Course content
Sustainability in international business is more than simply adopting sustainable practices. It has the potential to help firms gain competitive advantage. Indeed, sustainability is becoming more important for firms across all industries, and many executives consider a sustainable business strategy necessary for firms to be competitive in today’s business environment.
In this course, we will explore the role of the -international firm- in the business community and the society and focus on how international firms take decisions in a changing global environment, and how these decisions relate to sustainability, and in turn to profitability.
The course is designed to increase the student's understanding and their analytical skills on the complexity and the continuously evolving nature of international business. The course will introduce issues such as, the role of firm resources, location and ownership advantages for internationalization, the different entry mode choices, and firm competitive strategies in the international market. We will also examine the influence of cultural, economic, political and legal factors on firm internationalization decisions and on the competitiveness of an international business.
As we tackle international business issues, we will also discuss the challenges and dilemmas of how international business contributes to sustainable development goals and how sustainability can extend the current models of competition leading to firms’ sustainable competitive advantages.
This course is based on the international business theories such as: the resource-based view, the OLI theory, modes of entry; competitive dynamics; and the institutional approach where we place importance on all the pillars of institutions. Furthermore, the course will complement the knowledge from the course -Organisation, Communication and Culture through a joint case.
See course description in course catalogue