Business Administration

This course seeks to provide a platform for critical rethinking of the role of business in creating both business value and social value. Porter's “Shared Value Creation” is used as a broad framework to look into the building blocks of creating a win-win situation where economic success and societal benefits co-exist through innovative thinking and solutions. The courses examines how to design innovative businesses that can respond to increasing demands for a fairer and better society, a greener environment and greater job satisfaction, whilst reducing costs, building customer loyalty, attracting and retaining talents, thus creating long-lasting value. Assessment: preparation, attendance, and participation; individual written assignments; group project; group debate.

This course examines the critical issues facing organizations in simultaneously managing their human resources at home and abroad. It focuses on the connection between corporate strategies and the effective management of human resources across countries. Key topics include local responsiveness, global integration, social architecture, global talent, and global leadership. The course uses a combination of lectures, class discussions, and case analyses.

The course covers various aspects of the changing international business environment, and their impact upon business operations and strategy. It gives students an appreciation of the business difficulties faced; the variety of factors influencing the choices and compromises that have to be made in international businesses, and the implications of those for the future viability and effectiveness of the organizations concerned.