BE217-5-FY-SO:
The International Business Environment
2021/22
Essex Business School
Southend Campus
Full Year
Undergraduate: Level 5
ReassessmentOnly
Thursday 07 October 2021
Friday 01 July 2022
30
03 June 2020
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
This module is designed to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the external context within which international businesses operate and the opportunities and challenges it poses to entrepreneurial firms, large and small. It begins by examining the rationale for studying international business, by discussing current developments in the global economy and the range of external environmental forces that impact businesses.
Several lectures are dedicated to discussing the external challenges facing international firms, particularly economic, financial, political/legal, technological and cultural challenges. The module then introduces students to key international trade theories and practices, government intervention policies and regional economic integration.
This module aims to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the key concepts and issues surrounding the context for international business, with a specific focus on the political/legal, economic, financial, and socio-cultural environment.
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Autumn Term
1. define key concepts and issues in the international business environment and apply them to entrepreneurial organisations and micro-nationals;
2. critically examine how the international business environment might inform later decisions about where to expand and how;
3. discuss different theories of international trade;
4. understand and describe different instruments of international trade;
5. understand the concepts of governmental influences on international trade and concepts of tariff and non-tariff barriers to international trade;
6. identify differences in the national legal systems and discuss challenges businesses face when protecting their intellectual property;
7. identify national differences in economic, cultural systems, and ethical values and to understand how these differences affect business activity;
8. demonstrate appropriate skills in research techniques for effective problem solving, in-depth investigation of key issues, and effective use of relevant learning materials;
Spring Term
9. develop a thorough understanding of the technological environment and its impact on the growth and development of international businesses and global evolution of the IT sector;
10. understand the drivers of international labour mobility;
11. understand the concepts of international financial acquisition of capital in entrepreneurial firms;
12. understand and describe the impact of international governing organisations, national governments, and regional economic integration on business activities;
13. demonstrate appropriate skills in research techniques for effective problem solving, in-depth investigation of key issues, and effective use of relevant learning materials.
The lectures will be developed around the key concepts as mentioned in the indicative module content and will use a range of live examples and cases from business practice to demonstrate the application of theoretical concepts. The lectures will follow a weekly format of 2 hours per week for 9 weeks in each of the two terms.
Seminars in the form of class exercises will be built into the lectures to develop critical analytical and problem solving skills. Seminars will use a range of activities, such as discussion of case studies from the core text, topical business news items and will involve students working in pairs or groups or individually to discuss, reflect on problems and answer questions, present their ideas and thoughts to the class for discussion. Seminars will take place during class time at the lecturer's discretion - i.e. some classes will warrant a full two-hour lecture.
The learning and teaching methods for this module will use a combination of the follows:
Lectures
Seminars
Discussion of case studies and journal articles
Class exercises
Group work
Signposting to additional resources
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Reflective assessment 50% |
|
50% |
| Coursework |
Individual Essay (50%) |
|
50% |
| Coursework |
Reassessment for 1902952 & 1903358 & 1905696 & 1907746 - IF THIS IS NOT YOUR REGISTRATION NUMBER IGNORE THIS ASSIGNMENT |
|
0% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Shabneez Bhankaraully, email: shabneez.bhankaraully@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Svetlana Warhurst, email: warhurst@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Svetlana Warhurst (AU); Shabneez Bhankaraully (SP)
warhurst@essex.ac.uk; shabneez.bhankaraully@essex.ac.uk
No
No
No
Dr Vikrant Shirodkar
University of Sussex
Senior Lecturer In International Business
Available via Moodle
Of 55 hours, 53 (96.4%) hours available to students:
2 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
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