Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2013-2014 (archived)

Module BUSI2131: MANAGING IN A GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT

Department: Business School (Business)

BUSI2131: MANAGING IN A GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT

Type Open Level 2 Credits 20 Availability Available in 2013/14 Module Cap None. Location Durham

Prerequisites

  • None.

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • To develop students’ knowledge and understanding of the nature of the global environment within which organisations operate
  • To provide students with the opportunity to develop the ability to critically understand current approaches and empirical research in the field of international business and management
  • To provide students with the opportunity to develop their personal understanding and sensitivity to managing across cultures
  • To provide students with the opportunity to enhance their communication, organisational, problem solving and analytical skills
  • To address reflective, analytical, worldly, collaborative and action mindsets, with particular focus on the worldly mindset

Content

  • The context of global business
  • Introduction to the economics and finance of international trade
  • Theories of internationalisation - early and recent approaches
  • Multinational and transnational enterprises
  • Organisations and cultures: understanding cultures and cultural differences, models of and approaches to culture, employee behaviour, doing business across boundaries, personal level communication, negotiation, leadership and management - focus on specific cultures
  • Organising for global environments: structure, co-ordination, new forms of organisation, virtual organisation, voluntary and public sector organisations
  • Communication and information technologies, the death of distance
  • Management functions eg Human Resource management, selecting and managing a multinational workforce; Marketing in a global environment; Operations and supply chain management in an international context
  • Strategy, competitive advantage, competencies, international and global strategies; entry and entry modes
  • Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility in the context of international business environments

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • be able to appreciate the context of global business
  • be able to understand the importance of organisational and cultural factors in shaping the global business environment
  • be familiar with a range of management functions and their operation in the global business environment
  • be able to critically appraise the roles of management and business organisations within the global environment
  • Critically evaluate the models, theories, and concepts commonly used to analyse international business
  • Select and synthesize relevant information and materials from a range of sources (both academics and practitioner based) to support key ideas and recommendations
  • Conduct research both independently and in groups
Subject-specific Skills:
  • have developed business team-working skills in the inter-cultural setting
Key Skills:
  • written and verbal communication
  • organisational skills
  • problem-solving and analytical skills

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Learning will be based on knowledge transfer from lectures and personal study; investigation of various conceptual applications, cases and real world organisations which will underpin the seminars will encourage students to develop awareness of international business activities and apply these to development of their skills in managing themselves and others in such contexts. Students' own knowledge and experience will be capitalised on through integration into the learning process through seminar activities and discussion. Background research on the environment, organisation and relevant concepts will provide the subject matter of the summative and formative assignment.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 20 1 per week 1 hour 20
Seminars 8 Fortnightly 1 hour 8
Preparation and Reading 172
Total 200

Summative Assessment

Component: Assignment Component Weighting: 60%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Individual assignment (Essay) 2500 words 100% same
Component: Examination Component Weighting: 40%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Written examination 1 hour 30 minutes 100% same

Formative Assessment:

Group presentation and individual report (1500 words).


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University