There are no prerequisites
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
GLOBALIZATION: the new global era; what is globalization?; the emergency of global institutions; drivers of globalization; managing in the global marketplace; globalization and cultures.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE THEORY
STRATEGY AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE IN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS: the global expansion strategy; the organization of international business; entry strategies in foreign markets and strategic alliances.
INTERNATIONAL MANUFACTURING NETWORKS: design and structure of IMNs; plant roles in a network; decision-making in IMNs.
GLOBAL VALUE CHAINS AND MANUFACTURING LOCATION DECISIONS: Global Value Chain Analysis; Offshoring and reshoring.
Lectures will characterize teaching activities. However, a special attention will be given to the interaction with the students, who will be pushed to formulate proposals for in-depth study or debate, during the lessons. A combination of practical activities, case discussions and business seminars by guest speakers will be used to favor in-class interaction and to develop the students’ insights. Supplementary teaching material will be used: papers, case-studies, slides and other support material suggested by the teacher. Finally, the attending students will participate in the international challenge X-Culture Connecting Cultures.
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.
Exam contents:
a) ATTENDING STUDENTS: only for attending students the final assessment will be defined as follows: 70% X-Culture Challenge (both the results of the challenge, and the assessment of the presentation of the project to the faculty), 30% Individual assignment, 10% (bonus) in-class proactive participation
b) NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS: reference text 1 Chapters 1, 4, 6, 8, 13, 14, 15, 17; some scientific papers (to be provided by the lecturers upon request).
The two alternative paths (the one for attending students and the one for non-attending students) have an equal level of overall difficulty.
NOTE: If the teaching is given in mixed or remote mode, changes may be made to what is stated in the syllabus to make the course and exams effective also in these ways.