Academic Handbook Course Descriptors and Programme Specifications

LBUSI5104 Business Decision Making in Developed Country Environments Course Descriptor subject to approval

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Discipline Business and Project Management
UK Credit 10
US Credit 2
FHEQ Level 5
Core Attributes WI (not applicable to London UG students)
Prerequisites International Business with Global Responsibility or US equivalent
Corequisites None

Course Overview

This course is designed to develop students’ understanding of the practical challenges and opportunities faced by managers of organisations that seek to expand their operations in contexts in the Global North. As part of this, we will consider how companies can grow their profitability through international expansion, improve the efficiency of their global operations, and the environmental and social impacts of their decisions.

To do so, the course will provide opportunities for students to critically evaluate the decisions made by managers of companies and other organisations that have expanded beyond their domestic market. We will do this through case discussions and other examples of the practical decisions made by managers. We will also consider how students can best position themselves for a career in international business.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

Knowledge and Understanding

K1b Explain and critically analyse how managers of global organisations develop and implement strategies to increase profitability in the Global North.
K2b Interpret and apply how digital strategies can be used by managers to cater to consumer demand.
K3b Critically evaluate how companies impact their stakeholders through their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), sustainability, and corporate political activities.

Subject Specific Skills

S1b Apply and critically appraise key concepts in a real-world context and draw meaningful conclusions.
S2b Prepare recommendations for situations with a range of crises and complexities that occur in international business.

Transferable and Professional Skills

T1b Communicate ideas effectively in a style and form appropriate to International Business, with coherently organised ideas and appropriate academic references.
T2b Demonstrate a sound technical proficiency in written English and skill in selecting vocabulary so as to communicate effectively to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Teaching and Learning

This course has a dedicated Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) page with a syllabus and range of additional resources (e.g. readings, question prompts, tasks, assignment briefs, discussion boards) to orientate and engage students in their studies.

Teaching and learning strategies for this course will include:

20 scheduled hours – typically including induction, consolidation or revision, and assessment activity hours.

Faculty hold regular ‘office hours’, which are opportunities for students to drop in or sign up to explore ideas, raise questions, or seek targeted guidance or feedback, individually or in small groups.

Students are to attend and participate in all the scheduled teaching and learning activities for this course and to manage their directed learning and independent study.

Indicative total learning hours for this course: 100.

Assessment

Both formative and summative assessment are used as part of this course, with purely formative opportunities typically embedded within interactive teaching sessions, office hours, and/or the VLE.

Summative

AE Assessment Activity Weighting (%) Duration Length
1 Presentation 40% 10 minutes N/A
2 Written Assignment 60% N/A 1000 words

The presentation and written assignment are individual pieces of work that include students reflecting on their understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by managers of organizations that seek to expand their operations in contexts in the Global North. Further information can be found in the Course Syllabus.

Feedback

Students will receive formative and summative feedback in a variety of ways, written (e.g. marked up on assignments, through email or the VLE) or oral (e.g. as part of interactive teaching sessions or in office hours).

Indicative Reading

Note: Comprehensive and current reading lists for courses are produced annually in the Course Syllabus or other documentation provided to students; the indicative reading list provided below is used as part of the approval/modification process only.

Books

A range of textbook chapters will be used, including from:

Journals

Learning will also be based on a set of core readings including from Harvard Business Review (HBR), MIT Sloan Management Review (SMR), and Academy of Management Perspectives (AMP), Journal of International Business (IBR) and Critical Perspectives on International Business (CPoIB) among others. Details of these readings will be available on the VLE.

A range of cases from Harvard Business Publishing may also be used. These include (non-exhaustive list):

  • Lavazza: The Challenges of Foreign Market Entry in a Brand-Intensive Industry
  • Marriott International: Deploying AI across Hotel Brands in Singapore
  • Toyota’s Disrupted Global Supply Chain: Covid-19 and the Global Chip Shortage
  • Navigating SheaMoisture through a Racial Awakening: Cara Sabin’s Authentic Leadership
  • Chick-fil-A: Sandwiches and Culture Wars
  • Patagonia: “Earth Is Now Our Only Shareholder”

Electronic Resources

Indicative Topics

Students will study the following topics:

  • International Business Strategy
  • International Digital Strategy
  • Global Production and Supply Chains
  • DEI in International Business
  • International Business and Sociopolitical Issues
  • Sustainability as an International Business Strategy

Version History

Title: LBUSI5104 Business Decision Making in Developed Country Environments Course Descriptor

Approved by: Academic Board

Location: academic-handbook/programme-specifications-and-handbooks/
Version Number Date Approved Date Published Owner Proposed Next Review Date Modification (As per AQF4) & Category Number
1.0 October 2024 November 2024 Dr Sanjay Bhowmick October 2029