BST 2412 International Business

BST 2412 International Business

Course code: 
BST 2412
Department: 
Communication and Culture
Credits: 
15
Course coordinator: 
Morten Huse
Course name in Norwegian: 
International Business
Product category: 
Bachelor
Portfolio: 
Bachelor Specialisations HSØA
Semester: 
2020 Autumn
Active status: 
Active
Level of study: 
Bachelor
Teaching language: 
English
Course type: 
One semester
Introduction

This course together with BTH 2412 Bachelor thesis - International Business - constitutes the specialization in International Business, which will be stated on BI's Diploma.

With the advancement of the globalized economy firms and employees are faced with increased complexity. To succeed in international business, managers have to consider and make decisions about external as well as internal factors. The course will in a systemic way address important factors at both levels. External factors will include international organizations such as the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund and the European Union as well as other multilateral organizations. To succeed in business knowledge of how these organizations regulate international business is essential. As these organizations are currently challenged, the course will include discussion of possible implications for business. Finally, the course will include the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and discuss how this Agenda sets new rules for international business.

At the national level the course will introduce students to the importance of institutions - both formal (legal systems, political systems, socio-economic systems) and informal (culture, religion, languages). In order to avoid failure when operating in other national contexts, managers have to be aware of all these different factors.

International organizations and institutions will form the backdrop for firm level analyses. At the firm level the course will introduce students to different types of firm strategies for internationalizing (export, investing abroad); to foreign entry strategies; to building global strategies (greenfield, mergers and acquisitions); to competitive dynamics, to emerging markets (for example the BRICS countries); to new forms of production systems (decentralized, networked, supply chains); as well as the importance of innovation and the emergence of green economy. The course will also provide students with knowledge of multinational companies’ organizational structure, and how to manage people across cultures (cross-cultural HR-strategies).

The course literature is research based and uses practical cases for developing students’ skills to analyze and make a balanced evaluation of topical issues.

Learning outcomes - Knowledge

The overall objective of this specialization is to provide students with knowledge of the international business environment and how to manage international and global companies, and culturally diverse employees.

After having completed the course, students should have acquired knowledge of central factors in international business - both on the macro and micro level. In particular, they should have knowledge of national differences in the international business environment, firms’ strategies for serving foreign markets, and for engaging in global competition as well as the implication of institutions, culture and external environments on HRM and managing international careers, cross-border operations and negotiations.

Learning outcomes - Skills

The students will be able to manage a diverse multicultural workforce as well as negotiating, leading and communicating across cultural, ethnic and linguistic boundaries.

General Competence

The students should be able to critically reflect on the effects of globalization (negative as well as positive) and to see how a changing world impacts business at the macro and micro level. They should be able to reflect on the significance of institutions and understand how culture impact on people's expectations and perceptions of management.

Course content

This course consists of  six 2-day sessions, which will cover: key contemporary and challenging IB themes:

  • Globalising business
  • Formal institutions – economic, political & legal systems
  • Informal institutions
  • Firm resources: competitiveness and growth & Competitive dynamics
  • Business ethics & Corporate Social Responsibility
  • Investing abroad directly & Internationalisation process
  • Foreign entry strategies & Structuring and organising MNEs
  • Global Integration and Multilateral organisations
  • Intercultural issues in international business
  • International Human Resource Management & Global Talent Management
  • Stakeholder approach
  • Sustainable development
Teaching and learning activities

The course consists of 78 teaching hours. The learning process emphasize a mix of lectures, interactions and group activities, weekly assignments, student presentations, Kahoots, analysis of cases of business decisions and management challenges, as individual/group tutoring. Active participation and involvement in class is expected. Information regarding student evaluation will be provided in class. This information may be relevant to requirements for term papers or other hand-ins, and/or where class participation can be one of several elements of the overall evaluation.

Software tools
No specified computer-based tools are required.
Additional information

Re-sit examination in BST 24124 and BST 24125 autumn 2020 and last time spring 2021.

Qualifications

Two years of college education in business administration or equivalent.

Covid-19

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there may be deviations in teaching and learning activities as well as exams, compared with what is described in this course description.

Required prerequisite knowledge

As a minimum the basic course in statistics MET 3431 Statistics or MET 2920 Statistics.

Exam categoryWeightInvigilationDurationGroupingComment exam
Exam category:
Submission
Form of assessment:
Written submission
Exam code:
BST 24126
Grading scale:
Point scale
Grading rules:
Internal and external examiner
Resit:
All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
40No6 Week(s)Group/Individual (1 - 3)From couse start to beginning of October
Exam category:
Activity
Form of assessment:
Presentation and discussion
Exam code:
BST 24126
Grading scale:
Point scale
Grading rules:
Internal examiner
Resit:
All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
20No 1 Semester(s)Individual ( 1 - 3)
Exam category:
Submission
Form of assessment:
Written submission
Exam code:
BST 24126
Grading scale:
Point scale
Grading rules:
Internal and external examiner
Resit:
All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
40No72 Hour(s)Group/Individual (1 - 3)
Exams:
Exam category:Submission
Form of assessment:Written submission
Weight:40
Invigilation:No
Grouping (size):Group/Individual (1-3)
Duration:6 Week(s)
Comment:From couse start to beginning of October
Exam code:BST 24126
Grading scale:Point scale
Resit:All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
Exam category:Activity
Form of assessment:Presentation and discussion
Weight:20
Invigilation:No
Grouping (size):Individual (1-3)
Duration: 1 Semester(s)
Comment:
Exam code:BST 24126
Grading scale:Point scale
Resit:All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
Exam category:Submission
Form of assessment:Written submission
Weight:40
Invigilation:No
Grouping (size):Group/Individual (1-3)
Duration:72 Hour(s)
Comment:
Exam code: BST 24126
Grading scale:Point scale
Resit:All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
Type of Assessment: 
Continuous assessment
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Total weight: 
100
Student workload
ActivityDurationComment
Teaching
78 Hour(s)
Prepare for teaching
130 Hour(s)
Group work / Assignments
92 Hour(s)
Submission(s)
75 Hour(s)
Examination
25 Hour(s)
Sum workload: 
400

A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 15 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of at least 400 hours.