Introduction to International Business (3cr)

Evaluation scale

1-5

Objective

Students know the nature of international business, including the study of multinational corporations, intercultural differences and their effects on management style and policy and execution. The focus of discussion and presentation will be on international business in Sweden, Germany and Russia.

Content

- Introduction to International Trade
- Globalization
- Target market and domestic factors influencing International Trade - including e.g. Cultural Environment of International Trade
- Organizations involved with International Trade
- Trade Areas (NAFTA, EU, ASEAN etc.)
- Means of competition
- Business operations
- Introduction to strategies
Students can find international and academic sources related to course tasks. Students can relate material to sustainability, and career guidance with a focus on entrepreneurship.

Materials

- International Business, The Challenges of Globalization. 7/E, John J. Wild and Kenneth L. Wild. Pearson Education. (2014).

Teaching methods

- Lectures and Guided Practice
- Independent work
Teaching method will be Problem Based Learning. In groups, students will select a target country and a product to launch in that country. At the end of the course students will give a presentation on how they plan on entering the market and the factors they had to consider.
Target country areas will be Sweden, Spain, Germany and Russia. In addition using English as a business Lingua Franca will be explored.

Student workload

24 hours of lectures and guided practice
56 hours of independent work
Students are free to decide in their groups how to use the 60 hours in regards to completing the product launch into an international market.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Excellent (5)
The completed market entry strategy and presentation, the quizzes, final exam and classroom performance are at an excellent level in terms of knowledge, skills and their further application. The student is clearly capable of autonomous professional development and the application of his/her knowledge and skills in the field of study.

Good (4-3)
The completed market entry strategy and presentation, the quizzes, final exam and classroom performance are at a good level in terms of knowledge, skills and their further professional application. The student demonstrates an emerging ability for autonomous professional development in the field of study.

Satisfactory (2-1)

The completed market entry strategy and presentation, the quizzes, final exam and classroom performance are of a passable level in terms of knowledge, skills and their further professional application.

Qualifications

No previous studies are required.