international business strategy

Program / Bachelor in Management
Instructor: / Associate Professor A. Panibratov,
Department: / Strategic and International Management
Course status / Elective
Specialization / International Management, Marketing
Year / 4th year
Term / Fall – 2011
Workload: / 3 ECTS, 45 hours of classes
Prerequisites: / International economics, International marketing, International trade
Course abstract / The course covers the most important issues of the international strategy formation and development by multinational enterprise. Students assist lectures, read the recommended literature, prepare assignments and individual reports, and participate in case studies discussions. Students also have in-class assignments (analysis of the situations when doing international business, definition of the factors that configure the oversea activity of the company, evaluation of strategic decisions of MNE, etc.). Besides, during the period of the course the groups of 3-4 students are required to prepare a project in the format of a case on one of the course topics using real life situations of the MNEs' business strategies. The last session of the course is devoted to presentation and discussion of the projects.
Course aim and objectives: / The aim of the course is to provide students with understanding of the following issues: how the MNC is interpreted theoretically as an economic organization; how MNCs organize their resources and capabilities to achieve competitive success in international context; what managerial approaches MNCs use when entering and organizing activities in transition economies (the Russian Federation as a core example).
Knowledge and skills / Students gain knowledge on the development of the strategic options for international business situation through analyzing and discussing the most illustrative cases of the international companies’ challenges and decisions when doing business abroad.
Coursecontent: / Topic 1. The theory of internationalization and foreign market entry.
Topic 2. The multinational enterprise and its strategy.
Topic 3. MNE’s foreign operation methods.
Topic 4. FDI as a vehicle of the internationalization.
Topic 5. Building strategic capabilities for emerging markets
Topic 6. Organization of the MNE activities in Russia.
TeachingMethods: / Lectures, individual assignments, case studies, group projects.
GradingPolicy: / Final exam / 50%
Course work: / 50%
Course work includes:
Type of assignment / Number of assignments per type / Part of final grade
Individual assignment: preparation of reports on the selected topics / 1 / 7%
Group work: case study discussion and reporting / 5 / 25%
Course project report defense (group) / 1 / 18%
Required reading: / Type / Title
Textbook /
  1. Welch L., Benito G., Petersen, B. Foreign Operation Methods: Theory, Analysis, Strategy, Edward Elgar, MPG books Ltd, Cornwall, 2007.

Cases /
  1. Ronstan Sailing Around the World / A. Murray, L. Welch, D. Welch, D. Black, R. Arambewela. - 2007.
  2. Knauf International’s Strategy: Does Russia Need German Brick? / A. Panibratov. - ECCH. – 2007. - № 307-375-1.
  3. Why Do We Need the Fifth Wheel? NokianTyres' Strategy in Russia / A. Panibratov. - ECCH. – 2009. – № 309-034-1.
  4. Joint Ventures in the Construction Market: The Perspective of Finnish Firms in Russia / A. Panibratov. - ECCH. – 2010. - № 510-057-1.
  5. The Balance Between Operations Scale and Services Quality in the Russian B2B Market / A. Panibratov. - ECCH. – 2010. - № 510-058-1.

Optional readings /
  1. Bartlett C.A., Ghoshal S., Beamish P.W. Transnational Management: Text, Cases, and Readings in Cross-Border Management, 5th ed., Irwin / McGraw-Hill, Boston (Mass), 2008.
  2. Cumberland, F. Theory Development within International Market Entry Mode – An Assessment, The Marketing Review, 2006, 6: 349-373.
  3. Dong, B., Zou, Sh., Taylor, Ch.R. Factors That Influence Multinational Corporations’ Control of Their Operations in Foreign Markets: An Empirical Investigation, Journal of International Marketing, 2008,.16 (1): 98-119.
  4. Hansen, M., Pedersen, T., Petersen, B. MNC strategies and linkage effects in developing countries, Journal of World Business, 2009, 44: 121-130.
  5. Panibratov, A. Internationalization Process of Russian Construction Industry: Inward Investments Perspective, Journal for East European Management Studies, 2009, 2: 210-228.
  6. White III, G.O., Joplin, J.R.W., Salama, M.F. Contracts and Conflict Resolution Strategies in Foreign Ventures: A Transaction Cost Perspective, International Journal of Conflict Management, 2007, 18 (4): 376-390.
  7. Yamin, M., Sinkovics, R. Infrastructure or foreign direct investment? An examination of the implications of MNE strategy for economic development, Journal of World Business, 2009, 44: 144-157.
  8. Yu, T., Cannella, A. Rivalry Between Multinational Enterprises: An Event History Approach, Academy of Management Journal, 2007, 50 (3): 665-680.