General provisions

Master's Programme in Business and Management - specialisation International Business.

Entry requirements

A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university. Also required is 90 credits in business studies. Proficiency in English.

For incoming exchange students, exceptions can be made from the requirement of 90 credits in business studies, provided that special reasons are considered to exist. Proficiency in English.

Learning outcomes

For multinational corporations (MNC) control of foreign subsidiaries, knowledge development and internal transfer, and the roles that both subsidiaries and headquarters may have are core aspects of management. However, all this does not happen in isolation as firms operate in and are affected by business networks. These aspects will be faced and analysed during the course. By the end of the course, the students will be able to:

• understand the implications of operating across national borders
• analyse different combinations of international strategies and organisational structures
• analyse how different aspects of the organisational environment affects knowledge development and transfer
• tackle problems related to controlling and managing foreign operations
• understand the roles of, and challenges facing, MNC subsidiaries and headquarters

In regards to these theme-based learning goals, students are expected to be able to:

• apply central concepts from the literature in their applied work
• analyse and evaluate concepts and perspectives
• critically discuss the pros and cons of different management-related problems introduced in class
• be able to create a whole out of the different elements of the course

Content

With the purpose of generating an understanding of the different challenges faced by management in multinational companies, the content of the course will cover the following primary topics related to the MNC:

• Strategy and Structure
• Control and management of foreign operations
• Knowledge Management
• Subsidiaries’ and headquarters’ roles and functions

Instruction

The course consists of lectures as well as literature- and case-seminars. Written assignments and group work is part of the preparation prior each. Teamwork and individual active participation is required during the seminars for presentations and discussions.

Lecture and seminar attendance is compulsory. The course is taught in English.

Assessment

The student will get one single grade, equivalent to 7.5 credits.

The examination consists of exams, assignments, group work and individual active participation at seminars. The grade for the entire course is based on an assessment of all parts of the examination.

Grading criteria are presented in the study guide that applies to the course section. The following grades will be used: pass with distinction (VG), pass (G), and fail (U). Examinations handed in late will not be assessed except under special circumstances. Any remaining supplemental work must be completed and handed in by the deadline specified in the study guide. Otherwise the entire course (all examinations included) must be remade on upcoming course sections, if a place is available.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.

Uppsala University does not accept cheating or plagiarism. Suspected incidents of cheating or plagiarism are reported to the Vice-Chancellor, which may issue a formal warning to the student or suspend the student from studies for a certain period.

NOTE: Only completed courses can count toward a degree.

Other directives

The course substitutes/overlaps 2FE816, 8FE816 Managing the MNC: Structure, Control and Influence.