duration4 hours
Grading scale7-step scale
Examiner(s)Internal examiner and second internal examiner
Exam periodWinter
Aids allowed to bring to the examLimited aids, see the list below:
  • Books and compendia brought by the examinee
  • Notes in paper format brought by the examinee
  • Access to personal drive (S-drive) on CBS' network
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
If the number of registered candidates for the make-up examination/re-take examination warrants that it may most appropriately be held as an oral examination, the programme office will inform the students that the make-up examination/re-take examination will be held as an oral examination instead.
Course content and structure

Developing country and emerging market firms (DC&EMFs) often emerge from different historical paths, have different resources and capabilities and hence different strategic orientations compared to firms from developed countries.  Differences in business environments, in combination with on-going changes (in terms of speed and content), alter strategy formulation and implementation compared to developed countries. Strategy formulation and management in developing countries and emerging markets take place in a market context and regulatory environment that is significantly different from that of developed countries. The business management literature has only recently started focusing specifically on the particular strategies that local firms undertake as well as the interface between those strategies and developing countries/emerging markets. The course “Business strategy in developing countries and emerging markets” is specifically designed to introduce students to this literature. In addition to the theoretically oriented literature, the course will also include particular focus on a) making a literature review, and b) a Critical Realist case study approach. These elements are tied to the methods components of the BaDS program and will be taught with an emphasis on enhancing the student’s academic English skills.

The course will consist of four modules: Module I (Introduction) will provide a general introduction to the business and development studies literature and to the key issues of Academic English. Concerning the first of these, the Introduction will take up the gap in the literature concerning the lacking perspectives from DC&EMFs as well as take account of the particular conditions of doing business in developing countries and emerging markets. Second, the Introduction will discuss the fact that the development literature has devoted too little attention to the role of local firm strategies and management in economic and social development.  Academic English will provide an overall introduction to writing within the social sciences in accordance with the learning objectives below paying particular attention to writing literature reviews.

Module II introduces theories of business strategy and management in developing countries and emerging markets. The module will present and position key perspectives on business strategies vis-à-vis more conventional theories of business management (e.g. the resource based perspective, transaction cost economics, network theory, principal agency theory, and institutional theory). Furthermore, it will discuss the applicability of the different theoretical frameworks to the DC&EM contexts. The main issues addressed concern the scale of firms (SMEs versus large firms and MNCs), degree of internationalisation and governance (in Global Value Chains). Methods and first Academic English assignment will be concerned with conducting a literature review. The assignment will be assessed and then discussed in groups of four students.

Module III presents and examines a number of different cases from a variety of settings (Africa, Asia and Latin-America), illustrating a number of possible strategies of developing country firms. The module starts with two theme days on respectively (i) internationalisation of DC&EMFs; and (ii) domestic/local market strategies of SMEs. Secondly, the module includes lectures on a) the mobile telecommunication industry in a least developed context (Afghanistan), and b) Human Resource Management strategies among DC&EMFs. The Methods and Academic English component will emphasise the Critical Realist Approach to case studies. This will be followed by the second written exercise which will also be assessed and then discussed in groups of four students.

Module IV concludes the course summing up the content, evaluating the course and preparing for the exam including all aspects of the course (business strategies in developing countries and emerging markets, methods and Academic English).

Teaching methods
The course will consist of 2-4 hour sessions over 11 weeks. These sessions will be a combination of lectures, cases, group work and student presentations. Student presentations will be based on specific questions related to the lectures’ theme and last max. 10-15 minutes. Class discussions and case teaching are integral parts of the course and all students should prepare and be ready to discuss the issues, questions and cases listed for each lecture.
In relation to enhancing the Academic English skills (and to qualify for participation in the final written exam - see below), the students need to hand in and pass two 5-page assignments (one relating to literature reviews and the other to a Critical Realist Approach to case studies). The assignments will be assessed and then discussed in small groups (regarding the timing with the rest of the schedule see below). Comments from the course responsible for Academic English and assessment 'failed/passed' will be provided.
Expected literature

To be announced on Learn

 

Last updated on 02/11/2015