International business and ethics

Essence of international business. Global networks and globalisation of markets. Models and types of internationalisation. External trade, international investments. Entry to external markets. Aims of entering international markets. Factors of international competitiveness. International business partners (firms, organisations, government). Analysis of local business environment. Establishing contacts. Risks involved in international business. Specific features of cultural environment and social responsibility. Internationalisation of small enterprises.

Relevance of ethical and moral questions in business life. Theoretical approaches to business ethics - teleological and deontological theories. Virtue ethics. Ethical issues in labour relations. Consumer ethics. Marketing ethics. Ethics in IT. Corporate Social Responsibility. Ethics and management, ethics instruments (code of ethics, social reports, ethics audit).

NB! This course will take place in autumn semester 2024/2025 which starts on 2nd of September and ends 26th of January (you can find that information under Start date section). The real course start and end dates will be announced at the beginning of September at the latest.

1. Knows the main concepts of international business and the process and fundamental principles of internationalisation.
2. Understands the various methods of operating in foreign markets and criteria of selecting target markets, and is able to analytically approach the target market selection issue as a whole.
3. I is able to define and analyse the most important international business related challenges and define the goals dependent on the enterprise’s nature and operational environment.
4. Knows the theoretical foundations of ethics and business ethics, the main principles of corporate social responsibility and the relationship between market economy and business ethics.
5. Is able to analyse and solve ethical dilemmas, by applying the principles of ethical behavior.

Final assessment can consist of one test/assignment or several smaller assignments completed during the whole course. After declaring a course the student can re-sit the exam/assessment once. Assessment can be graded or non-graded. For specific information about the assessment process please get in touch with the contact person of this course. For specific information about grade transfer please contact your home university

• T. Cavusgil, G. Knight, J. Riesenberg. International Business. The New Realities. Fourth Edition. Pearson, 2016.
• A. Crane, D. Matten. Business Ethics: Managing Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability in the Age of Globalisation, Oxford University Press, 2010.
• W.H. Shaw. Business Ethics: A Textbook with Cases, Ninth Edition. Cengage Learning, 2016.
• A. Sitkin, N. Bowen. International Business. Challenges and Choices. Second Edition. Oxford University Press, 2013.
• Readings in Moodle.

lectures, exercises