Global Business Environment

Overview

This module conceptualises firms and their management systems as ‘open systems’ which interact with fluid external environments. The module seeks to introduce students to a multi-layered and multidimensional global business environment, highlighting the local, regional and global dynamic of the business environment. The module focuses on the external macro environment of the business organization. Central to the aims of the module is to understand and explain the ways in which firms are influenced by and shape their external environments in pursuit of their goals. The module considers a number of broad societal features and trends, including the role of the state, emerging economies, changing societies, trade dynamics and currency fluctuations, globalization and corporate social responsibility, with respect to dimensions such as the political, macroeconomic and socio-cultural contexts of business activity.

Learning Objectives

1. understand the concept of "organisations as open-systems";
2. understand the external forces which may impact on the operations of business organizations;
3. understand interactions between internal working of business organizations and the external environment;
4. understand the interaction between different parts of the external business environment;
5. evaluate the contemporary constraints and opportunities faced by organisations.

Skills

This module aims to develop subject specific skills, cognitive skills and key transferrable skills. For example:

Subject-specific Skills

1. Knowledge acquisition, cultural development and analysis skills;
2. Critical reflection and analysis, synthesis of different perspectives and knowledge;
3. Writing skills and practical strategic problem solving skills and understanding of the relevance and implications of cross-cultural issues for the performance and survival of the organization.

Cognitive Skills

1. Problem solving
2. Logical reasoning
3. Independent enquiry
4. Critical evaluation and interpretation
5. Self-assessment and reflection

Transferable Skills

1. Synthesise and evaluate information/data from a variety of sources
2. The preparation and communication of ideas in written form
3. Work both independently and in groups
4. Organisation and time management
5. Problem solving and critical analysis

Assessment

Students must achieve an overall mark of 40% in the module to pass