Faculty
Keld Laursen (IVS)

Course Coordinator
Can-Seng Ooi (INT)

The course sheds light on what managers of internationally active firms do to remain competitive in diverse business environments. The course presents conceptual frameworks that make sense of the linkages between national economic and developmental policies, and domestic and foreign firm strategies. Finally, it addresses whether contemporary capitalism is characterized by inexorable trends toward a truly global market or by resilient national differences.

The course is divided into three distinct components.

The aim of the course is to provide students with an understanding of international business and trade, providing students with the necessary background theories and concepts that they will need during the programme. It will focus on providing a ‘toolkit’ to students of frameworks, theories and concepts that will facilitate the understanding of the complex environment within which the multinational corporation operates. This includes international business and trade theories, political economy, government policies and regulations, cross-cultural differences as well as supra-national institutions such as the World Trade Organization.

Each student will submit a scientific paper of about 7-8 pages. The exam question will be issued one week before the submission deadline. In the assignment, students are expected to address many issues covered in the course.

The course relates theoretical concepts and management frameworks to cases. It is based on a mix of lectures and case discussions. Student participation is highly desirable; student teams are actively involved in the presentation and discussion of cases.