Dear colleagues,
Thanks so much to all of you who provided suggestions and e-mailed
syllabi for my MBA int'l mgt class next semester. I've literally heard
from people all over the country and world with suggestions.
I've summarized many of the responses below and have listed a few web
sites suggested by respondents that have relevant syllabi and material.
_________________________
Responses regarding Bartlett, C. A. and Ghoshal, S. 1995. _Transnational
Mgt_. Irwin. ISBN 0-256-14138-X (This is for the 2nd edition...there may
be a new one).
In general, the feedback on this text was quite positive especially for
the MBA level. Selected comments are included below:
Professor Mary Brooks (Dalhousie U.) used the book and was "thrilled
with it."
Professor N. Rao Kowtha (National U. of Singapore) suggested the
following cases because even though they "seem dated, (they) are still
relevant": Corning Glass Works for JVs, KFC (Japan) for subsidiary
mgt., Nike and Reebock for social issues, IKEA for strategy.
Professor John Stopford (LBS) stated that the "text is terrific
PROVIDED you have a great command of the nuances of the case and a well
trained MBA class...The readings help immensely."
Note this comment about a well trained MBA class echoes similar ones by
other professors (e.g., Professor Sheila Adams at UNC-Wilmington) and
one or two book reps that this text may be a little advanced for
undergraduate students.
One exception, Professor David Ackerman (Seattle U.), used it in an
undergrad class with "excellent results." He also commented, though,
that students who hadn't completed all foundation courses (e.g., mkt,
finance) might have some difficulty with the cases.
Overall, the recommendations that this was a good text for an MBA
level class especially one focusing on MNC strategy. For those who
want a different focus, some additional suggestions are included below.
_________________________
Other suggested texts:
***Deresky, H. 1997. _Int'l Management_. Addison Wesley.
ISBN 0-673-98091-X.
Professor Chad Nehrt (UT-Dallas) used chapters from this book for the
"people" part of his Int'l Mgt course.
On a personal note:
I have also used this text at the undergrad level with good results
and may employ it as a reference text for my grad class in the spring
especially for int'l OB topics.
***Hofstede, G. 1991. _Cultures and organizations_. Harper Collins.
ISBN 0-00-637740-8.
Professor James Gunn (Berkeley College) suggested this as a
supplemental text.
***Hisrich, R., McDougall, P., & Oviatt, B. 1997. _Cases in Int'l
Entrepreneurship_. Irwin. ISBN 0-256-19183-2.
Professor Mingfang Li (Cal State-Northridge) suggested this for courses
having an international small business emphasis.
On a personal note:
I am examining this text for possible adoption because of its small
business focus. Most of my students will go the small business rather
than the Fortune 500 career route, so this could be a useful way of
illustrating critical international concepts that they will need.
_________________________
Other suggestions:
Professor Diana Lawson (U. of Maine) suggested the value of a
small business consulting project especially at schools outside of major
metropolitan areas. She commented that both the students and small
business could benefit from this type of project.
_________________________
Selected websites that might be of interest:
Professor Mingfang Li also suggested his website
(http://www.csun.edu/~mli) for a course syllabus.
Professor P. Roberto Garcia suggested his old website at Ohio State
(http://www.cob.ohio-state.edu/~garcia/856/schedule.htm) for a course
syllabus.
Professor Stephen Guisinger (UT-Dallas) has his syllabus for "The
Multinational Firm" at
http://www.utdallas.edu/~steveg/multisyll.html.
Professor Alex Brown (U. of Delaware) has his syllabus for "Doing
business in the new Europe" at
http://www.udel.edu/alex/mba/main/
buad874.html.
Wright State U. also has an international business plan on line at
http://www.coba.wright.edu/intlplan.htm.
In addition, I will have my syllabus posted on my web site
(http://ocean.st.usm.edu/~fohrk/index.html) by early January. I
currently have my undergrad Int'l Mgt, Entrepreneurship, and
Principles syllabi posted for anyone who is interested. I would
appreciate any feedback on any of these syllabi.
Thanks again for all your helpful suggestions and to those of you who
have sent or suggested websites for syllabi.
Best wishes to all for the holidays,
Franz T. Lohrke
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Franz T. Lohrke Phone: (228) 865-4526
Assistant Professor of Management FAX: (228) 865-4588
Department of Management and MIS Email:
F.lohrke@usm.edu
University of Southern Mississippi WWW:
http://ocean.st.usm.edu/
730 E. Beach Blvd. ~fohrk/index.html
Long Beach, MS 39560-2699
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