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BBA - International Business

International Business Environment

Programme Objectives

The programme has the following aims:

  1. To enable the study of organisations, their management and the changing external and international contexts in which they operate.

  2. Equip individuals for and/or development of a career in international business and associated specialized areas in business development, marketing, finance and tourism management at a professional or equivalent level to assume managerial positions in the arena of international business.

  3. Development of the ability to apply knowledge and understanding of international business and management to complex issues, both systematically and creatively, to improve business and management practice.

  4. Enhancement of lifelong learning and personal development so as to be able to work with self-direction and originality and to contribute to business and society at large.

Benefits

On successful completion of the programme, participants will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate understanding of management theories, current issues of management, the development of conceptual frameworks to guide their application within organizations operating in an increasingly global and competitive environment.
  2. Acquire a strong foundation in key functional areas of business management to enable them to succeed as effective managers in an increasingly complex and dynamic environment.
  3. Exhibit a coherent body of knowledge on economic, ethical, environmental, legal, political, sociological and technological factors together with their effects at local, national and international levels upon the strategy, behaviour and management of organisations.
  4. Demonstrate command of a range of competencies relevant to cross-border management, including inter-cultural awareness and understanding.
  5. Acquire and
  6. use a range of concepts, tools and techniques for problem solving and decision-making for analyzing complex and inter-related business scenarios.
  7. Demonstrate and apply critical skills enabling the investigation and evaluation of valid and relevant management issues and practices.

Programme Content

Overview

This module is designed to introduce the cross-border issues that are faced in an increasingly globalised world. The module will examine in turn the cultural, political, legal and economic environments in different parts of the world and the way in which the world business architecture is configured. Issues relating to both trade and investment will be explored and students will examine the tools available for the selection of appropriate markets in which to operate and those tools that will help to do so effectively.

Learning is facilitated via a series of lectures and supplemented with discussions of topics taking place in regular tutorials/ discussion forums. Tutorials/Discussions will involve supplementing the lectures using appropriate articles/case studies or discussions about international business environment issues and practices. Students’ learning is underpinned by core textbooks and recommended readings

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module, students will be able to:

  • Understand the context in which international business takes place
  • Distinguish what differentiates international from domestic business
  • Research the international business environment and understand the actors and their interaction in it
  • Apply knowledge and skills needed to develop solutions and challenges present in the international business environment

Syllabus

  • Introduction to and overview of the international business environment
  • The cultural environment
  • The political and legal environment
  • The economic environment
  • Government and parastatal influences on trade and investment
  • Corporate trade and investment issues and international marketing
  • Business-government relations
  • The international financial environment, currency and capital market issues
  • International market selection

Resources

  • Course Materials provided by IPE.
  • Daniels, J. D and Radebaugh, L. H. (2009) International Business Environments and Operations, 12th International Edition, Prentice-Hall, London
  • Ian Brooks, Jamie Weatherston, The International Business Environment, 2nd Edition, 2010, Pearson Education.
  • Online resources on OCTAL Portal
  • Online databases from IPE’s E Library