Internationalization strategy and how are Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) different from Multinational Companies (MNC)?

• Internationalization process
• Risk measurement
• Risk exposure -How are international SME different from MNC?

- Risk Exposure: What are the main challenges for SME compared to MNC?

• Mapping of risks of international SME versus MNC
• Comparative assessment of political risk to international SME and MNC by investigating risk exposures of smaller investors involved in investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) claims
  • Assessment of risk exposure using real world case studies
  • Assessing avoidable and unavoidable risks
  • Analysis and critical reflection of the lessons learned from the case studies

- Strategic responses to risk exposure

• What are the firms' strategies related to ISDS?
• Strategic risk mangement
  • Ex-ante: Reducing risk exposure
  • Ex-post Enforcement of damages
• How are SME and MNC different?
• Limitations of risk management for SME

- Insights in the challenges of SMEs internationalization

- Overview of the specific characteristics of political risk for international SMEs

- In depth understanding of the mechanisms of how exposure translates into damage from real world case studies

- Discussion and understanding of the strategies and instruments available to SMEs to overcome these challenges

- Critical view on the limitations of risk management for SMEs

- Understanding of the difference risk management for MNEs and SMEs

All units of the course are held on campus. Unless there is a change in emergency measures we will not have online session.

In general, the course requires presence in all units. Absence of one full session (out of 7) is accepted. Further absence is tolerated within normal parameters (e.g. doctor visits, exams etc.).  Please communicate absence to the instructor in advance via email.

- Analyse your own case (case study method)

- Review and discuss cases with your peers

- Learn about the research on the impact of political risk on international SMEs vs. MNEs

- Critically reflect on International Arbitration 

- (Raise questions and add new topics and insights to the seminar)

- Short presentation and answering open questions = 35 % (20 minutes total)

- Short written report = 35 % (2-4 pages max.)

- Short in class assignment = 30 % (up to 4 open questions)

== 100 %

Bonus credits: critically review presentation of one peer in class = up to 10 % (up to 3-5 minutes)

A pass requires at least 60 %

None.

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