MODULE HANDBOOK

BUSI-1695 INTERNATIONAL
BUSINESS ENVIROMENT

2022-23
Contents

Welcome message from your Module Leader...............................................................................2

Key contacts.................................................................................................................................. 3
Enquiry-Based Learning and Research-Led Teaching..................................................................5
Module details and learning outcomes.......................................................................................... 5
Employability................................................................................................................................. 6
Key Dates..................................................................................................................................... 7
Schedule of teaching and learning activities.................................................................................7
Assessment................................................................................................................................... 8
Resit assessments...................................................................................................................... 11
Reading recommendations.......................................................................................................... 11
Ethical Compliance for Research on Taught Courses.................................................................11
Additional module information..................................................................................................... 12
Changes to the module............................................................................................................... 12
Other Details............................................................................................................................... 13

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Welcome message from your Module Leader

Welcome to the University of Greenwich Business School and a particular

welcome to the module BUSI-1695 International Business Environment. Please
read the Moodle module homepage carefully to obtain clarity on how this
module will be delivered.

Hopefully, this handbook will tell you everything that you need to know about the
contents and operation of the module. But if this is not the case, do not hesitate
to approach either your tutor or myself. Remember, we are here to help, but can
only do so if you make your concerns known to us.

It is crucial that you attend both lectures and tutorials. How you manage your
time is up to you but there is a direct correlation between attendance and
assignment scores. You should be fully engaged in any lessons. If you miss any
classes, you will need to have a plan to make up time with your own efforts.

It is important that you do the preparation for the tutorials in order to get the
most from the teaching. Make sure you read the case studies in advance and
answer the questions before the tutorial.

We look forward to meeting you all and wish you a great year!

Dr. Kim Bui

[email protected]

This handbook provides essential information about this module including the
aims and learning outcomes, the schedule of teaching and learning activities,
assessment tasks, reading recommendations and, if applicable, any additional
resources that you will need. Please read it at the start of term so you are aware
of key details and important dates.

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Key contacts
The list below provides contact details of the module team.

Module Leader: Dr Kim Bui

Location: QM 163
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 0208 331 9714
Office hours: By appointment

Module Tutor: Dr Francisca Da Gama

Location: QM 151
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 0208 331 8569
Office hours: By appointment

Emanuele Lobina - Module tutor 

Liting Tan - Module tutor 
Thomas Kiu - Module tutor
Abigail Gbamis - Module tutor 
Yanga Wu - Module tutor 
Balint Dioszegi - Module tutor 
Clement Marian - Module tutor 
Scott Tindal – Module tutor

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Programme Administration Team 
 
Student Helpdesk 
The Student Experience Officers are situated at the Student Helpdesk and are
here to help you throughout your journey at the University. The Helpdesk
provides support with general enquiries and signposting you to the relevant
team.  
 
The student helpdesk can be found in the Queen Mary building on the second
floor QM240. 
 
The contact for general queries is provided below. 
 
Student Helpdesk (General queries)  [email protected]  
Contact number  020 8331 9712 / 8341 
 
The Welcome Page (linked below) contains information to get you started on
your University Journey. 
https://www.gre.ac.uk/welcome/inductions/business 
 
We encourage you to enrol on our Student Moodle Page (linked below) where
you can access information including:  
 Useful Contacts 
 Timetable links 
 Wellbeing guidance 
 Instructions on navigating the Portal 
 Introduction to our Programme Administration Team 
 
https://moodlecurrent.gre.ac.uk/
 
Important: To access the Moodle Page, you will need to self-enrol yourself via
the above link. 
 
 
Programme Administrators 
The Programme Administrators can support you with programme specific
queries (such as missing/ incorrect grades on your profile, accessing
submission links, resit enquiries).  
 
The contact for Programme Administrative queries is provided below. 
 
Programme Administrators [email protected]   
(Administrative queries)   

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 Enquiry-Based Learning and Research-Led Teaching

Enquiry-Based Learning (EBL)

Defined as ‘an approach based on self-directed enquiry or investigation in

which the student is actively engaged in the process of enquiry facilitated by a
teacher. EBL uses real life scenarios (for example, from case studies,
company visits, and project work) and students investigate topics of relevance
that foster the skills of experimental design, data collection, critical analysis
and problem-solving’.

In this module we use EBL through case studies, situational simulations

through real world scenarios. Students will explore topics of relevance,
undertake research, critical analysis and problem solving.

Research-Led Teaching (RLT)

An element of Enquiry Based Learning links to RLT, which involves faculty

introducing students to their own research where it is relevant to the
curriculum being taught as well as drawing on their own knowledge of
research developments in the field, introducing them to the work of other
researchers. RLT sees students as active participants in the research process,
not just as an audience. This is achieved by discussing such developments in
lectures and classes, and setting reading lists including recent research
publications at the frontier of the field. The definition of a diverse assessment
regime at the programme level (incorporating an expectation of familiarity
with, and use of, such publications in assignments) and the inclusion of
projects at every level of the programme is also fundamental to achieving
these objectives.

In this module RTL will be used through the application of business theories
and research data stemming from external organisations like the World Bank
and the National Office of Statistics.

Module details and learning outcomes

Host Faculty: Business School

Host School: Business Systems and Operations (BOS)
Number of Credits: 15
Term(s) of delivery: 1
Site(s) of delivery: Maritime campus
Pre-requisite modules: N/A
Co-requisite modules: N/A

Aims:
The ethos of the module can be summarised as “managing in a complex
world”. Students will examine how external influences affect the decisions and

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operations of today's organisations. These include the role of culture and
diversity; the effect of unpredictable political and economic conditions; and the
impact on business of social factors, technological change and globalisation.
The capacity of businesses - both individually and jointly - to influence their
environment will also be discussed, while a further aim is to develop in students
a set of skills that they can take forward into their second and third years. By
the end of this module, students will have a clear insight into the major external
environmental factors governing international businesses.

Learning Outcomes:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the concept of business 2. Demonstrate
an understanding of the various aspects of a firm’s operating environment and
their impact on firm performance 3. Working in teams
*Glossary:
A pre-requisite module is one that must have been completed successfully before taking this
module.
A co-requisite module is one that must be taken alongside this module.
A learning outcome is a subject-specific statement that defines the learning to be achieved
through completing this module.

BAME/ Inclusive curriculum

This module has been designed to be more inclusive by taking in consideration

the diversity of the student body.

 Recording of lectures are made available on moodle.

 Incorporation of reading and texts from non-European authors therefore
enhancing richness of taught literature.
 Supplementary revision classes are scheduled to account of varying
learning levels.

Employability

During the module you will improve your cognitive skills. You will be exposed to
different sorts of problems, start making reasoned judgements and reflect on
these judgements.

You will be involved in group work, which will help you to learn to set goals
including influencing, planning, questioning, listening, persuading, interpersonal
sensitivity. You will also prepare presentations with your peers that will help to
improve your managerial skills. You will improve your organizational awareness,
as you will have opportunities in the module to find out about organizations and
structures within relevant sectors.

You can find out more about the Greenwich Employability Passport at:
Greenwich Employability Passport for students

Information about the Career Centre is available at: Employability and Careers |

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 University of Greenwich
Key Dates
2022/23 Term Dates

Please note that dates may differ depending on when you start your
programme of study, and where you are studying. Please refer to
https://docs.gre.ac.uk/rep/sas/term-dates for full details, and details of
University closure dates.
Welcome Week 12 September 2022 23 September 2022
Term 1 26 September 2022 16 December 2022
Examination Period 9 January 2023 13 January 2023
Term 2 16 January 2023 6 April 2023
Examination Period 2 May 2023 19 May 2023
Resit Examination Period 17 July 2023 28 July 2023

Schedule of teaching and learning activities

Term One
Uni Week Session Title and Description Reading to
complete
Week/date Introduction
3 Lecture Introduction to the module Moodle
26 Sept
Environmental context
4 Lecture 1. Business and its context Moodle
3 Oct Tutorial Introduction to assignment Moodle
5 Lecture 2. Globalization Moodle
10 Oct Tutorial 1.1 Tesco and the changing retail environment Moodle
6 Lecture 3. MNCs and market entry Moodle
17 Oct Tutorial 2.1 Impact of Covid-19 on globalization Moodle
7 Lecture 4. Economic environment Moodle
24 Oct Tutorial 3.1 Diebold Inc. Moodle
8 Lecture Placement year advice and
Language Exchange experience
31 Oct Tutorial Midterm Reflection Week – Drop in clinic
9 Lecture 5. The state and the political environment Moodle
7 Nov Tutorial 4.1 Global power shift G7 vs E7 Moodle
10 Lecture 6 Technology and labour Moodle
14 Nov Tutorial 5.1 UK’s EU membership and Brexit Moodle
11 Lecture 7 Cultural environments Moodle
21 Nov Tutorial 6.1 Autonomous Vehicles Moodle
12 Lecture 8. Demographic and social environment Moodle
28 Nov Tutorial 7.1 Culture clash in the boardroom Moodle
13 Lecture Revision lecture Moodle
5 Dec Tutorial 8.1 An aging population Moodle
14 Lecture Guest Lecture Moodle
12 Dec Tutorial Assignment Q&A Moodle

In addition to the teaching and learning activities within the module, additional

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study support can be seen at: Academic Skills

Assessment

The assessment for this module comprises of:

1. A presentation, delivered in a group, but graded individually. This is a

formative assessment with a final mark of PASS or FAIL. Presentations will
take place during the first term, in tutorials, and be on one of the case
studies. The presentation is delivered in class and will not be graded by the
tutor in class, but will receive an indicative pass/fail. Students have to
upload the presentation on Moodle together with their Report in the
submission point for the REPORT by 23.30 pm on the 14 December 2022.

2. Report. This will account for 100% of the final mark. The Report is a 1,500-
word report, in which students explain how the case study that they had
presented in class is or may be linked to theory/business context that we
discussed at the lecture. The Report is an individual work and should be
written individually, NOT in a group. It should be uploaded on Moodle. The
last date for uploading the Report is 23.30 pm on the 14 December 2022 .
The Report should be uploaded together with the Presentation and will be
graded together on Moodle. Group presentation and Report together
count for 100 % and are graded together in one document.

The overall pass mark for this module is 40%.

First sit Deadline Weighting Maximum Marking Learning

assessment or exam out of length type outcomes
s period 100%* mapped to
this
assessment
.
Formative Weekly Formative 20 mins Pass/fail 1, 2, 3
Presentation presentatio
n
10 mins
Q&A
Summative 14 100% 1500 words Numerical 1, 2, 3
Report December graded
2022

*The weighting refers to the proportion of the overall module result that each
assessment task accounts for.

Your assessment brief:

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Formative Presentation – for this assessment students are selected at random
and placed into a group of 4. The group will be allocated a case study to present
in the following week’s tutorial. The presentation is delivered in class and will last
20 minutes in duration. Followed by a 5 minute class Q&A. Students will not be
graded by the tutor in class but will receive feedback on the understanding of the
content. The purpose of the presentation is to ensure students understand how to
apply theoretical content to the real world business scenarios – as required by the
summative assessment Report.

Summative Report – the purpose of this assessment is to assess whether

students understand the theoretical context of the business environment and are
able to apply the theory to the real world business scenarios (as discussed in the
case studies). Students can select any of the taught lecture topic and
corresponding case study. The Report word limit is 1500 words (+/- 10%). This
assessment is weighted at 100% and requires a pass mark of 40%. Written
feedback for the Report will be provided in the Moodle submission in the
comments section.

Assessment criteria Your Report will be marked on the following (see marking
rubric at end of handbook for further details):

Marking Criteria Marks

allocated
to
criteria:
Comprehension and understanding 40%
Does the report reflect a comprehensive and effective understanding of
the topic area?
Focus and synthesis 30%
Does the report discuss the theory or theories that are linked to the
presented case study?

Evaluation 20%
Does the report reflect an attempt at critical evaluation of the subject
area?
Communication and style 10%
Is the essay well presented, clearly written, spell checked, free from
typographical errors, correctly referenced, and written in grammatically
correct English? Does the referencing follow the Harvard-style?

Please note that ALL module works will be put through the Turnitin plagiarism
software program and that plagiarism at this University is dealt with extremely
severely. It is therefore very important that you write your Report in your own
words, and that you do not use the words of other authors or copy the work of any
other student on the module.

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 Important note: Coursework is marked on the understanding that it is the student’s
own work on the module and that it has not, in whole or part, been presented
elsewhere for assessment. Where material has been used from other sources,
this must be properly acknowledged in accordance with the University’s
Regulations regarding Academic Misconduct.

Marking, feedback and next steps

To pass this module, you must achieve an overall mark of 40.

For coursework, the marks and feedback will normally be provided to students
within fifteen working days of the submission deadline. In exceptional
circumstances, where there is a delay in providing feedback, you will be informed
by the module leader.

If you do not pass a module at the first attempt, you may be eligible for a resit
opportunity on the failed assessments. The Exam Board will decide whether you
will have an opportunity to resit. They will consider your overall set of results and
profile, including other modules, and your engagement on the programme, for
example, whether you have attempted assessments or not. Note that marks on
resit assessments are capped at 40% unless extenuation has been applied for
and granted.

For further details on resit assessments, please see section 7 below.

The assessment and feedback policy can be accessed at Assessment and

Feedback Policy

Extenuating circumstances and student support

The University recognises there are times when serious and unexpected matters
which are beyond a student’s control (such as serious illness or injury, death in
family) impact on their academic performance and ability to complete
assessments by the deadline. Guidance on claiming extenuation can be found at:
Extenuating circumstances

External Examiner

The External Examiner for this module is:

Name: N/A
Institution: N/A

Please note that the role of the External Examiner is to evaluate the overall
standard of assessments on the module. They are unable to correspond with
individual students about their work. If you need to discuss your marks or
feedback, please contact the module leader.

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 Resit assessments
Assessment Schedule
Resit Deadline Weighting Maximum Marking Learning
assessments out of length type outcomes
100%* mapped to this
assessment.
Summative TBC 100% 1500 Numerical 1,2,3,4
Report 11.30pm words
(+/- 10%)

The Group Presentation and Report will be replaced by an individual written

Report, linking the theoretical topic to the corresponding case study. The students
can choose the same case study (substantially revising the initial submission and
taking on board the feedback) or choose a new topic. The cases can be found on
the Moodle site. The Report should be 1500 words (+/- 10%). For any queries,
please contact the module leader.

Reading recommendations

The following are suggested readings for the module. Additional, more detailed
reading recommendations will be provided for the module topics.

Author Title Publisher ISBN eBook Core

available textbook
online via
UoG library
Needle Business in London: ISBN: Yes Yes
D. Context 6. Cengage 9781408095218
edition Learning Follow step-by-
step access
guide on
moodle page
Palmer The Business McGraw 10: 0077109902 No No
A. and Environment. Hill
Hartley
R.

Ethical Compliance for Research on Taught Courses

University policy requires ANY research which might involve human participants to use set
procedures for informing participants, obtaining their informed consent to provide data, collect-
ing and storing data. This includes the collection of data for formative or extra-curricula activi-

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 ties. 
 
Normally this requirement will impact upon approval of topics for undergraduate and postgrad-
uate dissertations BUT may also impact upon individual assignments where a student or
group of students will undertake primary research. 
 
Where a course includes an assessment item involving student collection of data, whether
from human participants or not, before any data is collected each student on such a course
must: 
 Undertake and pass the Epigium Research Ethics online course, if they have
not already done so; 
 Register the details of the project on the online Ethics Approval Form on
the FBUS Research Ethics Moodle site; 
All data collected in the course of the project must be: 
 stored on the student’s University Home (G:) or OneDrive only1;  
 destroyed following the confirmation of results at the PAB or resit PAB. 
In addition, any student collecting data from human participants must:  
 Not collect data that is sensitive in nature or is collected from University of
Greenwich staff, nor from vulnerable populations such as children; 
 Provide all participants with an offline or online participant information sheet
and consent form, using the authorised template; 
 Include the participant information sheet consent form template as appen-
dices to the submitted assignment; 
 Include any questionnaire or interview guide as appendices to the submitted
assignment; 
 If collecting data online, utilise the University’s subscriptions to JISC Online
Surveys, Office 365 Forms, SNAP, Qualtrics, Teams, Skype for Business
or AdobeConnect;  
 Not collect data using public domain tools such as SurveyMonkey, Google-
Docs, Google Hangouts (which are outside EU regulation). 
 
If any variation from the set procedures is sought: 
i. an individual application must be made to the Business Faculty Research
Ethics Committee using a University Research Ethics Application Form available
from: https://docs.gre.ac.uk/rep/vco/urec-application-form.  
i. The response of the committee will be emailed to the student’s University
email address.  The email confirming ethics approval has been granted must be
kept and included as an appendix to the assignment submission it has been
granted for.  
i. Where an application is not approved, the Committee will provide contact de-
tails for the person the student should approach to negotiate the next steps. 
 
Failing to comply with the conditions of this policy is an academic offence. 

FREC process Nov 2019 Rev.docx

Additional module information

None

Changes to the module

At the University of Greenwich, we value feedback from students as well as

External Examiners and other stakeholders and we use this information to help us
improve our provision.

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Important note: The University of Greenwich will do all that it reasonably can to
deliver the module and support your learning as specified in our handbooks and
other information provided. However, under some circumstances, changes may
have to be made. This may include modifications to the:

 content and syllabus of modules, including in relation to placements

 timetable, location and number of classes
 content or method of delivery of your module
 timing and method of assessments.

This might be because of, for example:

 academic changes within subject areas

 the unanticipated departure or absence of members of university staff
 where the numbers expected on a module are so low that it is not possible
to deliver an appropriate quality of education for students enrolled on it.
 industrial action by university staff or third parties
 the acts of any government or local authority
 acts of terrorism.

In these circumstances, the University will take all reasonable steps to minimise
disruption by making reasonable modifications. However, to the full extent that it is
possible under the general law, the University excludes liability for any loss and/or
damage suffered by any applicant or student due to these circumstances.

Other Details
The majority of information relevant to you while you study at the University has been brought
together into your programme handbook. Please refer to your programme handbook for any
further information you might require including:

 Deadlines and extenuating circumstances,

 Plagiarism and referencing,

 Who to go to for advice or if you are concerned,

 How to provide us with feedback,

 Key administrative procedures.

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 BA International Business Report – Marking Rubric

  0-29% 30-39% 40-49% 50-59% 60-69% 70-79% 80-100%

Fail Fail Satisfactory Good Very Good Excellent Exceptional
Comprehension Poor to no Confusion about Satisfactory ability Good ability to Very good ability Excellent ability to Exceptional ability
and understanding serious the subject itself to explore the explore the to explore the explore the to explore the
of core concepts of attempt to and main dimensions of the dimensions of the dimensions of the dimensions of the dimensions of the
the business demonstrate frameworks. topic areas. Some topic areas. Some topic areas. topic areas. Some topic areas. Some
environment relevant demonstration of demonstration of Demonstration of demonstration of demonstration of
(40%) knowledge using supporting using supporting using supporting using supporting using supporting
not linking to evidence for evidence for evidence for evidence for evidence for
any concepts arguments made. arguments made. arguments made. arguments made. arguments made.
in the module
Little to no Key Key Key Key Excellent Exceptional
Appropriate focus evidence of concepts/theories concepts/theories concepts/theories concepts/theories presentation of key presentation of Key
of theoretical engagement are omitted and or are presented at a are presented at a are presented at a concepts/theories. concepts/theories
models and use of with presented too satisfactory level. good level. very good level. Excellent Exceptional
research sources or briefly. Satisfactory Good A very good understanding of understanding of
informed evidence background Weak ability to reference is understanding and range of a wide range of a wide range of
and relevant reading. engage with made to reference is made appropriate literature is literature is
literature relevant literature background to background literature is used demonstrated and demonstrated and
(30%) or industry reading and reading and to support used. A wide range used. A wide range
sources. engagement with engagement with findings. of current and of current and
sources sources appropriate appropriate
researched but it researched. literature is literature is
is limited. presented to presented to
support strong support strong
arguments. arguments.
Excellent Excellent
ability to ability to
synthesize diverse synthesize diverse
sources. sources.
 Evaluation - No There is some A satisfactory A good ability to A very good ability An excellent ability An exceptional
Using sources to meaningful attempt to provide ability to build a mostly to build a clear to build a clear ability to
make critical discussion is meaningful present some clear argument argument. Very argument. build a clear
discussion, included. discussion. elements using knowledge good Excellent argument. Deep
judgements, and There is no There is very little of an argument on gained from understanding of understanding of understanding of
evaluation of the criticality. critical the topic area. sources. There is the knowledge the knowledge the knowledge
subject matter The evaluation There is sufficient some good gained from gained from gained from
(20%) arguments presented. attempt to provide evidence of sources. There is sources. A sources. An
are not a critical critical discussion. evidence of critical balanced and well- analytical and well-
supported or evaluation, evaluation of the reasoned reasoned
clear. although it is too research argument is argument is
descriptive. undertaken. demonstrated, demonstrated,
leading leading to
to definitive definitive
conclusions. conclusions.

Communication - No structure Little structure. A satisfactory A good structure. A very good Excellent structure This assignment is
The assignment is presented, Many errors in structure. The The work structure and exceptionally well
written in significant Standard work is mostly observes many – with clear very well organized structured and
grammatically number of English. presented in academic presentation and organized.
correct English. errors in Standard English. conventions in organization of ideas.
Report is well Standard Support needed style and content ideas. The report flows
structured and English. and The assignment and is mostly he written exceptionally well.
presented. Report additional support includes presented in The work observes English is of a very
follows Harvard Support for for citations within Standard English. very good high standard and The reference list is
referencing academic academic writing. the main body and academic the work observes exceptional in
(10%) writing has a reference All texts are conventions in excellent academic its breadth and
needed. Many list. included in the style. conventions. depth.
references in the However, this reference list, but The majority of
Referencing main text are referencing is the quality of works flows well. Excellent flow, style
system within incomplete or inaccurate. sources can be and format.
the essay has incorrect improved. The reference list
not been is very good in its The reference list is
followed. breadth and also excellent in its
depth. breadth and depth.

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