I. Materials

(1) Readings and Cases at the University Copy Center (49er - in Bookstore) - Required.
(2) A creative mind and sustained interest.

II. Course Design, Objectives, and Overall Goals

The broad purpose of this course is to further develop your analytical and problem solving skills. You are expected to integrate and apply your entire repertoire of business and general knowledge to marketing issues and industry analysis. If you see an income statement, for example, remember that you have had accounting and finance courses. Use all of your knowledge. Have fun. Learn. Teach.

This course will topically focus on strategic analysis, innovation and technology, and the  international environment. As such, while specific problems require local solutions, all thinking should occur within a global context. To enhance the technological and international context of the course you are expected to read a news platform (paper, net whatever) each day paying particular attention to the "front" and business sections. You are urged to treat the beginning of each class period as an "open mike" to inform, discuss, or comment on any relevant issue. I will typically have my laptop and be on-line, so you can put the URL up of the article that you read and wish to discuss and we will all look at.  Of particular interest will be issues of technology, trade, culture, and economic markets. What is nanotechnology? What does the CPI really measure?  What should happen to Microsoft if anything?  What do we mean when we say "savings rate?"  What would it mean to tax the net?  WTO? Globalization? What is happening with emerging markets?  What does Greenspan mean when he says markets are "beyond history?" The EURO? Privacy Issues? Read. And read some more. Los Angeles Times / MSNBC / USA Today / / N.Y. Times / WSJ / & al.

The primary methodologies will be 1) lecture, 2) strategic case analysis, and 3) group interaction. You are expected to analyze each case within its particular environmental dimensions and to be prepared each class period to communicate your analysis and enter class debate. In sum, you are to view each case as a problem that you are employed to resolve. It cannot be overly emphasized that this methodology requires a sustained effort on your part, learning will be an interactive process rather than a passive experience. You will be on stage the moment that you walk into the classroom. You should feel free to challenge politely all assertions made by either your fellow students or myself. Controlled conflict and creative chaos are OK. What is desired is that you develop your own personal algorithm and style of problem solving. As such, your goal is to develop and organize a series of queries that you ask yourself when defining a problem context. Each case will expand your ability to do this.

Group Dynamics. There will be various team interactions. One will be your "term paper." Other team interactions may include, but will not be inclusive of, various forms of role playing, team presentations of a case problems where group members act as consultants, or specific topic explications: Term Paper  & Group Assignments - "Presentations."

Articles. There are over 160 relevant articles downloaded and specifically hyper linked to this syllabus that will serve multiple purposes. Some will be required reading and therefore testable, others may stimulate term projects topics, and others will be used to stimulate in-class and electronic discussion activity.

"Power and Policy: The New Economic World Order" - Schwab & Smadja, (HBR, Nov.-Dec., 1994).
"Putting Global Logic First" - Kenichi Ohmae, (HBR, Jan. - Feb., 1995)
"Troubles Ahead For Emerging Markets" (HBR 1997)
"Crash Course: Just What's Driving the Crisis in Emerging Markets?" N.Y. Times
"Where Joblessness Is a Way of Making a Living" NYT May 9, 1999
Social Dumping? "Brazil Irked"

The CIA World Factbook
Foreign Trade Statistics
Asiaweek Online - (http://www.pathfinder.com/asiaweek/)
Asian Studies WWW Virtual Library
Business Times Online (Singapore)
Japan Virtual Library
India Virtual Library

9. International Finance Case:
Citibank: Launching the Credit Card in Asia Pacific (A)
Citibank

Measures of What?  (Consumer Price Index, Savings Rate, Information Technology)
"Economic Spotlight: IT and Net Industries Drive U.S. Economy" Industry Standard 7/12/1999
"How the BLS Measures Changes in Consumer Prices" U.S. Department of Labor Fact Sheet 90-3
"Savings Hits Record Low, or Does It: Measurement is a Relic from a Bygone Era, Some Argue" MSNBC June 28, 1999
"U.S. Worker Efficiency Higher Than Estimated" L A Times September 7, 2000 

15. Future Innovation -Your Call
(Term Papers Due: Open "mike" discussion and presentation of papers.) 

Please review Articles especially the section beginning: "change points?  windows of future opportunity or one hit wonders?  you judge..."

16. TEST III - Final Exam