International Management

Introduction

Are you planning to work abroad or in an international company? This programme gives useful tools and a deeper understanding on how to plan and manage international operations. The programme is structured around the following five issues:

• The international context: If a firm wants to internationalize, where should it go?
• Strategy and Organization: How can the company succeed, and how organize foreign units?
• Management: How should the people in foreign units be managed, and by whom?
• Emerging Markets: What specific challenges exist if the firm operates in emerging markets, like China ?
• Process and Implementation: How can the international company manage its businesses successfully?

This programme focuses on two main topics within international management. First, we look at the cultural and institutional context in which international firms operate. The programme is especially focusing on emergent markets as an institutional and cultural setting, and students will get tools for assessing cultural differences and discuss the implications of these differences in managing the international firm. The second topic is international strategy and organisation. We review key concepts and models, and participants will learn how to analyze strategic challenges and make strategic decisions, as well as look at implications of strategy for organization and processes.

The programme comprises an inter-disciplinary approach with perspectives from strategic management, human resource management, social sciences and cultural studies. The program provides first-hand experience of different cultures and utilizes these in a comparative analysis of relevant issues within international management. The programme focuses both on the European business culture as well as cultures in emerging economies, like China. The programme includes a study-trip to Shanghai.

The programme provides numerous opportunities for the sharing of practical experiences and for building networks trough meeting businesses abroad and working with other internationally oriented students. The programme is ideally suited for managers, project leaders and professionals in the private and public sector who have, or wish to have, international assignments and responsibilities. This programme is run in close cooperation with the business school at Fudan University in Shanghai. All teaching is English

Course content

1st course module –
Introducing International Management Models: Context, culture and strategy

2nd course module –
Organization of international operations and networks between firms.

3rd course module –
People in international organizations: International Human Resource Management and Negotiations

4th course module –
International management in an Asian context: Business life and management in China. Study-trip to Shanghai. Focus: Environment, Strategy, and Management

5th course module
–International Management: Combining theory and practice