COCHIN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

SCHEME OF STUDY FOR MBA (INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS) PROGRAMME

FOURTH SEMESTER

Course

code

Paper C/E Credits Internal

Marks

U/E*

Marks

Total

Marks

SMI 2401 International Strategic Management C 3 50 50 100

SMI 2402 Environment Management C 3 50 50 100

SMI 2403 International Logistics Management C 3 50 50 100

SMI 2404 Independent Research Study **** C 3 0 100 100

Elective – 3 E 3 50 50 100

Elective – 4 E 3 50 50 100

Comprehensive Viva-Voce with

external examiners

C 3 0 100 100

* U/E - University/External Examination

**** Each student should submit a Dissertation based on the research (the research study

need not be necessarily attached to an organisation) under the supervision of a

Teacher.

Note: All MBA (International Business) students are required to take at least two

electives from the list of electives under International Business.

SMI 2401 INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT

Objective:

The course aims at providing the theoretical frame work as well as application of Strategic

Management. Both theory and case studies are included in the curriculum.

Module I:

Strategic Management – Introduction – Strategic Management process – mission and goals

SWOT Analysis – scanning the environment – STEP analysis – Analysis of Internal

Strengths and Weaknesses – competitive advantage – Porters Five forces model.

Module II :

Formulation of Strategies – Generic Strategies in the Corporate and S.B.U. Levels – Cost

leadership, differentiation and focus – Portfolio analysis.

Module III :

Strategy implementation – evaluation and control.

Module IV:

Formulation of Strategics for multinational firms – ways to enter a new country – evaluating

international environment – Deciding overall policy for international business.

Module : V

Case Studies

Suggested Readings :

1. Michael E. Porter : 1) Competitive Strategy, 2) The Competitive advantage of Nations

2. A.J. Ansoff : The new Corporate Strategy

3. Francis Cherunilam : Business Policy and Strategic Management

4. R.M. Srivastava: International Strategic Management

5. International Journal of Strategic Management

6. Azhar Kasmi : Business Policy

SMI 2402 ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT

Objective:

The main objective of the study is to familiarize the students about the concepts of

Environmental Management and equip them to find solutions for contemporary concerns in

environmental management.

Module I :

Introduction to Environmental Management – Environmental Management Vedic times to

Modern – Population and Economic Growth – Economic Growth: Its impact on

Environment – Impact of Industrialization, Urbanization and Consumerism – Health and

Environment – Ethics and Environment – Ethical Foundations of Environment – Ethics and

Corporate Environmental Management

Module II :

Environment and Development – Sustainable Development – Meaning and Definition –

Dimensions of Sustainable Development – Economic, Environmental Social and Spiritual

Dimensions – An Integrated Approach to Sustainable Development – A Holistic Approach

to Environment and Development – Summits on Sustainable Development – Role of

National and International Agencies.

Module III :

Environmental Economics – Scope and Importance – Ecology, Ecosystem and Economics –

Inter linkage between Economics and Environment – Material Balance Model –

Environmental Kuznet Curve – Its Impact - Efficiency and optimality in resource allocation

– Achieving an efficient allocation of resources in market economy – Market failure and

public policy – Common Property Resources – Tragedy of Commons – Green Economics

and Green GDP

Module IV :

India’s Environmental Policy and Performance – International Environmental Policy –

Stockholm to Durban – Climate Change Conference – Global Warming and Climate Change

– Carbon Trading – Business Behind Climate Change – Environmental Impact Assessment –

Environmental Accounting – Environmental Audit – Environmental Movements in India –

Environmental Management: Corporate Experience

Module V :

Environmental Planning and Management – Role of Government in Environmental

Management – Rural and Urban Indian Experience – Poverty Vs. Environmental Quality –

Social aspects – Legal aspects – Financial aspects – Biodiversity Conservation –

Environmental Resource management – Management of Waste – Municipal, solid, and

Hazardous Waste – Local initiatives and Community Participation

Suggested Readings:

1. Kurien Joseph and R. Nagendran, Essentials of Environmental Studies

2. Muraleevallabhan T.V. Dimensions of Sustainable Economic Development

3. Karpagam M. Environmental Economics

4. Eugine G. Environmental Economics

5. Oberoi N.K. Environmental Management,

6. Jayamani C.V., Environment and Management – Vedic Times to Modern

SMI 2403 INTERNATIONAL LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT

Objective:

The objective of this course is to impart a general and clear idea of international logistics system and

management.

Module I :

Integrated logistics management – concept, evolution and development; Importance of logistics

management in International business, International Logistics: functions and intermediaries. Issues

involved in movement of goods. Logistics information system – positioning information in logistics;

logistics information systems design; I.T. in logistics; strategic information linkage. Total cost approach

to Logistics. Liabilities of carriers. Marine Insurance for Cargo. Warehousing, repacking and other value

added service provided by logistics service providers. 3 PL and 4 PL logistics service. Performance

measurement of logistic systems.

Module II :

The general structure of shipping industry; cargo types; vessels and vessel characteristics; linear

operations and tramp operations; chartering of bulk ocean carriers; the ocean linear conference system;

freight structure and practices; coordination; role of intermediaries – forwarding and clearing agents;

freight brokers; stevedores and shippers agents. Containerisation types of Containers and ICDs. Layout

and working of container terminals. Port system and sub systems, port organization and management.

Responsibilities of port trusts, Growth and status of Ports in India, Inland water transport. Issues in Sea

transport. Regulatory authorities for sea transport and their roles.

Module III :

Introduction to Road transport system, Classification of Vehicles. Road network in India: types of roads,

Road transport companies and their operation in Full truckload business and in less than truckload

business. Road parcel service business. Fleet management systems. Integrated Logistics provided by

Road transport companies. Documents and Permits required in road transport system. Problems in road

transport. Regulatory authorities involved with road transport system.

Module IV :

Rail Transport system, Types of railway wagons, rakes, marshalling operations and yards, Railway goods

freight structure, Railway Parcel service operations. Railway goods service operations. Procedure for

availing railway parcel or goods service and the documentation involved. Operations at a railway goods

yard/siding. Operations and control in the railways. Organization of Indian Railways.

Module V :

Introduction to Air transportation, Air transport geography, Types of Aircrafts, Airline and air cargo

operations, Import and export process of cargo by air, Intermediaries in air cargo operations, freight

structure, carrier and consignee liabilities. Layout of Airport: facilities in Airside and city side for

passenger, cargo and aircrafts. Regulatory authorities for air transport and their roles.

Suggested Readings: 1. James F. Robbson & William C Copaciono (editors): The Logistics Hand Book.

2. Donald F Wood et.al.: International Logistics

3. Douglas Lambert and James R Stock: Strategic Logistics Management

4. IIFT : Study of Arrangements of Shipping Conference; Dictionary of Shipping and Chartering Terms;

Role of Shipping Policy in the Export Strategy of India; and Freight Tariffs and Practices of

Shipping Conferences

5. E. Elgar(Cheltenham, UK and Brookfield, Vt., US) The economics of regulating road transport Book

6. Sudhir Kumar and Shagun: Bankruptcy to Billions: How the Indian Railways Transformed, Oxford

India Paperbacks

7. Dilip Halder: Urban Transport in India: Crisis and Cure, Bookwell Publications

8. John G. Wensveen Air Transportation Seth Young (Author), Alexander Wells Airport Planning And

Management

9. John J. Cayle, Edward J.Bardi, C, John Langloy Jr.: The Management of Business Logistics - A

Supply Chain Perspective (7th Edn.), Thomson-South Western, Bangalore, 2007.