Foreign Business Operations in the UK

This module is currently under review and minor changes will be updated on the web as soon as possible

Module Title	Foreign Business Operations in the UK
Module Code	25-5016-00S
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
Co-requisites
Class Contact Hours
Average Weekly	2.5
Directed Learning
Average Weekly	10
Module Leader	Francis Gray
	Sheffield Business School
Module Banding	A
Approval Status	Validated

Rationale

The UK is host to a large number of foreign owned businesses, which contribute substantially to the performance and development of the UK economy. For several decades, the UK has received large sums of investment from US companies and, more recently, from Japanese and European investment. This module considers the growing influence of foreign-owned businesses in the UK from a national and international perspective and examines the range of issues and business operations essential to the management of a foreign subsidiary. This module builds on the knowledge gained in the level 4 module International Business and provides students with the opportunity to explore the management issues and business implications of Multinational Enterprises operating in UK.

Summary of Aims

1. To generate an understanding of the nature and importance of foreign owned business to the UK economy.
2. To provide a framework for the analysis of the main principles of international investment and location strategy
3. To enable students to gain an understanding of the business issues involved in the management of foreign subsidiaries

Anticipated Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this module, students should be able to:

1. Gain in-depth knowledge of an actual foreign-owned business operating within the UK
2. Successfully undertake and present project based research whilst working in a team based situation
3. Gain competence in writing skills to a standard appropriate for Level 5 at University
4. Evaluate and practically illustrate a range of theoretical frameworks which underpin the management of a foreign subsidiary
5. Comprehend the economic, technological and social impact of foreign business operations in the UK
6. Transfer and apply knowledge and information to a new and changing context

Assessment and Feedback Strategy

The learning outcomes for this module are assessed by coursework and examination. The assessment weightings are

Coursework 30%

Examination 70%

Coursework

The coursework has two elements: a group report and a group presentation based on the findings in the report.

Depending on size the seminar group will normally be divided into four groups and each group required to choose a foreign owned company operating in the UK through a subsidiary. Each group will be required to analyse the company's worldwide and UK operations; its reasons for locating within the UK and for the choice of site; its entry mode and the costs and benefits of the company's operations both regionally and nationally.

Group presentation

Each group is required to make a formal presentation of its findings and these presentations are scheduled to take place in the seminar sessions taking place in weeks 7, 8, 9 and 10. Each presentation is to be no longer than 20 minutes with an additional 10 minutes for discussion and summing up. Each group will receive formal written feedback the week following the presentation.

The presentation constitutes 10% of the overall assessment for the module.

Group report

Each group is required to submit a formal report upon which their presentation has been based. Students will receive formal written feedback two weeks after the due date.

The group report constitutes 20% of the overall assessment for the module.

Examination

The examination is unseen and normally requires students to answer 3 questions.

Module Assessment Criteria

Learning Outcome	Assessment Criterion (where assessed)	Level descriptors
		fail	PASS	2.2	2.1	First
1	Group Project	The group project demonstrates inadequate knowledge of the chosen company's UK business operations and does not answer the questions in an appropriate manner.	The group project demonstrates adequate knowledge of the chosen company's UK business operations and answers the questions in an appropriate manner.	The group project demonstrates substantive knowledge of the chosen company's UK business operations and answers the questions in a thorough manner.	The group project demonstrates in-depth knowledge of the chosen company's UK business operations and answers the questions in a very thorough manner.	The group project demonstrates exceptional knowledge of the chosen company's UK business operations and answers the questions in an accomplished manner
2	Group project	The group project is undertaken and presented inadequately with very little evidence of research and little evidence of teamwork.	The group project is undertaken and presented adequately with appropriate evidence of research and teamwork.	The group project is undertaken and presented effectively with explicit evidence of research and teamwork.	The group project is undertaken and presented very effectively with substantive evidence of research and teamwork.	The group project is undertaken and presented exceptionally with extensive evidence of research and teamwork.
3	Group project / Examination	The group report / examination does not demonstrate competence in writing skills to a standard appropriate to level 5 at University	The group report / examination demonstrate sufficient competence in writing skills to a standard appropriate to level 5 at University	The group report / examination demonstrates a good standard of competence in writing skills appropriate to level 5 at University	The group report / examination demonstrates a high standard of competence in writing skills appropriate to level 5 at University	The group report / examination demonstrates outstanding competence in writing skills appropriate to level 5 at University
4	Examination	Evaluation and practical illustration of the range of theoretical frameworks, which underpin the management of a foreign subsidiary, is inadequate.	Evaluation and practical illustration of the range of theoretical frameworks, which underpin the management of a foreign subsidiary, is adequate.	Evaluation and practical illustration of the range of theoretical frameworks, which underpin the management of a foreign subsidiary, is effective.	Evaluation and practical illustration of the range of theoretical frameworks, which underpin the management of a foreign subsidiary, is detailed and rigorous.	Evaluation and practical illustration of the range of theoretical frameworks which underpin the management of a foreign subsidiary is outstanding
5	Examination	Inadequate comprehension of the economic, technological and social impact of foreign business operations in the UK is demonstrated.	Adequate comprehension of the economic, technological and social impact of foreign business operations in the UK is demonstrated.	Good comprehension of the economic, technological and social impact of foreign business operations in the UK is demonstrated.	Detailed and rigorous comprehension of the economic, technological and social impact of foreign business operations in the UK is demonstrated.	Outstanding comprehension of the economic, technological and social impact of foreign business operations in the UK is demonstrated.
6	Examination	Inadequate transfer and application of knowledge and information to a new and changing context is evident.	Adequate transfer and application of knowledge and information to a new and changing context is evident.	Effective transfer and application of knowledge and information to a new and changing context is evident.	Very effective transfer and application of knowledge and information to a new and changing context is evident.	Excellent transfer and application of knowledge and information to a new and changing context is evident.

Presentation criteria

• Knowledge and understanding of relevant issues
• Strength of evidence for arguments put forward
• Evidence of teamwork
• How well the presentation is organised in terms of cohesion and time management
• How well visual material is used to support to presentation
• Ability to respond to questions and lead discussion

Group report

• Knowledge and understanding of relevant issues
• Strength of evidence for arguments put forward
• Appropriate use of theoretical models and frameworks
• Evidence of team work
• Evidence of consultation of a range of source materials
• Observance of appropriate referencing conventions
• Presentation in appropriate format and within the word limit

Examination

• Knowledge and understanding of relevant issues
• Appropriate use of theoretical models and frameworks
• Ability to synthesise and present argument
• Presentation in appropriate format and within time limit

Teaching and Learning Strategy and Methods

This module is delivered in the form of lectures and seminars. Lectures provide a framework and introduction to each topic covered in the module and seminars involve a range of activities including case studies, directed learning, student based discussions and video materials, which provide students with the opportunity to examine the topic areas covered more deeply and also to enable practice and development of skills of analysis and communication.

Indicative Content

• The UK economy and foreign business operations
• Structural change and the UK economy
• Nature of inward foreign direct investment
• Significance of inward foreign direct investment
• Multinationals and foreign business operations
• Motivations for foreign direct investment
• The UK as an investment location
• Entry modes
• Management of business operations
• Technology transfer
• Human resources management
• Operations management
• Costs and benefits of foreign business operations
• Host/home country costs and benefits
• Regional costs and benefits
• Industrial/company impacts

Indicative Reading List

S Hill and M Munday (1994): The Regional Distribution of Foreign Manufacturing Investment in the UK (MacMillan)

C Hill (2000): International Business: Competing in the Global Marketplace (McGraw Hill) 3rd Ed

R Bennett (1999): International Business (Pitman)

R Strange (1993): Japanese Manufacturing Investment in Europe: Its Impact on the UK Economy (Routledge)