DALMINE
Overview
Date/time interval
Syllabus
Course Objectives
The objective of this course is to present a comprehensive overview of the business challenges that firms active in a global context have to face. Cutting edge theories, academic research, practical tools and framework in the topics of international business will be introduced and analyzed, to provide a basis for improving practical skills and establishing an understanding concerning these topics.
Upon completing the course, the student will be able to:
• understand, communicate and discuss concepts and perspectives related to international business;
• analyze and understand the implementation of the strategies, structures and behaviors of firms in a global context.
The course contributes to the educational objectives of the economic-management area of study. In particular it contributes in developing the ability to solve complex organizational and managerial problems, and to analyze the dynamics of companies' interaction in the market.
Course Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites
Teaching Methods
Teaching activities will be characterized by an interactive learning approach. Moreover, a combination of practical activities, case discussions and business seminars by guest speakers will be used to further favor learning and reflection. Supplementary teaching material will be used: papers, case-studies, slides and other support material suggested by the teacher.
Assessment Methods
The final exam will take place in oral form and the evaluation will be expressed in thirtieths. The exam will be structured in three questions concerning the entire program in order to verify the acquisition by the students of the concepts taught in the course.
Contents
GLOBALIZATION: what is globalization?; the emergence of global institutions; drivers of globalization; managing in the global marketplace; globalization and cultures.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE THEORIES: mercantilism, theory of absolute and comparative advantage, Heckscher-Ohlin theory, product life-cycle theory, new trade theory, Porter's diamond.
STRATEGY AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE IN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS: the global expansion strategy (global expansion, profitability and growth; global standardization strategy; localization strategy; international strategy, transnational strategy); the organization of
international business (organizational structure, control systems and incentives, strategy and structure); entry strategies in foreign markets and strategic alliances.
BUSINESS OPERATIONS IN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS: human resource management, logistics, marketing and R&D in international business.
Online Resources
More information
Exam contents:
a) ATTENDING STUDENTS: only for attending students the final assessment will be defined as follows: 30% analysis and discussion of one of the topics addressed during the course (individual short written assignment); 70% based on a project work (group assignment). The project work may be related to a research on a particular topic assigned, or to a practical case of international business development to be analyzed on the basis of information obtained independently by the students through the examination of secondary sources (e.g., websites, or specialized press), and/or contacts with the top management team of the company.
b) NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS: reference text 1: section I - chapters 1, 2, 3; section II - chapters 4, 5, 6; section III - chapters 8, 9, 10, 11.
The two alternative paths (the one for attending students and the one for non-attending students) have an equal level of overall difficulty.