Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is to increase student's knowledge of international business management and to develop student's understanding, both in a theoretical and practical sense, of problems and phenomena in the multinational corporation. The course is intended to give the students a scientific approach towards literature and research within the area of international business management.

After the course the student will be able to orally as well as in writing independently discuss the topic by covering the following matters:

- to understand the implications of operating across national borders

- to explain the effects of specific internationalisation choices

- to describe how firms operate in different markets

- to analyse different international strategies and organisational structures

- to tackle problems related to foreign operations' control

- to discuss implications of international HR practices and cultural differences

- to size the essence of multinational firm management

- to understand the basis for the competitive advantage of multinational firm

Content

The large geographical and broad business scope of many companies, with large and more or less autonomous subsidiaries, gives rise to a thrilling discussion about management and prerequisites for management of the multinational corporation. The course deals with different characteristics of recent research trends within the area of international business management. Topics, such as Centres of Excellence, Subsidiary Embeddedness and Knowledge Development, are dealt with by comparing different theoretical approaches and by completing assigned tasks.

The main topics covered during the course are:

- Management of the internationalisation process

- Strategy and Structure in MNCs

- Control in the MNC

- International Human Resource Management

- Knowledge Management in the MNC

Instruction

The course is taught in English and it is structured in series of lectures and seminars. Assignments are given out to students in occasion of each seminar. The work is carried out in small groups. Teamwork is required also during the seminars for presentations and discussions. Lectures and seminar attendance is compulsory.

Assessment

Grades will be given in accordance with the Swedish grading system and, for international students, the ECTS grading system. The following grades will be used: VG (passed with distinction), which corresponds to A or B in the ECTS grading system, G (passed), which corresponds to C, D or E, and U (failed) which corresponds to the ECTS grade F.

The students will be given one single grade, equivalent to 7.5 ECTS-grades. To pass the course students have to take active part in the class seminars and successfully complete assigned written tasks. The final grading of the course is based on (50%) the students' performance during the whole course (through active participation in class seminars and completion of the assigned written tasks) and on (50%) the result of the final exam (based on the analysis of a case). For Pass with Distinction (VG) on the whole course students will have to have VG as average between the grades of the 2 objects of evaluation (course work and final exam). For Pass (G) on the whole course, G is required on both the course-work and on the final exam.

In addition, any remaining assignments or supplements must be completed and handed in at least within two weeks after the end of the course otherwise this part of the examination (all assignments included) has to be redone the following semester, provided there is space in the course.