1.

Name of Course
International Business Strategy

2.

Course Code
ABDM5174

3.

Name(s) of academic staff

Johan Lim Kii Geat

4.

Rationale for the inclusion of the course in the program

mme
This course is designed to enable students to understand and evaluate the main factors and issues
that affect organisations strategic formulation and its international competitiveness.
Objectives:
1.
To evaluate the different approaches to strategies formulation.
2.
To evaluate the environmental influences, in particular, the international business
environment, on the organisation and its position.
3.
To evaluate international market entry strategies and the strategic options and make
appropriate recommendations.
4.
To appreciate the process of internationalisation and the internal and external triggers
involved.

5.

Semester and Year offered

Semester 4

6.

Total Student Learning Time (SLT)

Total Student Learning
Face to Face
Time (SLT)
L=Lecture
T=Tutorial
P=Practical
O=Others

7.

Credit Value
4

8.

Prerequisite (if any)

Nil

9.

Learning outcomes

28

28

Total Guided and

Independent
Learning

Total SLT

99

160

Upon completion of the course, students should be able to:

1. Explain the components of international business. (C3, LS)
2. Analyse the different strategic options for organisations in different international markets
and economies. (C4, A3, CTPS)
3. Discuss the internal and external triggers to internationalisation process and competitive
strategies. (C3, P2)
4. Analyse the international market entry and development strategies. (C3, KK)

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10.

Transferable Skills
Skills and how they are developed and assessed, Project and practical experience and
Internship
Transferable Skills
Problem-solving skills

11.

How they are developed

Developed through lectures,
tutorials, coursework and
case studies
Professionalism, ethics, &
Developed through
value
discussion in tutorials,
coursework and case
studies
Management skills and
Developed through
entrepreneurship
tutorials, group coursework
and case studies
Leadership skills
Developed through lectures,
tutorials, coursework
Teaching-learning and assessment strategy

Assessment
Assessed through tutorials,
coursework and
examination
Assessed through tutorials
and coursework
Assessed through tutorials,
coursework and
examination
Assessed through
coursework

Teaching-learning strategy
Lectures, tutorials, group discussions, individual/group presentation, case study, independent
research, independent reading, etc.
Assessment strategy
Coursework and Examination
12.

Synopsis
This course develops students ability to understand and analyse international business
management related situations. This course will arm students with the knowledge and skills to
assess, formulate strategic options and implementation of international business strategies in
achieving the desired objectives set in organisaitons. It also attempts to stimulate the students
intellectual curiosity as changes increase at a dramatic pace in the increasingly globalised market
place.

13.

Mode of Delivery
Lecture and Tutorial

14.

Assessment Methods and Types

Coursework (40%)
Group based written coursework
Individual based written coursework
Examination (60%)

15.

Mapping of the course to the Programme Aims

PA2, PA3, PA5

16.

Mapping of the course to the Programme Learning Outcomes

LO3, LO8, LO9

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17.

Content outline of the course and the SLT per topic

Week
Topic
L

Student Learning Time (SLT)

T
P
O
Total Guided and
Independent Learning

Introduction
An Overview of International
Business
What is International Business?
International Business Activities

The Extent of Internationalisation

The Evolution of International
Business
Reasons for International
Business Growth

Corporate, Business and

Functional Strategies
Strategy and the Company
International Business Strategy

The Challenges of International

Strategic Management
Strategic Alternatives

An Integrated Approach to
International Business Strategy
The Nature of the Strategy
Components of an International
Strategy
Developing International Strategy

Corporate Strategy
Business Strategy
Functional Strategy
Business Performance and
Corrective Adjustments

The Internationalisation Process

International Business Dynamics
Cross-border market entry
decisions
International Business
Development

International Financial
Management
Measuring International Business
Performance

86

External Triggers to the

Internationalisation Process
Meta-level Developments in the
World Economy
PEST Analysis

10

11

Internal Triggers to the

Internationalisation Process
Shaping an International Vision
and Mindset
Organisational Dynamics
Managing Organisation Change
Assessing and Changing
Corporate Culture

12

Resource Capability and

Competitive Advantage
Managing Organisational Change
to Improve Business Performance

13

Restricted National Market Scope

National Market Development
Over Time
Sustainability of National
Strategies

14

18.

Assessing the Internationalisation

of Industries
Bi-polarisation

Measuring Competitive
Advantage
Inter-market Comparisons
Benchmarking

Assessment:
Coursework
Examination
Total
Total
Total SLT
Subject Credit
Main references supporting the course

28

28

2
3
5
5

18
25
43
99
160
4

1. Griffin, R.W. & Pustay, M.W 2010, International Business. A Managerial Perspective. 5th
edn, Addison Wesley.
2. Hill, C.W.L 2011, International Business: Competing in the Global Marketplace. 8th edn,
McGraw-Hill.

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Additional references supporting the course

1. Ball, D.A., et al 2010, International Business: The challenge of Global Competition. 12th
edn, New York: McGraw Hill.
2. Wild, J.J., Wild, L. & Han, C. Y 2011, International Business. An Integrated Approach. 6 th
edn, Prentice Hall.
3. Daniels, J.D., et al 2011, International Business: Environments and Operations. 12th edn,
United States of America: Prentice Hall.
19.

Other additional information

Nil

88