APPLIES TO ACADEMIC YEAR 2013/2014

GRA 6343 Managing the Multinational Corporation

Responsible for the course
Helene Loe Colman

Department
Department of Strategy and Logistics

Term
According to study plan

ECTS Credits
6

Language of instruction
English

Introduction
The main objective of the course is to familiarize students with the research-based literature on managing the mulitnational firm. The aim is to provide an understanding of the challenges and complexities involved in coordination and control of activities and resources in multinational firms.

Learning outcome
The course aims to (1) develop students’ understanding of the challenges involved in
implementing international strategies and the complexities involved in managing, coordinating and controlling resources and activities across borders (2) provide an overview of the research‐based literature on MNE strategy implementation and management.

Prerequisites
GRA6344 International Strategy or similar master’s level courses.

Compulsory reading

Other:
A collection of scientific articles from leading journals in the field, such as: Journal of International Business Studies, Strategic Management Journal, Journal of Management, Journal of Management Studies, Management International Review, Organization Science
Academy of Management Journal

During the course there may be hand-outs and other material on additional topics relevant for the course and the examination


Recommended reading

Course outline
The course addresses the following themes:
International strategy implementation
Managing international alliances, joint ventures, and mergers and acquisitions
Headquarter-subsidiary roles and relationships
Staffing and managing MNEs
Learning and knowledge transfer in MNEs

Computer-based tools
Its learning

Learning process and workload
A course of 6 ECTS credits corresponds to a workload of 160-180 hours.

Classes will be a mix of lectures, presentations and class discussions, where the students need to grasp theoretical articles, present these and apply their insight to real life cases.

The students need to be present in class, come prepared and be ready to discuss articles and cases when they come to class.

Each student is required to read assigned articles and come prepared for class. Students will also prepare article summaries and do presentations. Students will also gather real life information on inter-organizational relations and analyze these through a blog.

Please note that it is the student’s own responsibility to obtain any information provided in class that is not included on the course homepage/It's learning or text book.


Examination
Evaluation is continuous and based on individual class participation (25%), and a term paper (75%)

This is a course with continuous assessment (several exam elements) and one final exam code. Each exam element will be graded using points on a scale (e.g. 0-100). The elements will be weighted together according to the information in the course description in order to calculate the final letter grade for the course.

Examination code(s)
GRA 63431 accounts for 100 % of the final grade in the course GRA 6343.

Examination support materials
Exam aids at written examiniations are explained under exam information in the student portal @bi. Please note use of calculator and dictionary in the section on examaids

Re-sit examination
It is only possible to retake an examination when the course is next taught.
The assessment in some courses is based on more than one exam code.
Where this is the case, you may retake only the assessed components of one of these exam codes.
Where this is not the case, all of the assessed components of the course must be retaken.
All retaken examinations will incur an additional fee.

Additional information
Honor Code
Academic honesty and trust are important to all of us as individuals, and represent values that are encouraged and promoted by the honor code system. This is a most significant university tradition. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the ideals of the honor code system, to which the faculty are also deeply committed.

Any violation of the honor code will be dealt with in accordance with BI’s procedures for cheating. These issues are a serious matter to everyone associated with the programs at BI and are at the heart of the honor code and academic integrity. If you have any questions about your responsibilities under the honor code, please ask.