International Business Management induction information

About your programme

Module information

You’ll complete your course one block or ‘semester’ at a time. In each semester you’ll study modules. Some are core modules you have to take – others you’ll be able to choose between when you arrive, personalising the course to your interests.

In your first semester you will study the following modules:

• Responsible and Ethical Leadership 

Responsible and Ethical Leadership

This module is concerned with the behaviour of managers and leaders when they are held responsible and accountable by standards other than shareholder value maximisation. The module is designed to ensure students understand how to reason ethically and how to approach ethical decision making within business and other management contexts, such as non-profit and third sector organisations.

Students will understand how unethical or reckless leadership of organisations can give rise to malpractice, undermine organisational viability and lead to reputational collapse whilst also harming wider society. In relation to business corporations, models of governance and frameworks that emphasise the primacy of shareholders will be considered as well as alternative models, and the importance of corporate purpose. In analysing how the principles of responsible decision-making should operate through management, ownership and governance, students will apply ethical thinking to real-life business and leadership situations thus helping them to become ethical decision makers and ethical leaders in the context in which they work.

The module will include a particular emphasis on tools to evaluate ethical behaviour in organisations.

The module will also address ethical and legal obligations in relation to personal data, the treatment of employees and environmental issues.

Assessment focuses on the development of a reflective personal leadership plan and the development of a case study.

• Sustainability, Governance and Social Capital 

Sustainability, Governance and Social Capital

The module equips students with a sound understanding of the challenges that sustainable development makes to business practice. It examines the key economic, social and cultural issues in the relationship between business and the environment, and explores sustainable development in the global context of rapid economic and environmental change.

• Credits: 20
• Creativity, Entrepreneurship and Innovation 

Creativity, Entrepreneurship and Innovation

In this module, students will have the opportunity to learn about the concepts of creativity, entrepreneurship, and innovation, while also developing and using their creative, entrepreneurial, and innovative faculties. The module begins with an introduction to some wicked problems in cross-cultural contexts that creativity, entrepreneurship and innovation may be able to help influence. After this, the module explores organisational mechanisms through which these concepts can be brought to bear on wicked problems – including new ventures, corporate venturing, and entrepreneurial ecosystems. The module concludes with an investigation of design thinking, where during which students will gain an understanding of design thinking principles and techniques, and to develop their own ideas for creative, entrepreneurial, and innovative solutions to the wicked problems with which they are concerned. Assessment is distributed across the duration of the module, with a new section being added to the student’s portfolio mid-semester, and the second half at semester conclusion.

• Credits: 20
• International Marketing 

International Marketing

This module is designed to provide students with an understanding of the nature of the marketing function and how marketers act when operating internationally. While underpinned by marketing theory, the module focuses on the practical application of marketing in international organisations, its relationship to other business functions, and the impact that marketing can have on an international organisation.

• Credits: 20
• International Strategy 

International Strategy

The module has a strong international component, it explores strategies, strategy processes, and strategy concepts associated with multinational organisations. The module helps students to develop an understanding of strategy formation in business organisations, as well as non-governmental organisations and other organisational forms.

The module will provide students with a comprehensive appreciation of strategy formulation and implementation from both an organisational and individual perspective. Themes like strategic decision making, organisational structure, organisational learning, and the organisational environment will feature on this module.

• Credits: 20

Further information about the structure of your course can be found within the programme specification document.