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International Business Environment

This course explores the international business environment in which organisations function. You’ll learn about core analysis methods, including PESTLE, SWOT, and Boston Box Matrices, as well as the applications of Porter’s Five Forces. You’ll have the opportunity to participate in discussion forums and access case studies, as well as testing your understanding in quizzes.

This course forms part of a specialization from the University of London designed to help you develop and build the essential business, academic, and cultural skills necessary to succeed in international business, or in further study.

If completed successfully, your certificate from this specialization can also be used as part of the application process for the University of London Global MBA programme, particularly for early career applicants. If you would like more information about the Global MBA, please visit https://mba.london.ac.uk/.

This course is endorsed by CMI

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What's inside

Syllabus

First Ideas

This week introduces the nature of the environment, both external and internal, in which the organisation exists. It provides an initial set of insights to a range of models which are useful in managing the challenges presented by a changing environment. This week, we will cover: > What is the organisational external environment? What about the organisational internal environment?International and global contexts, and meeting useful analytical models

Analysing the External Environment

This week illustrates how PESTLE and SWOT models are applied and evaluated by organisations as they seek to make sense of the impact of the organisational environment on their activities. This week, we will cover:Generic PESTLE (Political, Economic, Socio-cultural, Technological, Legal, and Environmental) analyses; SWOT (Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analyses; PESTLE and SWOT analyses at the local, national, and international levels

Analysing the Immediate Competitive Environment

This week illustrates how Life Cycle, Boston Box, and Growth Matrix models are applied and evaluated by organisations as they seek to make sense of the impact of the organisational environment on their activities. This week, we will cover: The challenge of product life cycles; Boston Box Matrix analyses of product and brand portfolios; Ansoff Growth Matrix analyses

Analysing the Wider Competitive Environment

This week illustrates how the state of competitive rivalry in the environment is analysed and evaluated using Porter's Five Forces model, and Porters strategies for competitive advantage. This week, we will cover: The challenge of competition, Porter's Five Forces model; Competitive strategies, and competitive advantage, using Porter's strategies for competitive advantage

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Examines the international business environment, offering insights into industry challenges

Provides a range of analytical tools, including PESTLE, SWOT, and Boston Box Matrices, enhancing students' analytical skills

Leverages practical case studies, discussion forums, and interactive materials, promoting a hands-on learning experience

Serves as part of a specialization from the University of London, enhancing its academic credibility and potential value to employers

Requires a strong foundation in business concepts to fully grasp the course content, potentially limiting its accessibility to certain audiences

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Reviews summary

Well-reviewed international business basics

learners say this course is excellent for learning the fundamentals of international business. The course structure provides a step-by-step approach that prepares learners to analyze and navigate the international business landscape independently. Students appreciate the lectures, assignments, and assessments, saying they compel deep understanding of business concepts with relevant examples.

Good foundational course for those new to international business.

"Excellent business course for beginners and a refresher for intermediate to advanced business persons."

"An absolutely must do course for the people aspiring to garner knowledge in the field of business and it's related operational environment."

Course content is engaging and compelling.

"The method of teaching was highly intense, and engaging."

"The assignments and assessments compel us to gain in depth insights with recent and relevant examples."

Course is well-structured for easy learning.

"The course was perfectly organized."

"Excellent business course for beginners and a refresher for intermediate to advanced business persons. I love how it (lesson plan) was systematize in such a way that would have students analyze step by step, and navigate through the business world independently."

Learners have a very positive experience with this course.

"EXCELLENT COURSE! GREAT LEARNING & EXPOSURE"

"It was a great learning experience , cheers!"

"This course helps me in building my skills, gained a lot of knowledge . It has added value to my resume."

Some struggle with accessing materials from third-party websites.

"The content of the course is really interesting, and the explanatory videos are great! The only issue I had with this course was that the material for final submissions was on third-party websites and was only available after you paid."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in International Business Environment with these activities:

Principles of Marketing

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Improve understanding of marketing concepts and their application in international business.

View Marketing Management, Global Edition on Amazon

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Read through each chapter and take notes on key concepts.
Complete the end-of-chapter exercises.
Apply marketing concepts to real-world examples.

Develop a PESTLE Analysis

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Gain practical experience conducting external environmental analysis of an international business.

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Identify key factors in the political, economic, socio-cultural, technological, legal, and environmental domains.
Research and gather relevant data.
Analyze the data and identify trends and patterns.
Develop a PESTLE matrix.

Discussion Forum Participation

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Engage with peers and expand understanding through discussions on international business concepts.

Browse courses on International Business

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Participate in weekly discussion forums.
Share insights and perspectives.
Respond to and critique others' posts.

Five other activities

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Conduct SWOT Analyses

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Enhance critical thinking and analytical skills by conducting SWOT analyses.

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Identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of a business.
Prioritize the identified factors.
Develop strategies based on the SWOT analysis.

Explore Porter's Five Forces

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Deepen understanding of competitive dynamics through studying Porter's Five Forces.

Browse courses on Porter's Five Forces

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Learn the five forces that shape industry competitiveness.
Identify and analyze the forces in a specific industry.
Discuss strategic implications of the Porter's Five Forces analysis.

International Business Resource Collection

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Build a repository of valuable resources and tools related to international business.

Browse courses on International Business

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Identify and gather relevant articles, books, websites, and other resources.
Organize and categorize the resources.
Share the resource collection with peers.

International Business Case Study

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Apply knowledge and skills in an end-of-course project to solidify understanding of international business concepts.

Browse courses on International Business

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Choose a real-world international business case.
Conduct a thorough analysis of the case.
Develop recommendations for addressing the case's challenges.
Present the case analysis and recommendations.

International Organization Internship

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Gain real-world experience and apply international business knowledge in a practical setting.

Browse courses on International Business

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Secure an internship with an international organization.
Contribute to projects and tasks related to international business.
Network with professionals and gain insights into the field.

Career center

Learners who complete International Business Environment will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

International Business Manager

International Business Managers are responsible for the planning and implementation of an organization's international business activities. They may also oversee the day-to-day operations of the organization's international offices and workforce. The International Business Environment course teaches analysis methods such as PESTLE, SWOT, and Porters Five Forces which can help make sense of the global business landscape and the impact of the organizational environment on the organization's activities.

See salaries and explore the career path for International Business Manager

International Marketing Manager

International Marketing Managers develop and execute marketing strategies for products and services in international markets. They may also oversee the day-to-day operations of the organization's international marketing team. Individuals interested in this position may benefit from the International Business Environment course, as it teaches analysis methods such as PESTLE and SWOT, which are useful for understanding the international business environment and market dynamics.

See salaries and explore the career path for International Marketing Manager

Investment Analyst

Investment Analysts research and analyze companies and industries to make investment recommendations to clients. They may also manage investment portfolios. Graduates of the International Business Environment course may be familiar with analysis methods such as PESTLE, SWOT, and Porters Five Forces, which are useful for understanding the global business environment and the impact of the organizational environment on a company's activities.

See salaries and explore the career path for Investment Analyst

Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts research and analyze companies and industries to make investment recommendations to clients. They may also manage investment portfolios. The International Business Environment course may be useful for those interested in this role since it teaches analysis methods such as PESTLE, SWOT, and Porters Five Forces which can help make sense of global market dynamics and the impact of the organizational environment on a company's activities.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Business Consultant

Business Consultants provide advice on business practices and strategy to organizations. They may specialize in a particular area, such as finance, marketing, or operations. The International Business Environment course would be relevant to a Business Consultant since it teaches analysis methods such as PESTLE, SWOT, and Boston Box Matrices, which can aid in understanding the external and internal environment of organizations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Consultant

Operations Manager

Operations Managers are responsible for planning, executing, and overseeing the day-to-day operations of an organization. They may also manage teams of employees and resources. Individuals interested in Operations Manager roles may benefit from the International Business Environment course, as it teaches analysis methods such as PESTLE, SWOT, and Boston Box Matrices, which can aid in understanding the external and internal environment of organizations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager

Supply Chain Manager

Supply Chain Managers are responsible for planning, executing, and overseeing the flow of goods and services from suppliers to customers. They may also manage supplier relationships and inventory levels. Those interested in Supply Chain Manager roles may find the International Business Environment course to be helpful since it explores the international business environment and discusses the application of analysis methods such as PESTLE and SWOT, which are useful for understanding supply chain dynamics and market trends.

See salaries and explore the career path for Supply Chain Manager

Sales Manager

Sales Managers are responsible for leading and managing a team of sales representatives. They may also develop and implement sales strategies and oversee the day-to-day operations of the organization's sales team. International Business Environment may be useful to those interested in Sales Manager roles since it explores the international business environment and the application of analysis methods such as PESTLE and SWOT, which are relevant to understanding market dynamics and developing sales strategies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Manager

Market Research Analyst

Market Research Analysts gather and analyze data on consumer markets. They use this data to help businesses understand their customers' needs and develop marketing strategies. Those interested in Market Research Analyst roles may find the International Business Environment course to be helpful since it explores the international business environment and discusses the application of analysis methods such as PESTLE and SWOT, which are useful for understanding market dynamics and customer behavior.

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Project Manager

Project Managers are responsible for planning, executing, and overseeing projects. They may also manage project teams and resources. The International Business Environment course may be beneficial to someone pursuing a Project Manager role since this course explores the international business environment and discusses the application of analysis methods such as PESTLE and SWOT, which are relevant to understanding project constraints and opportunities.

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Data Analyst

Data Analysts collect, analyze, and interpret data to help businesses understand their customers and make informed decisions. Completing International Business Environment may prove beneficial to someone interested in this role since it explores the application of analysis methods such as PESTLE, SWOT, and Porters Five Forces, which are relevant to data analysis and interpretation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Management Analyst

Management Analysts improve an organization's efficiency. They may design organizational structures, plan workflow, and conduct management studies. Successfully completing International Business Environment may prove beneficial to someone interested in a Management Analyst role since this course explores the international business environment and teaches analysis methods such as PESTLE, SWOT, and Boston Box Matrices; these are relevant to organizational planning and process improvement.

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Business Development Manager

Business Development Managers are responsible for identifying and developing new business opportunities for their organizations. They may also oversee the day-to-day operations of the organization's sales team. International Business Environment may prove helpful to someone pursuing a Business Development Manager role as this course explores the international business environment and covers topics like meeting useful analytical models.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Development Manager

Risk Manager

Risk Managers are responsible for identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks to an organization. They may also develop and implement risk management strategies. Those interested in Risk Manager roles may find the International Business Environment course to be helpful since it explores the international business environment and covers topics like meeting useful analytical models.

See salaries and explore the career path for Risk Manager

Reading list

We've selected 26 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in International Business Environment.

Global Marketing Management

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Provides a comprehensive overview of the international business environment, covering topics such as culture, politics, and economics. It valuable resource for students and professionals who want to understand the challenges and opportunities of doing business globally.

International Business Environment

What's inside

Syllabus

Good to know

Save this course

Reviews summary

Well-reviewed international business basics

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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