The course combines insights from research and practice to provide students with a thorough understanding of firms’ business development in international markets. Students will be provided with an overview of firms’ internationalization patterns and related strategies. The course introduces, and draws on, key internationalization theories that shape the current discourse in academia and between practitioners. Specifically, the course focuses on three interrelated decisions that affect firms’ internationalization endeavors: first, students learn about the characteristics and (dis-)advantages of different foreign entry mode choices (i.e., how to develop the firm internationally). Second, the course conveys the principles of firms’ foreign location choices (i.e., where to develop the business internationally). Third, the lecture discusses international new ventures and the firm's performance implications of early internationalization (i.e., when to start international operations). Finally, students will learn to apply the contents to real life issues of entrepreneurial firms and present their findings.

Upon completion of the course:

· Students have a profound understanding of key theoretical approaches and scientific methods to explain how, where, and when firms develop their business internationally. This knowledge enables them to understand and discuss fundamental research articles in the International Business literature.

· Students know central characteristics, determinants, and outcomes of firms’ entry mode choices and foreign location choices.

· Students have a thorough understanding of the international new venture phenomenon and understand the firm's implications of early and rapid internationalization.

· Students have the social and professional skills to communicate and apply foreign market entry mode, location choice and internationalization initiation decisions and to lead a related discussion.

The course will be offered in presence teaching mode on campus. Attendance is mandatory, but students may miss up to two sessions. However, this exception does not apply to sessions in which a student or her/his group is scheduled to give a presentation or participate in any other form of assessment.

Please observe the course-related announcements. Should social distancing be required in the winter semester, changes to the course’s teaching mode will be communicated in advance.

The course's didactic concept rests on three pillars:

1. Evidence-based teaching: The course follows an evidence-based teaching approach, which means teaching grounds on state-of-the-art research and contextual evidence. Linking research and teaching ensures that students learn concepts and methods that are relevant and effective based on the latest research knowledge.

2. Interactive: The course combines teacher-centered (e.g., lectures) and interactive (“flip-the-classroom”) elements (e.g., presentations, discussions, feedback sessions, teamwork) to facilitate effective and active learning among students.

3. Relevance: Real-life business issues in the internationalization of partner firms enable close ties between the course and industry demands.

The overall course grade is based on four assignments:

1. Active participation during class discussions (individual assignment): 10%

2. Group presentation (group assignment): 40%

3. Management report (group assignment): 25%

4. Final exam (individual assignment): 25%

Successful completion of the courses "KMU-Management" and "Außenhandelsmanagement"

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