EXC 3602 International Marketing

APPLIES TO ACADEMIC YEAR 2014/2015

EXC 3602 International Marketing


Responsible for the course
Jon Bingen Sande

Department
Department of Marketing

Term
According to study plan

ECTS Credits
7,5

Language of instruction
English

Introduction
Globalization affects all firms, also those operating in their home markets. Understanding this development is important for judging changes in the competitive situation and for new opportunities and threats. In this course, we treat this development, develop theoretical insight into what demands this development poses for the firm's organization, and develop an understanding of alternative market strategies.

Learning outcome
Acquired knowledge
On completion of the course the students should be able to:

  • Understand how international marketing differs from domestic marketing;
  • Build knowledge about external environmental factors, such as globalization and cultural differences, that have consequences for businesses operating in international markets;
  • Understand the role of culture in international marketing and sources of secondary data about international markets
  • Understand the internationalization process and the role of international company culture and internal resources and capabilities in international market success;
  • Understand how to develop international marketing strategies in globalizing marketing;
  • Build knowledge about international market selection, entry modes, sourcing, international product strategy, pricing, market communication and distribution, as well as how to organization and plan international marketing activities.

Acquired skills
On completion of the course the students should be able to:
  • Analyze the external international marketing environment.
  • Analyze and use economic data for practical decision making in international marketing.
  • Analyze the international company culture and internal resources and capabilities necessary for international marketing activities.
  • Identify useful and precise problem formulations as a basis for marketing strategy development.
  • Develop goals for international marketing.
  • Develop viable international marketing strategies.
  • Develop product strategies, pricing strategies, promotion strategies, and marketing channel strategies, as well as suggest how international marketing should be organized, planned and implemented.
  • Participate in and moderate group discussions about international marketing.

Reflection
  • The students will recognize the importance of and increase their interest in international economics, politics, culture and marketing.
  • The students will see ethical dilemmas in international marketing.

Prerequisites
General knowledge of business administration subjects.

Compulsory reading
Books:
Hollensen, Svend. 2014. Global marketing. 6th ed. Pearson. 756

Collection of articles:
A small article collection will be published on Itslearning before the semester starts

Recommended reading

Course outline
  • Globalization, the international economic, political, social and technological environment, and analysis of the external marketing environment.
  • International market research and information sources.
  • The internationalization theory and the analysis of the internal international company culture, resources and capabilities of the firm.
  • International marketing strategy and competitiveness development.
  • International market selection
  • International entry modes and sourcing.
  • International product strategy, pricing, and market communication.
  • Control and implementation of international marketing activities.
  • Analysis and discussion of practical cases.

Computer-based tools
No specified computer-based tools are required.

Learning process and workload

The course consists of a combination of lectures in class and case seminars in smaller groups. The students must participate in four (4) case seminars, each lasting for two (2) hours. In addition, the students must participate in two multiple-choice tests.

Groups consisting of five (5) students will solve a case that will later be presented to three (3) other student groups in a main group. Case presentations must be delivered electronically. After the presentation, the students in the presenting group will moderate the discussion about the case firm in the main group. The administration may reduce the group size to make the number of students to fit the size of the main groups.

In addition to activities relating to their own case, the students will participate in discussions of three (3) other cases. Participation in all case discussions is mandatory, since the case seminars constitute the examination in this course.

Recommended workload in hours

Activity
Hours
Participation in lectures
30
Participation in case seminars
8
Preparation for and processing of lectures
82
Development of case solution for delivery and preparation for presentation
25
Preparation for three (3) oral case discussions
55
Total recommended workload in hours
200



Examination
Assessment is based on two (2) multiple-choice tests as well as the performance in the four (4) case seminars.

The multiple-choice tests take place in the class room earlier in the semester (before the case-seminars). Each of the two multiple-choice tests count 10 % of the grade in the course. Both tests must be passed in order to get a final grade in the course.

The caseseminars take place as follows: In one of the seminars a student group of five (5) students present their analyses and recommendations concerning the case company. After the presentation this student group will moderate a discussion of the case between the other members of their main group (who are members of three (3) other student groups). In the remaining three seminars, the members of the student group will participate in the discussion of other cases on an individual basis.

The quality of the analysis and recommendations that the student group presents accounts for 25% of the final grade. The quality of the presentation and moderation of the succeeding class discussion also accounts for 10%. Finally, the students participate in discussions of three other cases and their contribution to the discussion in each of the cases accounts for 15% of the final grade.

Note that a copy of the presentation must be delivered electronically before the case seminars, and it is not possible to change the content after delivery. The grade for the case presentation and participation in case discussions is final. The students must pass both the case presentation/case discussions to obtain the final grade.

Attendance at all case discussions is compulsory since student assessment is based on the cases. Absence due to illness must be documented with a medical certificate delivered to the school within 10 days after the case seminar. Vacation, work, etc. are not legitimate reasons for absence. Students that cannot document that their absence is caused by legitimate reasons will not receive a grade in the course and must participate in a re-sit examination later. Students with approved applications for absence in one or maximum two case seminars, can apply for permission to hand in and receive evaluation of written case solutions of other cases in international marketing that the school will provide. Such assignments will be individual. Students with absence in more than two (2) case seminars must always participate in a re-sit examination later.


Examination code(s)
EXC 36021 - Process evaluation - counts 100% towards final grade in EXC 3602, International Marketing, 7,5 credits.

Examination support materials
Textbook and articles (see literature) plus lecture notes and other material produced by the student him/herself are allowed. A computer cannot be used by discussants; consequently, lecture notes and other materials produced by the student must be printed.

Re-sit examination
A re-sit examination is held in connection with the next scheduled examination in the course. In the case of a re-sit examination, the student must participate in all four (4) case seminars once again. In re-sit examinations the student will submit a written assignment that accounts for 40% of the grade and will participate in four (4) case discussions, each accounting for 15% of the grade.

Additional information