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.