International Business BA (Hons)

There is an ongoing debate regarding what characterises a ‘responsible business’, covering everything from the requirement to maximise shareholder value, to considering everyone who is impacted by the business, and everything in between. In response to this ongoing debate, this module questions and unpicks how businesses balance the need for economic viability with a commitment to behaving responsibly. You will engage with theoretical and practical perspectives on issues such as:

• The provision of environmentally safe, ethical and equal working conditions
• Sustainable procurement
• The role of philanthropy

This module will challenge you to apply your learning to complex debates around contemporary business and societal issues.

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

All businesses rely on a range of resources to operate effectively and deliver value to their customers. Effective resource management involves the strategic deployment of an organisation’s assets to achieve competitive advantage. Understanding how businesses manage their physical and financial resources is essential for decision-making and long-term success. On this module you will explore key aspects of the supply chain, including purchasing and procurement, operations and manufacturing, distribution and logistics, and sales. You will also develop your financial literacy by learning to read and analyse essential business documents such as balance sheets, profit and loss statements, and annual reports. 

From generative AI and predictive analytics, to autonomous systems and intelligent decision-making, AI is reshaping business operations, consumer experiences, and workforce dynamics. Understanding these developments is essential for future business leaders navigating an increasingly AI-driven world. On this module you will learn about AI models, their applications, and their implications for business management, as well as exploring AI’s potential to enhance efficiency, decision-making, and innovation. As well as developing your technical understanding, we will also confront ethical considerations, including bias in AI, intellectual property concerns, and transparency challenges. 

On this module you will investigate the methods and strategies organisations employ to identify and meet the needs of both internal and external stakeholders. We will introduce you to fundamental marketing and sales concepts, including an in-depth exploration of the marketing mix, with particular emphasis on the 4Ps: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. By examining each component, you will learn to develop cohesive marketing strategies that are tailored to specific target markets. You will also learn about the sales funnel, customer relationship management (CRM) techniques, and the importance of sales forecasting and analytics in driving business growth.

The impact of international financial markets on business organisations is very significant. On this module you will learn to analyse the theoretical and practical aspects of international financial markets, investigating the development and current state of the international monetary system. We will compare theories of exchange rate determination. and apply them in relation to historical and current events. These theories will be used to address issues around the development of international financial crises, in order to analyse and discuss the impact of different types of crises 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.

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.

Understanding research and conducting it is a life skill, as well as being valuable to the functioning of organisations. This module will give you the foundational skills to evaluate, design and conduct research. You will learn to:

• Formulate and scrutinise research questions
• Design and propose research methodology
• Collect qualitative and quantitative data
• Analyse data, reach conclusions using it, and report it

These skills will be transferable in all fields of business, including finance, marketing, economics, tourism and events. You will also learn IT skills for survey design and statistical data analysis. For this module’s assessments you will learn to create video presentations, to work conduct and report research collaboratively, and to propose an original piece of research.

In today’s data-driven business landscape, the ability to analyse, interpret, and communicate insights effectively is a critical skill. Organisations rely on Business Intelligence (BI) tools and data visualisation techniques to transform raw data into meaningful narratives that drive decision-making. This module will give you the practical skills d to harness the power of BI, using tools such as Power BI to create dynamic, interactive dashboards and reports. By integrating visualisation principles with data storytelling techniques, you will learn how to present complex data in a clear and compelling way. 

This module will provide you with hands-on, business problem-solving experience, by working on live briefs. In most cases this would include visiting the organisation, communicating your progress with clients, conducting primary or secondary research, and making recommendations in form of report and presentation. This module goes beyond theory, equipping you with authentic workplace skills and a deeper understanding of your own strengths and abilities. All of our projects are designed to develops your skills, while also helping local organisations find solutions to real problems that matters to them. 

On this module you will develop a substantial piece of specialist work, with the support of a designated research investigation tutor. This could be in the form of either:

• A traditional Dissertation
• A Business Creation Feasibility Project

You will develop research objectives, formulate appropriate methodologies, and apply problem solving and analytical skills in a business context of your choice. You will also need to collect, analyse, interpret, and evaluate the data generated by your research. At the end of the module, you will have the opportunity to showcase your research at the York Business School Undergraduate Research Symposium.

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.

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.  

Organisations must balance long-term operational efficiency with the successful execution of short-term, goal-oriented projects. This module integrates these two perspectives, equipping you with advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of project and operations management. You will critically engage with best practices established by professional bodies such as the Project Management Institute (PMI), exploring key topics including project methodologies, stakeholder management, governance, and risk management. Through case studies and applied learning, will you will learn to manage complex business processes and deliver strategic project outcomes. 

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.  

Globalisation has been a defining feature of how the planet has been re-shaped in economic, technological, social and cultural terms throughout the twentieth century, but it is increasingly being questioned. Issues such as uneven development, inequality, climate change, national-populism, and insecure employment have all challenged dominant thought on globalisation. On this module you will explore how globalisation is being revisited and rethought, engaging with arguments related to social justice in a contested global environment. We consider a broad range of perspectives, not just the traditional voices from the Euro-West that have typically been used to interpret the global environment. The module is informed by the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRiME).