Center for Global Management

Global Macroeconomy

Sebastian Edwards

Henry Ford II Chair in International Management

Christian Dippel

Assistant Professor of Global Economics and Management

The purpose of this course is to develop the analytical framework required for understanding the way changing macroeconomic conditions in the world economy affect the environment faced by modern decision makers and business leaders. Issues related to central banks’ behavior (quantitative easing, interest rate adjustment and other), economic growth, inflation, interest rates behavior, exchange rates determination, global competitiveness, fiscal stimuli, unemployment and the external sector (international reserves and the like) will be explored. At the end of the course it is expected that students will be able to critically asses how possible developments in the world economy -- such as the change in the monetary policy stance by the European Central Bank or the Federal Reserve, for example – will affect the business environment relevant to their specific industry.

Global Supply Chain Management

Christopher S. Tang

Edward W. Carter Chair in Business Administration

Felipe Caro

Professor of Decisions, Operations and Technology Management

As more firms continue to outsource and off-shore their operations (technical support, customer services, etc.), virtually all western companies need to manage multiple supply chains with external partners located in different countries around the globe. By its very nature, supply chain management has to deal with the management of the flow of materials, information, and funds across the entire global supply network that ranges from suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, logistics providers, and retailers to consumers. this course deals with international issues arising from supply chains encompassing partners located in different countries. This course draws upon concepts originally introduced in your core courses on operations management, statistics, marketing, and strategy. While many operational processes that we will consider in this course will appear familiar, most of you will find yourselves viewing them from a different perspective especially through different conceptual frameworks for analyzing global supply chain issues.

International Business Strategy

Mariko Sakakibara

Sanford and Betty Sigoloff Chair in Corporate Renewal

The objective of this course is to provide a framework for understanding and managing key issues in international business. In particular, the focus of this course is (1) to develop the ability to formulate an effective strategy for entry into foreign markets, and (2) to examine important issues related to the entry strategy and the subsequent expansion strategy. This course deals with general issues any corporation faces when operating outside of its domestic environment. The class sessions consist of case discussions and presentations and Q&As by guest speakers. Examples of questions that will be considered include: How should a company determine if it should enter foreign markets? What type of ownership structure should a company take to enter foreign markets? What are issues specific to emerging markets and how can a company address them? How can a tech startup expand internationally?

Non-Market Risks - Understanding Politics and the Global Context for Doing Business

Christine Loh

Visiting Professor and Former Minister, Hong Kong SAR Government

Non-market risks – political risk being a major one – can be highly disruptive. The ability to understand the politics of a place and its culture is helpful to assessing risk and making decisions. Understanding the politics of different jurisdictions can also expand one’s ability to appreciate situations and people from different places, whether they are colleagues, investors, stakeholders, customers, clients or employees. Global issues are often affected by domestic politics, which also impact business. The politics of a place makes the place. In this course, students will consider the global political environment and how it affects business. The course is designed to contrast where the experience is most divergent – between the Western experience (exemplified by the United States) with that of the People’s Republic of China – as this can provoke the deepest reflection. The two systems are underpinned by very different thinking, and they are coming up against each other in a globalized world. Those differences will define a key global discourse for decades to come. Students will develop a framework to analyze non-market/political risks in relations to an organization.

Global Trends

Romain Wacziarg

Hans Hufschmid Chair in Management and Professor of Economics

This course explores recent global trends affecting business. Global trends are geopolitical and economic evolutions that have first order effects on management practices and business opportunities around the world. Global managers need to develop a keen sense of these evolutions in order to lead successful businesses the can adapt to, and take advantage of, global trends. The specific trends covered in the course include 1) Globalization and its discontents: covering the rise and decline of globalization, as well as themes such as the recent rise of populism, of protectionism and political disintegration (e.g. Brexit) and their effects on business;. 2) The rise of new technologies, specifically the likely impact of automation, artificial intelligence, and cryptocurrencies; and 3) the trend toward a pluralist, multipolar world, whereby new powers such as China and India, as well as new interests groups, challenge the Western model while building on its strengths.

Global Payments and Fintech Innovation

Lori Van Deloo

Visiting Professor

Electronic Payments represents one of the most exciting areas of technology and business today. The last 60+ years have seen a dramatic growth in the access to and use of electronic payments as a replacement for the use of cash and checks. The introduction of new disruptive technologies and innovative business models continues to accelerate and is changing how people interact and transact around the globe. This course is designed for MBA students as well as other graduate level students who are interested in understanding the business and technology of electronic payments and payment processing. The class also examines key innovation trends within the broader context of Financial Technology (Fintech), and related areas such as Mobile Money, Digital Wallets, Personal Payments (P2P), Marketplace Lending, Digital Wealth Management and Open Banking. From a functional perspective, the course will provide exposure to a broad set of innovation business models and strategic frameworks. Throughout the course, we will also explore the nature and importance of strategic partnerships – across the ecosystem broadly and for traditional providers and Fintech companies to drive innovation and growth.

Evolution and Innovation in the Global Mobile Industry

Terry Kramer

Adjunct Professor of Decisions, Operations and Technology Management

With the birth of the mobile communications industry came a fundamental change in society and how it communicates. But the development of this industry required significant “bets” to be placed; it necessitated an industry structure that supported both entrepreneurial innovation and scale to afford massive fixed investments. Along the way, notable disruption occurred in many areas of the chain and drove the creation of a new “mobile ecosystem” made up of network operators, device makers, operating system developers and application players - all aligning to create a powerful user experience. Thousands of new ventures were initiated to drive and capitalize on this mobile “revolution.” The mobile industry is now experiencing a second wave of notable growth, coupled with significant risks of disintermediation causing Internet players, device makers and operating system providers to seek ownership of the customer and greater power in the mobile ecosystem. This course will look at the rapid development of the industry, specifically the disruption, innovation and bold strategic moves that create competitive advantage. It will feature leading representatives from the mobile industry, venture capital firms, entrepreneurs and policymakers to engage students in a discussion of real-world decisions, successes and failures. While this course is focused on the mobile industry, the core lessons in strategy development, disruptive innovation, business models and global context are relevant to numerous other industries.

The COVID-19 Pandemic: Policy Responses and Implications for Business

Sebastian Edwards

Henry Ford II Chair in International Management

This courses analyzes the economic, financial, business and political implications of the COVID-19 pandemic. In doing this, the course will rely on a number of analytical tools usually used by investment bankers, finance experts, economists, and senior managers.