International Business BA (Hons)

On this module you will examine the nature of business enterprise, its relationship with wider society and what it means to be a responsible business. We will explore ideas including:

• Stakeholder theory
• The triple bottom line
• Corporate social responsibility
• Business ethics
• The role of the state

Explore the exciting and increasingly complex work of entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship. You will gain an understanding of how a business interacts with its environment. On this module you will investigate modern discussions about entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship. You will investigate theories relating to the business environment. From these, you will develop your ability to analyse and address different managerial issues.

On this module you will gain specialist insight into the issues that impact upon international business, with a focus on profit making enterprises. You will explore case studies and live examples as part of your studies. Areas we will cover include:

• Theories of the international firm
• The impact of the external environment
• Competition in the global marketplace
• Global issues in international business
• Challenges, strategies, and future considerations

In the age of Big Data, analytics is becoming a necessity in all areas of business. It is an essential tool to drive managerial decisions and sustain competitive advantage. You will consider the importance of visualising and understanding data, and representing data so it can be used for decision making. You will also examine the importance of big data in today’s business environment and the increasing significance of Blockchain.

On this module you will learn the ways in which human, financial and physical resources are managed within a business organisation. You will develop your understanding of the importance of effective resource management. Such resources may include:

• Financial resources
• Inventory
• Human skills
• Production
• Information technology

You will explore:

• The principles of purchasing and supply
• Methods of planning
• The fundamentals of management accounting
• Information technology and systems

On this module you will explore the key principles of politics and how these affect individuals and organisations. You will learn how the priorities and choices of political institutions and power structures have a significant impact upon a range of social and economic activity. Areas we will cover include:

• Political ideas and ideologies
• Democracy and Legitimacy
• The role of the state and nationalism (EU)
• Political economy and globalisation
• Representation and the party system (lobby groups)
• Society, culture, and media

On this module you will learn to analyse the theoretical and practical aspects of international financial markets. You will also learn about the development and current state of the international monetary system. We will investigate theories of exchange rate determination in relation to historical and current events. You will go on to use these theories and address issues around the development of international financial crises in order to further understand the impact they have on the wider economy.

On this module you will draw together knowledge from other business areas, including organisational studies, strategy, marketing, human resources management, and finance management. You will learn how to identify and apply cultural issues in the highly complex international business environment. You will explore how to define culture and review its various classifications in the world of business, assessing its role in business theories. We will investigate a variety of conceptual and practical issues relating to culture at different levels of analysis, including national, industry, corporate, and individual.

Areas we will cover include:

• How to define culture
• The importance of culture in different international business contexts
• Key dimensions of culture in a national, industry, corporate and individual level
• The role of culture in various business theories
• The impact of culture in multicultural organisation management
• Managing intercultural conflicts

On this module you will explore major issues linked with the development and implementation of international business strategies. You will study the impact of globalisation in terms of innovation and concepts of sustainability, along with investigating various theories related to multinational enterprise (MNE).

Areas we will cover include:

• The purpose of business strategy
• Issues surrounding foreign market entry, business strategy, organisational structure, and global sourcing
• Development of theories and concepts from the discipline
• Internationalisation of value chain functions
• The application of traditional strategic analysis to global contexts
• Decision making in the context of risk, reward, control and resources

Organisations need to understand how and why data is acquired, and have the ability to collect, analyse and interpret it. On this module you will learn about quantitative and qualitative research methods and how to use them to your work. We will help you develop skills in data collection, analysis and reporting your findings. You will also develop your project planning and management skills as a way to manage the research process.

Enhance your future employability by experiencing the workplace. We have designed this module to help you develop your skills, knowledge and understanding in different areas related to your career. You will engage with issues such as:

• Career decision making
• The recruitment cycle
• Applying for jobs
• Interviewing

As part of this module you will embark on a work placement or business project in a group, or individually.

This module aims to develop you into a confident, enterprising and creative graduate who will be able to cope with the ever changing business environment, recognise opportunities and to take responsible and measured risks. This is a very practical module. Starting with an initial idea, you will explore and assess a business opportunity and present a feasible business concept. Working alone or in groups, you will develop skills in collecting, analysing and organising ideas and information.

International trade is extremely controversial. It is thought to be the engine of much worldwide economic prosperity. It is also blamed for inequality between countries and for the rise of populism and nationalism in some parts of the world. On this module we will investigate these controversies. This will help you understand the patterns of international trade, the forces that produce these patterns, and how they impacts different people. Ideas from economic theory, business strategy and political economy will help you to develop this understanding.

This module is your chance to plan and conduct a piece of independent research. You will be able to choose from the following projects:

• Traditional dissertation: Plan and conduct a piece of independent research. Present your findings in a writing.
• Business Research Project: Complete a small scale piece of individual research work.
• Consultancy Project: Work with industry professionals and investigate a business project and produce a research based report.
• Business creation project: Develop a full business proposal and plan. Use primary and secondary research to support your work.

The requirement for effective strategic management is increasing due to the highly complex environments in which most private and public sector organisations currently exist. The study of organisational strategy includes theory and practice from a broad range of business sectors. You will investigate concepts introduced in earlier modules and you will develop your critical understanding of these topics and their relationships.

On this module you will gain an understanding of the activities of multinational corporations (MNCs) in emerging economies. You will investigate the differences and realities MNCs face in emerging markets. We will consider how corporations can improve their chances of being successful in these economies and how multinationals in the world economy are no longer dominated by MNCs from the developed world. This includes assessing how companies based in emerging economies differ from those based in developed economies and how they have conquered leading positions in many industries.

On this module you will gain a detailed knowledge of marketing theory and operations at an international level. An understanding of international marketing is particularly important when considering contemporary management issues, such as cultural diversity and strategic decision making. You will develop your understanding of the international context of marketing and particular issues that affect marketing decision making and planning at this level. We will introduce you to the complexities of international marketing practice by analysing product development, branding and market entry strategies in different international contexts.

On this module you will have the opportunity to analyse and evaluate the connection between politics and economics on an international level. You will engage with key aspects of International Political Economy, with a focus on how differences in growth and development arise due to the unique circumstances that characterise specific regions around the world.