MSBL5601 Global Business
The march of globalization continues, and international business is pivotal to the operations of virtually all firms. It is no longer possible to think of business as national or local. As companies intensify their international presence, the need to understand the economic, political, legal and cultural differences increases, as does the imperative for sound and sustainable marketing strategies on a global scale. As such, managers must apply ways of thinking and making decisions that are designed for complexity, diversity and flexibility. This course provides tools and frameworks to prepare students to succeed on a global stage. The course is unique not only in focusing on successful strategies for global business, but also in examining how companies can cope well with institutional changes in diverse markets. The course delves into the many challenges that multinationals face when navigating across markets and entering new ones, offering guidance for analyzing the opportunities and constraints while at the same time providing concrete examples of successful (or failed) business strategies. Various learning methods are used in this course, including in-class lectures, readings, discussion of current events in the world economy, and real world case analysis. Upon successful completion of this course, students will understand (a) the institutional framework and policy management of international relations, (b) risk assessment and strategic analysis of nation-states, (c) global marketing strategy development for both entering new markets and growing/sustaining current markets, and (d) the organizational concerns of the transnational enterprise.