SM9533 - International Business: Growth Strategies and Resourcing

You will learn through lecturers, seminars, guided learning and independent study. There will be lectures which will cover theories and concepts that will enable you to benefit from the experiential learning aspects of the seminars. There will be seminars which will be facilitated by group tasks, team working, communication and interpersonal skills and will allow you to reflect on your learning.

Use of the modules e-learning portal will be essential as this will support the work you will be undertaking in the lectures and seminars, it will also contain additional exercises that will allow you to undertake further practice independently.

Your progress on the course will be continually assessed by both yourself and your lecturers. The problem solving approach and case in seminars means that lecturer (formative) assessment and feedback will occur continuously.
Independent learning time is set aside for learning activities, self-identified by your own research, so you can gain a deeper and broader knowledge of the subject.

The directed activities you undertake on the module are designed to ensure that you and the lecturing staff are the co-creators of knowledge. The will encourage you to create an active and self-directed learning experience, which will allow you to take responsibility for your own learning, whilst still having a high level of support.

Support will be provided to you by a member of academic staff leading the module and providing the lecture input. A small team of academic staff will be allocated to seminar groups. They will be able to provide a closer and more focused support.

Your module is supported by an e-learning portal, which houses the teaching and learning plan, lecture materials, workshop and seminar exercises, current and previous assessment information, and details of additional resources.

You will be provided with a wide-ranging electronic reading list that comprises of various academic reports, conference papers and journal articles that showcase the application of various issues and topics presented in the module.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
• Explain and analyse how international growth and resourcing are managed and controlled. (MLO1)

• Understand and apply the role of international business decision making in context of governance, financing and working capital management. (MLO2)

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• Explore and assess the issues faced by international companies when seeking to alliance, acquire or grow organically. This includes the issue of investments decisions and of raising capital in global markets. (MLO3)

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• Apply professional and business ethical dimensions when making decisions. (MLO4)

Formative assessment will be carried out on a continuous basis through the interaction in the seminars and workshops.

Formative assessment will also be carried out weekly based on self-marked short tests at the end of each seminar. This will be supported by periodic tests accessed via the e-learning portal. This does not form part of your overall assessment for this module.

The formal summative assessment for this module is based on a 3,000 word assignment addressing the learning outcomes for the module (100% formal assessment).

This assessment will address MLO1, MLO2, MLO3 and MLO4.

Financial Decision Making
International Business Environment

Global and International Business Context
Performance Management

Management in the international business environment, that contemporary companies face, involves a fundamental knowledge of the key growth and resourcing issues. This includes choosing from across a range of growth options keeping in context the risks, benefits and viability of each. By extension investment decisions come into play including that of raising capital and also working capital management. The module is designed to teach you from a real world relevant point of view, and examining practical situations and using real world cases in seminars to bring the subject alive.

The module builds on your previous level 4 studies of “International Business Environment” and “Financial Decision Making”. These topics will be considered from a corporate and social responsibility perspective and ethical considerations will be a running issue throughout the course.