The course will examine the development of international business from a long-term perspective, looking at the theory about the emergence of large firms (Chandler) and about foreign direct investment (FDI) as well as multinational business; the role of big business in the development of international business; the role of multinational enterprises (MNEs) in globalisation; the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) on host economies (i.e. countries in receipt of those investment); the strategy deployed by MNEs to enter foreign markets (entry strategy) in the long-term; the alternative forms of international business, most notably international cartels and strategic alliances. The Sustainable Development Goals challenge informing the course are, broadly speaking, the following: SDG 1 - No poverty, End poverty in all its forms and forms everywhere; SDG 8 - Decent work and economic growth; SDG 9 - Industry, innovation and infrastructure; SDG 17- Partnership for the goals.

Lectures: 2 hours x 10 weeks

Please refer to MyCampus for timetable

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ILO

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

These are the aims of the course:

■ Introduce students to the core material about the development of international business in the long-run broadly defined

■ Outline the specific historical and economic context in which international business developed

■ Critically assess the historical literature on the development of international business

■ Critically assess the theories explaining the motives for foreign direct investment (FDI)

■ Allow participants to develop practical skills in collecting and analysing, through specific group PP presentations, data sets and statistical information about some trends in FDIs

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Describe the historical context and specific elements favouring the development of big business and international business

■ Assess the long-term role of multinational enterprises (MNEs) in the development of a global economy and in economic globalisation

■ Evaluate the main theories about FDI

■ Evaluate the various entry mode strategies (namely the entry strategy that firms deploy to enter foreign markets) in the long-term

■ Examine the consequences of FDI on host countries

■ Describe the alternative forms of international business, namely international cartels and strategic alliances, in the long-run.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.