Clausen Center for International Business and Policy

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 SIB 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)

July 2009 - SIB 30 - EWMBA only - Singapore and Indonesia (tentative)

June 2009 - SIB 29 - EWMBA only - Greece and Turkey (tentative)

June 2009 - SIB 28- EWMBA only program - China (tentative)

March 2009 - SIB 27 - FT/EWMBA program in Vietnam (2 units)

January 2009 - SIB 26 - FT/EWMBA program in Brazil

January 2009 - SIB 25 - FT/EWMBA program in India


Previous Programs

July 2008 - SIB 24 - EWMBA program in South Africa and Lesotho

June 2008 - SIB 23 - EWMBA program in Finland and Russia

March 2008 SIB 22 - FT/EWMBA program in Chile (2 units)

March 2008 FT/EWMBA program in China (2 units)

January 2008 - SIB 21 - FT/EWMBA program in India

January 2008 - SIB 20 - FT/EWMBA program in Brazil

July 2007 - SIB 19 - EWMBA only program in South Africa and Lesotho.

June 2007 - SIB 18 - EWMBA only program in China.

March 2007 - SIB 17 - FT/EWMBA program in Chile (2 units)

March 2007 FTMBA only program at CKGSB in Shanghai, China (2 units)

January 2007 SIB 16 - FT/EWMBA program in India

January 2007 SIB 15 - FT/EWMBA program in Brazil

August 2006 - SIB 14 - EWMBA only program in Finland and Russia

June 2006 - SIB 13 - EWMBA only program in China.

March 2006 - SIB 12 - FT/EWMBA program in Chile. (2 units)

January 2006 the FT/EWMBA program focused on India and Brazil.

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 Cuba.

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.


 

STRUCTURE

 

Each course is a combination of lectures and seminars at Haas, a one or 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 Full-Time and Evening/Weekend students enrolled at Haas, with some courses open only to Evening/Weekend students. Selection of participants from eligible applicants is based on a seniority system. Please check course lisings for more information.


ASSIGNMENTS

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 paper is expected to be a 10 - 15 page (excluding exhibits) document with proper bibliography and citations.


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

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%


 

RESOURCES

 

Please be sure to take advantage of the Long Library's extensive collection of global business news sites and trend reports. Some of these include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Current Global News - Access World News, Factiva, ISI Emerging Marketgs
  • Country Political and Economic Information - CEIC Global Database, Economist Intelligence Unit, Europa World Plus
  • Global Industry and Business Climate - Business Monitor Online, Business Source Complete, EIU Country Commerce Reports
  • International Markets - Global Market Information Database, Globus/National Trade Data Bank

 

More information, as well as access to the aforementioned, can be found here: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/BUSI/electres.html

 

LOGISTICS

 

All participating students are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to/from the program location(s). (See specific travel requirements for each individual program.) In most cases in-country travel such as transportation to/from the business meetings, and transportation between different cities on the program's itinerary, will be covered by Haas. In addition, although it is possible that some meals will be provided, students must expect to pay for their own meals and all incidentals while traveling with the program.

 

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 register themselves with the Office or Risk Services at least 30 days prior to travel here: http://www.uctrips-insurance.org./. The university policy covers students for emergency medical evacuation to the USA, and this is a prerequisite for partaking in a Seminar in International Business. Evidence of registration must be provided to the course instructor in advance of the program departure.


The Centers for Disease Control Travel Section provides a wealth of information on traveler's health.

Last updated: August 27, 2008

The SIB blog

 



Boats taking an EWMBA group to the Perfume Pagoda in Vietnam.

Haas MBA Joseph in a gold smelting facility in Ashanti Goldfields

Haas MBA Joseph Yarak doing extracurricular labor at the gold smelting facility, Ashanti Goldfields, Obuasi, Ghana.