University of Technology Sydney

20102 The Global Context of Management

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2024 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Business: Management
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks

There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.

Description

As a core subject in the management and international business majors, this subject is designed to give students a broad overview of the complexity of the global business environment. Students gain an understanding of how the global context of the business environment impacts upon managerial processes. Understanding business in context engages students to appreciate the interrelationships between global business and the environmental, social, technical, legal and regulatory frameworks that influence business operations. Students are encouraged to explore examples of the ethical dilemmas managers encounter operating within this context through problem-based learning activities where they develop essential global management capabilities.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
1. explain the connections between and impacts on strategic management and innovation processes of social, technological, economic and environmental changes
2. discuss the relationship between international, national or regional institutions and systems and their impacts on business practices
3. contrast key dimensions of major economic systems and their relationship to government policy and the business regulatory environment
4. develop managerial capabilities in preparing and making business decisions and differing business practices in a challenging business context

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes

This subject builds on the knowledge of the external environment provided in the core subject Integrating Business Perspectives. It provides students studying in the Management and International Business majors an opportunity to develop their understanding of the global business environment and the variations between different national and regional contexts. It develops problem-based learning skills for addressing complex ethical issues in a global context.

This subject also contributes specifically to the following program learning objectives:

  • Demonstrate interrelationships between differing business disciplines (1.2)
  • Apply critical and creative thinking to address issues in business (2.3)
  • Demonstrate an awareness of conflicting ethical demands of various stakeholders within business (4.1)
  • Evaluate business responses to ethical issues and dilemmas (4.2)
  • Critically analyse the core professional obligations, values and operations of organisations, including sustainability in teams in an inclusive manner (4.3)

Teaching and learning strategies

The subject will be taught using a combination of large lectures and smaller tutorials. The lectures provide the structure of the topic area, discussion of the theory and some practical examples. Tutorials provide an opportunity to discuss ideas, issues and make practical application of the theory, as well as encourage students to think in a creative manner to solve real world problems. Use is made of the UTS Learning Management System, which will be used to share information, provide feedback and encourage interaction between staff and students.

Content (topics)

  • Differing perspectives on the emergence of global business
  • The global economy context as a complex system
  • International trade policy
  • Methodologies for understanding the global context of managing: The PESTLE framework: Integrating frameworks within a stewardship approach
  • Sustainable business development
  • Multicultural workplaces: Employment relations, human rights and the ILO: The multicultural workplace
  • Socially responsible business

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Report (Individual)

Objective(s):

This addresses subject learning objective(s):

3 and 4

Weight: 30%
Length:

This report requires 2500 words. Although + or - 5% is allowed, there is an expectation that students should not exceed the maximum number of words.

You will use a combination of academic literature (e.g. journal articles and books), industry and business reports, government reports, news articles, journal references and online sources.

Harvard referencing style is required for all referencing.

The coversheet, table of contents, reference lists and appendices do not count towards the word limit.

Criteria:
  • Industry overview
  • Country analysis
  • Recommendation
  • Quality of submitted work

Assessment task 2: Research project (Group)*

Objective(s):

This addresses subject learning objective(s):

1 and 2

Weight: 20%
Length: Oral Presentation: Each group is required to present to their tutorial group their findings on their allocated topic (up to 20 minutes oral presentation + 5 minutes question time). Harvard referencing style is required for all referencing
Criteria:
  • Overall quality
  • Analysis of the case and identification of key issues
  • Recommendations

*Note: Late submission of the assessment task will not be marked and awarded a mark of zero.

Assessment task 3: Final Exam (Individual)

Objective(s):

This addresses subject learning objective(s):

2, 3 and 4

Weight: 50%

Minimum requirements

Students must achieve at least 50% of the subject’s total marks.

Required texts

Guide to Writing Assignments, Faculty of Business, University of Technology, Sydney. This guide is available as a FREE download from (http://www.uts.edu.au/current-students/business/study-and-assessment-resources/developing-your-academic-writing).

Further essential readings for each week will be available via Canvas.

Recommended texts

Deresky, H., 2017. International Management: Managing Across Borders and Cultures (8th edition), Remin University Press.

Open textbook under Creative Commons:

Carpenter, M., and Dunung, S.P., 2011. International Business. Saylor Foundation, New York.

This is a free (open text) book accessible via: https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/72

A pdf copy of this textbook shall be made available in your CANVAS.

This ebook is an open textbook under Creative Commons' Attribution-NonCommercial CC BY-NC.

In other words, the textbook can be used freely for educational purposes.

There will also be e-textbooks and other electronic readings that are available online through UTS Library that will be posted in our CANVAS site.

Your research may require you to use articles from reputable academic publications.

Below are some well-regarded international business and management journals that are available via the library databases:

  • Journal of International Business Studies
  • Journal of World Business
  • Journal of Management Studies
  • Journal of International Management
  • Management International Review
  • Global Strategy Journal
  • International Business Review
  • International Journal of Human Resource Management
  • Journal of Global Mobility
  • International Studies of Management and Organization
  • International Journal of Intercultural Relations
  • Thunderbird International Business Review
  • Multinational Business Review