Multinationals (MNCs) face a persistent challenge when competing globally: how to manage their network of subsidiaries in order to create value and sustain the health and well-being of the firm in the long-run. Value creation expands beyond economic and shareholder value to include other forms of value such as employee value, customer value, supplier value, channel partner value, alliance partner value, managerial value, and societal value. Within the MNC, value is created through resource and knowledge transfer. The success of value creation is to a large extent conditional on the MNCs structure, MNC industry and the means of internationalization (e.g. mergers and acquisitions). A paramount feature of the discourse is the role of subsidiary influence on strategic decisions in the MNC and subsidiary autonomy.

The aim of this seminar is to increase student’s knowledge of international business management and to develop student’s understanding, both in a theoretical and practical sense, of problems and phenomena related to the multinational corporation. Contents will cover international strategies and structures, HQ-subsidiary relationship, subsidiaries roles and headquarters role in the contemporary MNC. A central aspect is to understand what value-creating mechanisms are used by MNCs and how differences in subsidiaries and their local business environment put constraints to headquarters managerial control.    

By the end of the seminar, students will be able:
• to understand the implications of operating across national borders
• to recognize the benefits of using different international strategies and organizational structures
• to tackle problems related to knowledge flows within multinational corporations
• to understand the basis for the competitive advantage of multinational firm

The seminar method blends lectures, discussions, and presentations.  

-          Substantial classroom discussion is encouraged and expected. 

-          All students are required on group assignment during the seminar. 

-          Prior to the seminar, students will receive reading material which have to be prepared before the actual start of the seminar. 

-          In addition, there will be a written exam on Monday September 17^th (one hour) covering all the readings provided in the reading pack.  

Students will be assessed on their:

 -          Ability to understand the strategic issues, to use the appropriate analytical techniques, and marshal the relevant data.

 -          Active participation in class.

 -          The quality of the presentations and the examination answers—by quality in this context we mean the clarity and persuasiveness of each bit of the work.

 -          Ability to work in teams. Students who fail to participate in their teams will lose the grade for that piece of work.