Accounting for Decision Makers

15 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1

This module is designed as an introduction for non-financial managers to comparative international accounting, and financial reporting and analysis, within the context of converging standards.

No prior knowledge of accounting procedures is assumed or required.

The Business Context in Emerging Economies

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

Comparative Business Systems

15 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1

The module considers how different systems of economic organisation in market economies have led to the emergence of distinct business systems in the international economy. It explores how firms originating in different nations display systematic differences in structure, organisation and strategies. It also examines frameworks for understanding how, and the extent to which, systematic differences in industrialised (and late-industrialised) nations are convergent. The implication of the different business systems on the organisation and firm capabilities is then explored in this course.

Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

This module is aimed at students on the range of 'conversion' type of MSc programmes across the department and is delivered in the International Accounting and Governance programme as a core. The focus is on contemporary perspectives and practices within the broadly defined areas of Corporate Social Responsibility and Governance.

The module starts from the premise that CSR is a contested, problematic and developing area of study. There is an acceptance that an understanding of ethical frameworks is required to inform debate on this subject and that research generated evidence and insights are necessary to substantiate assertion.

The focus is also practical, and you will individually undertake research into an organisation's orientation and practice towards its stakeholders. A critical and questioning approach to this will be encouraged and required to 'see beyond' the often platitudinous veneer that can characterise this relationship.

Throughout the module the emphasis will be on devloping your own coherent and informed view of matters such as corporate and governance, together with issues of professional ethics within a globalised context. In particular, we examine the extent to which corporate governance practices are moving towards convergence.

The coursework requires you to work individually to produce a case study analysis of contemporary stakeholder issues and to thereby further your understanding and exercise research skills and judgement. Supporting and underpinning this is a week by week seminar programme requiring you to ascertain and appreciate your own and others' 'ethical profiles', locate and interpret research-based insights and undertake case study analysis of organisational practices and professional ethical dilemmas.

An examination will test your grasp of relevant concepts, theory and ability to apply insights.

Corporate Governance

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

This module aims to introduce you to the roles and functions of boards of directors as well as the organisational structure of different types of firms, such as those within extended family networks and those of an entrepreneurial nature. This will involve developing understanding of information management systems and accounting techniques that assist effective board-level decision making as well as in the assessment of board and CEO effectiveness. The relevance of different boards structures will be discussed through a comparison of split boards and supervisory boards and the module will cover contemporary issues such as shareholder activism, the role of family and corporate block-shareholder control. Equally, the importance of worldwide differences in legal and institutional settings and their impact on corporate structure and governance will be discussed. While you will gain appreciation into contemporary issues effecting management structure of major corporations you will also be expected to apply this in real-life topical settings.

Global Marketing

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

Few companies these days could claim to be purely domestic. While the firm may confine its activities to the domestic market, the market itself is unlikely to be so restricted and may be served by firms headquartered in or operating from a number of other countries or regions. Knowledge of global issues is therefore of importance to all firms whether they are actively involved in marketing in foreign markets or have foreign competitors at home.

This module represents an introduction to global marketing and aims to develop knowledge of the global environment. The increased scope, risk and complexity faced by the global marketer is due to the increased level of uncertainty from operating in diverse and less understood environments. Emphasis is placed on the identification of challenges presented by global marketing to equip you to deal with differences, opportunities and threats emerging from diverse economic, demographic, political/legal, cultural, technical and competitive environments.

The impact of global issues is related during the module to the marketing decision-making task at three levels:

• the macro level at which country selection decisions are made
• national level at which market entry decisions are made
• and market level where marketing mix decisions are made.

Globalisation & Integration: A Long Run Perspective

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

This module explores the globalisation and the integration of the business environment from a long-run perspective. It charts the beginnings of the current wave of globalisation, in the mid to late 20th century and explores the various themes and forces that helped create a distinctive business environment by the early years of the 21st century. The themes explored include the divergence and integration within the global economy, globalisation of culture, the 'death of distance', development of global value chains, technology and technology transfer, 'deep' integration and strategic alliances, and the challenges and opportunities posed by shifts in demographic patterns. The module considers several questions of interest to you if you are a student of international management including: what is the significance of the 'Rest' catching-up with the 'West'? How does the global geography affect international firms? How significant is the emergence of multinationals from emerging markets? Do firms manage a 'global culture' or manage across cultures globally?

International Business

30 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1

International business is concerned with how firms engage in transactions and value-adding activities outside of their national boundaries. The module thus considers theories of foreign trade, foreign investment, and outsourcing; looks at various issues associated with the management and organisation of multinational enterprises; and highlights policy questions such as the political economy of trade policy and the impact of foreign investment on both home and host economies.

International Entrepreneurship

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

The focus of this module is on the development and growth of new firms from establishment to the early stages of international development. Much of the core teaching in international business relates to the strategic decisions made by established large firms, but SMEs are increasingly engaged in both foreign trade and investment - as is evidenced by the phenomena of born-global firms, international new ventures, and rapidly internationalising firms. In this context, the links between entrepreneurship, innovation, and internationalisation are crucial.

International Human Resource Management

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

This module aims to introduce you to concepts, issues and debates around human resource management and employment relations within the context of the growing internationalisation of business. It will look at the implications of the rise of multinational corporations and foreign direct investment for employment, and the particular challenges of managing a workforce across national borders. The module will adopt a comparative perpective for the discussion of the variability of key human resource practices across different national contexts. The module will weave together two key themes of international differences in HR management and the HRM practices of corporations that operate in multiple country locations.

Some of the topics that may be included are as follows:

• Specific HRM function areas (such as pay/rewards systems, working time, employee voice at the company or sector level)
• The variability in the interpretation of high performance HRM systems
• The global diffusion of HRM practices
• Different 'home country' effects shaping MNC employment practices
• International assignments as an HRM tool
• The gendered dimensions of MNC HRM practies
• The role of culture in global diversity management
• Corporate social responsibility issues
• Global talent management
• Implications of outsourcing and off-shoring for HRM etc

Marketing Management

15 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1

Gone are the stable markets of yesteryear. Today's markets are characterised by rapidly changing customers' wants, accelerating pace of technological advances, and intensifying competition, presenting major challenges for both incumbent and upstart enterprises alike. For most organisations, marketing is a major determinant of success. This module is designed to help you develop an appreciation of the role of marketing and the management of marketing functions in the modern organisation. The impact of marketing and the contribution of marketing to organisational performance in the dynamic, globally competitive markets of today will be addressed. The module will also focus on what being market-oriented really means in practice to organisations operating in manufacturing and service industries, as well as in profit and non-profit enterprises.

The module will introduce you to the theories, concepts, models, techniques and current best-practices for developing and implementing marketing strategies and actions. Marketing decision-making should not take place in a vacuum, and this course will familiarise you with the components of market analysis and strategy development with respect to the organisation, its customers, competitors and collaborators. There will also be indepth coverage of marketing implementation and control issues through the concept of the integrated marketing mix: the product/service offering and customer service, communications, pricing and channels.

Multinational Financial Management

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

The main aim of this module is to evaluate the financial decision-making of companies operating internationally, providing an understanding of global capital markets, in the context of international trade patterns, international monetary systems, exchange rate regimes and foreign exchange markets, as well as tax rules and legal and institutional complexities. You will also develop competences in the appraisal of international capital expenditure choices and in the effective implementation of multinational management control systems. In addition, the module considers the political risks faced by multinational enterprises, including firm-specific risk, country risk, and global risk, together with an assessment of the origins and repercussions of the current credit crisis, including the international scale of securitization, and the impact of market failure in international interbank markets on multinational financial management.

Summary outline: currency regimes and markets and the management of foreign exchange risk; measuring and managing exchange exposure; international financing and capital market integration; the cost of capital for foreign investments; capital budgeting for the multinational corporation; working capital management; taxation and transfer pricing; country risk analysis and the implications of the financial crisis of 2007-09 and module resumé.

Research Methods (International Management)

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

Research Project (International Management)

30 credits
Summer teaching, year 1

This module gives you the opportunity to undertake an independent research project.

The Business Context in East Asia

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

The main aims of this module are to explore the international business environment in East Asia, to provide an overview of the various East Asian economies, their interrelationship, and their importance in the world economy, and to examine the lessons which may be drawn both from the economic success of the East Asian economies, and from the Asian financial crisis.

The Business Context in Europe

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

The main aims of this module are to explore the international business environment in Europe, to provide an overview of the various European economies, their inter-relationships, and their importance in the world economy. Attention will be paid not just to the major member States of the European Union, but to newer member States and other European economies.