Master of Management Studies (M.M.S) International Business Syllabus - Mumbai University 2026

Course objectives

• 1 To familiarize students with foundational concepts, frameworks, and dynamics of international business.
• 2 To equip students with practical skills for managing cross-border operations, trade, and market entry strategies.
• 3 To develop analytical capabilities to evaluate global business environments, opportunities, and risks.
• 4 To foster understanding of international business regulations, trade agreements, and economic integration.
• 5 To cultivate strategic insights into managing cultural diversity, ethical considerations, and global competitive strategies.

Course outcomes

• CO1: Understand key concepts and global contexts driving international business strategies.
• CO2: Apply analytical frameworks to evaluate countries, markets, and global value chains.
• CO3: Formulate strategic decisions on entry modes, market selection, and subsidiary structuring.
• CO4: Assess financial, legal, cultural, and operational challenges in cross-border operations.
• CO5: Design comprehensive country entry strategies considering institutional, cultural, and competitive factors.

Unit 1 CO1 · 5 hours

Global Business Landscape: Understanding globalization, political-economic dynamics, Thucydides’ Trap, and the Clash of Civilizations and their implications for firms.

Unit 2 CO1 · 5 hours

Theories of International Trade: Mercantilism, Absolute and Comparative Advantage, Heckscher- Ohlin, and Product Lifecycle Theory.

Unit 3 CO1, CO2 · 4 hours

Drivers and Process of Internationalization: Strategic intent, global pressures, and common pitfalls.

Unit 4 CO2 · 6 hours

Country Analysis Frameworks: PESTEL, CAGE, and Economic Complexity Atlas; Quantitative and qualitative methods to assess market attractiveness.

Unit 5 CO2, CO5 · 7 hours

Market Entry Strategy Design: Ghemawat’s AAA framework; designing entry strategies based on institutional and cultural differences.

Unit 6 CO3, CO5 · 5 hours

Modes of Entry: Exporting, Licensing, Franchising, Joint Ventures, Strategic Alliances, and M&As – strategic fit, risk, and control.

Unit 7 CO3 · 4 hours

Subsidiary Management and MNE Structures: Types, autonomy, performance evaluation, and mandate assignment in MNE networks.

Unit 8 CO3 · 4 hours

Competitive Advantage of Nations: Porter’s Diamond, industry clusters, and implications for firm location and innovation.

Unit 9 CO3, CO4 · 4 hours

Bottom-of-the-Pyramid Markets: Institutional voids, product/service innovation for emerging markets, and alternate operating models.

Unit 10 CO4 · 5 hours

Cross-Cultural Management and HRM: Hofstede dimensions, Meyer’s cultural map, expatriate management, and the EPRG framework.

Unit 11 CO4 · 3 hours

International Trade Mechanics: INCO terms, trade documentation, letters of credit, and global logistics.

Unit 12 CO4 · 4 hours

Global Finance and Risk Management: Currency structures, capital sourcing, fund transfer, multilateral netting, and exposure management.

Unit 13 CO4 · 4 hours

Regulatory Institutions and Trade Agreements: WTO, FTAs, MFN principles, and impact on national policy and corporate decisions.

Textbooks

• 1 International Business Strategy, Management, and the New Realities – S. Tamer Cavusgil, Gary Knight, John Riesenberger. Pearson
• 2 Transnational Management Text, Cases, and Readings in Cross- Border Management. Christopher Bartlett, Sumantra Ghoshal, Paul Beamish. McGraw Hill International Edition.
• 3 International Management. Arvind V. Phatak, Rabi S. Bhagat, Roger. J. Kashlak. Tata McGraw Hill.

Reference Books

• 1 The Future of the Multinational Company. Julian Birkinshaw, Sumantra Ghoshal, Constantinos Markides, John Stopford, George Yip (Eds) John Wiley & sons
• 2 Multinational Management. A Strategic Approach. John Cullen. South Western Thomson Learning.
• 3 Global Business Strategy. Cornelis A. de Kluyver and John Pearce II. Business Expert Press