Undergraduate Course: Advanced Topics in International Business (BUST10041)
Course Outline
| School | Business School |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Business Studies |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
http://www.bus.ed.ac.uk/programmes/ugpc.html |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | This course is an advanced course in international business restricted to 4th year honours students. This course focuses on discussing the internationalization of entrepreneurial firms (SMEs). The theories studied in the course are among others: the Uppsala internationalization model, Network model of internationalization, International new venture theory and social capital theory. On successful completion of the course, the students will:
- understand the most important features behind different internationalization pathways taken by SMEs
- be able to describe, compare, criticize and apply the most important theories and explanatory frameworks for firm internationalization
- be able to understand features related to strategic planning in the context of firm internationalization
- be aware of international opportunity recognition and social capital in the context of internationalization
- be able to understand and apply the findings of scientific articles
- be able to conduct an internationalization analysis of a real firm
- improve their written oral communication skills
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | An equivalent course to Theoretical Foundations of International Business: Course B (BUST10047).
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| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
Learning on this course is based on the assumption that the most effective learning takes place when the students take an active role in the classroom ¿ 'learning by doing'. In the first two lectures, some central ideas about the subject will be outlined. Then, the more ¿learning by doing¿ part of the course begins. In the third lecture, a workshop will be organised to help students with the planning of their case assignments. After completing this course, students should have a:
- Deeper understanding of how to apply basic theoretical concepts of international business;
- Deeper understanding of the internationalization strategies of SMEs;
- Development of interdisciplinary analytical skills;
- Development of lateral thinking and expression;
- Development of group skills through writing, presentation and discussion.
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Assessment Information
(i) assignments and discussions in classes (20%)
There are three types of assignments: Case studies; Building Global Skills assignments; Theory Meets Practice assignments.
In 'case studies' you will have a case description to analyse from the perspectives given by the lecturer.
In the 'theory meets practice' task you will have an article, a book chapter or a magazine article to study to find out how the theory presented in the lecture has been applied when studying practical examples.
In the 'building global skills' task you will have business problems to solve, such as developing rationales about what products, brands or businesses might be potential when entering the merging market of Kazakhstan.
(ii CASE DESCRIPTION (Oral presentations & Written Report) (20%);
Students will work in groups of 3 or 4 and will be required to give a 20 minute presentation and lead a 10 minute question and answer session. Students will also be required to interview a small- or medium-sized company and/or study its web pages and other relevant secondary material (annual reports, brochures, etc.) and write a case description of between 2000-3000 words, about the company in groups of three or four. The guidelines for interviewing will be given in the first lecture.
(iii) written exam (60%)
A 2-hour examination takes place in the April-May exam diet. The exam will be based on articles and case studies discussed in the lectures. Students will be required to answer two questions out of a possible four.
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Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Buckley, P.J. & Ghauri, P.N. (1999). 'The Internationalization of the Firm'. UK: Thomson Group |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | ATIB |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Tanja Kontinen
Tel: (0131 6)51 5582
Email: Tanja.Kontinen@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Sara Dennison
Tel: (0131 6)50 3825
Email: Sara.Dennison@ed.ac.uk |
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