GlobalBusinessHorizons! Module!7! CourseInformation!

Global Business Horizons

Module 7

Course Information Professor: Madhu Viswanathan Dates: 9/5/14 to 11/1/14 Office Phone: (217) 333-‐4550 Course Number: BADM Office: 183 Wohlers Hall Email: [email protected]

Course Overview / Objectives

At the dawn of the 21st century, business and society is confronted with a confluence of factors ranging from environmental degradation, widespread poverty, and the need for renewable sources of energy. The diverse sources of information that point to an uncertain future suggests that a “business as usual” approach has to be replaced with more proactive alternatives that address the needs of the environment, and the society at large. This course on Global Business Horizons engenders an appreciation for the global challenges as well as opportunities that lie ahead and the important role that businesses can play in addressing these challenges. This course will consist of two immersive and interactive modules organized around understanding global challenges and designing business solutions on the topics of poverty and environmental sustainability. The first module entitled Sustainable Businesses for Subsistence Marketplaces focuses on understanding subsistence marketplaces and designing business solutions for the 4 billion living in poverty in the global marketplace. To develop understanding of subsistence marketplaces, we will use exercises to enable participants to view the world from the eyes of subsistence consumers and entrepreneurs, facilitate bottom-‐up understanding generated by participants, and provide insights from extensive research. To envision solutions for subsistence marketplaces, we will use group assignments as well as a project involving the development of a solution and a business plan to serve a need. The second module entitled Sustainable Businesses Enterprises will explore current challenges and opportunities facing firms in the area of environmental sustainability. Through interactive exercises and discussions and a project, we will examine topics such as unsustainable consumer behavior, sustainable product design, and sustainable supply chains, and develop a sustainable business plan. Tying the two modules together will be the arena of emerging markets with poverty alleviation, upward mobility, and burgeoning middle-‐class segments, and associated issues of consumption and sustainability.

Textbook & Course Materials

Readings: Subsistence Marketplaces – by Madhu Viswanathan -‐ e-‐text

Evaluation & Grading

Projects............................................................... 50% Class Participation & Assignments........................ 50% Attendance & Participation 50% of the grade for this class is for assignments, participation in in-‐class assignments and discussions. Therefore, attendance is very important and a necessary condition for participation. Students who do not attend class regularly cannot participate effectively and can easily lose one or more letter grades. In-‐class work will involve presentations and assignments throughout the course. Project The course emphasizes hands-‐on experience and applications. Therefore, a sizable portion of the grade is for projects. You will work in a group which will serve as a resource for completing several assignments, presentations and written reports. Each individual's contribution to his/her group will be assessed by peer evaluation. A deduction in the points earned for group assignments will be made in proportion to the group peer evaluations. This often leads to reduction of an individual’s overall grade by one or more letter grades. Free riding will be identified & penalized in this course. Grading The two most important aspects for grading are in-‐class work and participation in the group project. Therefore, lower performance in class work or in participation in group work (as indicated by peer evaluation below 100%) can lead to reduction in overall grade by one or more letter grades.

Course Schedule

Assignments before September 5

Individual Assignment 1 -‐ Analysis of Interviews and Readings

Readings

Chapters 1 and 2 of book

ITC e-‐choupal case – please read in preparation for in-‐class individual/group assignment

September 5 Morning

Understanding Subsistence Marketplaces

• Introduction to Global Business Horizons

• Introduction to the Subsistence Marketplaces Module and Approach

• Virtual Immersion Into Subsistence Marketplaces

• Understanding Subsistence Marketplaces

Module 1 Project -‐ Identifying Problem/Need to Focus on Poverty Simulation

September 6 Morning

In-‐class Assignment -‐ Poverty Simulation Reflection Virtual Interactions for Understanding Subsistence Marketplaces/Designing Solutions

Understanding and Designing Solutions for Subsistence Marketplaces

• Virtual Immersion Refresher & Finalizing Project Topic

• Needs, Drivers, and Context Presentation • Core Solution Generation Exercise • Designing Solutions for Subsistence

Marketplaces

• Case Analysis – ITC e-‐choupal

Project -‐ Finalizing Problem/Need to Focus on -‐ Listing Need/Drivers/Context -‐ Generating Core Solution -‐ Preparing for virtual interaction to assess solution

Assignments

Individual Assignment 2-‐ Analysis of Readings Readings

Chapters 6 and 8 of book View Movie Shakti Rising Unilever Case – please read in preparation for in-‐class individual/group assignment Group Assignment 1 – Design of Core Solution/Preparation for Virtual Interaction

September 19 Morning

Developing Products and Business Plans for Subsistence Marketplaces

• Unilever Case Discussion • Generating Aspects of Business Plan • Business Model Innovations for

Subsistence Marketplaces Movie Reflection Project -‐ Developing Elements of Business Plan

September 19 Evening

Virtual Interactions for Designing Solutions

September 20 Morning

Developing Business Plans for Subsistence Marketplaces Project -‐ Developing Elements of Business Plan

Assignments

Individual Assignment 3 -‐ Analysis of Readings

Readings

Chapters 5 and 10 Section Summaries 1 and 2

Group Assignment 2 -‐ Module 1 Final Presentation

October 3 Evening and Assignments

Virtual Interactions for Designing Elements of Business Plan – Late Evening (7:00 to 8:30 pm)

October 4 Morning

Sustainable Business Practices

• What is Sustainability

• Understanding Sustainable Consumer Behavior

Project -‐ Identifying Focus and Target Segments Module 1 Final Presentation

Assignments

Individual Assignment 4 – Sustainable Business and Consumption Practices Reading Nike Case Group Assignment 3 -‐ Nike Case

October 17 Morning


• Understanding Sustainable Product Design

• Conducting Sustainable Market Research

• Designing Sustainable Value Chains and Value Propositions

Project -‐ Designing Product and Conducting Market Research

October 18 Morning


• Putting Sustainable Business Plan together

• Sustainability In-‐class Assignments

• Nike Case Analysis

Sustainability – Challenges and Opportunities for Business

Assignments

Individual Assignment 5 -‐ Personal Statement on Global Business Horizons

Group Assignment 4 -‐ Conducting Market Research Group Assignment 5 – Module 2 Final Presentation

November 1 morning

Global Business Horizons -‐ Linking People, Planet, and Profit Module 2 Final Presentation and Report

Assignments

Individual Assignment 1 -‐ Analysis of Interviews and reading due before class September 5th as hard copy Read Chapter 1 and 2 of the book and write about your broader impression of living in subsistence. In completing this assignment:

• Please focus not just on the economic realm as in product and market interactions but on life circumstances in subsistence as well where the marketplace is one aspect

• Compare and contrast the circumstances of the two persons in Chapter 1 – you can consider level of poverty, literacy, family situation, etc.

• Identify key life-‐changing circumstances for each individual • Reflect on what you learned about living in poverty – i.e., the types and nature of

challenges that individuals have to face in different areas such as food, etc. • In a final paragraph, please read and incorporate Chapter 2 into your write-‐up by

specifically linking your independent conclusions to topics covered in this chapter

• Prepare to discuss and incorporate these issues in in-‐class discussions and subsequent assignments

2 double-‐spaced pages (maximum)

Individual Assignment 2 – Analysis of Readings before class September 19th as hard copy Read Chapter 6 and the model presented in the figure in it. Link it back to the interviews, videos, images, the movie, and virtual interactions from previous sessions, as well as your project. Provide the following in your write-‐up. What are the key takeaways from the chapter in terms of transactions, in terms of the interactional environment, and in terms of the larger context? Are there elements you would add to the model in the chapter? What are the key takeaways for your project? Read Chapter 8. Highlight key takeaways for your project for the class. Be specific in your write-‐up. 2 pages maximum double spaced. Individual Assignment 3 – Analysis of Readings due before class October 3rd as hard copy Read Chapters 5 and 10; and Section Summaries 1 and 2 in the book. Identify a key insight in each set (i.e., treat Chapter 5 and 10 as one set and Section Summaries 1 and 2 as another). Assess whether each insight translates to the middle or upper classes in emerging markets. Assess whether each insight translates to advanced economies. 1 page maximum double spaced.

Individual Assignment 4 – Sustainable Business and Consumption Practices – due as hard copy before class October 17th as hard copy This assignment has two parts Part 1 -‐ Find an example of a company and engages in sustainable business practices and describe and critique it. The assignment should cover the following issues:

• What is specifically meant by sustainability, i.e., what is being sustained, in the firm’s mission or value statements?

• What are the firm’s specific sustainability goals and how are they measured?

• What specific strategies, tactics, or practices does the firm employ to achieve its sustainability goals?

• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the company as it relates to sustainability?

Part 2 -‐ Maintain a personal inventory of your own tendencies as a consumer over the course of 1-‐2 days in terms of unsustainable consumption practices is a useful way to begin to identify potential obstacles to adoption of sustainable solutions. Provide a discussion of your unsustainable consumption practices and resistance to sustainable products and practices in general based on your personal inventory. 3 pages double-‐spaced (maximum) Individual Assignment 5 -‐ Personal Statement on Global Business Horizons due by November 2nd as email This is an unstructured assignment on your learning about global business horizons and how you will incorporate it into your personal and professional endeavors. Topics to cover include new insights, your personal and/or professional vision as it relates sustainability or other global challenges, and how this would affect your day-‐to-‐day activities and decisions. 2 pages double-‐spaced (maximum) Group and in-‐class assignments will be described during sessions. Group Assignment 1 -‐ Design of Core Solution/Preparation for Virtual Interaction – Due on September 19 Group Assignment 2 -‐ Module 1 Final Presentation – Due on October 3 Group Assignment 3 – Nike Case Analysis – Due on October 17 Group Assignment 4 -‐ Conducting Market Research – Due on November 1 Group Assignment 5 -‐ Module 2 Final Presentation – Due on November 1

GlobalBusinessHorizons! Module!7! CourseInformation!

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