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Icons credited to the Orthodox Christian Found
and Auburn University

Course Syllabus

"I cannot forecast to you the action on Russia.
It is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma."

Winston Churchill, in a radio broadcast of October 1, 1939

Course Description:

An examination of the cultural, political, social and economic aspects of doing business abroad. Study and application of methods of conducting country, investment, project and trade risk vs opportunity analysis.

Course Objectives:

An introductory course in theory and practice of assessing international business environments. Issues, concepts and applications of conducting international cultural, political, and economic analysis for business decisions. A precursor course in conducting macro level screening of global business risks vs opportunities. As all levels of business activities are considered, this is a service course to all other international business courses to follow.

For Spring Quarter 2001 the course will focus on Russia and the former states of the USSR.

Prerequisites:

None

Texts:

Required Books and Papers:

Russia Initiative: Reports of Four Task Forces, Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Doing Business in Russia: Basic Facts for the Pioneering Entrepreneur, Second Edition,
by Tankred G. Golenpolsky, Robert M. Johnstone, Vladimir A. Kashin, Oasis Press/PSI Research, Grants Pass, Oregon, 1996.

GRA Electronic Books for MHR 332, Edited by Jerry Rogers, Global Risk Assessments, Inc., Riverside, CA, USA

Required Listserv Subscriptions:

Economist.com

BISNIS Bulletin (US Department of Commerce)

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Johnson's Russia List

Required Websites:

Introduction to Russian Culture, Russian 162, Spring 2000 course syllabus, University of North Dakota.

History of Russia by Professor Michael Petrovich, University of Wisconsin, USA.

History 417: Russia from 800-1800

History 418: Russia from 1800-1917

Recommended:

All at the Cal Poly Pomona library, on reserve, ground floor.

Global Risk Assessments: Issues Concepts and Applications, Edited by Jerry Rogers, Global Risk Assessments, Inc., Riverside, CA, USA

Book 1 (1983) Book 2 (1986) Book 3 (1988) Book 4 (1997) Book 5 (2001)

BusinessWeek online (click on register/subscribe)

Recommended Equipment:

Web Digital Camera - for student-student; student-professor,class-expert interaction and for use with Microsoft's NetMeeting.

Course Requirements:

1. Russian history period review: Conduct research from various resources on a period of Russian history. Create PowerPoint presentation for posting to WebCT and presentation in class. Individual or group effort: 10 points

2. Russia Business Issue Brief: Conduct research on a business issue along the lines presented in the Doing Business in Russia text. Create PowerPoint presentation for posting to WebCT and presentation in class. Individual or group effort: 10 points.

3. GRA Book chapter reviews: From GRA Electronic Books review ten (10) articles. 1 point each WebCT article posting. 10 points total.

4. Maps: Hand draw two maps, one of Russia and one of a former USSR state. 4 points each; 8 points total.

5. Examinations: Examination 1; 8 points Examination 2; 8 points. 16 points total.

6. Assessing International Business Environments (AIBE) Report: Written Report: 28 points; Oral report: 3 points (Create PowerPoint presentation). 31 points total.

The AIBE report is a political risk assessment on Russia or a former USSR state and will focus on an industry sector. Students will team up in pairs and prepare an assessment modeled after models shown in binder format by the professor. Each AIBE will be formatted according to a model shown on WebCT.

7. Attendance and participation: Attendance and participation is necessary due to the nature of the material. Students will be called upon to express their knowledge and opinons, and are encouraged to ask questions and volunteer opinions. Role will be taken each meeting. In addition, non-excused, late written assignments will be graded down by 50%. 15 points (detailed below):

WebCT participation: 8 points
Instructor evaluation: 7 points

During the course we will also be having virtual guest speakers on various topics using a threaded discussion capability: "Risk Assessment Chat Room" located on the Cal Poly Intranet.

8. Extra Credit: (choose one)

a. An Annotated Bibliography of 8 magazine articles dealing with AIBE since 1998.

b. Book Review on Russia/related.

(1) The book may be selected from the Russia Bibliography which is posted at the Cal Poly Pomona Internet Reference Website, or,

(2) From other books selections on Russian History or on Doing Business in Russia.

Students will use the 2 page reporting format provided, available for viewing on WebCT.

An oral presentation will accompany either report. Create a PowerPoint and post it to WebCT beforehand. Work must be completed by Week 7. 10 points.

Method of Evaluation:

Russian history period review: 10 points
Russia business issue brief: 10 points
GRA Electronic Book chapter reviews (10): 10 points
Maps (2): 8 points
Examinations (2) 16 points
AIBE Report: Written, 28 points; Oral, 3 points
Attendance and participation: 15 points

WebCT Participation: 8 points
Attendance/Participation: 7 points

Total: 100 points

Extra credit: 10 points

Method of Assigning Letter Grades:

A Outstanding 90 and above
B Above average 80-89.9
C Average 70-79.9
D Below average: 60-69.9
F Below 59.9

Plus and minus letter grades are assigned

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