Behörighetskrav

Behörig att registreras är den som följt både A- och B-nivåerna och som vid registreringstillfället har 20 p/30 hp avklarade från A-nivån och 15 p/22,5 avklarade från B-nivån.

Mål

Most firms and organisations today are affected by globalisation, and an understanding of the complexities this international dimension imply is vital. Due to the development towards increasingly interdependent global markets, this course has as a key objective to present a comprehensive/broad overview of the strategic and organisational challenges facing a company with business activities in several countries.

After participating in the course, the student will be able to:

- describe and contrast different perspectives of international trade and expansion

- explain and analyse the implications of international business for a firms strategy, structure and functions, hereby integrating knowledge from previous courses in marketing, organisation and financial control

- understand the implications of different national systems and cultures on international business.

- describe and analyse the management of international firms from both headquarters' and subsidiaries' perspective.

- discuss ethical dilemmas facing firms in an international environment.

- communicate, both orally and in writing, alternative ways of managing an international firm.

Innehåll

In the course, central theories and aspects of international trade, expansion as well as the management of international business will be presented, including ongoing research from the Department of Business Studies in Uppsala. Not least the important managerial issue of striking a balance between global integration and local adaptation in firms geographically spread across the world will be analysed. Theory will in this course be related to the actual practice of international firms. The implications for a firm's key business functions – such as marketing, HRM, R and D and finance, will be discussed, which implies that the course will integrate knowledge from previous courses.

Undervisning

The course uses a combination of lectures, seminars with student-based activities, web-seminars and problem based assignments. Cases will be used in order to illustrate the various theories and aspects of international business. Professors and lecturers with a research interest in international business will participate. Active participation from the students is also required. The attempt is to create an atmosphere where participants have an interactive dialogue in order to reach a high level of shared knowledge. For this purpose students' contribution to the collective understanding will be encouraged.

The course language is English.

The course language is English.

Examination

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.

To attain the learning goals performance is evaluated by the tasks listed below and measured in assessment units (AU) with a maximum of 100 AU for the course, divided as follows:

- active participation in seminar discussions (individual), 40 AU

- a written report (team), 30 AU

- individual webtests throughout the course in combination with peer-to-peer judgements, 30 AU

To obtain VG as a final grade, a student must attain a total grade exceeding 80 AU. To Obtain G as a final grade, a student must attain a total grade exceeding 50 AU.

In addition, any remaining assignments and supplements must be completed and handed in at least within four weeks after the end of the course otherwise this part of the examination has to be redone the following semester, provided there is a place available in the course.

Attention Swedish students: Only completed courses can be recognized in your degree.

Övergångsbestämmelser

Kursen ersätter/överlappar delvis Internationellt Företagande 2FE551 (OBS 10 p. kurs) samt Management of International business 2FE796.