SEMINAR IN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
EWMBA/MBA 298S SEMINARS in INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
| Director: | Sebastian Teunissen |
| Office: | F 447 |
| Hours: | by appointment |
| Contact: | Telephone: (510) 643-4999 |
| Fax: (510) 642-8228 | |
| E-mail: teunissen@haas.berkeley.edu |
COURSE OBJECTIVES, STRUCTURE, AND ORGANIZATION
These seminars are designed to introduce the participants to the culture, history and business environment in various countries. Each program focuses on a country or combination of countries that will illustrate how business environments vary across cultures. Some of the programs are only open to Evening/Weekend MBA students, while others combine Full Time and Part time students. These programs do not focus on specific industries. Rather, by examining a variety of companies and industries, the goal is to develop a broader perspective. Courses are 3 units each unless indicated otherwise.
Programs in 2009 (tentative schedule)
January - two FT/EWMBA programs - Brazil and India
March - a FT/EWMBA program in Vietnam ( a 2 unit course)
June - two EWMBA only programs - China and either a Europe/Africa combination or Central Europe
July - an EWMBA only in Europe/Africa or in Central Europe (the opposite of the one done in June.)
Programs in 2008 (Subject to Change)
July 2008 EWMBA only program in South Africa and Lesotho
June 2008 EWMBA only program in Finland and Russia
March 2008 FT/EWMBA program in Chile (2 units)
March 2008 FT/EWMBA program in China (2 units)
January, 2008 FT/EWMBA program in India
January 2008 FT/EWMBA program in Brazil
Programs in 2007
July 2007 EWMBA only program in South Africa and Lesotho.
June, 2007 EWMBA only program in China.
March, 2007 FT/EWMBA program in Chile. (A 2 unit course)
March, 2007 FTMBA only program at CKGSB in Shanghai, China. (A 2 unit course)
January, 2007 FT/EWMBA program in India.
January 2007, FT/EWMBA program in Brazil.
Programs in 2006
August 2006 EWMBA only program in Finland and Russia
June, 2006 EWMBA only program in China.
March, 2006 FT/EWMBA program will examine Chile. (A 2 unit course)
January, 2006 the FT/EWMBA program focused on India and Brazil.
Prior Year Programs
The 2005 edition focused on China.
In 2004 we examined South Africa, during the 10th Anniversary of the end of Apartheid.
In 2003 we focused on Mexico, Panama and Cubafrom July 19-August 2.
In 2002 we focused on Norway, Sweden, Finland and St. Petersburg, Russia.
In 2001 we undertook two separate programs, one looking at Africa and Europe and a second focusing on Latin America.
In 2000 we covered Ghana, Belgium and The Netherlands and in 1999, our inaugaral year, we combined Japan and Vietnam.
Each course is a combination of lectures and seminars at Haas, a two week study tour of the regions of interest and a major research project undertaken by each participant. Projects are expected to relate some aspect of business in the regions of interest to the participants’ current employment.
Participation in this course is restricted to students enrolled in the Evening MBA Program at Haas. Selection of participants from eligible applicants is based on a seniority system.
Classroom Presentations
Teams of students will select a topic from a list
to be provided. The teams will each research and prepare a presentation
which will be delivered to the entire class. The presentations
are designed to prepare the participants for the study tour. (Applies to 3 unit programs)
Research Paper
The main assignment for this course will consist of a research paper on a topic to be decided in consultation with the instructor. The topic should encompass some aspect(s) of doing business in the region of interest. It could compare and contrast an industry in the countries; it could review market potential for some product or service in each market or follow a similar theme. Ideally, the paper should be related to the particular company or industry in which the student is employed.
The format of the paper should be decided in consultation with the instructor. For example, if a PowerPoint presentation might prove more useful to the student than a research document, this would be perfectly acceptable.
Briefings
Briefings are designed to assist the group's understanding of the companies and organizations that we will visit and/or the cultures that we will experience. Each student is to select one of the organizations on our itinerary and prepare a briefing on that entity. This briefing will be delivered to the group prior to our visit to that particular entity. Following the visit, the same student will lead a de-briefing to summarize what we learned from the visit.
Evaluation for a grade will be based on four components
- the research paper, team presentations, briefings and class
participation. Participation throughout the classroom sessions
and during the study tour will be considered. The breakdown
for grading purposes will be as follows:
• Research Paper: 60%
• Team Presentation: 10%
• Briefings / De-briefings: 5%
• Participation: 25%
HEALTH & SAFETY ISSUES
Travel overseas, especially to developing countries and emerging markets, may expose participants to health and other risks different from those that they face at home. Although we will do our best to make participants aware of such risks and will make efforts to minimize risks, the ultimate responsibility lies with the participant. Participation in the program explicitly implies acceptance of all responsibility for loss, injury and/or death by the applicant. Participants are advised to check with the Centers for Disease Control and with the US State Department for information on health and safety issues respectively. See also the useful international web sites page for further research on countries and their respective health and safety record.
Each participant must obtain, at their own expense, any vaccinations, inoculations or other medications considered appropriate for a prudent traveler to the destination(s) to which they are assigned.
Each participant must obtain, at their own expense, suitable health insurance for the duration of the in-country portion of the program. The insurance must cover emergency medical evacuation to the USA. Evidence of such insurance must be provided to the course instructor.
The Centers for Disease Control Travel Section provides a wealth of information on traveler's health.
Last
updated:February 15, 2007
