The aims of the module are:

•The production of basic knowledge of how businesses operate internationally and their changing context. An understanding of transnational production in a holistic sense is key, including questions of power and ethics.

•Key trends and issues shaping the (current) international economic order, that is the current and future context of business activity.

•The relationship between transnational corporations and international organisations, states, labour, social movements, etc

(LO1) Students will be able to think analytically in the production of knowledge of how businesses operate internationally.

(LO2) Students will be able to analytically read a wide range of texts, assessing the strengths and weaknesses of different arguments on key themes and trends. This is to enable the development of an analytical understanding of key approaches, both mainstream and critical, on these themes and trends.

(LO3) Students will be able to undertake independent scholarly work, albeit in an assisted manner.

(LO4) Students will be able to communicate knowledge, ideas and analysis clearly and concisely in both written and oral form.

(LO5) Students will be able to work autonomously and demonstrate initiative, self-organisation and time management, to plan and evaluate independent learning and performance, and to apply learning strategies to improve performance.

(LO6) Students will be able to function effectively and cooperatively in group work

(LO7) Students will be able to develop a basic understanding of the (current) international economic order, that is the international context of business activity.

(LO8) Students will be able to develop a basic understanding of the relationship between transnational corporations and international organisations, states, labour, social movements etc.

(LO9) Students will be able to develop a basic understanding of power and ethics in the world economy.

(S1) Adaptability

(S2) Problem solving skills

(S3) Commercial awareness

(S4) Teamwork

(S5) Organisational skills

(S6) Communication skills

(S7) IT skills

(S8) International awareness

(S9) Lifelong learning skills

(S10) Ethical awareness

Teaching Method: Lecture
Scheduled Directed Student Hours: 24
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Teaching Method - Seminars
Description: Seminars will permit students to develop their understanding of the main themes and trends in the area. They will focus on empirical phenomena exemplifying/illustrating these themes and trends drawing on e.g. news media and simple empirical illustrations. Seminars will also enable clarification of theoretical perspectives on these themes/trends.
Scheduled Directed Student Hours: 6
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Self-Directed Learning Hours: 120
Description: research activity, developing critical analysis skills (reading and writing, in particular), and wider reading to support the module

Skills/Other Attributes Mapping

Skills / attributes: Ethical awareness
How this is developed: This module will help you identify key issues in the world economy against the backdrop of trends, countertrends and paradoxe s. Equipped with such understanding, your ethical perspective on key issues in the world today will be enhanced.
Mode of assessment (if applicable) Essay and seminar assessment

Skills / attributes: Lifelong learning skills
How this is developed: In lectures, seminars, essay
Mode of assessment (if applicable) Essay and seminar assessment

Skills / attributes: International awareness
How this is developed: With this module concerned with the big, global picture, yet diving into particular issues in particular settings, the module puts great emphasis on global awareness.
Mode of assessment (if applicable) Essay and seminar assessment

Skills / attributes: IT skills
How this is developed: To understand trends, countertrends and paradoxes in the world economy, you will need to supplement your academic readings with basic secondary research making use of data available in official reports and databases.
Mode of assessment (if applicable) Essay and seminar assessment

Skills / attributes: Communication skills
How this is developed: You are encouraged to focus on your communications in all aspects of this module: in the way you communicate in seminars, via your writing styles and presentation skills. You are given advice on how to develop these skills
Mode of assessment (if applicable) Essay and seminar assessment

Skills / attributes: Organisational skills
How this is developed: In seminars and in relation to assessment
Mode of assessment (if applicable) Essay and seminar assessment

Skills / attributes: Teamwork
How this is developed: In seminars
Mode of assessment (if applicable)

Skills / attributes: Commercial awareness
How this is developed: By becoming more knowledgeable of trends and developments in the global economy, and by learning to see how they interconnect, the module will help you become more capable in identifying business opportunities and challenges.
Mode of a ssessment (if applicable) Essay

Skills / attributes: Problem solving skills
How this is developed: You are asked to identify trends and countertrends as well as paradoxes in the world economy. This knowledge will help you to solve problems in informed ways taking the big picture into account.
Mode of assessment (if applicable) Essay

Skills / attributes: Adaptability
How this is developed: The reading programme as well as the assessments mean that it is a real challenge to work to manage your readings and deadlines. You will need to be flexible in your workload and adaptable in your priorities.
Mode of assessment (if applicable) Seminar assessment

Business in a Changing Global Economy: Introduction to module and Critical Analysis

What is theory? Globalisation vs. deglobalisation

The Multinational Firm: The Transnationalisation of Retail and Global Labour

Gender and Social Reproduction

The Fourth Industrial Revolution and Industry 4.0

Corporate Governance: Shareholder Value and the Financialization of Multinational Corporate Control.

Globalisation in Crises

Complex societal global problems: climate change, health and other sustainable development challenges

Regionalisation: the case of the EU and Brexit

Governing the national economy: UK Devolution and National Tensions

The City: the case of Liverpool