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EXC 3630 Managing International Operations

EXC 3630 Managing International Operations

Course code: 
EXC 3630
Department: 
Strategy and Entrepreneurship
Credits: 
7.5
Course coordinator: 
Linda Rademaker
Course name in Norwegian: 
Managing International Operations
Product category: 
Bachelor
Portfolio: 
BBA - Specialisation in International Business
Semester: 
2023 Autumn
Active status: 
Active
Level of study: 
Bachelor
Teaching language: 
English
Course type: 
One semester
Introduction

Multinational enterprises are key actors in international business, and this course will focus on strategy and management of multinational enterprises. This entails looking at how multinationals expand internationally, how they manage and coordinate activities across borders, and leadership and management challenges of complex, multinational organizations.

Learning outcomes - Knowledge

Students will be able to define and apply knowledge about:

  • The specific challenges of managing multinational companies.
  • How to coordinate and integrate activities across countries.
  • How multinational companies respond to the challenges and opportunities of national differences across countries they operate in.
Learning outcomes - Skills
  • Ability to apply theory to analyse real-life cases of international operations.
  • Ability to evaluate multinational firms' strategies and management processes.
General Competence
  • Awareness of ethical dilemmas in managing international business activities.
Course content

The course covers various aspects of strategy, management and operations of multinational enterprises. The sessions are based on a combination of textbook chapters, journal articles, teaching cases and class discussion to analyse and understand multinational firms. Topics include:

  • Introduction: the Multinational Company (MNC)
  • Foreign operating modes
  • Strategy and structure of MNCs
  • Managing risk in international business
  • Cultural and institutional differences
  • International human resource management
  • Employees and industrial relations
  • Global production networks
  • Knowledge sharing in MNCs
  • Social and environmental responsibilities in MNCs
Teaching and learning activities

The course comprises 39 hours of classroom teaching. The course will be a combination of lectures, case analyses, class discussions, and student presentations. Class participation is expected. For several lectures, we will use cases to apply theoretical perspectives in practice. Active student participation is generally expected. The student will also be asked to present and discuss given assignment questions on topics related to various lectures. 

Students will submit two written assignments; an individual essay and a term paper written in groups of up to three students. The term paper will collect data and analyze a specific aspect of a firm's international strategy.

Specific information regarding student evaluation beyond the information given in the course description will be provided in class. This information may be relevant for requirements for term papers or other hand-ins, and/or where class participation can be one for several elements of the overall evaluation. 

Computer-based tools: Word, Powerpoint, itslearning, internet.

Software tools
No specified computer-based tools are required.
Qualifications

Higher Education Entrance Qualification

Disclaimer

Deviations in teaching and exams may occur if external conditions or unforeseen events call for this.

Required prerequisite knowledge

General knowledge of business administration subjects.

Assessments
Assessments
Exam category: 
Submission
Form of assessment: 
Written submission
Weight: 
30
Grouping: 
Individual
Duration: 
1 Month(s)
Comment: 
Students shall write an essay, reflecting on the learning process, including their own participation, presentations and contribution to case discussions.
Exam code: 
EXC 36302
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Resit: 
Examination every semester
Exam category: 
Submission
Form of assessment: 
Written submission
Weight: 
70
Grouping: 
Group (1 - 3)
Duration: 
1 Semester(s)
Exam code: 
EXC 36303
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Resit: 
Examination every semester
Type of Assessment: 
Ordinary examination
All exams must be passed to get a grade in this course.
Total weight: 
100
Student workload
ActivityDurationComment
Teaching
39 Hour(s)
Student's own work with learning resources
30 Hour(s)
Preparation for case discussion and student presentation.
Prepare for teaching
30 Hour(s)
Submission(s)
30 Hour(s)
Group work / Assignments
71 Hour(s)
Group term paper.
Sum workload: 
200

A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 7,5 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of at least 200 hours.