Syllabus

Title
1364 SME - Course 3: Internationalization & FOREX Management
Instructors
Assoz.Prof. PD Dr. Jakob Müllner
Contact details
Type
PI
Weekly hours
2
Language of instruction
Englisch
Registration
09/05/23 to 09/15/23
Registration via LPIS
Notes to the course
Dates
Day Date Time Room
Thursday 10/05/23 09:00 AM - 11:00 AM Online-Einheit
Thursday 10/12/23 08:00 AM - 12:00 PM TC.1.01 OeNB
Thursday 10/19/23 08:00 AM - 12:00 PM D5.0.002
Thursday 11/02/23 08:00 AM - 12:00 PM TC.4.12
Thursday 11/16/23 09:00 AM - 11:00 AM D4.0.039
Thursday 11/23/23 09:00 AM - 11:00 AM D4.0.127
Thursday 12/07/23 09:00 AM - 11:00 AM TC.4.15
Contents

Just like large multinational corporations, SMEs venturing in international markets face liability of foreignness. Unlike MNEs, however, SMEs are less diversified, dispose of fewer resources and commonly have less knowledge about foreign markets. Hence, the liability of foreignness is exacerbated by, what could be referred to as “liability of smallness”.

To overcome these liabilities, internationalizing SMEs require a clear strategy and professional risk management. These country-related risks include, but are not limited to credit risk, political risk and socio-cultural risks. Most importantly, SMEs internationalizing into foreign markets face exchange rate risks. Despite disproportional exposure to exchange rate risks, “Many SMEs fail to grasp foreign exchange risk. (Bolshaw, 2013)”. In a study conducted by Giambona et al. (2018), 48% of non-financial firms rate foreign exchange risk as the most important or a material risk in international business.

The course covers SMEs’ risks in internationalization with particular focus on the financial and strategic management of exchange rate risks. This course is designed to teach students (a) the theoretical frameworks necessary to understand exchange rates' effects on firms (b) familiarize them with internal, contractual, external and strategic hedging instruments and (c) systematically reflect on the challenges of SMEs operating in multiple currency areas.In addition to these traditional treasury strategies, the course includes an extensive discussion of organizational issues in SME risk management and long-term strategic remedies for reducing the risks of internationalization.

Learning outcomes

During the course, students

  • acquire a fundamental understanding of exchange rate determination and forecasting on a macro-economic level
  • are familiar with exchange rate quotation customs
  • have a detailed understanding of different exchange rate exposure concepts (book exposure, transaction exposure and economic exposure)
  • can analyze the corporate hedging process in SMEs from a theoretical perspective
  • can implement simple internal and contractual strategies to mitigate foreign exchange risks in SMEs
  • can calculate and implement more complex external hedging strategies (forwards, futures, options)
Attendance requirements

Students must attend ALL mandatory sessions & online components.

Teaching/learning method(s)

 The course combines several learning components:
             o In-person and online video lectures
             o Online learning assignments after each class
             o Case Study
             o Final exam 

    Assessment

    · Online learning assignments                                                 15 %                 

    · Case Study                                                                             15 %                

    · Final exam (individual):                                                        70 %     

     

    Your grade will be based on your final score, as follows:

    • 90-100%             → Excellent (1)
    • 80-89%               → Good (2)
    • 70-79%               → Satisfactory (3)
    • 60-69%               → Sufficient (4)
    • 0-59%                 → Fail (5)
    Prerequisites for participation and waiting lists

    Registration follows LPIS system and the "Waiting List" System.

    Readings

    Please log in with your WU account to use all functionalities of read!t. For off-campus access to our licensed electronic resources, remember to activate your VPN connection connection. In case you encounter any technical problems or have questions regarding read!t, please feel free to contact the library at readinglists@wu.ac.at.

    Recommended previous knowledge and skills

    Preliminary understanding of financial markets is beneficial.

    Availability of lecturer(s)

    Open office hours:

    Tuesday 10:00 - 11:00 (D1 3rd floor) - please register via e-mail

    Tel: +43-1-31336-4374

    E-mail: jakob.muellner@wu.ac.at 

    Unit details
    Unit Date Contents
    1 05.10.2023

    Online Module
    Time: 9:00 - 11:00
     

    Admin and Introduction
    Course admin
    Introduction

    Online-assignment 1: (8 points)
    Students must strictly comply with deadlines to allow for hybrid learning on a large scale. Late submissions will NOT be considered.

    2 12.10.2023

    Presence 08-12

    Lecturecasts
    Watch S1_Exchange Rates and S2_Types of Foreign Exchange Rate Exposures

    • FX Markets
    • Exchange Rate Theories
    • Exchange Rate Quotations
    • Translation Risk
    • Economic Risk
    • Transaction Risk

     

    Online-assignment 2: (8 points)
    Students must strictly comply with deadlines to allow for hybrid learning on a large scale. Late submissions will NOT be considered.

    3 19.10.2023

    Presence

    Watch S3_Organizing FOREX Risk Management and S4_FOREX Hedging Instruments.

    Risk Management

    • Agency Theory and Risk Management
    • Organizing Hedging in SMEs
    • Hedging & Speculation
    • The Hedging Process
    • Exchange Rate Forecasting
    • Internal hedging strategies
    • Contractual hedging strategies
    • External hedging strategies
    • Money Market Hedge
    • Forwards & Futures
    • Currency Options

    Online-assignment 3: (8 points)
    Students must strictly comply with deadlines to allow for hybrid learning on a large scale. Late submissions will NOT be considered.
     

    4 02.11.2023

    Presence Module
     

    Recap of Modules

    +

    Tutor Session on Campus
    Room: TC.5.28

    +


    Case Study: Hand in case by 04.11.2022 (09:00 AM).

    Advice from your tutor: Watch S5_FOREX Hedging Instruments II

    5 02.11.2023

     

    Agenda
    Case Session
    FX Hedging I
    Hedging calculations
    Q&A

    Online-assignment 4: (9 points)
    Students must strictly comply with deadlines to allow for hybrid learning on a large scale. Late submissions will NOT be considered.

    6 16.11.2023

    Presence Module
     

    Lecturecasts
    Online Asynchronous
    Watch S5_FOREX Hedging Instruments II

    Agenda

    FX Hedging II
    Hedging calculations
    Q&A

    Online-assignment 5: (12 points)
    Online assignment 5 has an extended deadline and is weighted higher than the other assignments. Students must strictly comply with deadlines to allow for hybrid learning on a large scale. Late submissions will NOT be considered.

    7 23.11.2023

    Presence Module
     

    Last edited: 2023-09-26



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