Print Course syllabus
Course syllabus - Managing the Multinational Enterprise
Scope
15 credits
Course code
FOA231
Valid from
Autumn semester 2023
Education level
First cycle
Progressive Specialisation
G2F (First cycle, has at least 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirements).
Main area(s)
Business Administration
School
School of Business, Society and Engineering
Ratified
2019-06-28
Revised
2022-12-22
Literature lists
Course literature is preliminary up to 8 weeks before course start. Course literature can be valid over several semesters.
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Books
Theories of the multinational firm : a multidimensional creature in the global economy
3. ed. : Cheltenham : Edward Elgar, 2017. - ix, 218 pages
ISBN: 978-1-78536-713-7 LIBRIS-ID: 20900068
Articles
Mandatory Articles Theme 1: Control and Coordination in MNEs (Book chapters 2 + 3 + 6)
Balancing subsidiary influence in the federative MNC: a business network view
Journal of International Business Studies, 38(5), 802-818. , 2007
What are the consequences of initiative-taking in multinational subsidiaries?
Journal of International Business Studies, 41, 1099-1118., 2010
Innovation and Control in the Multinational Firm: a Comparison of Political and Contingency Approaches,
Strategic Management Journal, 28, 473-486., 2007
Complementary reading for Theme 1
Dealing with headquarters in the multinational corporation: a subsidiary perspective on organizing costs
Journal of Organization Design, 8(1), 12., 2019
Mandatory Articles Theme 2: Knowledge Transfer in MNEs (Book chapter 4)
In the Right Place at the Right Time! The Influence of Knowledge Governance Tools on Knowledge Transfer and Utilization in MNEs
Global Strategy Journal, Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 27-47. (doi: 10.1002/gsj.1088), 2015
Knowledge flows within multinational corporations
Strategic Management Journal, 21(4), 473-496., 2000
Stickiness and the adaptation of organizational practices in cross-border knowledge transfers
Journal of International Business Studies, 35, 508-523., 2004
Unpacking interunit knowledge transfer in multinational enterprises
Global Strategy Journal, 5(3), 241-255., 2015
Knowledge outflows from foreign subsidiaries and the tension between knowledge creation and knowledge protection: Evidence from the semiconductor industry
International Business Review, 23(1), 63-75., 2014
Complementary reading for Theme 2
Balancing the trade-off between learning prospects and spillover risks: MNC subsidiaries vertical linkage patterns in developed countries
Journal of World Business, 48(4), 503-514., 2013
Mandatory Article Theme 3: The Responsible MNE (Book chapters 5 + 7 + 9)
Is the socially responsible corporation a myth? The good, the bad, and the ugly of corporate social responsibility
Academy of Management Perspectives, 23(2), 44-56., (2009)
MNC involvement in social innovations: the issue of knowledge, networks and power
Critical perspectives on international business, 16 (1), 79-99., (2020)
Implementing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in international business
Journal of International Business Studies, 2021
Corporate social responsibility and governance: Information disclosure in multinational corporations
Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 24(6), 555-56., (2017
Political behavior, social responsibility, and perceived corruption: A structuration perspective
Journal of International Business Studies, 37(6), 747-766, 2006
Complementary reading for Theme 3
Multinationals misbehavior
Journal of World Business, 56(5), 101244, 2021
Driving sustainability in emerging markets: The leading role of multinationals
Industrial Marketing Management, 114, 211-225, (2023)
Rules, standards, and ethics: Relativism predicts cross-national differences in the codification of moral standards
International Business Review, 20(3), 353-361., 2011
Effects of local legitimacy on certification decisions to global and national CSR standards by multinational subsidiaries and domestic firms
Journal of International Business Studies, 47(3), 382-397., 2016
Multinational enterprises and the Sustainable Development Goals: An institutional approach to corporate engagement
Journal of International Business Policy, 1(3-4), 208-233, 2018
Objectives
The course aims to provide the students with broad knowledge of the history of the development of multinational enterprises, the status of the global market and conditions for multinational enterprises. The second aim is to provide the students with a set of tasks that prepare them for a career in which they solve the practical issues managers in MNEs face.
Learning outcomes
After completed course the student shall be able to:
1. describe and illustrate the emergence of MNEs and how MNEs function and act on the global market;
2. describe and illustrate the management problems of MNEs, such as how management can understand both the external environment and internal structure and match them;
3. describe and illustrate how activities between different markets of a large MNE can be coordinated;
4. describe, illustrate and critically evaluate the company's role, approach and responsibility to ethical and sustainable aspects in an international market;
5. analyze, critically review and interpret the theoretic models on the economic activity of multinational companies that are presented in the course;
6. practice solving problems in groups and individually;
7. constructively peer review other student's and/or group work as well as consider and present, independently, own ideas and arguments in a group and in front of a group (presentation).
8. write different types of reports.
Course content
The course deals with the problems management in multinational enterprises face and the strategies they consider to act on their markets, as well a scientific approach to the study of multinational enterprises (MNEs) and their markets.
The course is given in two parallel tracks, one with a project work and one with a practical work placement. In the project track the students work in group with an extensive written paper of scientific nature. In the practical track the student must initiate and establish contact with an enterprise or an organization, that is operating in an international market, and make an agreement about suitable work placement tasks.
Tuition
Learning activities consist of lectures, seminars and tutorials. For the project track the students do individual assignments, seminar activity and group work. For the practical track the students do individual assignments, seminar activity and work placement with a written individual report.
Specific requirements
Business Administration 60 credits with progression including 15 credits on level G1F. In addition English course 6 is required.
Examination
Track Projekt
Project work in group (PRO1), 7 credits, grades Excellent (A), Very good (B), Good (C), Satisfactory (D), Sufficient (E), Insufficient, complementary work possible (Fx), Insufficient (F) (learning outcomes 1-8)
Individual home examination (HEM1), 4 credits, grades Excellent (A), Very good (B), Good (C), Satisfactory (D), Sufficient (E), Insufficient, complementary work possible (Fx), Insufficient (F) (learning outcomes 1-6 och 8)
Individual exercises (OVN1), 4 credits, grades Excellent (A), Very good (B), Good (C), Satisfactory (D), Sufficient (E), Insufficient, complementary work possible (Fx), Insufficient (F) (learning outcomes 1-8)
Track Practical work placement
Practical work placement and report (PRA1), 7 credits, grades Excellent (A), Very good (B), Good (C), Satisfactory (D), Sufficient (E), Insufficient, complementary work possible (Fx), Insufficient (F) (learning outcomes 1-8)
Individual home examination (HEM1), 4 credits, grades Excellent (A), Very good (B), Good (C), Satisfactory (D), Sufficient (E), Insufficient, complementary work possible (Fx), Insufficient (F) (learning outcomes 1-6 and 8)
Individual exercises (OVN1), 4 credits, grades Excellent (A), Very good (B), Good (C), Satisfactory (D), Sufficient (E), Insufficient, complementary work possible (Fx), Insufficient (F) learning outcomes 1-8)
A student who has a certificate from MDU regarding a disability has the opportunity to submit a request for supportive measures during written examinations or other forms of examination, in accordance with the Rules and Regulations for Examinations at First-cycle and Second-cycle Level at Mälardalen University (2020/1655). It is the examiner who takes decisions on any supportive measures, based on what kind of certificate is issued, and in that case which measures are to be applied.
Suspicions of attempting to deceive in examinations (cheating) are reported to the Vice-Chancellor, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, and are examined by the University’s Disciplinary Board. If the Disciplinary Board considers the student to be guilty of a disciplinary offence, the Board will take a decision on disciplinary action, which will be a warning or suspension.
Study guideGrade
AF-skala
Interim Regulations and Other Regulations
This course overlaps 15 credits with former courses with the same title, FÖA203, FOA203 och FOA227.