BUS 328:  INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
- Innovation and Small‑Tech in Global Markets 

COURSE SYLLABUS:
For details about the course, please see our Course Syllabus

Study how firms expand across borders. Work through market entry, regulation, currency exposure, and adaptation to local customers.

This course examines the principles, strategies, and challenges of conducting business across national borders, with a specific emphasis on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), technology-driven ventures, and innovation-oriented firms. Students will study the core frameworks of international business, including trade and investment theories, market entry strategies, cultural dimensions, global supply chain management, and risk analysis.

Through a thematic focus on small-tech and entrepreneurial firms, the course explores how innovation, agility, and lean operations can serve as competitive advantages in global markets. Students will analyze how smaller companies leverage digital platforms, partnerships, and innovation ecosystems to overcome resource constraints and compete internationally.

Classroom instruction is complemented by applied field learning during a multi-city academic program in Europe. Professional visits to startups, accelerators, research institutions, and industry leaders serve as case material for comparative analysis. Students engage in structured debrief sessions to connect site observations to theoretical models and international business frameworks.

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

1. Explain and apply key concepts and theories in international business.
2. Evaluate the strategic considerations of SMEs and technology-driven firms entering new markets.
3. Analyze the influence of political, economic, cultural, and regulatory environments on innovation-based global expansion.
4. Design a market entry strategy that integrates both traditional IB frameworks and innovation-driven approaches.

Summary:

• Credit Hours: 3
• Prerequisites: Introductory coursework in business, economics, or management recommended.
• Assessment Methods: Case analyses, market entry project, site visit reports, participation in debrief sessions, final exam.

Syllabus: 

1. Purpose
The purpose of this course is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of international business principles while examining the unique challenges and opportunities faced by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), technology-driven ventures, and innovation-focused firms. Through an integrated blend of academic study and applied field experiences in multiple European cities, students will explore how global market forces, policy environments, cultural contexts, and technological trends shape international expansion strategies. The course equips students with the knowledge and analytical tools to design and evaluate market entry approaches that balance innovation with sound business fundamentals.

2. Learning Objectives
By the end of the course, students will be able to:

1. Explain and apply core international business concepts including trade and investment theory, market entry strategies, and cross-cultural management.
2. Analyze the strategic advantages and constraints of SMEs and innovation-driven enterprises in global markets.
3. Evaluate the impact of regulatory, political, and economic environments on the operations and growth of small-tech companies abroad.
4. Assess the role of innovation ecosystems in supporting entrepreneurship and global competitiveness.
5. Integrate field-based observations from professional visits and cultural activities into academic analysis of international business environments.
6. Develop a market entry plan for an innovation-oriented enterprise, applying theoretical frameworks to real-world contexts encountered during the program.

3. Modules / Academic Content
Module 1: Foundations of International Business

• Theories of trade and investment (comparative advantage, FDI, global value chains).
• Global institutions: WTO, IMF, World Bank, regional trade agreements.
• Modes of market entry: exporting, licensing, franchising, joint ventures, wholly owned subsidiaries.

Module 2: The International Business Environment

• Political and legal systems and their influence on business.
• Economic indicators, market potential, and competitive analysis.
• Cultural dimensions and their impact on business strategy (Hofstede, Trompenaars, GLOBE).

Module 3: Innovation and Small-Tech in Global Markets

• Characteristics of SMEs and technology-driven firms.
• Innovation as a competitive advantage in international contexts.
• Lean and agile approaches to market entry.

Module 4: Regulatory and Policy Considerations

• Intellectual property protection in global markets.
• Data privacy, digital trade, and emerging tech regulations (with EU examples).
• Industry-specific regulatory environments and compliance strategies.

Module 5: Global Operations and Supply Chains

• Logistics and sourcing for SMEs and startups.
• Supply chain resilience and risk management.
• Sustainable and ethical operations in a global context.

Module 6: Strategy and Execution in International Expansion

• Building partnerships, alliances, and networks abroad.
• Adapting products and services for diverse markets.
• Scaling from local to regional to global operations.

Module 7: Applied Field Learning Integration

• Professional visits to startups, accelerators, innovation hubs, and research centers.
• Comparative analysis of innovation ecosystems across multiple European cities.
• Structured debrief sessions linking site visits to international business frameworks.
  
  

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-->> Course Details: Course Syllabus

Course Information:

• Dates:  June - July
• Code: BUS 328
• Credits: 3 
• Hours: 48 academic hours
• Prerequisites: None
• Language: English
• All majors welcome!

Program Location: 

• Europe: Barcelona, Paris, London, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest

Eligibility: 

• 2.2 GPA
• More admission requirements

Host University School of Record: 

• The University of New York in Prague (UNYP)

Note: course offerings are subject to change.