BE413-5-SP-CO:
International Business Environment
2020/21
Essex Business School
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 5
Current
Sunday 17 January 2021
Friday 26 March 2021
15
09 September 2020
Requisites for this module
BE400 or IA152
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
BSC N200 Business Management,
BSC N201 Business Management (Including Foundation Year),
BSC N202 Business Management (Including Year Abroad),
BSC N204 Business Management (Including Placement Year),
BA NR19 Business Management and Modern Languages,
BA N1R9 Business Management with a Modern Language,
BSC N2N5 Management and Marketing (Including Foundation Year),
BSC NN25 Management and Marketing,
BSC NN2M Management and Marketing (Including Placement Year),
BSC NNF5 Management and Marketing (Including Year Abroad),
BA N19R Business Management and Language Studies,
MMANNN35 Marketing and Management,
MMANNN36 Marketing and Management (Including Placement Year),
MMANNN37 Marketing and Management (Including Year Abroad)
When we talk about business or 'the market', often what comes to mind are global corporations and the brands we see on and around us every day. Our common sense understanding of business is that it is international in context and global in scope. This module explores what it means to do business in a global economy. During the course of the module students will develop an understanding of how the international economy and transnational corporations work (and for whom); what 'globalisation' is and what it means for business, nations, workers and communities; the effects of climate change and how it has been brought about by 'business as usual'; how firms like Google and Amazon are reshaping business practices; what it takes, from mining raw materials to marketing, to produce and sell smart phones and laptops; and what sort of farming produces a global pandemic and why there are more on the way.
1. To enable students to develop a critical understand of the global economy and how it works
2. To facilitate student’s understanding of how the global business environment impacts on human rights, employment conditions, the global environment, and human health and wellbeing.
3. To enable students to critically engaged with and further develop their understanding of contemporary trends within the global economy, including organisational and business trends, and social, economic and environmental developments.
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
1. Critically understand what is meant by the concepts ‘globalisation’, ‘neoliberalism’, and global business environment.
2. Develop, through discussion and debate, reasoning skills applicable to a range of contemporary issues in global political economy
3. Critically analyse global business practices.
No additional information available.
10 x 1 hour lectures that focus on the concepts, issues and theories related to the International Business Environment. This formal lecture each week will present an overview of each topic and provide the stimulus for your further investigation of the subject area. It is essential you appreciate that the lectures are only designed to provide you with a starting point for your studies. Your lecture notes alone are unlikely to be of sufficient scope to enable you to pass the module successfully.
9 x 1 hour classes that enable to you actively engage with your reading through case study analysis, close reading of theoretical and empirical research-based texts, in-class discussion, group work and student presentations. Classes are NOT another lecture. Whilst they involve structured activities, they are intended to be student led. It is therefore imperative that you prepare thoroughly before the class through reading, taking notes and preparing responses to questions. Attendance is compulsory and will be monitored.
In addition there will be a range of supplementary materials, including videos and documentaries, made available via Moodle. It is recommended that you make use of these materials to develop your understanding of the module topics.
In academic year 2020-2021 the delivery is likely to be different and involve online learning.
- Cindy Qin; Prem Ramburuth; Yue Wang. (©2013) 'John Parker’s expatriate experiences in China', in Dynamics of international business: Asia-Pacific business cases, Port Melbourne, VIC: Cambridge University Press., pp.137-144
- Hamilton, Leslie; Webster, Philip. (2018) The international business environment, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Morrison, Janet. (2009) International business: challenges in a changing world, New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
- Doh, Jonathan P. (2005-05) 'Offshore Outsourcing: Implications for International Business and Strategic Management Theory and Practice', in Journal of Management Studies. vol. 42 (3) , pp.695-704
- (©2013) Dynamics of international business: Asia-Pacific business cases, Port Melbourne, VIC: Cambridge University Press.
- (2013) From Bangalore to Boston: The trend of bringing IT back in-house: Deloitte.
- Michael E. Porter. (1998) 'Clusters and the new economics of competition', in Harvard Business Review. vol. 76 (6) , pp.77-
- Farrell, Diana. (2005-05) 'Offshoring: Value Creation through Economic Change', in Journal of Management Studies. vol. 42 (3) , pp.675-683
- CEMEX: Globalization “The CEMEX Way”, https://mitsloan.mit.edu/LearningEdge/strategy/CEMEXGlobalization/Pages/CEMEX-Lessard.aspx
- Dicken, Peter. (2015) 'Fabric-ating fashion: the clothing industries', in Global shift: mapping the changing contours of the world economy, London: Sage Publications.
- James Brian Quinn. (1992) Intelligent enterprise: a knowledge and service based paradigm for industry, New York: Free Press.
- Levy, David L. (2005-05) 'Offshoring in the New Global Political Economy', in Journal of Management Studies. vol. 42 (3) , pp.685-693
- Womack, James P.; Jones, Daniel T.; Roos, Daniel. (1991) The machine that changed the world: how Japan's secret weapon in the global auto wars will revolutionize western industry, New York: HarperPerennial.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course. The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students. Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Assignment |
|
|
| Exam |
Main exam: 24hr during Summer (Main Period)
|
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
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Nicholas Beuret, email: nicholas.beuret@essex.ac.uk.
Nicholas Beuret & Amon Barros
nb17913@essex.ac.uk
Yes
Yes
No
Dr Natalia Slutskaya
University of Sussex
Senior Lecturer
Available via Moodle
Of 1848 hours, 0 (0%) hours available to students:
1848 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
Disclaimer: The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its Module Directory is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can
be necessary to make changes, for example to programmes, modules, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include a change of law or regulatory requirements,
industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key personnel, change in government policy, or withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to modules may for example consist
of variations to the content and method of delivery or assessment of modules and other services, to discontinue modules and other services and to merge or combine modules.
The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications and module directory.
The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.