Analyse the key factors which drive globalisation

Unit 18: Global Business Environment

Unit code         M/508/0530

Unit level         5

Credit value     15

Introduction

The aim of this unit is to explore the wider position some organisations have in the global environment. Students will appreciate the complexities of operating in a global environment, and this will enable them to offer greater breadth and depth to an organisation’s current or aspirational global presence.

On successful completion of this unit students will have developed an understanding of the wider global environment in which organisations operate. This will enable students to add value to an organisation as they will be able to apply their knowledge in such a way that they could advise senior managers (in either large or small organisations) on global matters which they may not have ordinarily considered.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this unit a student will be able to:

1. Analyse the key factors which drive globalisation.
2. Determine the strategic complexities associated with operating in a global environment.
3. Evaluate how operating in a global market influences an organisation’s structure, culture and functions.
4. Evaluate the influence of globalisation on organisational decision-making and strategy

 

Essential Content

LO1 Analyse the key factors which drive globalisation

Driving factors of globalisation:

1. Analyse the concept and theory of globalisation in terms of cultural, economic, political and social dimensions.
2. What are the factors that drive globalisation? International economic integration, foreign direct investment, international business and trade.
3. Factors in relation to cost, market, environment and competition.
4. The significant impact of the digital revolution: creating better products and services at lower cost, the impact of social media and other applications (e.g cloud computing) connecting the global community and digitized design, manufacturing, and distribution systems making products and services available to a global market.

LO2 Determine the strategic complexities associated with operating in a global environment

Global strategic complexities:

1. The impacts of international trade law.
2. The economics of globalisation and the environmental impacts of globalisation in the context of the challenges they pose for risk and diversification strategies.
3. The complexities of the international supply chain management.

 

LO3 Evaluate how operating in a global market influences an organisation’s structure, culture and functions

Influences on structure, culture and functions:

1. How does the global market influence organisations in the context of McKinsey 7S model of organisational structure?
2. The governance of a multi-national organisation and leadership within an international context.
3. Using Hofstede’s Dimensions of Culture demonstrate how national cultural differences have an influence upon organisations.
4. The influence of ethical and sustainable globalisation.

 

LO4 Evaluate the influence of globalisation on organisational decision-making and strategy

Influences on decision-making and strategy:

1. The principles of leadership change and the process of internationalisation.
2. International expansion strategies and strategic decision-making in relation to risk and diversification.
3. The impact of barriers to international trade upon decision-making and strategy.

 

Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria

 

Pass	Merit	Distinction
LO1 Analyse the key factors which drive globalisation
P1 Analyse key factors of cost, market, environment and competition that drive global commerce and trade.	M1 Critically analyse the impact that key factors have upon the global business environment in terms of opportunities and challenges.	LO1 and LO2 D1 Critically evaluate the global business environment, including the opportunities and challenges faced by organisations.
LO2 Determine the strategic complexities associated with operating in a global environment
P2 Explain the complexity of strategic challenges faced by organisations when operating in a global environment supported by specific examples.	M2 Evaluate strategic challenges in context of risk and diversification strategies and the supply chain flow.

 

Pass	Merit	Distinction
LO3 Evaluate how operating in a global market influences an organisation’s structure, culture and functions
P3 Evaluate the influences of globalisation on organisational governance and leadership, structure, culture and functions. P4 Evaluate the influences of ethical and sustainable globalisation on organisational functions.	M3 Critically evaluate influences of globalisation in application to appropriate theories and models relating to organisational structure and culture.	LO3 and LO4 D2 Critique strategies that can be adopted by organisations operating in a global business environment, making valid and justified recommendations of how they should adapt their organisational structure and decision-making processes.
LO4 Evaluate the influence of globalisation on organisational decision making and strategy
P5 Evaluate the different ways decision making can work effectively in a global context. P6 Determine and articulate the various routes to internationalisation an organisation may adopt, including key barriers.	M4 Critically evaluate the key barriers in doing business internationally and make recommendations on how they can be overcome.