Time Schedule:
James Reinnoldt
BIS 480
Bothell Campus
Combines study at UW-Bothell with seminars and field trips organized by the Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences faculty or the faculties of host institutions in foreign countries. Topics include politics, political economy, public policy, business, and literature, and the arts.
Class description
In response to an increasingly globalized world, developing economies like Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia are striving to expand their trade and global integration. However, such pursuits are also creating some fascinating and complex challenges for economies, multi-national corporations, local businesses, ecologies and cultures within these developing countries and it behooves students of global business to understand them.
Through a multi-week study tour to Southeast Asia, students have the opportunity to learn about key issues, opportunities and challenges that globalization presents to developing countries. Additionally, students will be able to assess and understand how businesses, NGOs and other organizations are developing and executing new strategies in order to effectively compete in a dynamic and increasingly globalized environment.
Student learning goals
Develop a set of research tools and resources necessary for identifying and analyzing the key opportunities and challenges for businesses and other organizations in an increasingly globalized environment.
Understand the key economic, political, legal, social and cultural institutions, forces and issues that are shaping the global business environment.
Understand globalization’s impact on the people, societies, cultures and environments of developing countries like Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia.
Understand how local businesses, MNCs and other organizations in Thailand are responding to the opportunities, challenges and impacts of globalization through global strategic planning and execution.
Enjoy a rich cultural experience and develop a high degree of cross-cultural understanding and empathy.
Stimulate curiosity about other cultures, economies and societies in an increasingly globalized world and the many challenges they face.
General method of instruction
Following orientation sessions in Seattle and Bangkok, the group will spend time on a variety of activities that allows them to more thoroughly understand the many dimensions to globalization through the eyes of businesses and other organizations. These activities will include lectures from academics, presentations from local and international business people and participation in discussion groups.
A key component of this aspect of the seminar will be a research project undertaken by each participant in order to further assess and understand some of globalization’s key issues and impacts. For example, some students might want to assess the impact of HIV/AIDS on businesses in Asia while other participants might study a topic such as the role of Corporate Social Responsibility in a global firm’s strategy. There will be considerable flexibility as participants can select from among a list of topics that suits their interests while meeting seminar objectives.
Recommended preparation
Students from all disciplines are welcome to attend.
Class assignments and grading
Projects and general seminar participation
Varies
