MS50062W

20 Credits

Level 5

1.Team contact details 

2.Module overview

The aims of this module are:

• To introduce the role of multinationals and the process of direct investment abroad
• To explore the strategic and operational challenges of setting up businesses abroad
• To explore the challenges faced by multinationals, including the cultural and political contexts and their interactions with host governments
• To diagnose business issues facing multinationals in terms of their business rationale, and strategic and operational issues
• The teaching will be based on analysis of real-case business strategies and operations

Indicative content:

• International niche marketing strategies for small and medium size businesses
• Global strategies
• Market entry strategies
• International distribution and logistics
• Multinational organisations: rules of the game
• Case study: Wal-Mart pulling out of Germany and Korea
• Case study: Russian automaker Avtovaz going global
• Case studies: UK-based Vodafone struggling in Japan and Dunkin’ Donuts’ early failure to enter the Chinese market
• Case studies: McDonald’s lessons from its Jamaican venture and Starbucks lessons from its Australian enterprise
• Case study: China-based battery-cum-car maker BYD and India-based Tata Motors in the Western market.
• Case study: George Mason University’s unsuccessful expansion and shutting off in Middle Eastern campus

Expectations

Specific expectations students can have of tutors:

• Learning materials on BB at least one week in advance.
• Formative feedback on assessments.
• Online/phone appointment outside of normal class times for mutually convenient times if needed.
• ·
  • Attend all seminars and arrive at classes punctually.
  • Read case studies provided prior to seminars and prepare answers to questions as per instructions given Actively participate and engage in class activities.
    • Communicate with tutors in a professional manner.
    • Attempt all assessments by the submission deadline unless there are extenuating circumstances (please do contact your tutor and your Module Leader).
    • Behave professionally in classes and not cause any disruption that may affect other students’ learning.
    • You are also expected to follow relevant current news and learn to view these through the lenses of global marketing, for instance by considering their implications for global marketing activities.

Specific expectations tutors will have of students:

Kindly refer to your Course Handbook for a detailed outline of how this module forms part of your course

3.Preparing for your Assessment

A key part of your learning will be preparation for your summative assessment. You will be provided feedback on your formative assessments, and this will help you to better understand what is required of you when you submit your summative assessment. Please see below guidance on your formative assessment and how to access your feedback.

Summative Assessments

Summative Assessment 1 

Submitting, feedback & grades online using Blackboard

The assessment carries 40% of the overall module mark and involves a synthesis based on in- class case studies which aims to evaluate your overall knowledge and understanding of Going Global as taught in the module and your ability to use this knowledge and understanding to analyse business issues facing multinationals in terms of strategic and operational issues and offer simple solutions to a wide-ranging set of problems. 

Marking scheme

Employability Skills

This assessment covers the following employability skills, which you could demonstrate on your CV and at job interviews if you successfully pass the assessment.

• Communication
• Problem solving
• Take initiative and self-motivating
• Critical thinking
• Can work under pressure and to deadline
• Planning and organisation skills
• Ability to learn and adapt
• Valuing Diversity
• Creativity/lateral thinking
• Influencing
• Intellectual curiosity
• Leadership
• Perseverance
• Confidence
• Global/cultural awareness
• Integrity and accountability

Decision making Summative Assessment 2

Submitting, feedback & grades online using Blackboard Main objectives of the Assessment 2

Group project + Reflective analysis of your own contribution to the group work

The assessment carries 60% of the overall module mark and involves a Group Presentation and Individual Reflective Analysis report of your own contribution to the group work

A domestic company planning to expand in the foreign markets has approached you as a consultant for advice. For this assignment, you will: 

In your Group of 5-6, carry out a research and address the following tasks in your presentation:

1. Justification for conducting business abroad
2. Strategies a domestic company may adopt when expanding in the foreign markets.
3. Strategic and operational challenges of foreign direct investment
4. Cultural, political, and organisational challenges senior management involved in entering an overseas market for the first time may face

Please note:

All members of your group MUST be present and prepared to answer any question stimulated by your presentation from both the tutors and fellow students.

 Marking scheme

Employability Skills: 

This assessment covers the following employability skills, which you could demonstrate on your CV and at job interviews if you successfully pass the assessment:

• Communication
• Writing
• Speaking
• Presenting
• Non-Verbal
• Problem solving
• Take initiative and self-motivating
• Critical thinking
• Can work under pressure and to deadline
• Planning and organisation skills
• Ability to learn and adapt
• Valuing Diversity
• Reflective lifelong learners
• Creativity/lateral thinking
• Influencing
• Intellectual curiosity
• Flexibility
• Leadership
• Confidence
• Global/cultural awareness
• Integrity and accountability
• Decision making

Learning materials

The reading list for this module is available on Blackboard in the module area and online by searching readinglists. This shows real-time availability of books in the library and provides direct links to digital items, recommended by your lecturer. 

Remember to log into Blackboard daily to receive all the latest news and support available at your module information sites!

Subject guides are also available to help you find relevant information for assignments, with contact details of the Subject Librarian for your School.

Essential Reading

• Kenyon, A., Lowe, R. and Doole, I. (2016) International Marketing Strategy: Analysis, Development and Implementation. Andover: Cengage [Learning E-book: https://www- dawsonera-com.ezproxy.uwl.ac.uk/readonline/9781473729360
• Annushkina, O. and Regazzo, A., (2020).The Art of Going Global. Cham: Springer International Publishing.

Additional Reading:

• Annushkina, O. and Regazzo, A., (2020). The Art of Going Global. Cham: Springer International

Publishing.

• Besanko, D., Dranove, D., Shanley, M., Schaefer, S. (2013) Economics of Strategy. New York: Wiley.
• Chandler A. D. and Mazlish B. (2005) Leviathans: Multinational Corporations and the New Global History. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Farok J., Kumar Vikas, KunduSumit K. (2007) Nature of the relationship between international expansion and performance: The case of emerging market firms. Journal of World Business42 (4): 401-417.
• Duckworth, H (2008) How TRW Automotive helps global virtual teams perform at the top of their game. Global Business and Organizational Excellence 28 (1): 6-16.
• Dunning J. H., Buckley P. J. and Casson M. (1992) Multinational enterprises in the world economy: essays in honour of John Dunning. Aldershot, Hants: Edward Elgar Publishing Limited.
• Estrin S. and Prevezer M. (2011) The role of informal institutions in corporate governance: Brazil, Russia, India, and China compared. Asia Pacific Journal of Management 28 (1): 41- 67.
• Ghemawat P. (2001) Distance still matters. The hard reality of global expansion. Harvard Business Review 79 (8): 137-147.
• Jones G. (1996) The evolution of international business: an introduction. London: Routledge.
• Jones G. (2005) Multinationals and global capitalism: from the nineteenth to the twenty-first century. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Mathews J. (2006) Dragon multinationals: New players in 21st century globalization. Asia Pacific Journal of Management23 (1): 5-27.
• Wilkins M. (1991) The growth of multinationals. Aldershot, Hants: Edward Elgar Publishing Limited.
• Wilkins M. (2011) American business abroad: Ford on six continents. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 

5.Maintaining Academic Honesty and Integrity

Academic Integrity means avoiding plagiarism and cheating and owning your own work, the use of essay mills and AI content is also considered academic misconduct. This is when you submit a piece of work which is not completely your own, but which you are presenting as your own without acknowledging the author or properly referencing the original source. All your work must demonstrate Academic Integrity; it must be an honest and fair submission, complying with all the requirements of the assessment. Failure to meet these standards of behaviour and practice is academic misconduct, which can result in penalties being applied under the Academic Offences Regulations. You can get support with your academic writing by speaking to our Study support team.

6.Meeting Deadlines

You should always try your best to submit your work on time. If your circumstances mean that you are not able to submit on time or are unable to attend an in-person assessment like an exam or in- class test, then you can request Exceptional circumstances for the assessment. An extension allows you to submit coursework up to 10 calendar days late without penalty, (calendar days include all weekends and bank holidays where the University is open). Without an extension, the maximum mark you will be able to get for that work will be the pass mark. Mitigation allows you a further attempt without penalty if you fail an assessment or do not submit.

You can apply for an extension or mitigation by self-certifying that you have exceptional circumstances which affected your ability to undertake the assessment. Self-certifying means that evidence does not have to be provided, although the University reserves the right to request evidence. All self-certified requests must be made before the deadline and detail the exceptional circumstances that have prevented you from submitting by the original submission deadline. You can only self-certify three assessments per academic year. If you have used all your self- certification opportunities, or requested mitigation after the deadline, you will need to provide evidence of your exceptional circumstances for your request to be granted.