Course Description

This course explores how increasing globalisation, rapid technological change and pressures on sustainability have all opened expansive international opportunities, while also fuelling significant threats for today's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The course highlights the role of international markets for the sustainability of small and medium-sized organisations that build their competitive edge on creative problem-solving. While this is key to growth and winning against the competition, it is resource-intensive and therefore often only profitable once it reaches critical mass internationally. Students explore how, in today's highly dynamic and interconnected world, enterprises are well served to use the principles of effectuation to take an iterative path forward, using resources at hand as contingencies are identified. Students will assess affordable losses and potential gains, and learn how to co-create with diverse stakeholders to achieve a wide-reaching impact. Further attention is paid to how the internationalisation process affects enterprise operations in terms of intellectual property, risk management, governance, and financing.

Learning Outcomes

• Describe the economic importance and the need for SME internationalisation in today’s globalised environment.
• Identify and analyse the micro-foundation of SME internationalisation including attitudes, mindsets and cognitive approaches associated with exploring international opportunities.
• Evaluate the social, political, economic, cultural and ethical challenges of the internationalisation process, and design appropriate responses to overcome these challenges.
• Devise strategies for SMEs to acquire knowledge, partnerships, and networks for creating value internationally.

Learning Experience