74643 - International Business

Learning outcomes

International Business will provide students with a critical analysis of the issues faced by firms in a dynamic global environment. An approach to competitive analysis and business strategy will be developed.

This represents a flexible framework which is well suited to a turbulent competitive global environment.

The core of the course will cover strategic management issues within an international company. This involves the treatment of internal factors that is company resources and capabilities and external

factors such as industry environment, competitive forces, and country institutional differences faced by international businesses.

The course will be supplemented by additional topics which will introduce students to key marketing and organizational issues applied to an international company. These include branding, market segmentation and

positioning, and human resource management, power and negotiation.

At the end of the course, students will be able to analyze the strategy processes of an international company, including the way in which business and corporate strategy is formulated. Students will learn the basics of

the internal and external strategic environment that influence global businesses, and will be finally introduced to important topics such as international human resource management and the advantages and

disadvantages of global branding.

Course contents

The first module of the course will examine the dynamics of firms and industry competition in the global economy, from an historical point of view. Using a long term perspective, the lectures will focus on the context and the determinants of business growth since the Early modern to the Modern period. The module is organised by subject. Different case-studies will be used in order to explore the interrelation between public institutions and business (inside and across borders); the economic dynamics between different regions; the governance structure and organisation adopted by international firms across time; the pattern of investments; the technological evolution and the economic and financial transformations.

The second module of the course is an introduction to the manager roles and functions. Students will investigate how the firm is organized and will identify its customers and/or constituents, and its competitors. The module will focus on fundamental tools and techniques applicable to financial planning of businesses. It will cover financial analysis and planning, and capital budgeting, with extension to international areas.

Readings/Bibliography

I Module

Attending students (at least 70% of attendance): notes and suggested readings.

Not attending students: readings will be agreed with the teacher.

II Module

Reading material will be distributed during the course. There is no difference between attending students and not attending students.

Teaching methods

Lectures

Practical exercises

Case studies

Assessment methods

Valuation is based on a written exam.

Office hours

See the website of Barbara Petracci

See the website of Stefania Montemezzo