Business in the European Union

Module Title	Business in the European Union
Module Code	25-5006-00S
Semester of Delivery	See Module Information Table
Mandatory/Elective/Option	See Module Information Table
Level	5
Credit Points	20
Assessment Mode Weighting	Coursework	30%
	Examination	70%
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
Class Contact Hours
Average Weekly	2.5
Directed Learning
Average Weekly	10
Module Leader	Luiz Montanheiro
	Sheffield Business School
Module Banding	A
Approval Status	Validated

 

Rationale

The European Union is a fundamental element of the European business environment. The Union is not only the world's largest single market but is also the world's largest trading entity. It also has the world's most developed legal and institutional framework for regulating business conducted across national borders. It goes without saying therefore that students and future practitioners of business need to be acquainted with the diverse ways in which the Union impinges on European business. Given the multidimensional influence of the Union on European business, the module is also designed to provide a solid building block of knowledge and understanding to underpin students' work in other subjects, both in the second year and in subsequent years.

Summary of Aims

1. To provide students with a sound, topical and relevant introduction to the European Union from a business perspective;
2. To introduce students to the principal and distinctive features of the European business environment;
3. To acquaint students with the institutional and regulatory frameworks which constitute integral elements of the European business environment;
4. To enable students to develop a sound understanding of the principal EU policies affecting business;
5. To equip students with the ability to research and analyse specific issues relating to European business.

Anticipated Learning Outcomes

After studying this module, students should be able to:

1. Explain the objectives of the European Union from a business perspective;
2. Compare and contrast the European Union with other regional economic formations, in order to delineate its distinctive features;
3. Appreciate the principal ways in which the Union impinges on the conduct of business in Europe;
4. Understand the main legal and institutional frameworks designed to regulate and promote cross-border business in Europe;
5. Explain the objectives and substance of the EU's policy portfolio in relation to business;
6. Appreciate the factors which shape the development of the EU's policies affecting business;
7. Examine the interactions between the European and the global business environments, from the perspectives of trade, investment and capital flows.
8. Understand the principal features of doing business in the European Single Market
9. Appreciate some of the key strategic decisions which firms doing business in Europe are required to make.

Assessment and Feedback Strategy

The balance between formative and summative assessment will be: formative:30%; summative: 70%. Students will be given written information concerning the timing and form of the assessments at the start of the course. There will be non-assessed class presentations in the early part of the course, to provide students with a trial run for the assessed work and to provide them with opportunities to develop their knowledge and to receive interim feedback on their performance so far. The feedback on the non-assessed work will be verbal, whereas the feedback on assessed work will be delivered in written form, supported where necessary by face to face discussions with the student. The two assessed pieces of course work will have deadlines scheduled for the latter half of the course.

The assessment and feedback strategy for this module is designed to encourage in the student the ability to research information from a variety of contemporary sources, thereby building up a body of topical and relevant knowledge which the student can analyse critically. This is a fast moving subject and therefore students will be encouraged to develop learning techniques which will enable them to keep abreast of contemporary developments. These abilities will be tested in the formal assignments and also on a continuous basis in the seminars.

Assessment will be by means of an unseen, written examination (70%) and coursework (30%). It is envisaged that coursework, which may be adapted as a result of our experience in operating the course, and as a result of feedback from students, will consist of

• an Essay on a topical subject (20%);
• a group presentation on a contemporary issue affecting European business (10%);

Module Assessment Criteria

These comprise:

• Ability to research specific subjects of relevance to this module, using a variety of sources (both formative and summative assessment components);
• Ability to analyse issues and to present findings in an informed and sophisticated manner (both formative and summative assessment components);
• Ability to present findings verbally and in report form (formative assessment);
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team (formative assessment)

Module Assessment Criteria

Learning Outcome	Assessment Criterion (where assessed)	Level descriptors
		fail	PASS	2.2	2.1	First
1	Written and oral/visually presented course work and examination	Highly inaccurate and incomplete knowledge of EU objectives	Some basic knowledge but at a low level of accuracy	working knowledge with most areas of study recognised	sound general knowledge and some capacity to provide knowledge in depth	extensive knowledge and a clear and sharp understanding
2	Written and oral/visually presented course work and examination	Little comprehension or relevance of comparative material	Some capacity for comparative comprehension but at a perfunctory level	Acceptable level of comparative analysis showing a capacity to grasp some major comparative frameworks	A sound comprehension of similarities and differences, relating theory and empirical data	A capacity to comprehend comparative theory and to apply it with some originality to data and literature
3	Written and oral/visually presented course work and examination	Little comprehension or relevance regarding the connection between the Eu and business l	Some capacity for making connections, but at a perfunctory level	Acceptable level of analysis showing a capacity to grasp key points	A sound comprehension that shows a capacity to relate together theory and empirical material	A sophisticated understanding of the connection between the EU and business, linking theory to practice.
4	Written and oral/visually presented course work and examination	Highly inaccurate and incomplete	Some basic knowledge but at a low level of accuracy	working knowledge with most areas of study recognised	good general knowledge and some capacity to provide knowledge in depth	extensive and intellectually sophisticated knowledge
5	Written and oral/visually presented course work and examination	Highly inaccurate and incomplete	Some basic knowledge but at a low level of accuracy	working knowledge with most areas of study recognised	sound general knowledge and some capacity to provide knowledge in depth	extensive knowledge and a capacity to provide knowledge in depth
6	Written and oral/visually presented course work and examination	Little comprehension of the EU's policy portfoliol	Some capacity for comprehension but at a very perfunctory level	Acceptable level of analysis showing a capacity to grasp the major points made in course material	A sound comprehension that shows a capacity to understand the main features of the EU's policy portfolio	A sophisticated understanding of the EU's policy portfolio in relation to business.
7	Written and oral/visually presented course work and examination	Inability to make the necessary connections between the EU and global business environments theory to empirical framework	Perfunctory awareness of connectivity of theory and empirical content	A modest attempt at making the necessary connections between EU and global business	A clear capacity to be able to develop argument through effective use of theory and empirical data	A capacity to critically evaluate theory in relation to the empirical data relating to EU and global business
8	Written and oral/visually presented course work and examination	little understanding of the material	Perfunctory awareness of connectivity of theory and empirical content	A modest attempt at understanding the principal features of doing business in the SEM	A clear capacity to be able to explain the key features and relevance of the SEM, t through effective use of theory and empirical data	Sophisticated appreciation of the importance of the SEM for businesses.
9	Written and oral/visually presented course work and examination	little understanding of the material relating to business strategy	Perfunctory awareness of connectivity of theory and empirical content	A modest attempt at understanding the principal features of doing business in the SEM	A clear capacity to be able to explain the key features and relevance of the SEM, t through effective use of theory and empirical data	Sophisticated appreciation of the importance of strategy in the EU business environment

Teaching and Learning Strategy and Methods

a combination of lectures and seminars will be used.

the lectures will be designed to provide students with a body of empirical knowledge and of concepts upon which to build. Learning material for this module will be specially prepared, but extensive use will also be made of electronic sources.

the seminars will utilise a variety of learning formats, including structured preparation and discussion of salient topics, case studies and formal presentations.

extensive use will be made of electronic sources and of the European Documentation Centre

Indicative Content

• an introductory anatomy of the European business environment (size, shape, constituent elements etc);
• the European Union from the perspective of business: aims, objectives, distinctive features and contemporary issues;
• the legal and institutional framework of the EU: implications for business;
• how policies for business emerge within the European context;
• the EU's policy portfolio for business: an outline, aimed at providing a foundation for analysis of the main features and principal features of the specific policies examined below.
• the Single European Market: origins, development and principal features;
• European Monetary Union: implications for business;
• competition policy in the EU;
• EU industrial policy;
• E-commerce in the EU;
• EU consumer policy;
• EU environmental policy;
• EU external trade policy;
• business in Central and Eastern Europe.
• Doing Business in the Single European Market:
• European business cultures;
• Strategies for cross-border business;
• Strategic alliances;
• Location decisions.

Indicative Reading List

Jones, R.A. , The Politics and Economics of the European Union, Edward Elgar, 2001.

Cini, M and McGowan, L. Competition Policy in the European Union, Palgrave, 1998

O'Brien, G. and Jolly, D, The CBI Business Handbook 2000, Kogan Page. 1999

Bennett, R. European Business, FT, Prentice hall, 1998

Johnson D and Turner, C, European Business, Routledge, 1999

Mercado, S., et al, European Business, Longman, 2000