Info
Foto sezione
Logo Bocconi

Course 2017-2018 a.y.

30437 - INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS


BSS
Department of Management and Technology

Course taught in English


Go to class group/s: 95

BSS (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07)
Course Director:
OLGA ANNUSHKINA

Classes: 95 (I sem.)
Instructors:
Class 95: OLGA ANNUSHKINA


Course Objectives
In any field of professional activity – be it engineering, law, art, mathematics, physics, medicine or business – future leaders are expected to be able to deal with challenges and opportunities of the globalization, to set a positive tone, to craft a strategy, to organize teams, to ensure economic sustainability of their projects, to understand how to work together with a plenty of different, but crucial domestic and international stakeholders. In addition, because a business that makes nothing but money is a poor business, future leaders should be able to go beyond traditional wisdoms with the goal of overcoming recurring hurdles and of transforming problems in opportunities.
The course has been specifically designed for motivated non-business major students interested in understanding how and why firms survive, grow and attract talents in the “new normal” globalized and digitalized society.
At the end of the course the students are able to understand and critically assess the business models adopted by global companies, to assess the demand for different foreign market and to formulate the internationalization strategy and a business plan supporting business projects of international expansion.
The course is concentrated on analysing management challenges and value creation mechanisms. Key questions addressed through the learning journey are the followingWhat are the key components of a business model in the global context?
  • What is the impact of the internationalization on the firm’s profitability?
  • What are the approaches to the business model adaptation to cultural, legal, political, economic and geographic distances among markets?
  • How do firms select foreign markets?
  • What are the key challenges in the internationalization strategy implementation?
  • How to prepare a business plan to support the internationalization strategy?

Course Content Summary
The course includes three sections.
  • The role of internationalization for the firm’s growth and profitability.
  • How to prepare a business plan to support the internationalization strategy.
  • Definition of the internationalization strategy.

Experiential Learning.
The course includes three company visits to the Italian businesses operating on the global markets. During the company visits, participants have the chance to interact with top and middle managers to learn from other experiences.
Company visits (TBD).
  • A major pharmaceutical corporation.
  • A major player in the branded beverage industry.
  • A major car design firm.

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods
  • 50% "learning in action" assignments in small groups: 20% exercise + 30% final presentation on 19 July 2017.
  • 50% individual assessment comprising a written exam consisting of several open and multiple-choice questions, on 21 July 2017.

Textbooks
  • Selected readings available at the Bocconi Library and online.

Prerequisites
The course is designed for business and non-business majors and should be selected by highly motivated and intellectually curious students who want to broaden their understanding of business behaviours and relations in modern global markets.
Last change 26/06/2017 11:42