Inter Session 2000

Instructor: Dr. Peter Raven, Visiting Associate Professor, Management Dept.

Contact Me: Office: Pigott 423 Hours: T/W/Q 4-5 p.m., or by appointment

Phone: (206) 296-5763 Email: pvraven@seattleu.edu

Web Site: http://fac-staff.seattleu.edu/pvraven/

Course Description: This course is a study tour of Vietnam and Singapore. Participants are admitted by permission. Our objective is to study the business cultures and marketing practices of firms in Vietnam and Singapore.

Teaching Method: We will be learning about business practices by visiting a number of businesses and agencies in S.E. Asia. In addition, we will also be able to absorb and understand more about the cultures of Vietnam and Singapore through our travels.

Class Sessions at Seattle University: Mandatory pre- and post-trip class sessions are held at the Seattle University campus on Fridays, according to the following schedule. Room location to be announced.

June 23, 2000 5:35 pm

July 7, 2000 5:35 pm

August 4, 2000 5:35 pm

September 8, 2000 5:35pm

Methodology: Some of the methods of teaching and pedagogical issues students will encounter include:

International Savvy – This course is constructed entirely of international business situations. Company visits, discussion, and examples will be focused on international issues and international business decisions.

Critical and Analytical Reasoning – The analysis and discussion during and following organizational visits will sharpen the skills needed to organize information, define problems, and compare various alternatives. The international component will help emphasize the importance of looking at problems and solutions from different perspectives.

Values and Ethics – Conducting international business in a fair and ethical manner is particularly challenging, given the different cultural bases upon which values and mores are drawn. We will emphasize the often-difficult choices presented to managers in international negotiations and operations.

Effective Communication Skills: A paper and a daily journal are required.

Grading: Active participation in organizational visits and discussions – 50%

Paper 35

Journal 15

The paper is due by September 8, 2000

The journal will be collected on departure from Singapore

Readings: Keep up to date with the Financial Times, Asian Wall Street Journal, The Economist, or other news sources. Check the Web site for updates. Other readings may be assigned at a later time.

Seminar Paper: This will be an integration of the study tour and an international marketing topic of interest to you. There are many ways to accomplish this task. For example, you might compare and contrast the International Marketing strategies of the firms we visit in Hanoi and Singapore. Another approach would be to take a topic of interest to you, such as Internet Marketing or E-Commerce, and review the approaches, opportunities, problems, etc. that you perceive from the study tour. You must have your topic approved by the instructor prior to beginning the paper. This paper must be substantially different from the paper required by Management 591/491, if you are taking that course concurrently.

Other possible areas for papers:

· Ethics and International Marketing in SE Asia

· Culture and International Marketing (business customs, context, values and mores, negotiation styles, etc.)

· Regional Economic Integration (ASEAN) and its effects on Marketing in SE Asia

· Nontariff Trade Barriers in SE Asia (regulations, customs, uncertainty, etc.)

· Market Research (sources, reliability, availability, etc.)

· Market Entry Strategies (exporting, licensing, franchising, subsidiary, FDI, etc.)

· Product Adaptation (standardization, localization, usage issues, etc.)

· Pricing Strategies (dumping, penetration, skimming, etc.)

· Countertrade (barter, etc.)

· Intellectual Property Rights

· Graymarkets (cause, control, etc.)

· Green Marketing

This is a research paper, so you must check a number of sources besides the personal visits to the organizations. A minimum of ten outside resources is required. Check my Web site for instructions on citation and reference format. All information from other sources must be properly documented. The paper is due on September 8, 2000 at our final class session.

Daily Journal: You are required to maintain a daily journal beginning from the day of departure from Seattle and continuing to the day of return. The journal should emphasize what you learned from our visits to the various firms, agencies, and from travel and cultural experiences. Leisure activities may be included if they have cultural significance, but the journal should primarily reflect the purpose of the study tour. Be reflective in your writings, you will be amazed at how much you learn.

Resources: Check the Study Tours Web site and my home page for pertinent Web resources. You should also be developing a list of your own resources, which I encourage you to share with me, so I can share them with the class.