Module summary content and aims

The topics covered in this module include the strategy tripod consisting of industry, resources and institution based views, the management of strategic alliances and strategies of corporate governance and corporate social responsibility.

The module will be taught through weekly lectures and seminars. In the lecture, the module leader will explain the main concepts and ideas, and the seminars will provide the space to discuss and guide you to better understand the compulsory readings. It is essential that you engage fully with your self-study as the seminars will rely on the readings you will have completed previously. The module will have its own Blackboard page on which you will access readings, sources and new pieces of information. Seminars will build on the tasks where you will further develop your skills and present your ideas. The seminars will make use of a range of study skills to help you to organise and to make sense of all the information to which you will be exposed.

Learning outcomes to be assessed

At the end of the module you will be able to:

LO1. Systematically understand the determinants of a firm’s success factors with regard to its competitive, corporate and organizational strategies in the global business environment.

LO2. Critically discuss the motivation of internationalization and evaluate different strategies for internationalization, which are commonly used by businesses.

LO3. Identify and select strategies to build a firm’s competitive advantage from international network management.

LO 4. Incorporate the increasing importance of social responsibility and corporate governance into strategy implementation.

 Indicative Contact Hours

Summative assessment grid

Assessment brief including criteria mapped to learning outcomes

Assessment 1: In-class exercise 1 - Industry and Resources

After reaching the first month of the module, you will have to do an exercise in class consisting of 5 short answer questions. These questions will cover the topics of Industry-based View and Resource-based view.

Marking Criteria for Assessment 1: (LO-01 and LO-03 will be assessed). Please see the Generic Assessment Criteria below.

Assessment 2: In-class exercise 2 - Institutions and Entering foreign markets

At the end of week 8, you will have to do an exercise in class consisting of 5 short answer questions. These questions will cover the topics of Institution-based view and strategies used for entering foreign markets strategies in theory and in practice.

Marking Criteria for Assessment 2: (LO-02 and LO-03 will be assessed)

Assessment 3: In-class exercise 3 - Strategic Alliances and Expansion strategies

At the end of week 11, you will have to do an exercise in class consisting of 5 short answer questions on how companies can boost their global competitive advantages by building strategic alliances and restructuring strategies through diversification and acquisition.

Marking Criteria for Assessment 3: (LO-02 and LO-03 will be assessed)

Assessment 4: In-class exercise 4 - Corporate Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

At the end of week 14, you will have to do an exercise in class consisting of 5 short answer questions. These questions will cover the topics discussed in the last sessions of the module. It will assess your understanding on how to best control and manage a business globally and how corporate social responsibility may be crucial for a business' performance.

Marking Criteria for Assessment 4: (LO-04 will be assessed)

Generic Marking Criteria for A1-A4

• Knowledge and Understanding: Students need to understand key concepts (such as networks, internationalization, and corporate governance) and key analytical tools (Industry-based view, Resource-based view and Institutional-based view).        
• Cognitive Skills: Students need to apply the theories into practice under various scenarios.
• Practical and Professional Skills: Students will need to select optimal strategies taking into account the business’ advantages and its constraints.
• Transferable and Key Skills: Students will need to recognize the importance of CSR and incorporate it into strategy implementation.

Assessment 5: Business Case Study

The Business Case Study assignment requires you to analyse an existing business from the perspective of International Business Strategy and conduct the main tripod of analysis based on the following views: industry-based view, resource-based view and institution-based view, taking into account the concepts and theories learned during the semester. You will have to choose an existing business for your analysis by Week 3. The chosen business has to be approved by the module leader.

You must follow the specifications in the Assessment Guidelines. It will provide you a step-by-step guide to complete the assessment successfully.

During the semester, you will obtain feedback from the module leader. You might take into consideration that the more you take advantage of the feedback from the module leader, the better the work will be and the more you will learn.

In case of any further questions about the assessment, do not hesitate to contact the module leader.

Marking Criteria for Assessment 5: (LO-01, LO-02, LO-03 and LO-04 will be assessed)

• KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING (40%). The student has a comprehensive knowledge of the different theoretical approaches within the discipline of International Business Strategy covered throughout the module. Moreover the student demonstrates in depth and breadth of coverage, as well as awareness of the nature of the debate and discussion within theories of international Business Strategy, analysing the main tripod Industry, resource and institution based views.
• COGNITIVE SKILLS (20%). The student is able to demonstrate his/her knowledge through the use of examples, quotations and evidence. Moreover, the student is able to conduct a cross analysis in a coherent and appropriate structure where the main points are developed logically and the relevance of the material to the theme is made clear.
• PRACTICAL and PROFESSIONAL SKILLS (20%). Students will need to research the main issues in the case related to international business strategy (cultural aspects, de-localization, outsourcing, networks) and provide the necessary evidence to support their analysis.
• TRANSFERABLE and KEY SKILLS (20%). The student is able to communicate fluently in written form and using an appropriate style of writing. This written presentation element requires students to be able to present an assignment that is correct in terms of spelling, grammar, and paragraphing. Moreover, the student is able to consistently reference in accordance to Harvard style, including in-text referencing and full list of references. Moreover, the references reflect adequate reading and research from reliable academic sources.

For guidance on online submission of assignments, including how to submit and how to access online feedback, please refer to the MIUC lms student guideline.

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Here you can find the MSG: 

/files/107979/MSG_IBS_2020-21_BA_UWL_Mj.pdf

Cover page for the assessment submissions:

/files/107979/2020_2021_Assignment_Final_Cover_Sheet_MIUC_(1).docx