Stage 1

Foundations:

Rationale of Foundations of International Management

This introductory block of 4 modules is designed to provide an understanding of the fundamentals of International Strategy, International Marketing, International Finance and International HRM. The modules represent a core building block for the Masters programme as a whole; and are aimed to give all programme participants a shared and common level of understanding of the major topic areas within these international management subjects.

Aside from developing a common understanding, study of these modules will assist programme participants to appreciate the learning processes for the overall programme. International Strategy comprises 16 hours lectures / discussions, and the other three modules 12 hours lectures / discussions. Participants will be provided with a core text for each module which will form the basis for clearly guided self-study.

International Strategy

This gives an overall understanding of the needs, contexts and processes of strategic management in an international context, and will present some of the most commonly applied approaches. It will also introduce some specifically international dimensions of strategy which will be further developed in the core module International Business - Global and Local Perspectives. International Marketing

International Marketing represents one of the key areas of international business, knowledge of which has become critically important in the face of deepening globalisation and liberalisation of markets, along with the ever urgent need to identify and satisfy global customers. The aim of the module is to provide programme participants with the critical knowledge/understanding required of marketing managers seeking to develop branded goods and services in an increasingly globalized business context. Accordingly classes will review, explore and apply the key components of brand conception and development strategy in addition to local market management

International Finance

Understanding the basic concepts of international finance is a key component for the successful operation of a firm in an international business environment. Some of the fundamental concepts of international finance developed in this module will provide a framework for the programme as a whole. The module will review and highlight the major areas of international finance, namely the main issues in global financial management, the mechanics of the foreign exchange markets, how trade is financed, and foreign investment decisions.

International Human Resource Management

HRM as a key element in the successful operation of international business firms. Appreciate the role of HRM in creating sustainable competitive advantage in international firms; domestic and international HRM; the key HRM challenges facing international firms, including expatriate management.

Fundamentals:

Cross Cultural Management

This core module aims to develop the awareness, skills and knowledge required by managers seeking to work abroad as international executives. The module aims to build on participants' understanding of the Foundations of International Management by increasing awareness and understanding of the soft skills in international management, particularly those relating to cross-cultural management. The module is also closely integrated with International Business: Global and Local Perspectives.

The class has three main parts:

• Part 1 focuses on conceptual notions of culture. The meaning of culture is explored by drawing on a range of national culture models and studies. These frameworks can be applied not only to national culture, but also to other cultural spheres - regional, industry, corporate and functional / professional.
• Part 2 examines how national culture influences management practice. In particular the focus will be on the influence of national culture on the development and transfer of a wide range of HRM practices e.g. How do human resource management practices differ across countries and why? What are the possible underlying cultural reasons for these differences? The influence of national culture on aspects of organization structure will also be examined. A range of areas in international management will be reviewed including leadership, decision-making, work and motivation, and negotiating across cultures.
• Part 3 focuses on how to manage cultural differences more effectively. The emphasis will be on how individuals, teams and organizations manage these cultural differences. A key theme will be comparative management, analysing the similarities and differences between management and business systems across countries and between different types of enterprise (including comparative Chinese management systems).

International Business

Gain a detailed knowledge of how and why firms pursue international business. Understand the internationalisation of business, the way that firms grow internationally, how they structure their operations, their market entry modes and how they gain advantage from their international spread. More than this, use this knowledge to examine real companies, diagnose their international business problems and devise strategies for their international growth and development. Present coherent recommendations to the senior management as if you were a consultant or manager at the business.

Practice:

Business Communications

The class aims to develop the skills to assist students to succeed as managers in an international environment. These skills relate to linguistic competence, but also to other aspects of cross-cultural competence in business-related formal and informal situations. The interactive and business communication skills developed in this class will support students in their degree studies as well as in the subsequent work situation.

The aims concerning linguistic capabilities will differ according to the language taught:

• English. In the case of (mainly) Chinese students, the aim will be to improve spoken fluency, accuracy and communication skills to the level required for effective interaction in business and social environments, in addition to strengthening study skills. It will aim to raise the level of English proficiency from advanced to near native-speaker competence. Critical elements will concern pronunciation problems specific to particular learners, and grammatical accuracy in writing. Commonly, the non-native speakers will attend at least one module of the Pre-sessional English and Academic Study Skills before embarking on their degree course.
• Chinese (Putonghua). For English speakers, the aim will be to develop language ability to enable students to communicate and survive in certain business and social situations, including some conversational skills; and to develop listening and some reading and writing skills.

Developing a Business Plan:

This class will provide an understanding of the process of developing a business plan - a fundamental management tool. It will require that you select a specific market and create a business plan for one company intending to operate in that market. Normally, it is expected that your business plan should consist of a new venture, operating through a new start up business. We may permit you to orient your plan around a joint venture.

Doing Business Abroad

Participants will examine the practical details of doing business in a country that is foreign to them. Using and integrating material from the first semester core classes in a practical way, participants will prepare a detailed operational plan for setting up and managing a business in a foreign country. Building on, alongside and integrated with, the Developing a Business Plan module, it will examine how to implement the business plan presented in that module, considering, for example, the political, economic, cultural, institutional and legal influences on doing that business in that specific foreign country, considering the necessary decisions in each aspect and area of the proposed business.