Risk, Governance and International Management MSc

What you'll study

The modules on our Risk, Governance and International Management MSc programme are designed to deliver a high quality educational experience that develops and sustains your knowledge, skills and aspirations in the further advancement of your career within the business and management sector.

• Compulsory

Management and Governance in Emerging Markets

Management and Governance in Emerging Markets

This module will equip students with the necessary academic skills to understand the challenges firms face in different developing countries and assessing different ways in which firms can overcome these challenges.

By the end of this module, students will be able to critically use different concepts describing developing countries’ business environments, including institutional voids, institutional distance, state capitalism, hierarchical market economies, embedded autonomy, and predatory states.

Based on these key concepts from international business, comparative political economy, and development studies literature, students will be able to critically analyse what specific challenges arise for firms in such contexts and how different types of firms have reacted to them. Topics addressed in the module include the strength and weaknesses of institutions, the role of the state, rule-based vs. relationship-based systems of governance, business groups, and State-owned enterprises (SOEs).

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module students should be able to:

• Identify and critically assess institutional specificities in a series of developing countries
• Be critically aware of how institutional factors shape companies’ organisational structures and practices
• Critically evaluate a range of contextual factors in developing countries and how firms can react to them
• Explain and critically reflect on different ways of doing business in different parts of the world
• Critically evaluate key concepts used to describe the institutional and cultural business context in developing countries
• Critically analyse companies strategic and organizational reactions to key challenges in developing countries
• Critically analyse and synthesise academic literature and other sources of information
• Construct and present convincing, logically coherent arguments orally and in writing
• Demonstrate effective oral presentation skills

Assessment

• Assignment (80%)
• Group presentation (20%)

Political Risk in Emerging Markets

Political Risk in Emerging Markets

This programme asks the question: what are political risks and how are they defined for emerging markets.

You will uncover the lure of emerging markets and the range of risks that can be associated with such collectives, including geopolitical risks, regulatory risks and international political risks.

Time will also be dedicated to the consideration of emerging markets as nodes in the global market. By the end of the module, you will have a thorough grasp of the political and geographical risks at play for emerging markets, as well as the politics of 'doing business' for particular groups.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module, you should be able to:

• Discuss diversity of political risks within emerging markets
• Explain the various factors that make emerging markets important nodes in international business activities
• Critically evaluate existing literature and understandings of emerging markets.
• Construct reasoned arguments, synthesise and analyse relevant information and exercise critical judgement
• Reflect on your own learning and make use of constructive feedback
• Analyse current events and discuss them in groups as part of an editorial meeting
• Discuss essay questions as part of a group and plan possible outlines
• Communicate effectively in speech and writing
• Use communication and information technology for the retrieval and presentation of information
• Work individually, demonstrating initiative, self-organisation and time management
• Explain events as they are reported in media coverage, and examine their contents

Assessment

• Coursework (100%)

Corporate Political Activity and Political Risk

Corporate Political Activity and Political Risk

This module will help students understand the capabilities and strategies companies use to manage and shape the political and institutional environment around them. The module will generate an awareness of the nature and types of political risks that companies face in various contexts and how they assess and manage these risks.

By the end of this module students will be able to make informed assessments of the range of ways in which companies assess and manage political risks in different contexts, critically evaluate the nature of corporate political activity and debates around the role of companies in the political processes, assess the challenges facing corporations in terms of political risk when operating in various types of political and institutional systems and, identify the resources and capabilities that companies use of formulate effective CPA in different contexts.

On completion of this module student should be able to:

• Review the ways in which companies can influence their political and institutional environment
• Explain the nature of the risks stemming from the political process that influence companies operations
• Critically evaluate different strategies and capabilities that companies use to deal with political risks
• Explain different approaches to corporate political activity and the ways in which economic activity is embedded in national forms of capitalism and in different political systems
• Critically evaluate different political and institutional contexts in terms of the political risks they give rise to.

Assessment

• Coursework (100%)

Corporate Risk Management

Corporate Risk Management

This module will provide students with the ability to identify and understand different types of risks companies are facing and equip students with an understanding of the processes and tools companies use to assess and manage various risks they are facing.

Students will be able to make informed assessments of the range of ways in which companies assess and manage risks, critically evaluate the risk taking behaviour of companies in various contexts, assess various sources of risks that companies face in different contexts and evaluate different risk management methods, procedures and practices.

On completion of this module students should be able to:

• Explain the nature, differences and sources of a range of risks affecting different parts of the business model
• Critically evaluate companies’ risk-taking behaviours
• Review the ways in which companies assess risks and define acceptable levels of risk
• Identify tools and processes allowing firms to identify and manage various risks
• Explain risk management processes within organisations
• Explain different theories or risk and risk management
• Critically evaluate the effectiveness of different approaches to risk management
• Apply risk management methods and tools in different situations and to various case studies

Assessment

• Coursework (100%)

Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Risks

Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Risks

This module will equip students with an understanding of the role of companies in relation to their social and natural environment. It will also generate an awareness of the ways in which companies take on a social and environmental responsibility and their link to risks stemming from the natural environment.

Students will be able to make informed assessments of the range of ways in which companies affect and are affected by their social and natural environment, critically evaluate the nature of corporate social responsibility and how the debate and practice of this issue has evolved over time to include environmental responsibility and, evaluate sources of social and environmental risks and companies tools in dealing with them.

On completion of this module students should be able to:

• Explain the ways in which companies affect and are affected by their social and natural environment
• Describe how the social and natural environment may impact companies’ operations in various contexts
• Critically evaluate the relationship between the companies, local communities, and the natural environment and the impact companies have on them
• Evaluate different approaches to corporate social and environmental responsibility that is sensitive to the way in which economic activity is embedded in different contexts
• Critically evaluate the effectiveness of codes of conduct concerning corporate social responsibility
• Identify strategies by which companies assume corporate social and environmental responsibility

Assessment

• Coursework (100%)

Economic Global Governance

Economic Global Governance

The aim of this module to assess the validity of economic factors in international affairs and to understand the development and dynamics of the global economy and global governance.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module you should be able to:

• Critically evaluate the role of economic factors in international affairs;
• Analyse the development and dynamics of the global economy and global governance;
• Critically demonstrate awareness of the workings of global governance today;
• Critically assess concepts and practice of global governance ;
• Identify appropriate sources pertaining to the study of the global economy and global governance; - formulate research questions and research strategies for studying global governance;
• Demonstrate excellent oral communication skills;
• Apply scholarship to communicate research findings to practitioner audience;
• Demonstrate research management and self-learning skills;
• Communication and ICT Skills;
• Manage research, resource materials, data and referencing, and research findings relating to the study of global economic governance.

Assessment

• 40% Critical Report
• 60% Presentation

The Art of Governance: Diplomacy, Negotiation and Lobbying

The Art of Governance: Diplomacy, Negotiation and Lobbying

The aim of the module is to familiarise students with the theory, frameworks and practice of governance in every aspect.

The module will provide you with a thorough overview of all of the different ways, including questions of professional practice, in which governance is undertaken, negotiated and influenced.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module, you should be able to:

• Critically evaluate the academic concepts and theories of diplomacy, negotiation and lobbying as the exercise of political influence that includes strategies, tactics and techniques
• Analyse and assess the processes of policy-making including alternative models of how policy evolves
• Critically evaluate the importance of diplomacy, assessment, advocacy, bargaining, negotiation and persuasion as dynamic features of the art of governance
• Evaluate the best means to approach different real-life, professional situations using the frameworks of diplomacy, negotiation and lobbying
• Evaluate the appropriateness of differing problem-solving skills for differing governance problems
• Critically assess which concepts and skills from diplomacy, negotiation and/or lobbying are most relevant for specific professional contexts and problem-solving
• Identify appropriate information sources pertaining to the study of diplomacy, negotiation and lobbying
• Formulate research questions and research strategies for informing diplomatic practice
• Demonstrate excellent IT and presentation skills
• Demonstrate understanding of the linkages between academic scholarship and practitioner experience in this field
• Demonstrate research management and self-learning skills
• Demonstrate enhanced communication and negotiation skills
• Manage research, resource materials, data and referencing, and research findings relating to all aspects of governance

Assessment

• Coursework (100%)

Corporate Governance and Financial Development

Corporate Governance and Financial Development

By the end of this module you will be able to critically discuss the main theories in the areas of law and finance as well as alternative explanations of the link between law and financial development. We will critically discuss the notion of ‘quality of law,’ the role that the Rule of Law plays in the economy, as well as different measures of legal shareholder protection.

You will familiarise yourself with alternatives to the legal-rational Western system of economic organisation (including relationship-based systems and clans). This will allow you to understand how corporate governance reforms have been used to promote financial growth and what firm-level consequences result from such reforms, driven by the international financial institutions.

Topics addressed in this module include ‘the Washington Consensus,’ the Law and Finance school, legal reforms and the transplant effect, the impact of shareholder protection on stock market development, and shareholder vs. stakeholder models of corporate governance.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module you should be able to:

• Critically assess theories of corporate governance and the role of law in promoting financial and economic development
• Demonstrate an awareness of how such theories have been used by development agencies and international financial institutions to promote policy reforms in various countries
• Explain and critically reflect on limitations of legal reform as an instrument for development
• Understand and critically evaluate alternative forms of economic organisation to the legal rational system of developed Western economies
• Critically evaluate key theories in the areas of comparative corporate governance, law and finance, and development studies
• Critically analyse reform programmes and policies based on these theories and assess their impact on corporate governance systems and firm-level practices
• Critically analyse and synthesise academic literature and other sources of information

Assessment

• Assignment (80%)
• Presentation (20%)

The Collaborative Project

The Collaborative Project

With a multi-talented group of students, you will work on a brief from a real company looking to solve a real social or business problem.

Together with your student team, you will research and build solutions to a business problem, supported by our project tutors, clients and staff. Previous clients include Foster + Partners, Speedo, The London Legacy Development Corporation as well as many other companies, start-ups and charities.

The Collaborative Project provides a means for you to engage in critical enquiry and to be exposed to project-based teamwork in multicultural and interdisciplinary settings. By undertaking this module, you will strengthen your cooperative and collaborative working skills and competencies, whilst raising your awareness and appreciation of cultural and disciplinary diversity and differences.

The Collaborative Project aims to provide you with a hands-on experience of identifying, framing and resolving practice-oriented and real-world based challenges and problems, using creativity and appropriate tools to achieve valuable and relevant solutions. Alongside the collaborative elements of the module, you will be provided with opportunities to network with stakeholders, organisations and corporations, which will give you the experience and skills needed to connect to relevant parties and potentially develop future employment opportunities.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module, you will be able to:

• Work effectively in diverse and interdisciplinary teams;
• Undertake and contribute towards a project-based development process;
• Apply critical enquiry, reflection, and creative methods to identify, frame, and resolve issues and problems at hand;
• Identify user and stakeholder needs and value creation opportunities, whilst collecting and applying evidence-based information and knowledge to develop appropriate insights, practices and solutions;
• Identify, structure, reflect on key issues and propose solutions to problems in creative ways;
• Enhance your appreciation for diversity and divergent individual and disciplinary perspectives;
• Be able to provide structured, reflective and critical feedback to peers and other stakeholders;