Bachelor 2022/2023

International Business

Type: Compulsory course (Business Administration)

Area of studies: Management

Delivered by: Department of Strategic and International Management

Where: Graduate School of Business

When: 3 year, 1, 2 module

Mode of studies: distance learning

Online hours: 10

Open to: students of all HSE University campuses

Instructors: Diana Hayrapetyan, Anja Tekic, Olesia Trubnikova

Language: English

ECTS credits: 4

Contact hours: 40

Course Syllabus

Abstract

Despite the globalization, international business is followed by the challenges of economic, institutional and cultural heterogeneity. Thus, to be able to perform internationally, managers are required to act in response to complexities of the global environment, both at strategic and operational levels. The course International Business offers a comprehensive overview of the issues related to managing businesses beyond and across national borders. Built on an effective balance between the managerial insights and theory, the course examines international business matters from the perspective of both established companies and new ventures.

Learning Objectives

• The aims and objectives of the International Business course are to provide students with: (1) a comprehensive overview of globalization trends, institutional and cultural diversity, as well as economic, legal and political issues that shape the international business environment; (2) a holistic perspective on international business strategy development and organization design in response to the advantages and challenges of a global business context; (3) an integrative understanding of the functional issues associated with global R&D management, global production and supply chain management, as well as global marketing and HR management.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Students will be able to assess the business advantages and challenges that companies face in a global context, and suggest how companies should develop their international business strategies, taking into account economic, institutional and cultural factors
• Students will have a comprehensive set of knowledge and skills that will enable them to explain and critically discuss the key theoretical concepts related to international business
• Students will have a holistic understanding of the issues of international business at both strategic and operational levels in large multinational companies, SMEs, as well as in new and growing ventures
• Students will improve their skills of presentation and communication of the main issues of international business to both specialist and non-specialist audiences, in English, both orally and in writing
• Students will learn how to become team players and pursue effective exchange of relevant ideas and experiences within the teams, as their members or leaders, while being ready to acquire knowledge and skills independently, creating the basis for the self-directed and autonomous life-long learning

Course Contents

• International business and globalization
• International business and formal institutions
• International business and informal institutions
• Foreign market entry
• International business strategy and organization
• International business functions

Assessment Elements

• Exam
  Final exam: 50 points The exam is based on the combination of 10 open-ended questions (5 points each). The exam is not a blocking element.
• Team assignment 1
  By 17 Sep 2022 students will be required to form teams (5-6 students) for the team assignments. Students who do not join a team by this data will not be able to earn points for these assignments. There will be 5 team assignments during the course. Team assignments will need to be submitted by the indicated deadline, and presented at seminars. Assignments that are only submitted, but not presented at the seminar will not be graded. Points earned for team assignments are a team grade. Individual grade for these assignments will be recalculated at the end of the course on the basis of the peer evaluation (i.e., evaluation of team members’ contribution to team assignments). Students who do not submit their evaluation forms by deadline will be considered to have contributed 0% to the team project and receive ZERO points for it. Team assignment #1: 5 points in total The first team assignment will require from teams to present two companies (foreign and Russian) and identify potential countries to which they may expand their business. After the presentation, teams will be assigned one of these companies and two potential markets to focus on in future assignments.
• Team assignment 4
  By 17 Sep 2022 students will be required to form teams (5-6 students) for the team assignments. Students who do not join a team by this data will not be able to earn points for these assignments. There will be 5 team assignments during the course. Team assignments will need to be submitted by the indicated deadline, and presented at seminars. Assignments that are only submitted, but not presented at the seminar will not be graded. Points earned for team assignments are a team grade. Individual grade for these assignments will be recalculated at the end of the course on the basis of the peer evaluation (i.e., evaluation of team members’ contribution to team assignments). Students who do not submit their evaluation forms by deadline will be considered to have contributed 0% to the team project and receive ZERO points for it. Team assignment #4: 10 points in total The fourth team assignment will require from students to determine global strategy and organizational structure for the company in their focus.
• Team assignment 2
  By 17 Sep 2022 students will be required to form teams (5-6 students) for the team assignments. Students who do not join a team by this data will not be able to earn points for these assignments. There will be 5 team assignments during the course. Team assignments will need to be submitted by the indicated deadline, and presented at seminars. Assignments that are only submitted, but not presented at the seminar will not be graded. Points earned for team assignments are a team grade. Individual grade for these assignments will be recalculated at the end of the course on the basis of the peer evaluation (i.e., evaluation of team members’ contribution to team assignments). Students who do not submit their evaluation forms by deadline will be considered to have contributed 0% to the team project and receive ZERO points for it. Team assignment #2: 10 points in total The second team assignment will require from students to analyze and compare formal institutions in two countries that have been identified as potential markets for the company in their focus.
• Team assignment 3
  By 17 Sep 2022 students will be required to form teams (5-6 students) for the team assignments. Students who do not join a team by this data will not be able to earn points for these assignments. There will be 5 team assignments during the course. Team assignments will need to be submitted by the indicated deadline, and presented at seminars. Assignments that are only submitted, but not presented at the seminar will not be graded. Points earned for team assignments are a team grade. Individual grade for these assignments will be recalculated at the end of the course on the basis of the peer evaluation (i.e., evaluation of team members’ contribution to team assignments). Students who do not submit their evaluation forms by deadline will be considered to have contributed 0% to the team project and receive ZERO points for it. Team assignment #3: 10 points in total The third team assignment will require from students to analyze and compare informal institutions in two countries that have been identified as potential markets for the company in their focus.
• Team assignment 5
  By 17 Sep 2022 students will be required to form teams (5-6 students) for the team assignments. Students who do not join a team by this data will not be able to earn points for these assignments. There will be 5 team assignments during the course. Team assignments will need to be submitted by the indicated deadline, and presented at seminars. Assignments that are only submitted, but not presented at the seminar will not be graded. Points earned for team assignments are a team grade. Individual grade for these assignments will be recalculated at the end of the course on the basis of the peer evaluation (i.e., evaluation of team members’ contribution to team assignments). Students who do not submit their evaluation forms by deadline will be considered to have contributed 0% to the team project and receive ZERO points for it. Team assignment #5: 15 points in total The fifth team assignment will require from students to make a decision which of the two countries would be a more favorable host-country for their company and describe its overall entry strategy into this country.

Interim Assessment

• 2022/2023 2nd module
  0.1 * Team assignment 4 + 0.5 * Exam + 0.15 * Team assignment 5 + 0.05 * Team assignment 1 + 0.1 * Team assignment 3 + 0.1 * Team assignment 2

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• International business : competing in the global marketplace, Hill, C. W. L., 2013

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Andrew Inkpen, & Kannan Ramaswamy. (2006). Global Strategy : Creating and Sustaining Advantage Across Borders. Oxford University Press.
• Ghemawat, P. (2007). Redefining Global Strategy : Crossing Borders in a World Where Differences Still Matter. Harvard Business Review Press.
• Gooderham, P. N., Grøgaard, B., & Foss, K. (2019). Global Strategy and Management : Theory and Practice (Vol. 2nd edition). Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=2142768
• International business : a managerial perspective, Griffin, R. W., 2015
• International business, Peng, M. W., 2011