INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT

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The following strategies are suggested:

Opening Case and Chapter Summaries

Each week, the students are expected to summarize the major points in each assigned chapter and the opening cases of each assigned chapter. Linking the case facts to the concepts in the chapter is the key element (max 2 pages).

The opening cases may be assigned so that each week, a student will briefly present the chapter case and lead the discussion of them. Those not presenting that week will informally prepare answers to the case questions and use them to enhance class discussion.

Case Study Analysis

A short oral presentation of the case is required followed by a thorough discussion of the case. The following are tips on how to prepare a case analysis from Prof. Miesing.

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

- George Santayana, Life of Reason (1905-6)

A common reaction to a case is “I don’t have enough information.” While this predicament will also be true for many of the “real-world” business decisions as well. This requires the manager to make reasonable assumptions, conduct the analysis accordingly, and act based on the available information. Re-stating the case facts is not enough (and often not even necessary). While the reading materials will provide you with a framework, there are no simple formulas that can replace analysis, synthesis, and insight. Begin with the general assignment question and conclude with recommendations as to what the company should do in the future or generalize your learning to similar situations. Hence, while the assignment question for each case serves to open up your analysis and the class discussion, it is just the starting point. Also, the case write-ups should contain information, insights, and ideas that the student should bring up in the class discussion.

Also, keep in mind that the purpose of case analysis is not to update the case — these are not opportunities to demonstrate your ability to find more information. While it is interesting to know subsequent events, you need not collect information about a company or industry beyond what is in the case. Besides, recent actions taken are not necessarily the correct ones; indeed, there is no “correct” answer. The readings, discussions with classmates, prior courses, work experience, overall knowledge, and a lot of thought should help in the case analyses. Nonetheless, the Internet should be used to gather new information about the topic, company, and environment as long as they provide additional insights for the analysis and contributions.

It’s not easy to fit a rigorous analysis into a short space but this is what executives typically demand. Here are some tips:

- Do not offer large pieces of factual information- The executive team does not need it. Why would managers read a generic background on their own company? Similarly, do not extract lengthy quotes from the case. Instead, summarize, synthesize, and integrate all available information.

- Overarching framework- The purpose of cases is to understand and apply the reading materials. Begin by developing an appropriate framework that will organize your analysis, and make sure to cover all bases. Information sources include: the text, a Web site discussing the topic, the company Web site or other update, a self-assessment or exercise, and/or one of the available academic articles.

- Analysis- Conduct financial, organizational, and environmental analysis as necessary. Again, do not repeat the case. Instead, you should compare the data to the prose to check for consistency and coherence. Investigate by gathering relevant information and cite the source(s). Or, identify potential problems and areas for further study when information is insufficient, inadequate, and unavailable.

- Recommendations- Some might be used to analyzing cases to identify and discuss “What happened to our previous strategy?” (“What went wrong!”) These cases require future actions. Here, the recommendations should examine what to do at the end of the case and not what they should have done.

- Lessons learned- What additional thing(s) do you now know about international management? Can you advance the topic or the field? Here is an opportunity to be creative, use personal experiences, synthesize and integrate the readings.

Case analyses must demonstrate the following:

- insight (identify key issues)

- analysis (avoid mere summaries of the case)

- originality (creative, innovative, imaginative)

- effort (appearance, organization, overall style)

- integration (incorporate other information and knowledge)

- application of theory (ability to apply the reading materials)

- recommendations (strength and support; internal consistency)

- generalize learnings to the session topic (synthesize lessons from the case, Web sites, and readings)

Class Discussion/Contribution

- Critical thinking questions and answers: It would benefit the student to make some notes in advance in response to these questions to help facilitate the class discussion.

- Discussion contribution: The students will be evaluated based on their contribution to class discussions each week. Including examples from current events, from their workplace and their own travels to enhance the experience and enhance class contribution. Also contribution will be evaluated based on the questions asked to guest speakers.

- Attendance: Anything less than perfect attendance without a legitimate excuse will adversely affect the contribution grade. The professor will be responsible for determining what is considered a legitimate excuse and therefore an excused absence.

Outstanding participation would be characterized by the following:

- Initiates information relative to topics discussed

- Accurately exhibits knowledge of assignment content

- Demonstrates excellent listening by remaining on the “same page” as rest of class through comments

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