Introducing

International
Business
Dr Emma Gardner
What is international business?
The study of transactions taking place across
national borders for the purpose of satisfying the
needs of individuals and organisations – Collinson et al. (2024)

• Almost every product or service is affected by international

business.
• Business have either internationally dispersed customers, they
source intermediary services from different locations, or they rely
on supplies from abroad to produce their product or service.
Importing and exporting
The classical view of international business transactions consists of
importing and exporting:
• Importing - Goods and services produced in one country and
bought in by another country
• Exporting - Goods and services produced by a firm in one country
and then sent to another country

In 2023, Vietnam imported USD$340.11bn of goods/services (up

from $20.76bn in 2003)
- Compared to $686.66bn imported to Singapore, $327.98bn to
Thailand
Understanding imports
The higher the amount of imports, the higher a country’s reliance on
foreign goods or services for its own domestic activity

Imports are good because:

- As consumers we have more choices when shopping
- They provide access to raw materials that the country does not
naturally have (metals, minerals)
- Businesses can gain access to resources to make them more
productive (i.e. specialist machinery from abroad)
Understanding exports
Vietnam exported $424bn of goods
and services in 2024.
These tended to be electronics like
mobile phones (21%) and computers
(12%), machinery, textiles (12%) and
footwear.
The majority of products were
exported to:
• United States (19%)
• China (16%)
• Japan (8%)
• Vietnam is the 15th largest exporter
in the world
The history of international business
At the beginning of the 20th century, we saw the emergence of multinational
enterprises – these are firms that have activities in different countries that are
managed by a headquarters.

IBM, Tata, Huawei, Unilever, Procter and Gamble are all examples of
multinationals
These firms have complex operations spanning lots of different countries, and
have a huge effect on economies through their direct and indirect activities like
employment, e.g. Unilever employs over 128,000 people.

However, international business – doing business across borders - can be

traced back to the Silk Road
The Silk Road
The silk road was a trading network that
spanned 6,400km from the Far East to
Europe, beginning in 130 BCE.

Exports from the East included silk, tea,

perfume, spices.

Exports from the West included honey,

wine and gold.

Since then, trade has been affected by

political boycotts, wars, disease, and more
recently by advancements in technology
and logistics such as containerization.
The history of International Business
In 1950, the United States dominated the world economy, accounting
for half of global output and 80% of foreign direct investment.
Over the following decades, the European and Japanese economies
began to recover, becoming key exporters of goods. In the 1980s, the
Triad accounted for three quarters of world manufacturing production.
From the 1990s onwards, deregulation and technological change
catalyzed international business activity.
Although the Triad is no longer as dominant as it was in the 1980s, it
still plays an important role in international business, instead,
emerging markets are playing an increasing role.
International Business as a discipline
International Business is a melting pot of different fields and perspectives.

It is concerned with the quantitative, economic nature of transactions i.e.

imports and exports

But, it is also concerned with

- How firms organise their activities and value chains across borders
- How firms manage differences in culture
- How firms market their products or services to global customers
- How firms compete with local and global rivals
- How firms have a social responsibility and impact on global sustainability
International business and stakeholders
This is because IB affects lots of different stakeholders in different ways

A stakeholder is anybody who can be affected by an organisation, or who

can affect an organisation’s strategy.

International business affects customers because we can access more

options, with more competitive prices
• e.g. because McDonalds is so big, they can afford to sell burgers more
cheaply than an independent, local burger restaurant
International business and stakeholders
It affects local, domestic businesses because they have to compete with
new rivals from overseas
• e.g. organisations may need to rethink their USP, do more
marketing/promotion, change their pricing
It affects suppliers, because they have new customers to sell their product
to
• International business creates opportunities for more sales, but also
increases competition
It affects employees because when a new factory/shop/office is opened
overseas it creates jobs
• This can also result in job losses in the home country, i.e. automotive
production moved from Detroit to Asia
International business and stakeholders
It affects local economies by creating knowledge spillovers. This means
that host countries benefit from foreign investment by acquiring knowledge
that can then be put to use in other areas i.e. local managers can leave the
company and take their new know-how with them.

It affects the environment, because manufacturing cars in Asia and

shipping them to the West results in more carbon emissions, more pollution.
Positive or negative?
International business has both positive and negative effects.

While it can create jobs and economic growth, it can also:

• Result in exploitation e.g. sweatshops
• Allow organisations to benefit from more ‘relaxed’ rules overseas e.g. tax
• Have limited benefit to local communities
• Cause local cultures to be lost
• Damage the environment
• Result in supply chain risks e.g. pandemic
Regulating international business
To protect against the negative effects of globalisation and international
business, there have been some regulatory initiatives e.g. SDGs.

The UN member states

have committed to
achieving these goals
by 2030

Trump is now actively

working against these
SDGs
Case study: VinGroup
A conglomerate which has diversified into different industries:
• Industrials and technology – Vinfast (cars), VinAI
• Real estate – VinHomes, VinCom (shopping malls), VinPearl
(tourism and hospitality)
• Social enterprises – VinSchool, VinUni

This allows the firm to spread risk as different factors impact

industries in different ways. It also allows them to balance new,
developing industries with more stable revenue streams.
VinFast – electric vehicles
- Growing industry worth USD$620.33bn by 2030 (7% annual growth)
- Began exporting to Indonesia one year ago - fourth shipment left
Vietnam on March 8 sending almost 2,500 units to Indonesia
- Indonesia represents a major sales opportunity – government reduced
or removed taxes on EVs
- VinFast committed USD$200million to Indonesia to build a production
facility. VinFast will also develop 100,000 charging stations.
- Legal and financial HQ in Singapore – access to reputational benefits,
financial services infrastructure, before the firm commences European
exports. Investment abroad can be both market-seeking and resource-
seeking.
Introducing the
University of
Birmingham & SIM
About the University

Partnerships & Affiliations Global & UK Rankings

• Ranked 80th in the world ​
One of the (QS World University Rankings 2025)​​
prestigious Russell ​
Group of 24 research- • Top 13 in the UK University League
intensive universities in Table
the UK
(The Complete University Guide 2025)​
​
A member of
the Universitas 21
• Ranked equal 10th amongst Russell
global network of top Group universities and equal 13th in
universities around the the UK for research excellence by
world Times Higher Education
(Research Excellence Framework REF
2021)

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Birmingham Business School

A major player Offers a wide Strong links Faculty

in business variety of highly with industry contributes
education for regarded and employers, to academic
more than a programmes exposing debates
century across a range of students to real worldwide and
First business business world expertise play advisory
school in disciplines ​ roles to business,
England (1902) ​ industry and the
public sector

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 Triple-crown
Accreditation
Birmingham Business School holds the prestigious
Triple-crown Accreditation from the leading bodies in
recognition of the quality and rigorous standards in
Business and Management Education.
One of the top 1% of business schools globally that has
the ‘Triple Crown’ Accreditation (only 129 of 15000+)

Winners of the Best Business School Partnership

at the AMBA & BGA Excellence Awards 2024 in
partnership with Deloitte​

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SIM–BIRMINGHAM
Over 15 years of partnership has produced
about 4,237 of graduates since 2009

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Pathways
04
Master of Science Programmes

@ SIM-UoB
(12 months)

Entry-level: Bachelor’s degree (Upper

2nd Class Honours or equivalent)

Undergraduate Business Suite 03

Programmes
(2 years / 2 years 4 months)
Achieve overall B average grade for a SIM
business diploma and progress to Year 2
of study with UoB at SIM. SIM Diploma in Accounting,
Banking & Finance,
Other Entry-level: Completed Year 1-2* at
another University 02 International Business or
Management Studies (Diploma
qualification, 15 months)
Progress to one of the above
SIM Management business diplomas with an MFS

01
Certificate.
Foundation Studies
(MFS Certificate, 6 months) Other Entry-level: Qualifications
equivalent to the GCE ‘A’ level
Entry-level: Qualifications examinations
equivalent to GCE ‘O’ level
examinations

* Prospects with Year 1 and 2 results from other universities are assessed by UoB in compliance with its admission
entry requirements. Some may be further required to do a 3-month preparatory course first.
 BSc Business
Management
Allows students to study the core programme in
Singapore

This credit-based programme sees students studying 120

credits per year over the first two study blocks each year.

The programme offers modules with themes catering to the following:

Accounting and Economics and Marketing Business Organisations and Strategy and Business
Finance Finance Management skills Entrepreneurship International Economics
Business

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 BSc International
Business
You spend 2 periods overseas:

Year 2: Birmingham Business School, UK

• You study a number of business modules, and we take you on a number of exciting study
trips (museums, team building week to the Lake District – photos on next slides)

Year 3: Abroad
• Study at one of Birmingham’s partners such as Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, France,
Germany, Japan, Korea, Spain and Sweden (places allocated on merit – results of year 2!)
• Or work overseas (self-sourced).

 Allows students to gain: valuable, relevant work/life experience; gain valuable employability skills; make
important organisational contacts;
 Ideal for enthusiastic, proactive students who are keen to gain experience
 International experience / narrative about working or studying abroad leads to graduate jobs!

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How well did our UoB students do?
Where are some of them now?
Class of 2024
Almost 80% obtained a Second Upper
Class Honours and above
(Based on the average of the last 5 intakes)

and more… © 2025 Singapore Institute of Management Pte Ltd

MSc International Business

A full time, 12-month programme delivered by University of Birmingham academic at SIM

in Singapore
The programme is designed around a pathway-to-practice approach that focuses on
developing key skills including understanding the latest business models, international
competition, optimising modern technology, innovation, and data analytics.

By the end of the programme, students will be able to

• Appreciate the global nature of business
• Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and understanding in key areas of international
business
• Apply theoretical knowledge, practical skills, tools and techniques in a written dissertation
• Improve and enhance your skills and practice for the fast-paced changes now faced by
many international businesses.

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MSc International Business Modules

Governance and Global

1 International Business 4 Responsibility

2 International Strategy 5 International Business Data

Analytics

Practising and Managing Disruptive Innovation and

3 International Business 6 International Business

Dissertation
7
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 MSc International Business

Admission Criteria

• Good honours degree (Upper 2nd Class Honours), or equivalent, from a

recognised university; or

• Postgraduate diploma from a UK university (or overseas equivalent) in any

subject

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English Language Criteria

Programme English Criteria

• A minimum C6 pass in English as First Language at GCE ‘O’ Level; or
• IELTS 6.5 overall (at least 6.0 in each band); or
• TOEFLS iBT:88 (with no less than 20 in Listening, 21 in Reading, 22 in Speaking and 21 in
Writing); or
MSc International • Pearson Test of English (Academic); PTE academic 67 overall with a minimum of 64 in all
Business four skills; or
• Cambridge English (exam taken from 2015): Advanced or proficiency – minimum overall
score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component; or
• Successful completion of a SIM Pre-Sessional English course, Certificate in Pre-Sessional
English for Academic Purposes, or
• Equivalent

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Pre-Sessional English Course
(Developed & awarded by SIM, Singapore)

Applicants who have not reached the

required IELTS English Language
proficiency level or equivalent shall
have to pass a Pre-Sessional English
Course before progressing to any of the
MSc programmes.

This full-time course aims to improve

all four Academic English Language
skills in Speaking, Listening, Reading
and Writing to the required proficiency
level for entry to MSc programmes:

© 2022 Singapore Institute of Management Group Limited

What career will an IB degree lead to?
Major directions include jobs in:
• Banking
• Global Business analysis and development
• Cross-border Management and strategy consulting
• Global Corporate finance and investment
• Global Human resource management
• International Marketing
• Graduates may further their studies with an MSc/PhD

• Based on the survey conducted in AY2023/24, 73 SIM-UoB (UG) graduates

responded that their median basic salary was S$3500, and that they found
their first job within 6 months of graduation

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SIM-University of Birmingham SIM-University of Birmingham
MSc Programmes (E-Brochure) Undergraduate (E-Brochure)

SCAN ME! SCAN ME!

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