Course syllabus - Managing the Multinational Enterprise

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. 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. At least 45 credits must be completed by course start including 15 credits on level G1F. In addition English course B/English course 6 is required.
Foreign students are required to submit a test of English equivalent to a TOEFL test result of at least 575 with TWE score 4.5 (PBT) or 90 with TWE score 20 (iBT) or an IELTS test score for academic purposes with an overall band score of 6.5 and no band score below 5.5. The test is mandatory for all applicants except for those from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Great Britain and the USA.

Examination

Track Projekt
Project work in group (PRO1), 7 credits, grades Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG) (learning outcomes 1-8)
Individual home examination (HEM1), 4 credits, grades Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (learning outcomes 1-6 och 8)
Individual exercises (OVN1), 4 credits, grades Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG) (learning outcomes 1-8)

Track Practical work placement
Practical work placement and report (PRA1), 7 credits, grades Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (learning outcomes 1-8)
Individual home examination (HEM1), 4 credits, grades Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (learning outcomes 1-6 and 8)
Individual exercises (OVN1), 4 credits, grades Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction learning outcomes 1-8)

For grade VG on the whole course, VG on at least 8 credits is required.

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.

Grade

Pass with distinction, Pass, Fail

Interim Regulations and Other Regulations

This course overlaps 15 credits with former courses with the same title, FÖA203 and FOA203.