Gain an advanced understanding of the external context within which international businesses operate, and the opportunities and challenges this poses to entrepreneurial firms, large and small. You are introduced to key international trade theories and practices, and the application of these to the study of entrepreneurship. You also discuss the external challenges facing international firms, particularly economic, financial, political-legal, technological and cultural challenges.

This module explores how organisations use innovation to gain a competitive advantage by capitalising on organisational, market and technological change. You examine how innovation strategies are developed and managed and acquire the knowledge and skills needed to manage innovation at operational and strategic levels.

This module explores how to develop profitable business strategies. You learn how to analyse a firm’s external environment, including examining the economy and its competitors, assess its internal resources and set objectives. You examine the differences between corporate, competitive and functional business strategies and develop your decision making and analytical skills. By the end of the module, you understand how a manger can shape a firm’s direction to meet its goals and stakeholder expectations.

Examine past and new approaches in relation to the study of organisations and draw relevant connections between organisational theory and practice and other sub-disciplines of management, sociology, and economics, where issues of learning, collaboration and networks are given particular attention. You explore the role of people and human behaviour alongside the study of systems, functions, and models.

Develop the skills and knowledge necessary to manage product development projects in an international business environment, with particular focus on product design methodologies and project management techniques. You explore the hard side of managing global product development projects and the soft issues such as idea generation/selection and teamwork that must be dealt with in order to ensure success of the product development projects.