module specification

This module provides a focused, comprehensive and relevant coverage of contemporary multinational businesses. The module will examine the effects of the internationalisation of the firm and its impact on the global economy. It will help students understand different ways of analysing multinational firms and their impact. It will explore the operation of multinational business in different regions of the world and will examine their future prospects.

The module aims to:
1. to apply economic analysis to the study of key aspects of the rationale for the operations of multinational businesses;
2. to analyse the major economic implications of and issues arising from foreign direct investment (FDI).
3.  facilitate and support students in utilising personal resources and materials so that they can carry out independent research into an aspect of the international economy, using research methods appropriate to the task.
4. develop the researching, analysing data, presenting data, communication, problem solving, interpersonal and creative skills of students.
 

Globalisation of Markets and the Internationalisation of the Firm.
Theories of the Multinational Enterprise.
Financing the Operations of the Multinational Enterprise.
The economic impact of foreign direct investment (FDI).
Culture and the multinational enterprise.
Human resource management in the multinational business
Multinational businesses in the European Union and North America.
Multinational businesses in Asia - Japan, China and India.
Multinational businesses in Latin America.
Global financial crises and the multinational business.
Future prospects for the multinational business - politics, terrorism, regionalism, etc
 

The teaching will comprise a mixture of large and small group teaching.  The large group teaching will involve lectures and group discussion.  The lectures will introduce core economic issues pertaining to multinational businesses and provide an overarching structure for the module as a whole.  The group discussions will require students to analyse topics and problems arising in the lecture and to discuss research essay plans.  Students will be asked to reflect on how they can best develop their research skills to help them prepare both for the module's coursework and for the final semester project on their degree. They will be reminded of how such a discussion fits in with their PDP. Small group teaching, in the form of seminars, will provide students with an opportunity to explore issues identified in lectures in greater detail, to strengthen understanding and to apply economic analysis to real-world problems.  These objectives will be achieved via review questions during seminar sessions.

At the end of this module students will:
1. Be aware of the extent of and the reasons for FDI in the world economy
2. Be able to critically analyse the major operations of the multinational business
3. Be in a position to analyse the implications of the increase in FDI, including its impact on the globalisation process and national economies
4. Be aware of some of the major contemporary issues impinging on multinational businesses' activities
 

1.  Essay/Coursework worth 50% of the overall marks for the module.
2.  Unseen 2- hour examination paper worth 50% of the overall marks for the module.

Cavusgil, S. T., et al (2008) International Business: Strategy, Management, and the New Realities, Prentice Hall
Dicken, P., (2010) Global Shift: Mapping the Changing Contours of the World Economy, 6th Edition, Sage.
Ietto-Gillies, G. (2005) Transnational Corporations and International production concepts, Routledge, London.
Morrison, J. (2006) The International Business Environment, Palgrave.
Murray, G. and Scott, J. (2012)Financial Elites and Transnational Business: Who Rules the World?, Edward Elgar Publishing.
Rugman, A. M . and S. Collinson (2012) International Business, 6th Edition, Prentice Hall.