SM9729 - International Business and Development Impacts

Students will explore a range of theoretical perspectives and empirical analyses linking business activity to economic development outcomes. Students are encouraged to critically examine the nature and scope of international business, comparative theories of international trade and investment activity, alongside host country development challenges. Students will use business cases, sector- and country- case studies to encourage the applied understanding of differentiated business relationships and processes, and host country development outcomes.

The module will be delivered through teaching and learning activities comprising lectures (2) and seminar (1) weekly. Lectures will introduce theoretical perspectives and empirical cases guided by the tutor. Seminars will support students through directed tasks and guided set reading to support understanding and application of complex concepts in class. Individual and group tasks during seminars will enhance learning, for which formative feedback will be provided. Learning activities will be provided to support and prepare students to perform well in the summative assessment.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:
1 To acquire an in-depth understanding of the global business environment (MLO1) by examining the organization of international business activities and their impacts on a range of actors in international contexts

2 To understand how international business practices are organised and adapted to respond to changing business environments, and to address development challenges, including the Sustainable Development Goals. (MLO2)

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
3 To research, understand and communicate complex information and apply the learnings towards addressing complex business and societal challenges as managers and business leaders (MLO3)

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
4 To appreciate the complexity involved in interactions between business, state and society in the context of national and global development and the Sustainable Development Goals (MLO4)

Formative assessment:
The seminar sessions will be interactive and students will participate in team and individual tasks, including presentations and group research tasks. These tasks to be completed in class, with tutor support, will complement the summative assessment. Formative feedback will be provided by tutors in the regular seminar sessions to help students achieve the MLOs.


Summative assessment:
Students will be assessed through a 100% weighted final assignment, which is a 3500-word individual task exploring aspects of development impacts related to international business. The task will test students’ ability to complete a research task, analyse complex information, apply theory and learning to address real-world issues and make recommendations of relevance to business managers and society. This will address MLO1, MLO2, MLO3 and MLO4.

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In this module, International Business and Development Impacts, students will explore the complex and dynamic links between international businesses, governments, and society in the context of national and global development. As key actors in the competitive global economy, international businesses have the potential to contribute towards economic and social development objectives, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).Students will explore contemporary debates on international businesses as development and policy actors in host economies, and evaluate the potential for initiatives such as the UN Global Compact to involve business actors in development.

Students will be introduced to a range of theoretical and empirical perspectives, and supported to analyse the complex interactions between international business and broader development. They will;
• Explore the complex organisation of international business activities across countries and regions.
• Review theories and concepts which seek to explain development or its absence /presence.
• Understand the determinants of foreign direct investment (FDI) in terms of motives, ownership structures and locations in developing versus developed countries.
• Analyse the impacts of FDI in terms of economic growth, technology transfer, job creation and skills, local businesses, financial volatility, incentives and taxes.
• Analyse the arguments for and against international businesses as development and policy actors, and the theories and arguments for and against promoting (or restricting) foreign direct investment by host governments.
• Evaluate the potential for international businesses to impact positively on host economies in the context of development, through initiatives such as the UN Global Compact and the Sustainable Development Goals.