6HURM009W.2 2021-22.2
ESSAY BRIEF
This assignment is intended to give students an opportunity to critically analyse issues in comparative international management and to compare phenomena across countries.
This assignment consists of a 2000-word essay researched, written, and submitted individually.
The essay represents 50% of the module’s final mark.
You are strongly advised to submit your work as far ahead of the deadline as possible and you should aim to submit your work at least one day ahead of the deadline to allow for unexpected delays.
YOU MUST CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING TWO OPTIONS
OPTION 1: MAKING SENSE OF YOUR COMPARATIVE RESEARCH REPORT
For those of you who would like to keep working on the comparison undertaken in your Comparative Research Report (CRR), you are invited to explain and discuss the similarities and differences that you found.
You will need to produce a 2000-word essay entitled: ‘Making sense of my comparative research report,’ in which you will present a brief summary of the main similarities and differences that you found in your CRR (answering the ‘what?’ question), examine the main institutional factors that explain such differences (answering the ‘why?’ question), and discuss their broader implications (answering the ‘so what?’ question).
A typical structure will look something like this:
1. Introduction to your comparison (200 words)
2. Summary of Similarities and Differences i.e., answer to the ‘what?’ question (400 words)
3. Explanation of Similarities and Differences i.e., answer to the ‘why?’ question (800 words)
4. Discussion of Similarities and Differences i.e., answer to the ‘so what?’ question (400 words)
5. Conclusion (200 words)
Your essay must show evidence of knowledge and understanding of conceptual and empirical material covered in the module, as well as of essential reading.
The essential reading for essays working on the Comparative Research Report corresponds to the essential reading for weeks 3 and 5 (Corporate Governance) and Weeks 6, 7 & 8 (Employment Relations) respectively.
Please note that the essential reading represents the necessary minimum to pass this assignment. You are expected to go beyond this and conduct your own research in addition to, and not instead of, the essential reading for your topic.
The essential reading for all topics is available on Blackboard/Assessments/Essay
OPTION 2: EXAMINING A KEY COMPARATIVE INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT DEBATE
For those of you who would like to write on a separate topic, you are invited to examine one of the following Comparative International Management debates.
‘American corporations are unquestionably superior to German firms.’ Discuss.
‘There is no significant difference between the ‘shareholder’ and the ‘stakeholder’ models of corporate governance in terms of being superior at monitoring management behaviour: ultimately, greedy people will always find a way to cheat the system.’ Discuss.
‘Cooperative economies are obviously better than conflictual economies’ Discuss.
You will need to produce an essay in which you will present a summary of the main differences between American and German corporations; or shareholder and stakeholder models; or conflictual and cooperative economies (answering the ‘what?’ question), examine the main institutional factors that explain such differences (answering the ‘why?’ question), and discuss their broader implications (answering the ‘so what?’ question).
A typical structure will look something like this:
1. Introduction to the debate (200 words)
2. Summary of Similarities and Differences i.e., answer to the ‘what?’ question (400 words)
3. Explanation of Similarities and Differences i.e., answer to the ‘why?’ question (800 words)
4. Discussion of Similarities and Differences i.e., answer to the ‘so what?’ question (400 words)
5. Conclusion (200 words)
Your essay must show evidence of knowledge and understanding of conceptual and empirical material covered in the module, as well as of essential reading. SEE PAGES 4-9.
Please note that the essential reading represents the necessary minimum to pass this assignment. You are expected to go beyond this and conduct your own research in addition to, and not instead of, the essential reading for your topic.
The essential reading for all topics is available on Blackboard/Assessments/Essay
OPTION 3: EXAMINING A KEY COMPARATIVE INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT DEBATE THROUGH FILM
For those of you who would like to write on a separate topic motivated by one of the module’s film list, you are invited to engage with one of the following debates.
The Corporation, and Can we do it ourselves?
‘Corporations are psychopaths and there is nothing that society can do to stop them.’ Discuss.
ENRON: The Smartest Guys in the Room, and Dirty Money:
‘The cases of ENRON and Volkswagen show that differences between the ‘shareholder’ and the ‘stakeholder’ models of corporate governance are irrelevant’ Discuss.
Walmart: The High Cost of Low Price:
‘The case of Walmart Corporation clearly shows that striking a balance between equity, efficiency and voice is not possible’. Discuss.
ENRON: The Smartest Guys in the Room, and Inside Job:
‘Enron was the pit canary, but its death went unheeded’ (McLean, 2008). To what extent the collapse of ENRON can help us understand the Financial Crisis of 2008? Discuss.
You will need to produce an essay in which you will present the key differences between the main positions around the debate (answering the ‘what?’ question), examine the main institutional factors that may explain such differences (answering the ‘why?’ question), and discuss their implications for answering the question / presenting your own take on the debate (answering the ‘so what?’ question).
A typical structure will look something like this:
1. Introduction to the debate (200 words)
2. Summary of main positions i.e., answer to the ‘what?’ question (400 words)
3. Explanation of main positions i.e., answer to the ‘why?’ question (800 words)
4. Discussion of main positions i.e., answer to the ‘so what?’ question (400 words)
5. Conclusion (200 words)
Your essay must show evidence of knowledge and understanding of conceptual and empirical material covered in the module, as well as of essential reading. SEE PAGES 4-9.
Please note that the essential reading represents the necessary minimum to pass this assignment. You are expected to go beyond this and conduct your own research in addition to, and not instead of, the essential reading for your topic.
The essential reading for all topics is available on Blackboard/Assessments/Essay
ESSENTIAL READING PER TOPIC
TOPIC 2: ‘American corporations are unquestionably superior to German firms.’ Discuss.
· Albert, M. (1993) Capitalism vs. Capitalism, New York: Four Wall Eight Windows. Chapter 6: The Other Capitalism, pp. 99-126 & Chapter 7: The Economic Superiority of the Rhine Model, pp. 127-146.
· Can We Do It Ourselves? (Sweden, 2015) http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/can-we-do-it-ourselves/
· Chang, H-O (2009) 23 Things they don’t tell you about capitalism. London: Penguin.
· Dore, R. (2006) Stock Market Capitalism, Welfare Capitalism. Japan and Germany versus the Anglo-Saxons, Oxford: Oxford University Press. Chapter 2: A Society of Long-Term Commitments (pp. 23-48), Chapter 9: The Co-determined Firm (pp. 182-206), & Chapter 10: The Organised Community (pp. 207-215).
· Koen, C. I. (2005) Comparative International Management, London: McGraw-Hill.
· Sorge, A., Noorderhaven, N., and Koen, C. (2015) Comparative International Management. Second Edition. Abingdon: Routledge.
· The Corporation (Canada, 2005)
TOPIC 3: ‘There is no significant difference between the ‘shareholder’ and the ‘stakeholder’ models of corporate governance in terms of being superior at monitoring management behaviour: ultimately, greedy people will always find a way to cheat the system.’ Discuss.
· Chang, H-O (2009) 23 Things they don’t tell you about capitalism. London: Penguin.
· Dirty Money (USA, 2018) Series 1. Episode 1: Hard NOx.
· Deakin, S. and Konzelmann, S. J. (2003) After ENRON: An Age of Enlightenment? Organization, Vol. 10, Issue 3, pp. 583-587.
· Dore, R. (2006) Stock Market Capitalism, Welfare Capitalism. Japan and Germany versus the Anglo-Saxons, Oxford: Oxford University Press. Chapter 4: Corporate Governance: From the employee-favouring firm to the shareholder-favouring firm (pp. 71-132).
· Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005)
· Koen, C. I. (2005) Comparative International Management, London: McGraw-Hill. Chapter 6: Comparative Corporate Governance
· Lazonick, W. and O’Sullivan, M. (2000) ‘Maximizing shareholder value: a new ideology for corporate governance’. Economy and Society, 29, 13-35.
· Page, (2012) Co-determination in Germany: A Beginners Guide.
· Sorge, A., Noorderhaven, N., and Koen, C. (2015) Comparative International Management. Second Edition. Abingdon: Routledge. Chapter 6: Comparative Corporate Governance
TOPIC 4: ‘Cooperative economies are obviously better than conflictual economies’ Discuss.
· Budd, J. W. (2004a) Achieving Decent Work by Giving Employment and Human Face. Geneva: ILO.
· Budd, J. W. (2004b) Labour Relations: Striking a Balance. NY: McGraw-Hill. Chapter 2: Labour Unions: Good or Bad?
· Gordon, D. M. 1996) Fat and Mean: The Corporate Squeeze of Working Americans and the Myth of Managerial Downsizing, New York: Free Press. Introduction; Chapter 3: The Stick Strategy (pp. 61-94), and Chapter 6: We Take the Low Road (pp. 144-171).
· Human Rights Watch (2000) Unfair Advantage: Workers’ Freedom of Association in the United States under International Human Rights Standards.
· Logan, J. (2004) The Fine Art of Union Busting, New Labor Forum, Vol. 13, No. 2, pp. 77-91.
· Prasch (1998) Corporate Strategy and the American Standard of Living: Reviewing Gordon’s Fat and Mean. Review of Political Economy, 10:1.
· Readings by Hyman, Budd, Estreicher and Bamber in: Symposium on John W. Budd: Employment with a HumanFace: Four Views on Efficiency, Equity, and Voice in the World of Work. Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal, Vol. 17, No. 2, June 2005.
· Wilkinson, R. And Pickett, K. (2009) The Spirit Level: Why Equality is Better for Everyone. London: Penguin.
TOPIC 5: If it is true that ‘more equal societies almost always do better’ (Wilkinson and Pickett, 2012), then why most countries are converging towards the Liberal Market Economy model?
· Albert, M. (1993) Capitalism vs. Capitalism, New York: Four Wall Eight Windows. Chapter 6: The Other Capitalism, pp. 99-126 & Chapter 7: The Economic Superiority of the Rhine Model, pp. 127-146.
· Chang, Ha-Joon (2010) 23 Things They Don’t Tell You About Capitalism. Conclusions. London: Penguin.
· Data on trade union member and density. OECD; Eurofound; and Worker Participation EU.
· Dore, R., Lazonick, W., and O’Sullivan, M. (1999) ‘Varieties of Capitalism in the Twentieth Century’, Oxford Review of Economic Policy, 15, 4, 102-120.
· Global Competitiveness Report.
· Inside Job (US, 2010)
· Koen, C. I. (2005) Comparative International Management, London: McGraw-Hill. Chapter 12: Globalisation.
· Snowdon, C. J. (2011) The Spirit Level Delusion: Fact-checking the Left’s New Theory of Everything. The Democracy Institute.
· Streeck, W. (1996) German Capitalism: Does it Exist? Can it Survive? In Crouch, C. and Streeck, W. (eds) Modern Capitalism or Modern Capitalisms?
· Wilkinson, R. And Pickett, K. (2009) The Spirit Level: Why Equality is Better for Everyone. London: Penguin.
· Wilkinson, R. And Pickett, K. (2012) The authors respond to questions about The Spirit Level’s analysis.
· http://www.equalitytrust.org.uk/resources/authors-respond-questions-about-spirit-levels-analysis
· Sorge, A., Noorderhaven, N., and Koen, C. (2015) Comparative International Management. Second Edition. Abingdon: Routledge. Chapter 11: Globalisation
· UNDP Human Development Report.
The Corporation, and Can we do it ourselves?:
TOPIC 6: ‘Corporations are psychopaths and there is nothing that society can do to stop them.’ Discuss.
· Can We Do It Ourselves? (Sweden, 2015) http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/can-we-do-it-ourselves/
· Chang, H-O (2009) 23 Things they don’t tell you about capitalism. London: Penguin.
· Koen, C. I. (2005) Comparative International Management, London: McGraw-Hill.
· Plesch, D. and Blakenburg, S. (2008) How to Make Corporations Accountable, Liverpool: The Institute of Employment Rights. OR Plesch, D. and Blakenburg, S. (2007) Corporate Rights and Responsibilities: Restoring Legal Accountability, London: RSA.
· Sorge, A., Noorderhaven, N., and Koen, C. (2015) Comparative International Management. Second Edition. Abingdon: Routledge.
· The Corporation (Canada, 2005)
ENRON: The Smartest Guys in the Room, and Dirty Money:
TOPIC 7: ‘The cases of ENRON and Volkswagen show that differences between the ‘shareholder’ and the ‘stakeholder’ models of corporate governance are irrelevant’ Discuss.
· Chang, H-O (2009) 23 Things they don’t tell you about capitalism. London: Penguin.
· Dirty Money (USA, 2018) Series 1. Episode 1: Hard NOx.
· Deakin, S. and Konzelmann, S. J. (2003) After ENRON: An Age of Enlightenment? Organization, Vol. 10, Issue 3, pp. 583-587.
· Dore, R. (2006) Stock Market Capitalism, Welfare Capitalism. Japan and Germany versus the Anglo-Saxons, Oxford: Oxford University Press. Chapter 4: Corporate Governance: From the employee-favouring firm to the shareholder-favouring firm (pp. 71-132).
· Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005)
· Koen, C. I. (2005) Comparative International Management, London: McGraw-Hill. Chapter 6: Comparative Corporate Governance
· Lazonick, W. and O’Sullivan, M. (2000) ‘Maximizing shareholder value: a new ideology for corporate governance’. Economy and Society, 29, 13-35.
· Page, (2012) Co-determination in Germany: A Beginners Guide.
· Sorge, A., Noorderhaven, N., and Koen, C. (2015) Comparative International Management. Second Edition. Abingdon: Routledge. Chapter 6: Comparative Corporate Governance
Walmart: The High Cost of Low Price:
TOPIC 8: ‘The case of Walmart Corporation clearly shows that striking a balance between equity, efficiency and voice is not possible’. Discuss.
· Walmart: The High Cost of Low Price (USA, 2005) https://topdocumentaryfilms.com/wal-mart-the-high-cost-of-low-price/
· Budd, J. W. (2004a) Achieving Decent Work by Giving Employment and Human Face. Geneva: ILO.
· Budd, J. W. (2004b) Labour Relations: Striking a Balance. NY: McGraw-Hill. Chapter 2: Labour Unions: Good or Bad?
· Gordon, D. M. 1996) Fat and Mean: The Corporate Squeeze of Working Americans and the Myth of Managerial Downsizing, New York: Free Press. Introduction; Chapter 3: The Stick Strategy (pp. 61-94), and Chapter 6: We Take the Low Road (pp. 144-171).
· Human Rights Watch (2000) Unfair Advantage: Workers’ Freedom of Association in the United States under International Human Rights Standards.
· Logan, J. (2004) The Fine Art of Union Busting, New Labor Forum, Vol. 13, No. 2, pp. 77-91.
· Prasch (1998) Corporate Strategy and the American Standard of Living: Reviewing Gordon’s Fat and Mean. Review of Political Economy, 10:1.
· Readings by Hyman, Budd, Estreicher and Bamber in: Symposium on John W. Budd: Employment with a HumanFace: Four Views on Efficiency, Equity, and Voice in the World of Work. Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal, Vol. 17, No. 2, June 2005.
· Wilkinson, R. And Pickett, K. (2009) The Spirit Level: Why Equality is Better for Everyone. London: Penguin.
ENRON: The Smartest Guys in the Room, and Inside Job:
TOPIC 9: ‘Enron was the pit canary, but its death went unheeded’ (McLean, 2008). To what extent the collapse of ENRON can help us understand the Financial Crisis of 2008? Discuss.
· Chang, Ha-Joon (2010) 23 Things They Don’t Tell You About Capitalism. Conclusions. London: Penguin.
· Deakin, S. and Konzelmann, S. J. (2003) After ENRON: An Age of Enlightenment?, Organization, Vol. 10, Issue 3, pp. 583-587.
· Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005)
· Inside Job (US, 2010)
· Koen, C. I. (2005) Comparative International Management, London: McGraw-Hill. Chapter 6: Comparative Corporate Governance.
· McLean, B. (2008) Enron was the pit canary, but its death went unheeded. The Guardian, 4 October.
· Plesch, D. and Blakenburg, S. (2008) How to Make Corporations Accountable, Liverpool: The Institute of Employment Rights. OR Plesch, D. and Blakenburg, S. (2007) Corporate Rights and Responsibilities: Restoring Legal Accountability, London: RSA.
· Stiglitz, J. (2009) Freefall: free markets and the sinking of the global economy. London: Penguin.
· Sorge, A., Noorderhaven, N., and Koen, C. (2015) Comparative International Management. Second Edition. Abingdon: Routledge. Chapter 6: Comparative Corporate Governance.
