Besides suppliers, customers, and other market stakeholders, governments and other non-market stakeholders play an essential role and influence the strategy of multinational companies. Governments can play different roles in the interaction with companies. They can both limit or enable companies in starting and doing successful business.

Students gain an understanding and awareness for the connection between non-market actors, such as governments, and companies in global markets, and its implications for firm strategy. The course format is interactive, covering both academic/theoretical background, and management/practical experience: in-class discussions, case studies & presentations. Students gain knowledge about the interaction of firm resources and capabilities, their institutional context, and the role of firms beyond their original understanding of market actors, i.e. as political actors. Furthermore, their understanding of similarities/differences between geographic and institutional characteristics will improve, not least through working on real-life case studies.

The main aim of this course it that students get an extended understanding of firms as market & political actors. More specific aims in terms of skills are:

• The ability to conduct a both market and non-market strategic analysis in specific geographic & institutional contexts.
• The ability to analyze case studies, which focus on the role of firms as "citizens" beyond their role as market actors.
  
• The ability to research material related to firm and country contexts, to structure ideas and presentations, and to work as members of a group.
• The ability to read and understand theoretical/empirical academic literature.
  
• The ability to transfer learnings from one context to others.

The course set-up is very interactive. There is a combination of basic teaching lectures, class discussions, academic paper presentations, case analyses and presentations.

Students are required to prepare for class: Readings provide both the knowledge and discussion base. Therefore, students are expected to do the readings, and tasks specified in the course outline for each session. Groups of about 5 students will be formed, with each of the groups giving a presentation on one of the topics descibed below.

Active participation in class is required. Interactive discussions in class, and group work are important parts of the course format.

The course is applied, meaning that students are expected to apply the tools and frameworks discussed in class (both during lectures, and paper presentations). The case studies concern real-life firms, country and institutional settings, and help students to learn about the implications of seeing firms in a broader context as "political actors", and understanding the influences of firms as being embedded in a context of both market and non-market actors.

Students will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

Case presentation (group): 70% of the final grade. Groups of four are pre-assigned. Each group will have to choose one of the topics described below. Each group will have to give a presentation and a hand-in a written report until November 14th.

Class participation (individual): 15% of the final grade. Active participation in class is required. (Participation is assessed based on preparedness, and quality of contributions in class.) If necessary, a short quiz will take place at the beginning of class to assess individual class preparation (would be announced!). Note: You are expected to attend all classes. However, you might miss one session maximum.

Reflection paper (individual): 15% of the final grade. Students should write a 1000-1200 words long essay at the end of the semester. They are to be written individually, and sent to me via e-mail until November 30th. They should not merely highlight the things that students liked and disliked in class. What is more important is that they describe the main take-aways from the course (main insights, how did it differ from other IB courses, etc.).

Completed both, International Business Foundations, and International Business Applications. (Note: This is not valid for exchange students!)