Course coordinator: Professor Grazia Santangelo
Faculty
Professor Christian Geisler Asmussen (CGA)
Department of Strategy and Innovation, CBS
Professor Grazia Santangelo (GS)
Department of Strategy and Innovation, CBS
Professor Larissa Rabbiosi (LR)
Department of Strategy and Innovation, CBS
Professor Marcus Møller Larsen (MML)
Department of Strategy and Innovation, CBS
Professor Michael Mol (MM)
Department of Strategy and Innovation, CBS
Professor Torben Pedersen (TP)
Department of Strategy and Innovation, CBS
Professor Wolfgang Sofka (WS)
Department of Strategy and Innovation, CBS
Department of International Economics, Government and Business, CBS
Prerequisites
The course is designed for students with different backgrounds who have an interest in business and its applications to other fields and topics. Although a basic knowledge of management, strategy, and economics is helpful, no specific prerequisites are required. Students are expected to attend the entire course and take the final exam.
- curriculum vitae demonstrating your capabilities of doing research;
- a letter of recommendation of your local faculty supporting the application;
- a one-page description of your doctoral research, indicating the general objectives.
Aim
The course aims to offer a systematic foundational knowledge of the theoretical building blocks of international business research, the most updated debates on theories, and an overview of topics and areas of research in the field. The ultimate goal is to develop an ability to identify opportunities for future research. The course is organized into two parts. The first part focuses on different theoretical perspectives. The second part discusses state‐of‐the‐art research on specific topics and areas.
Course content
This is a discussion‐based course. Students are expected to attend and be prepared for every session. Session preparation includes reading all required assigned material for the session. During each session, the discussion will be based on the papers for discussion.
Lectures and workshops where students are expected to present and discuss pre‐assigned readings.
S1 - Day 1 - Faculty: GS
Why and how companies became multinationals
S2* - Day 1 - Faculty: MML
Behavioral perspectives on international business
S3 - Day 2 - Faculty: CGA
Internalization theory
S4* - Day 2 - Faculty: MM
Stakeholder theory in the global context
S5 - Day 3 - Faculty: FZ – GS
Proposal Development Workshop
S6* - Day 3 - Faculty: LR
Knowledge transfer across borders
S7 - Day 4 - Faculty: WS
Strategic human capital in international business
S8* - Day 4 - Faculty: TP
Backlash against globalization and mitigation strategies
S9 - Day 5 - Faculty: FZ
Geopolitics and companies' strategies
S10* - Day 5 - Faculty: GS
MNEs and Grand Challenges
Tentative schedule
Afternoon sessions: 13:30-16:30
To demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of theories and topics relevant to international business literature.
- To demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of key concepts, assumptions, causal relationships and processes relevant to international business literature.
- To critically review assigned readings.
- To develop new ideas and approaches that advance some portions of theory and research.
At the end of the course, each student is requested to hand in a 3‐5‐page proposal that will be assessed on a pass/no‐pass basis. The proposal is expected to identify a research question, theoretical framing, and preliminary hypotheses.
A preliminary list of readings per session is reported below. A final syllabus will be circulated to registered students before the start of the course.
Dunning, J.H., 2000. The eclectic paradigm as an envelope for economic and business theories of MNE activity. International Business Review, 9(2): 163‐190.
Hennart, J.‐F. (2000). Transaction costs theory and the multinational enterprise. In C. Pitelis & R. Sugden (Eds), The Nature of the Transnational, (2nd ed.) 72–118. London: Routledge
Surroca, J., Tribó, J. A., & Zahra, S. A. 2013. Stakeholder pressure on MNEs and the transfer of socially irresponsible practices to subsidiaries. Academy of Management Journal, 56: 549–572.
Powell, T. C., Lovallo, D., & Fox, C. R. (2011). Behavioral strategy. Strategic Management Journal, 32(13), 1369-1386.
Fortwengel, J., & Kostova, T. (2023). Three decades of research on practice transfer in multinational firms: Past contributions and future opportunities. Journal of World Business, 58(3), 101430.
J. Kobrin (2017). Bricks and Mortar in a Borderless World: Globalization, the Backlash, and the Multinational Enterprise. Global Strategy Journal (7): 159‐171.
DKK 6,500 (EUR 875). This course is offered in collaboration with EIASM. For PhD students who are currently enrolled at an EIASM member institution, there is a reduced fee of DKK 5,025 (EUR 675).
Registration Deadline and Conditions
The registration deadline is 1 March 2026. If you wish to cancel your registration, it must be done by this date. By this deadline, we determine whether there are enough registrations to run the course or decide who should be offered a seat if we have received too many registrations.