International Strategy and Operations

• Credit value: 15 credits at Level 6
• Convenor: Dr Neil Pyper
  
• Assessment: a 3000-word essay (100%)
  

In this module we introduce you to the strategies and structures of international businesses in detail. We examine corporate strategy alternatives for global operations and explore some international activities that fall within functional disciplines. Theoretical elements are supplemented with updated empirical examples and case studies to encourage you to develop insights into the management implications of international business strategy and operations.

Indicative syllabus

• International business strategy; reasons to enter international business
• International business organisation; different kinds of organisational structures and control systems used by international businesses
• Strategies for entering emerging markets
• Strategic alliances; their advantages and disadvantages; factors for successful alliances; technology transfer and spillover
• Exporting, importing and countertrade; advantages and disadvantages of exporting; process and factors influencing firms interested in exporting and engaging in an export-import contract with a third party; countertrade transactions and pros and cons of engaging in countertrade
• Global value chain management
• R&D and innovation management
• International human resource management
• Accounting in international business

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• analyse the different modes of international business a company can use as part of its corporate strategy alternatives for global operations
• explore the implications of international accounting and international human resource management for corporate strategy alternatives for global operations
• appreciate the complexity of coordinating the use of alternative international business modes and international accounting and international human resource management standards in the design and implementation of corporate strategy for global operations.