The course develops a better understanding of the multinational enterprise (MNE) and its challenges and opportunities in a globalised world. Given the complexities of managerial decisions of MNEs, there is no “silver bullet”. Therefore, the course provides students with a better understanding of a firm’s external and internal factors that managers need to take into account. The course combines learning about relevant concepts from seminal, and state-of the art knowledge sources with own application in various real life contexts. The specific objectives are:
1. to understand a number of crucial theoretical, empirical and managerial issues in international business strategy;
2. to develop the ability to apply theory to real world cases and to find possible solutions;
3. to develop the ability to critically assess the usefulness of competing or complementary theories and to decide yourself what is important;
4. to develop skills working in international teams;
5. to manage time;
6. to employ academic writing skills.

The topics covered in this course can roughly be grouped into three categories:
FOUNDATIONS: Globalization drivers, internationalization, foreign direct investment and the multinational enterprise.
STRATEGY: International, multinational, global and transnational strategies
ORGANISATION: Cross-border management of business functions; transnational leadership, transnational company’s value system as well as inter-firm relationships.

To be announced.

Basic understanding of the development and implementation of firms’ strategies.