91376 - Business Organization

Course contents

This course aims to form students’ knowledge in the area of International Management. Specifically, students will develop capabilities to identify, frame and understand problems related to the management of international operations. Throughout the course issues are discussed in both theoretical and practical terms to stimulate students to relate models and concepts with practical situations.

By the end of the course, the students will be able to:

• understand the implications of operating across national borders
• analyze different combinations of international strategies and organizational structures
• analyze how different aspects of the organizational environment affects knowledge development and transfer
• tackle problems related to controlling and managing foreign operations
• understand the roles of, and challenges facing, MNC subsidiaries and headquarters

In regards to these theme-based learning goals, students are expected to be able to:

• apply central concepts from the literature in their applied work
• analyze and evaluate concepts and perspectives
• critically discuss the pros and cons of different management-related problems introduced in class
• be able to create a whole out of the different elements of the course

Throughout the course students will be encouraged to adopt different perspectives to nurture critical thinking and to form an overarching understanding of the phenomenon studied.

Specific topics of this course:

• Globalization and cultural differences
• Internationalization process
• Market entry decisions
• Organizational structures
• International strategies
• Control of foreign operations
• Subsidiary roles and parenting advantage
• Transnational knowledge and innovation management

Readings/Bibliography

Textbooks

Hill, Charles W. L.: Global Business Today (9^th ed.): - Boston, Mass.: McGraw-Hill/Irwin, cop. 2017 (Chapters 1-4-13-17)

Forsgren, M. (2017) ‘Theories of the Multinational Firm: A Multidimensional Creature in the Global Economy’, Third Edition, Edward Elgar

Articles

Articles will be provided before course start

Case studies

Articles will be provided before course start

Teaching methods

The course uses a combination of lectures, seminars with student-based activities, and case studies. The high level of interactive activities requires a high degree of engagement and participation from the students. The students will inevitably become a tightly knit group. The main pedagogical form is “problem-based learning”, i.e. active participation from the students is required. All participants are expected to read ahead the assigned literature and to be prepared to discuss.

Lectures by the teacher are related to the main topics of the course. Their purpose is also to provide a theoretical background for seminars, assignments and in-class discussions.

Seminars will be based on the discussion of articles, core theories and assignments. The students will be divided into groups.

Case studies will be carried out during the course. Each student has to read the case material before the class will take place. In class will take place the discussion of the cases where students will present their analysis and engage in structured discussion. The goal of the case-work is that students should apply principles and teachings received as well as test their analytical skills developed during the course.

Assessment methods

For the students attending the course the written Final Exam will be 50% of the final grade. The remaining 50% is based on in-class activities evaluation and coursework. More details are provided at the beginning of the course.

For those students not attending the course there is a final written individual exam, worth 100% of the final mark.

Teaching tools

The course will be held using different types of resources. PowerPoint presentations of the lectures will be made available online.

The teacher will be available one hour before the start of each class. If you need to book an appointment, please do so by sending an email to the teacher.

Office hours

See the website of Francesco Ciabuschi