The Boeing Institute of International Business,
Masters of International Business
Saint Louis University
Instructor: Mikel G. Edwards, Ph.D.
Class and business links can be found in
the "Managers' Forum" at: http://www.eastwest-global.com/leadership/managers/forum.htm
Course Description and Goals:
This course is a general survey of the importance of intercultural skills in international business. By exposing the student to differences in culture this course is designed to help you better understand and communicate with business people around the world. Each person in the class will be exposed to a wide range of new and dynamic information of an intercultural nature. Items covered include discussion of various definitions of culture, examining biases and stereotypes, and skills and methods for overcoming cultural prejudices. Case studies will be incorporated into the course work. Class participation, thoughtful communication and effective writing are important skills needed to successfully complete this course.
Course Requirements:
All students will be required to complete the following assignments. Being on time is important. All assignments that are not handed in on time will be marked down. E-mail or fax should not be used for final assignments (in this case your journal and examination).
Course Journal….(due September 22nd, 20%)
Each student in the class will be required to
create a course journal. This journal will include all the important
information the student collects during the course. The following
are some examples of tab section you may wish to create:
Class Handouts (with hand written or typed comments),
Hard Copies of e-mail communications (both yours,
other students & the instructor ),
Media Reviews and e-mail comments from the instructor,
Group Project/Presentation Documents (both yours
and other students with notes on presentation),
Class Notes, and anything else relevant to the
subject or of special interest to you.
Four Media Reviews.............(due at different times, 40%)
1) Review a business case that illustrates the importance of intercultural skills in international business (due September 1st, 10%). To gain the maximum benefit do not select a case already reviewed in our internet classroom.
2) Review a web site on the worldwide web that is a good source of information on intercultural skills in international business (due September 8th, 10%). To gain the maximum benefit do not select a web site already reviewed in our internet classroom.
3) Review and critique
of non-U.S. produced business radio(due September 15, 10%).
A good place to start on the internet is: www.web-radio.com/,
www.wrn.org/, www.radiotower.com/. You will need to work from
a computer that has Real Audio or similar software. If you do not
personally have a computer that will do this the computer centers in the
library and here in the Business School both do. To use SLU machines
you are likely to need to get a walkman type headphones.
4) Review a business case study on intercultural skills in international business of your personal choice. This could be from a substantial newspaper story or magazine article or any other source of interest to you (due September 22nd, 10%).
Each of the above four media reviews should be submitted on or before the due date by e-mail not using an attachment to: mikel@eastwest-global.com
The subject line of your e-mail should begin with your name followed by the subject. For example for me personally it would be: "Mikel G. Edwards ~ Review # 1" or "Mikel G. Edwards ~ First Review."
Your actual review should be limited to one page, begin with a title and your name, followed with your text and then concluding with a bibliographic reference. You may wish to read through other reviews at our internet classroom to learn the preferred style of presentation. Those reviews that are particularly useful in addressing the subject of the class will be posted in the Managers' Forum section at www.geocities.com/~mikelgedwards/classroom1.html. This will make them available to everyone in the class. Keep a "hard" copy of all your reviews and those of classmates which are particularly useful in your journal.
Class Group Project/Presentation .........(due September 15th, 20%)
The group presentation should be no more than 30 minutes with questions. Each group member is required to particulate. This work most demonstrate a level of scholarly analysis that goes beyond simple interpretive review and focus on some issue related to intercultural skills in international business. To gain the maximum benefit each group should make the sources of their research available to all through proper documentation. Findings should, when possible, be made available to the class as handouts. These materials will become an important part of the each students journal.
Final Examination. (due September 22nd, 20%)
All students will take a closed book/open journal essay examination. Written exams will be accepted ONLY if completed in exam blue books. Exam blue books are available at the St. Louis University Book Store.
Required Text
Ricks, David A. Blunders in International Business,
1993.
A wonderful little book that provides some interesting
examples of the care that is required to be successful globally.
One only need read the first part of page 33 to get the point.
