Understand how shifting power dynamics, institutional diversity, and global megatrends—such as AI, demographic transitions, and geopolitical realignments—are reshaping the rules, risks, and rewards of international business across regions and sectors.
Contemporary Issues in International Business Management
This is a Level 1 course from the Management and Innovation major, part of the Open Bachelor’s programme. It is worth 6 ECTS and takes place in Term 2 in Lisbon.
Course Summary
International business is more than just expanding across borders – it’s about understanding shifting global contexts, cultural distinctions, and sustainable strategies in a world shaped by economic disruptions and technological change. In this course, you will explore critical issues such as how the pandemic has influenced global trade, the complexities of regional integration, and the interplay of corporate social responsibility and ethical decision-making. Through interactive discussions and hands-on projects, you’ll analyse core international institutions, apply the essential management frameworks in diverse cultural environments, and strengthen your strategic thinking. By the end, you’ll be ready to navigate complexity, make informed decisions, and lead confidently in an interconnected global economy.
Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)
| Description | Mapped to Human Intelligence | |
|---|---|---|
| CLO 1 | Describe key international business theories and explain how they apply to global challenges such as trade disruptions, multilateral institutions, or the strategies of multinational corporations. | CI3 – Mastery of Theoretical Foundations |
| CLO 2 | Evaluate how regional, cultural, and institutional differences shape business practices globally, and reflect on the implications for ethical, sustainable management and corporate responsibility. | CI4 – Mastery in Knowledge Application |
| CLO 3 | Demonstrate an understanding of strategic choices in global operations in the context of firms and international institutions through simulated and real-world case studies. | PI5 – Decision Making |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Weighting of Course Grade | Group Assessment? | Invigilated? | CLOs Mapped | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1 | Evaluative – Quiz | 20% | No | Yes | CLOs 1 & 3 |
| Assessment 2 | Digital – Digital Artefact | 30% | Yes | No | CLOs 2 & 3 |
| Assessment 3 | Practical – Case Study | 50% | No | Yes | CLOs 1, 2, 3 |
- Assessment 1 Description: Assess mid-course understanding of foundational concepts, international institutions, and key business theories.
- Assessment 2 Description: Assess students’ ability to investigate and communicate how cultural, institutional, and regional differences shape international business practice. Working with a real-world multinational company example, students will analyse ethical and sustainable decision-making and present their findings through a concise written memo and a brief in-class presentation.
- Assessment 3 Description: Students respond to an unseen, applied, international business scenario to explore the connection between theory and practice. This assessment will test core knowledge, critical linkage across course themes, and a case-based scenario analysis.
Indicative List
of Topics
Examine how cultural difference, stakeholder expectations, and global inequality shape corporate responsibility. Explore how firms navigate ethical dilemmas, manage the offshoring of jobs to lower-cost countries, and implement sustainable and socially responsible business practices in diverse institutional environments.
Assess the evolving landscape of international trade and investment, from WTO reforms and regional integration to the resurgence of industrial policy. Investigate how firms adapt in a world of supply chain shocks, reshoring pressures, and strategic decoupling.
Explore how firms design international strategies, choose between entry modes, and manage partnerships and subsidiaries across borders. Understand the tensions between global integration, local responsiveness, and political risk.
Investigate how companies manage innovation, talent, and employee wellbeing in an era of technological disruption, remote work, and rising geopolitical fragmentation. Assess the implications for competitiveness, inequality, and resilience in global markets.
