International Entrepreneurship

2025/2026

Academic Year

ENG

Instruction in English

Delivered at:

School of Marketing and Entrepreneurship

Course type:

Compulsory course

When:

4 year, 1, 2 module

Instructor

Ahmed, Waqas

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The course "International Entrepreneurship" focuses on the key aspects of initiating and conducting business in a global environment. It covers strategies for entering foreign markets, adapting business models to different economic and cultural contexts, and understanding the legal and institutional factors that influence international business. The course emphasizes market analysis, forms of international economic activity, risk management, multinational corporations. It also explores startup ecosystems in a global context. By completing this course, students will gain knowledge of current trends in international entrepreneurship, develop skills in strategic planning and international business environment analysis, and acquire competencies essential for successfully operating a business abroad.

Learning Objectives

• 1. Define and explain key concepts in international entrepreneurship, including global entrepreneurial ecosystems and cultural dimensions. 2. Analyze the various factors that influence successful international market entry and expansion. 3. Evaluate the benefits and challenges of different global business models and market entry strategies. 4. Identify and assess political, financial, and ethical risks associated with international ventures. 5. Design and develop practical strategies for launching and growing businesses in diverse international contexts.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• LO1: Theoretical Foundation Exploration (Understand entrepreneurial ecosystems) The course will dive deep into entrepreneurial ecosystem frameworks (e.g., Isenberg's Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Model, Stam's Framework), providing critical analysis of theoretical models to understand global entrepreneurial landscapes as complex, adaptive systems.
• LO2: Contextual Adaptability (Analyze cultural dimensions in markets) This course will develop students’ capability to analyze cultural dimensions (e.g., Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions, Trompenaars' Cultural Dimensions) and their impact on international business, enabling the development of culturally responsive strategies and flexible market intervention designs.
• LO4: Global Business Model Design (Design global business models) Analyzing core components of global business models (e.g., lean global business canvas, value proposition, revenue streams, customer segments).Understanding product/service adaptation for international markets, considering cultural and regulatory requirements
• LO3: Comprehensive Barrier Identification (Identify barriers to international entry) This course will enable students to construct multi-dimensional assessment frameworks that identify and evaluate various barriers to international entry (e.g., legal, regulatory, economic, competitive, and logistical barriers), and develop sophisticated analysis methodologies.
• LO6: Risk and Ethical Evaluation (Evaluate risks and ethical dilemmas) Analyzing political, economic, and financial risks in international ventures. Understanding and reflecting on ethical dilemmas and social responsibility in global trade and operations
• LO5: Strategic Market Entry & Growth (Develop market entry and growth strategies) Systematic analysis of market entry modes (e.g., exporting, licensing, joint ventures, FDI) and their implications. Identifying strategic opportunities and potential obstacles in international growth and scaling. Developing critical and strategic thinking skills for international expansion.
• LO7: Students will be able to design and justify a go-to-market strategy for a specific international market by identifying customer segments, tailoring value propositions, selecting appropriate channels and partners, and addressing cultural, legal, and financial considerations.

Course Contents

• Foundations of International Entrepreneurship
• Cultural and Market Dynamics
• Designing and Implementing Global Ventures
• Navigating Risks and Ethical Considerations
• Formulate a go-to-market strategy in a target country

Assessment Elements

• Group Project Report
  The students will make a group of 3–4 students based in Russia, assigned to design an international business plan to expand into South Asia or the Middle East. The students will choose an industry and a target country from the list of countries provided by the teacher and develop a complete strategy and business plan based on country data, ethics, risk assessment, and entrepreneurial opportunities
• Lecture and Seminar Activities Participation
  The students will participate in the discussion, fill out the forms, develop strategies, participate in role-play, solve mini-cases, and present

Interim Assessment

• 2025/2026 2nd module
  0.7 * Group Project Report + 0.15 * Lecture and Seminar Activities Participation + 0.15 * Lecture and Seminar Activities Participation

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Afuah, A. (2018). Business Model Innovation : Concepts, Analysis, and Cases. New York, NY: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1907925
• Aswath Damodaran. (2003). Measuring Company Exposure to Country Risk: Theory and Practice. Unpublished working paper. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.71BB81D2
• Beyond Hofstede: culture frameworks for global marketing and management, Nakata Сh., 2009
• Branislav Mičieta, Vladimíra Biňasová, Marta Kasajová, & Honorata Howaniec. (2020). Business Model Canvas as a Tool of Manager 4.0. Zeszyty Naukowe Wyższej Szkoły Humanitas. Zarządzanie, 28(1), 51–64. https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0014.1235
• Business model design and learning : a strategic guide, Spencer, B., 2013
• Design thinking for business growth : how to design and scale business models and business ecosystems, Lewrick, M., 2022
• Go-to-market strategy : advanced techniques and tools for selling more products, to more customers, more profitably, Friedman, L. G., 2002
• Harvard Business Review, Clayton M. Christensen, Mark W. Johnson, Rita Gunther McGrath, & Steve Blank. (2019). HBR’s 10 Must Reads on Business Model Innovation (with Featured Article “Reinventing Your Business Model” by Mark W. Johnson, Clayton M. Christensen, and Henning Kagermann). Boston, Massachusetts: Harvard Business Review Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1855536
• International Entrepreneurship : The Effect of Firm Age on Motives for Internationalization Brush, Candida Routledge 2012
• International entrepreneurship education : issues and newness, , 2006
• International entrepreneurship, , 2005
• Jovana Golo. (2015). Book review: Hill, C. W. L. (2014). International Business: Competing in the Global Marketplace. https://doi.org/10.5937/ekonhor1501073G
• Managing country risk : a practitioner's guide to effective cross-border risk analysis, Wagner, D., 2012
• New ways for managing global financial risks : the next generation, Hyman, M., 2006
• Scaling lean : mastering the key metrics for startup growth, Maurya, A., 2016
• Strategic risk management : How global corporations manage financial risk for competitive advantage, Ahn M.J., Falloon W.D., 1991

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Approaching business models from an economic perspective, Wei, W., 2013
• Bernd W. Wirtz. (2019). Digital Business Models : Concepts, Models, and the Alphabet Case Study (Vol. 1st ed. 2019). Springer.
• Bocken, N. M. P., Short, S. W., Rana, P., & Evans, S. (2014). A literature and practice review to develop sustainable business model archetypes. Journal of Cleaner Production ; Volume 65, Page 42-56 ; ISSN 0959-6526. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.11.039
• Cavusgil, S. T., Knight, G. A., & Riesenberger, J. R. (2017). International Business: The New Realities, Global Edition (Vol. Global edition). Boston: Pearson. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1419679
• Demil, B., Lecocq, X., & Warnier, V. (2018). “Business model thinking”, business ecosystems and platforms: the new perspective on the environment of the organization. M@n@gement, 21(4), 1213–1228. https://doi.org/10.3917/mana.214.1213
• Dynamic economic decision making : strategies for financial risk, capital markets, and monetary policy, Silvia, J. E., 2011
• Entrepreneurship and business culture : studies in the economics of trust, volume one, Casson, M., 1995
• Gernreich, C. C., Jaspert, D., Ebel, M., & Pöppelbuß, J. (2019). Teaching Digital Business Model Innovation Using the Design Thinking Approach. Proceedings of ISPIM Conferences, 1–17. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=bsu&AN=136078554
• Modelling the riskiness in country risk ratings, Hoti, S., 2005
• Osterwalder, A., & Euchner, J. (2019). Business Model Innovation: An Interview with Alex Osterwalder. Research Technology Management, 62(4), 12. https://doi.org/10.1080/08956308.2019.1613114
• Osterwalder, A., Clark, T., & Pigneur, Y. (2010). Business Model Generation : A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=335366
• Radical business model transformation : how leading organizations have successfully adapted to disruption, Linz, C., 2021
• Silva e. Meirelles, D. (2019). Business Model and Strategy: In Search of Dialog through Value Perspective. RAC - Revista de Administração Contemporânea, 23(6), 786–806. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-7849rac2019180314
• Startup evolution curve : from idea to profitable and scalable business, Jonikas, D., 2017
• Witt, M. A. (2019). De-globalization: Theories, predictions, and opportunities for international business research. Journal of International Business Studies, 50(7), 1053–1077. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41267-019-00219-7
• Бизнес с нуля : метод Lean Startup для быстрого тестирования идей и выбора бизнес - модели, Рис, Э., 2023

Authors

• Nazarov Mikhail Gennadevich
• Akhmed Vakas