INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT

The course is one of the core educational activities of the degree programme in Business Administration and Management that allow students to gain knowledge of and understand the nature of management activities from a strategy perspective.
The objectives of the course are:
- gaining knowledge of concepts and theories of international management,
- understanding tools and models that allow to interpret and critically analyze the opportunities and challenges arising from operating across a firm's national borders,
- developing the ability to apply such knowledge, tools and models to the analysis and resolution of concrete problems in the field of international management.

Attendance and active participation to the three formative activities proposed by the course (taught classes, teamworks, management guest lectures) coupled with systematic individual study will allow students to achieve the following learning outcomes:
1. Knowledge and understanding
1.1 Knowledge and understanding of the different theoretical approaches to the study of the international competitive context
1.2 Knowledge and understanding of tools and models for the interpretation of the opportunities and challenges facing contemporary firms that operate in international markets
1.3 Knowledge and understanding of the different strategic options available to firms willing to enter international markets and expand their international presence
2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
2.1 Ability to apply the different theoretical approaches to the analysis of the international competitive context
2.2 Ability to apply models and tools to interpret the relevance of challenges and opportunities that firms face when operating in international markets
3. Judgement
3.1 Ability to determine which theoretical approaches, tools and models are more appropriate to effectively evaluate the opportunities and challenges facing contemporary firms that operate in international markets, in relation to the economic, social, institutional, and technological specificities of the different foreign markets in which they operate
3.2 Ability to critically evaluate the most suitable strategic paths to internationalization, given the economic, social, institutional, and technological specificities of the different foreign markets in which they operate

Propaedeutic subjects: Principles of Management and International Accounting

The course will cover the following topics:

- Globalization of markets
- The analysis of the international competitive environment
- Global competition and its implications
- Principles of international strategy
- Foreign country choice
- Foreign entry modes
- The internationalization process
- The management of the multinational firm

Collinson S., Narula R., Rugman, A. (2017). International Business. 7th edition. Pearson, UK
Chapters: 1 - 2 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 15 - 20

Additional teaching material will be uploaded on the Moodle page of the course

Learning achievements are assessed through a written test composed of 12 multiple-choice questions and 1 essay question (to be submitted in 30 minutes). For multiple-choice questions, correct answers score 2 points, while wrong answers deducts 0.5 points. The essay question scores a maximum of 6 points. Questions are designed to verify the knowledge of the theoretical concepts and models presented in the course, the ability to apply it to real-world examples, and the critical understanding of such concepts. For students attending the course, the grade of the written test is complemented by extra-points (max. 2) earned during classroom activities.

The course teaching method is based on the combination of frontally-taught classes, teamworks, and practitioner guest lectures.
Teamworks require students to analyze real-world case studies dealing with some of the most important theoretical topics covered in the course, to collaborate to solve strategic problems proposed by the instructor, and to discuss possible solutions in the classroom, with the aim to develop competences in the application of models, tools and theoretical approaches to real-world business cases, and to build up capabilities in the critical evaluation of different strategic paths to internationalization.
Practitioner guest lectures allow to put into contexts tools and theoretical models by leveraging the speakers' direct experience in the strategic management of real-world firms.

English

written

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Poverty and inequalities" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development