Curriculum

Our world, and the system of global commerce within it (often referred to as “globalization” or “global capitalism”), faces unprecedented challenges. Never before has the confluence of social, ecological, technological and geopolitical challenges conspired to pose existential risks to our species. The days of “business as usual” are over: Commerce must be reimagined as a force for good. This course is designed to address two obvious but critical needs for those hoping to pursue careers of impact and meaning. First, before we can meaningfully engage in a conversation about the strengths and weaknesses of our global system, we have to understand that system in detail, including how we got here. Second, in order to identify solutions, we need to understand the specific problems. This course will address both needs, while also providing opportunities to further students' professional reading, critical thinking, communication and teamwork skills. By the end of this course, students should feel much more familiar with the world we live in, understand the global challenges we face, and be well-equipped to develop business solutions for the common good.

This course explores the political, legal, and technological environment faced by international managers and how it drives strategy formulation and implementation. Geographic diversification is a key focus, including market selection, entry mode, strategic partnerships and cross-border M&A. The course also covers principles of management in a cross-cultural context, especially as they relate to strategy implementation.

Corporate governance concerns the relationship between managers and a firm’s other stakeholder groups, including shareholders, employees, and the larger community. Studying governance offers students insight into the strategic decision-making of top executives and how those decisions are shaped by monitoring, incentives, and stakeholder pressures. This seminar introduces fundamental theories of corporate governance and explores how governance practices differ across countries. Key areas of focus include the composition and structure of corporate boards, executive compensation practices, the market for corporate control, and the role of external monitors. We consider how institutional context influences these governance practices and what implications they have for firm performance and strategy. We also discuss how globalization is driving changes in governance and examine different perspectives on what practices are “best” for international organizations.

This course introduces the primary financial concepts and techniques used by international business managers and investors alike. Topics include an overview of the global macro-economy and financial system, including the principal institutional participants and the role of the U.S. dollar; the system of accounting for the global flows of trade and investment capital, including the relevance of trade deficits and surpluses; sources and instruments of international financing, including foreign direct investment; the operation and functioning of foreign exchange markets, including dynamic risk hedging and investing; international risk management in both capital budgeting and investing, including financial control techniques and systems used by market participants; and the institutional context of international finance, including the roles of central banks, key regulators, and multilateral institutions. 

It has become more important than ever for firms to recognize that they compete in a global environment. This global environment is constantly changing. Consequently, managers must seek to develop the empathy, knowledge, sensitivity, and skills required to successfully operate in a dynamic global marketplace. This course examines the concept of global marketing, including the institutions, literature, and managerial processes, as well as the theories, strategies, and frameworks that drive marketing in the global arena. The impact of international economics, culture, national government policies, trade alliances, and other multilateral entities on trade patterns and marketing decision-making in a global firm are all considered. Specific topics include but are not limited a comparative analysis of global marketing versus domestic marketing, the process of market research to make decisions related to country selection and method of entry, as well as the segmenting, targeting and positioning of products to consumers within these markets. Finally, the course considers how marketing-mix decisions (product development, pricing, promotion, distribution) are made in a global context.

This course examines the critical role information systems play in modern global organizations. Through case discussions and hands-on practice using tools and commonly applied frameworks, students will gain a foundational understanding of how information systems, machine learning, and AI fit within broader organizational systems, including their application to data analytics for decision-making. The course will help students gain skills to successfully use technology to generate organizational value in a global context.

This course leads students to investigate key operational issues in managing global operations and supply chains. It delivers the latest theories, principles, and methods of modern operations management and global supply chain management. The course relies on case discussions, lectures, readings, and assignments. The principal pedagogy for this course is instructor-led group discussion of the results of analyses performed by students. 

Although negotiations are a ubiquitous part of our everyday lives, many of us know little about the strategy and psychology of effective negotiations. Why do we sometimes get our way, while other times we walk away feeling frustrated by our inability to achieve the agreement we desire? Negotiation is the art and science of securing agreements between two or more interdependent parties with different preferences and motives. The purpose of this course is to understand the theory and processes of negotiation in different situations. The course is designed to give students a foundational understanding of negotiations and equips students to more effectively negotiate with a range of different partners—in business and private life. 

This course is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in dynamic environments, where adaptability, innovation, and responsiveness are essential. We will delve into the principles of ambidextrous leadership, including agile methodologies, change management, and the development of a leadership approach that encourages organizational resilience and growth. 

This course equips students with frameworks and tools to understand innovation ecosystems, engage with stakeholders, and adopt an effective open innovation approach. Participants will learn to leverage hackathons, accelerators, and more, fostering a culture of innovation to retain market share.  

This course provides a broad view of entrepreneurial finance. It aims to facilitate an understanding of how investors select startups, how entrepreneurs attract financing, and how financing contributes to a venture’s success. 

This course is designed to build key professional skills needed to manage strategic initiatives and client relationships. It introduces students to management consulting and other advisory services professions while helping students develop leadership skills that are broadly applicable in these professions as well as in other fields. 

This course provides students with an introduction to how to effectively fill the role of project manager. It covers a blend of conceptual knowledge and practical skills necessary for the effective management of complex projects.

Social Entrepreneurship course is designed for students passionate about using their business skills to address complex challenges. We will work on developing concrete social business ideas based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on various aspects of launching a social business idea such as financial forecasting, impact measurement, and fundraising strategies. Through real-life case studies and direct interactions with social entrepreneurs from Europe and East Africa, we will gather valuable insights into best practices and experiences on how to set up successful social enterprises. Ultimately, the course will empower you to make a positive difference in the world by equipping you with the necessary tools to pitch and pursue your social business idea. 

The capstone project offers all students the unique opportunity to act as management consultants for organizations with specific social impact objectives. The project aims to fulfill multiple objectives, including offering hands-on experience in core course theories, refining soft skills like communication and presentations, immersing students in new international settings, and ultimately delivering valuable reports or outcomes that contribute to partner organizations' goals.