Expanding to Foreign Markets - Study guide

After completion of this course or the equivalent assessment of prior learning, the student will be able to:
- Identify the motives and risks of internationalization.
- Compare and contrast internationalization processes and strategies.
- Differentiate how multinational companies operate (location, communication, decision making, etc.)
- Compare and assess the suitability of various market entry modes to identify the optional ways to grow in selected markets
- Articulate the process to create a partner network
- Recognize the different strategic options of the company to make a reliable market assessment
- Explain and criticize the challenges and opportunities SMEs and MNCs face in terms of ethics, responsibility and sustainability when selling to markets abroad.
- Compare the cultural environment of business in developed and emerging markets.

- Terminology and definitions
- Reasons for companies to internationalize
- Prerequisites for successful internationalization/globalization
- Cultural environment of international business
- Ethics, corporate social responsibility, sustainability and governance in international business operations
- Understanding emerging markets
- Market entry strategies (export entry modes, FDI, contractual entry modes, projects)
- Partners, networks and international value chain
- Strategy and organization in the international firm
- Target market screening and selection

Assessment criteria
The student:
- knows the basic motives and risks of internationalization
- is able to identify some of the opportunities and challenges the international business environment poses.
- has a rudimentary knowledge of operation modes in foreign markets.
- knows the basic principles of internationalizing a firm’s value chain and utilizing value networks.
- is able to understand SME firm's value chain activity and relate it to a theory or model.
- is able to understand the challenges and opportunities companies face in terms of ethics, responsibility and sustainability when selling to markets abroad.

Assessment criteria
The student:
- knows the different motives and risks of internationalization.
- is able to analyze the opportunities and challenges the international business environment poses.
- has a good knowledge of various operation modes in global markets.
- is familiar with internationalizing a firm’s value chain and utilizing value networks.
- is able to participate as part of a team in analyzing the target market and drawing up a basic internationalization plan for a value chain activity of a firm.
- is able to explain the challenges and opportunities companies face in terms of ethics, responsibility and sustainability when selling to markets abroad.

Assessment criteria
- is able to identify proactive and reactive motives as well as the main risks associated with internationalization
- is able to analyze the relevant opportunities and challenges the international business environment poses.
- has a solid knowledge of various operation modes in foreign markets.
- has an analytical comprehension of how to internationalize a firm’s value chain and utilize value networks.
- is able to analyze the target market by choosing relevant information and draw up a well justified internationalization plan for a value chain activity of a firm.
- is able to explain and criticize the challenges and opportunities companies face in terms of ethics, responsibility and sustainability when selling to markets abroad.

Contact lessons and project work.

Class-based learning and team project, assignments, and independent work.

Inquiry learning
Peer-to-peer learning
Lectures, guest lectures and workshops
Case studies and reading circles
Independent studying and teamwork

List of reading (books, articles, web sites etc..) will be provided in the lectures
Cavusgil S.T., Knight G., Riesenberger J.R. 3rd Edition or newer. International Business: The New Realities.
Hollensen, S. (2017) Global Marketing. Pearson. Seventh edition

Guest lecturers, case studies

Porvoo Campus

No exam.

English

International learning materials.

18.08.2025 - 10.10.2025

Project, assignments

Four sessions in period 1. Please check the weekly schedule for contents from the course Moodle page and in Tuudo.

TRB3PCECO
EVENING
VIRTUAL
INSTRUCTED

You can proceed in your studies by
- participating in courses
- using recognition of prior learning (transfer crediting and demonstrations i.e. RPL) or
- using work-based learning during studies (Work & Study)

Katri Heikkinen

30 - 100

Individual assignments 60 %
Project work 40 %

TRALI Business Administration

0.00 cr

5.00 cr

H-5