BE217-5-AU-SO:
The International Business Environment

The details
2021/22
Essex Business School
Southend Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 5
Current
Thursday 07 October 2021
Friday 17 December 2021
15
04 August 2021

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

BSC N120 International Business and Entrepreneurship,
BSC N121 International Business and Entrepreneurship (Including Year Abroad),
BSC N123 International Business and Entrepreneurship (Including Placement Year),
BSC N124 International Business and Entrepreneurship (Including Foundation Year),
BSC N124CO International Business and Entrepreneurship (Including Foundation Year),
BSC N355 International Business and Finance,
BSC N356 International Business and Finance (Including Placement Year),
BSC N357 International Business and Finance (Including Year Abroad),
BSC N358 International Business and Finance (Including Foundation Year),
BSC N358CO International Business and Finance (Including Foundation Year)

Module description

This module is designed to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the external context within which international businesses operate and the opportunities and challenges it poses to entrepreneurial firms, large and small. It begins by examining the rationale for studying international business, discussing current developments in the global economy as well as the range of external environmental forces that impact businesses.

Several lectures are dedicated to discussing the external challenges facing international firms, particularly of economic, financial, political/legal, technological, and cultural nature. The module then introduces students to key international trade theories and practices, government intervention policies, and regional economic integration.

Module aims

This module aims to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the key concepts and issues surrounding the context for international business, with a specific focus on the political/legal, economic, financial, and socio-cultural environment.

Module learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

1. Define and apply correctly key concepts and issues relating to the international business environment.

2. Apply different theories and instruments of international trade.

3. Understand how governments, international organizations, tariffs and non-tariff trade barriers influence international trade.

4. Identify national differences in economic, cultural systems, and ethical values and to understand how these differences affect business activity.

5. Demonstrate appropriate skills in research techniques for effective problem solving, in-depth investigation of key issues, and effective use of relevant learning materials.

Module information

The lectures will be developed around the key concepts as mentioned in the indicative module content and will use a range of live examples and cases from business practice to demonstrate the application of theoretical concepts. The lectures will follow a weekly format of 2 hours per week for 10 weeks.

Seminars in the form of class exercises will be built into the lectures to develop critical analytical and problem solving skills. Seminars will use a range of activities, such as discussion of case studies from the core text, topical business news items and will involve students working in pairs or groups or individually to discuss, reflect on problems and answer questions, present their ideas and thoughts to the class for discussion. Seminars will take place during class time at the lecturer's discretion - i.e. some classes will warrant a full two-hour lecture.

Learning and teaching methods

The learning and teaching methods for this module will be a combination of the following: 1. Lectures 2. Seminars 3. Guest Speaker 4. Discussion of case studies and journal articles 5, Class exercises 6. Group work 7. Signposting to additional resources

Bibliography

This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   Individual Essay     100% 

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Svetlana Warhurst, email: warhurst@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Svetlana Warhurst
warhurst@essex.ac.uk

 

Availability
No
No
No

External examiner

Dr Vikrant Shirodkar
University of Sussex
Senior Lecturer In International Business
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 50 hours, 50 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

 

Further information
Essex Business School

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