Accounting and Finance for Managers

15 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1

This module is designed as an introduction for non-financial managers to comparative international accounting and financial reporting and analysis within the context of converging standards. No prior knowledge of accounting procedures is assumed or required. As part of the module, you will produce a business financial analysis report.

Comparative Business Systems

15 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1

The module considers how different systems of economic organisation in market economies have led to the emergence of distinct business systems in the international economy. It explores how firms originating in different nations display systematic differences in structure, organisation and strategies. It also examines frameworks for understanding how, and the extent to which, systematic differences in industrialised (and late-industrialised) nations are convergent. The implication of the different business systems on the organisation and firm capabilities is then explored in this course.

Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

This module enables you to investigate the systems of controls within a company, the relationship between company management and stakeholder groups, and the social accountability and responsibilities that a corporation holds towards different stakeholders. You will examine these issues in the context of three major challenges to contemporary businesses: globalisation, sustainability and corporate citizenship.

The module covers the development and theoretical aspects of corporate governance, stakeholder management approaches to corporate governance and social responsibility, business ethics management, national and international regulatory frameworks, socially responsible investment, and international corporate governance. You will engage with the practical assessment tools for corporate governance and responsibility and consider the importance of policy and practice through case studies, documentaries and guest speakers. The case studies used will include those developed specifically for the module, and those from the textbooks.

Global Marketing Management

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

The task of marketing managers is to discover new markets and opportunities in the global market place. This module is intended to provide you with a global perspective and understanding of international marketing as a context for domestic and international business and management. In addition, it will enable you to become conversant with the theoretical background for international marketing activities as well as an overall perspective of these theories within the context of an organisation. Moreover, the module takes a practical, marketing-management approach: concepts that are applied through countless examples of situations in which international companies assess and solve their global marketing problems. This module will also provide coverage of the new marketing technologies that are revolutionising the way companies bring value to their customers such as direct and on-line marketing. Finally the module will develop a number of tools of analysis with which you can analyse and interpret the role and functions of marketing, in both internal and external environments.

Globalisation & Integration: A Long Run Perspective

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

This module explores the globalisation and the integration of the business environment from a long-run perspective. It charts the beginnings of the current wave of globalisation, in the mid to late 20th century and explores the various themes and forces that helped create a distinctive business environment by the early years of the 21st century. The themes explored include the divergence and integration within the global economy, globalisation of culture, the 'death of distance', development of global value chains, technology and technology transfer, 'deep' integration and strategic alliances, and the challenges and opportunities posed by shifts in demographic patterns. The module considers several questions of interest to you if you are a student of international management including: what is the significance of the 'Rest' catching-up with the 'West'? How does the global geography affect international firms? How significant is the emergence of multinationals from emerging markets? Do firms manage a 'global culture' or manage across cultures globally?

International Business

30 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1

International business is concerned with how firms engage in transactions and value-adding activities outside of their national boundaries. The module thus considers theories of foreign trade, foreign investment, and outsourcing; looks at various issues associated with the management and organisation of multinational enterprises; and highlights policy questions such as the political economy of trade policy and the impact of foreign investment on both home and host economies.

International Entrepreneurship

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

The focus of this module is on the development and growth of new firms from establishment to the early stages of international development. Much of the core teaching in international business relates to the strategic decisions made by established large firms, but SMEs are increasingly engaged in both foreign trade and investment - as is evidenced by the phenomena of born-global firms, international new ventures, and rapidly internationalising firms. In this context, the links between entrepreneurship, innovation, and internationalisation are crucial.

Marketing Management

15 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1

Gone are the stable markets of yesteryear. Today's markets are characterised by rapidly changing customers' wants, accelerating pace of technological advances, and intensifying competition, presenting major challenges for both incumbent and upstart enterprises alike. For most organisations, marketing is a major determinant of success. This module is designed to help you develop an appreciation of the role of marketing and the management of marketing functions in the modern organisation. The impact of marketing and the contribution of marketing to organisational performance in the dynamic, globally competitive markets of today will be addressed. The module will also focus on what being market-oriented really means in practice to organisations operating in manufacturing and service industries, as well as in profit and non-profit enterprises.

The module will introduce you to the theories, concepts, models, techniques and current best-practices for developing and implementing marketing strategies and actions. Marketing decision-making should not take place in a vacuum, and this course will familiarise you with the components of market analysis and strategy development with respect to the organisation, its customers, competitors and collaborators. There will also be indepth coverage of marketing implementation and control issues through the concept of the integrated marketing mix: the product/service offering and customer service, communications, pricing and channels.

Multinational Financial Management

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

The main aim of this module is to evaluate the financial decision-making of companies operating internationally, providing an understanding of global capital markets, in the context of international trade patterns, international monetary systems, exchange rate regimes and foreign exchange markets, as well as tax rules and legal and institutional complexities. You will also develop competences in the appraisal of international capital expenditure choices and in the effective implementation of multinational management control systems. In addition, the module considers the political risks faced by multinational enterprises, including firm-specific risk, country risk, and global risk, together with an assessment of the origins and repercussions of the current credit crisis, including the international scale of securitization, and the impact of market failure in international interbank markets on multinational financial management.

Summary outline: currency regimes and markets and the management of foreign exchange risk; measuring and managing exchange exposure; international financing and capital market integration; the cost of capital for foreign investments; capital budgeting for the multinational corporation; working capital management; taxation and transfer pricing; country risk analysis and the implications of the financial crisis of 2007-09 and module resumé.

Research Methods

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

The main aims of this module are to introduce a range of research methods for the collection and analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data, to advance your analytic research skills through practical experience, and to develop your skills in reading and evaluating journal articles and research papers.

The main topics to be covered are: literature reviews, searches and referencing; social science research; case study research - comparative and longitudinal methods; survey research; basic concepts in statistical analysis; goodness-of-fit tests & contingency tables - correlation analysis; simple comparative tests; ANOVA: one-way and RCB designs; two-variable regression and multiple regression.

Research Project (International Management)

30 credits
Summer teaching, year 1

This module gives you the opportunity to undertake an independent research project.

The Business Context in East Asia

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

The main aims of this module are to explore the international business environment in East Asia, to provide an overview of the various East Asian economies, their interrelationship, and their importance in the world economy, and to examine the lessons which may be drawn both from the economic success of the East Asian economies, and from the Asian financial crisis.

The Business Context in Europe

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

The main aims of this module are to explore the international business environment in Europe, and to provide an overview of the various European economies, their inter-relationships, and their importance in the world economy.

Attention will be paid not just to the major member-states of the EU, but also to newer member-states and other European economies.