The focus of this module is to provide background knowledge to the European Union in its global context, European institutions, key policy initiatives, and the processes that are taking place within the European Single Market. A discussion of the regulatory policies in Europe will enable students to understand the business environment in Europe , and the effect of cultural and institutional differences on European management and business practice.

The topics on specific European economies or the integration of Central and Eastern Europe will enable students to grasp the issues of diversity and integration, and how businesses operate in the region, how new business partnerships across diverse cultural and institutional environments are formed, and how to explore new business opportunities that arise from the European Single Market.

The aims of this module are to provide students with a comprehensive framework for understanding the European business environment, and to prepare individuals for careers requiring global business awareness and understanding of the effect of policy decisions on firms, markets, and the consumer. This module contributes to the high quality and rigorous vocational education at masters level by addressing the following learning aims and objectives:

Knowledge and Understanding:

·         A systematic in-depth understanding of the foundations of the European Union (EU), and the Single European Market (SEM), and the policy process that is taking place across EU institutions

·         A high level of theoretical and applied knowledge of the business environment in Europe , and the effect of European Policies on the competitiveness of European Business

·         Understand the relationship between EU institutions and the global regulatory and policy framework

·         Critical understanding about the structure of different markets in Europe , and how this is affected by regulatory policies

·         Understanding of the legal and public policy issues related to competition and co-operation in the EU

Application and Evaluation:

·         An ability independently to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of businesses in different industrial sectors (telecommunications, agriculture, the airline industry) partly arising from the European integration and its policies?

·         An ability to evaluate outcomes and accurately assess/report on own/others work with justification and relate them to existing knowledge structures and methodologies;

·         An ability to demonstrate high level learning and problem solving skills

·         An ability to evaluate how decisions are made in different country contexts, and what is the role of the state and national governments in the policy process.

·         Ability to compare and contrast different management styles and management practices in Europe

Synthesis and Creativity:

·         An ability to conduct comparative research on European issues and to produce a high quality research outputs at an appropriate research level – companies – industries – regions – countries

Transferable Skills:

·         A range of skills which are relevant to the needs of existing and future global managers, executives and other professionals - organisation and planning, problem solving skills, interactive and group skills, analysis and synthesis, communication and presentation skills, critical reasoning, data analysis, research skills, business report writing skills

Ethical Understanding:

As part of participation in seminar discussions, group work, individual assessment, and lecture programme, and upon successful completion of the unit, participants should be able to:

·         Discuss critically and express a position on current European questions (T)

·         Communicate effectively their knowledge and understanding of a particular European company, policy, or industry (T)

·         Engage in research and business/policy analysis within the scope of enlarged Europe (P/P)

·         Effectively use case studies and publicly available information for critical analysis of the impact of European policies on businesses and consumers (P/P)

·         Introduction to the European Union and European institutions.

·         The relationships of the EU with international organisations.

·         The European Single Market – economic and political integration and cohesion.

·         European policies – financing and implementation.

·         Competition policy in Europe in the context of the development of the global market.

·         Managing in Europe –comparative business environment (, , etc).

·         Management cultures in Europe – a comparative perspective (UK, France, etc).

·         The context of European Enlargement.

·         The transition in Central and Eastern Europe (, , ).

·         The effect of deregulation on European industries comparison of the airline and the telecommunication sectors.

Teaching and Learning Strategy

The module will be delivered in block teaching that will include lectures, seminar discussions, video facilitated reflections, scenario planning, and case analysis. Lectures will be used to explain and discuss the role of the European institutions in the process of decision making and policy implementation. Case examples of European policies and decisions and their effect on companies and economic sectors will be used to illustrate the role and importance of the common governance in the process of European integration and cohesion. Group discussions of cases will enable students to articulate the questions related to doing business in Europe . Video facilitated discussions and Scenario planning exercise will enable students to compare and contrast management practices in a multicultural context.

Assessment Strategy

Essential Reading

Johnson, Debra and Turner, Colin (2006) European Business, 2nd Ed., Routledge

Recommended Reading

Ambrus-Lakatos, L. & Schaffer, M. (Eds.) (1996) Coming to Terms with Accession. Economic Policy Initiative 2. Centre for Economic Policy Research.

Barnes, I. & Davis, L., (1994) European Business. Text & Cases. London : Butterworth & Heinemann. 

Begg, I. & Grimwade, N. (1998) Paying for Europe . Sheffield Academic Press.

Bishop & Kay (1993) European Mergers & Merger Policy. Oxford University Press

Centre for Economic Policy Research (1995) Flexible Integration. Towards More Effective and Democratic Europe . Centre for Economic Policy Research.

Colas, B. (Ed.) (2000) Global Economic Co-operation. A Guide to Agreements & Organisations. 2/e, United Nations University Press.

Cram, L., Dinan, D., and Nugent, N. (eds.) (1999) Developments in the European Union. London : Macmillan.

Crane, R. (2000) European Business Cultures. London : Prentice Hall. 

ECC (2007) European Business: Facts and Figures, data 1995-2005, European Communities Commission, Eurostat.

Gibbs, P., 3/e, (1994) Doing Business in the European Union. London : Kogan Page. 

Glockler, G., Lunius, L., Scappucci, G., Usherwood, S., and Vassallo, J. (1998) Guide to EU Policies. Blackstone Press Ltd.

Kettaneh, N. (2000) Doing Business with , 2/e., London : Kogan Page.

Mercado, S., Welford, R., and Prescott, K., (2001) European Business, 4^th ed., London : Pearson Ltd.

Millar, R. (1998) Doing Business with . London : Kogan Page.

Reuvid, J. and Millar, R. (Eds.) (2002) Doing Business with . 3/e., London : Kogan Page.

Sweet, A. Sandholdz, W. Fligstein, N. (2001) The Institutionalization of Europe . Oxford UP.

Turner, C. and Johnson, D. (2000) European Business. Policy Challenges for the new Commercial Environment. London : Routledge.

Supporting Reading

http://europa.eu.int/inst-en.htm

http://europa.eu.int/index-en.htm

http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/eurostat/index_en.htm

http://www.wto.org/

http://www.ecb.int/index.html

http://www.ebrd.com/

http://econ.worldbank.org/