Faculty
Susana Borrás and others

Course Coordinator
Chris Mathieu

There are no specific limitations regarding course overlap.

There are no specific academic qualifications recommended or required to take this course.

In recent years international markets and especially the European market have played an increasing role for European companies. At the same time the ongoing unification of Europe has led to the European Union (EU) and an increasing set of regulations and regulatory agencies. The aim of the course is on one hand to present an overview of the EU decision making system as well as the most business relevant EU policies, and on the other hand to discuss how companies may influence this decision making system. It is the ambition that the students on this basis will be better able to develop the strategic potentials of their companies.

The course starts with an overview of the European scene comprising the EU institutions, the idea of the Internal Market and of the Euro. The presentation will also comprise a discussion of some of the current issues and of some of the different positions in regards to integration and in regards to how companies may strategize vis-à-vis the EU.

The academic competences that the student will acquire, and the educational tools and theory of this course are:

- An empirical overview of the EU decision making system, and the most business relevant EU policies,

- An understanding of the different theories about the dynamics and consequences of European integration, the building of the internal market and of European institutions.

The course will offer the students the possibility of developing a series of personal and interpersonal competences. As to the personal competences, the students will learn to develop their own analytical view on the EU, and to reflect upon the challenges and opportunities that the EU policies offer to individual firms and their strategies. As to the interpersonal competences, the course will provide the basis for discussing in small groups the questions posed by the teacher during lectures. Some students will be asked to hold short plenary presentations summarizing these discussions.

The course aims to extend notions of business strategy and business development and thus adds to the understanding of the political and institutional context in which business decisions are made.

Therefore, the knowledge and skills that the student must acquire in order to achieve the grade 12 at the exam are:

- To analyze and synthesize the most important aspects of the structure and policies of the European Union and their relevance for the business environment and strategies of firms in operating in Europe.

- To compare and discuss different theories about the dynamics and consequences of European integration, the creation of the internal market, and the building of European Institutions.

- To identify and discuss the importance of the challenges facing the European economy and the aim to improve its competitiveness, as well as the relation between the EU and the rest of world.

To compare and discuss the importance of the various channels and means through which firms in Europe may influence European political decision making and future policy developments.

4 hours written, open book exam

Exam aids: the book

The assessment will be done on the basis of the achievement of the learning objectives.

The literature of the course will be based on a text book and on a series of additional obligatory reading material.

The text book: Debra Johnson & Colin Turner (2006): European Business. Routledge, 2nd edition.