Global Business in Context: Key Concepts and Trends

Module Rationale

Businesses operate in a globalised and highly connected multi-layered business environment, where the global and the local impacts are increasingly intertwined. Such an environment presents many challenges, typified by the volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA) arising from global business. As the leaders/managers and decision makers of the future, Global Business in Context will help students understand current trends in Global Business, prepare for work in multi-layered global environments, and to understand the need to be flexible and adaptable to change, both in the domestic, regional and global contexts.

Module Aims

The aim of this module is to introduce students to the key concepts, theories in global business, and the contemporary global business environment. It will provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills to understand the nature of the global business environment and global business operations. Importantly, through considering a range of both global large and small firms, and reflecting 'real world' activities this module will assist students to take the first steps towards self-confidence with regard to global business and global citizenship.

Module Learning Outcomes

1. Describe and discuss critically the main streams of research in the areas of global business

2. Analyse the complex changes occurring within the global economy and critically discuss their impact upon a range of enterprises (both MNEs and SMEs)

3. Critically evaluate the impact of differing social, legal, economic, political and technological factors differences on the decision-making process in globally and internationally active firms

4. Develop their learning through cross fertilisation, and reflection upon ideas from their own and others’ experiences of different global settings.

Attendance And Participation

• Attendance will be taken at every lecture.
• Students must attend ALL lecturesand a good attendance record is required to pass the module.
• You are encouraged to contribute to lectureswith your questions, answers and opinions. Student participation creates a better learning environment.

Teaching Schedule

The module coordinator will upload materials onto Blackboard on the Monday of each week alongside any discussion sections/comments. Students are required to log on each week to read notes, further readings, videos, podcasts, complete any case studies and are expected to regulalrly and fully contribute to any online discussion forum threads