The Globalization of Business
2008 Exploration Seminar in Thailand & Vietnam
Program Director: James Reinnoldt- School of Business, UW Bothell
Dates of Instruction: August 27 - September 17, 2008
**THIS PROGRAM IS FULL AND NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS**
Seminar Overview: The globalization of business is no longer a luxury. It is a necessity. Businesses and governments alike need to look to the global marketplace for new sources of supply, labor, demand, R & D and capital in order to remain competitive.
This Thailand, Vietnam & The Global Environment of Business Exploration Seminar will provide students (*) with the opportunity to apply what they have learned from their prior areas of study to the many challenges of conducting business in a complex, dynamic and increasingly interdependent global environment.
In a captivating, hands-on, 21-day study tour to Thailand and Vietnam, students will learn about global business theory, global business practices, key global institutions, trends and issues of globalization, global research, and the role and impact of foreign exchange rates. This learning will be accomplished through classroom lectures and discussions, case studies, field trips to local and multi-national organizations, visits from distinguished guest lecturers, and individual research projects.
For a complete description of the UWB BUS 480 Course, please see: http://www.washington.edu/students/icd/B/bbus/480jreinn.html.
(*) Please refer the sections below on Course Credit and Participant Qualifications regarding course credit and course pre-requisites.
The Seminar Experience
Seattle: Laying the Groundwork
Prior to departing from Seattle, the seminar group will spend classroom time studying the key trends, issues and actors of globalization, as well as work on developing the research tools necessary to make these assessments. During this time each student will also be assigned a company and/or set of key issues to be researched for their final course project.
Thailand & Vietnam: Observation, Experience and Application
 Orientation and Team Building: Bangkok
Upon arrival in Bangkok, the group will be oriented to the climate, geography, people and culture of Thailand through a guided tour of the Grand Palace, Emerald Buddha, Temple of Dawn and other key attractions. The group will also take a boat trip on the Chao Phrya River to the ancient Thai capital of Ayutthaya. In order to build team spirit as well as become oriented to the geography and transportation systems of Bangkok, the group will also participate in a challenging and fun scavenger hunt.
Discussion and Research: Bangkok and Hanoi
Following the orientation sessions, the group will spend the majority of its time in Thailand (Bangkok) and Vietnam (Hanoi) on a variety of activities that allows them to more thoroughly understand the many dimensions to globalization through the eyes of businesses and other organizations. These activities will include lectures from academics, presentations from local and international business people and participation in discussion groups. A key component of this aspect of the seminar will be a research project undertaken by each participant in order to further assess and understand some of globalization’s key issues and impacts. For example, some students might want to assess and compare the impact of HIV/AIDS on businesses in Thailand and Vietnam, while other participants might want to study a topic such as the impact of and response to global “big box retailers” by the local family-owned retail sector. There will be considerable flexibility as participants can select from among a list of topics that suits their interests and meets the seminar’s goals.
Observation and Integration: Bangkok and Hanoi
As a means to understand first-hand how local businesses and other organizations are responding to the opportunities, challenges and consequences of globalization, the group will visit or hear presentations from organizations representing the three key of the economies of Thailand & Vietnam: Agriculture, manufacturing and tourism. These will include:(*)
- A local rice farming, milling and exporting company
- A tourism resort development
- A global logistics company
- A regional corporate communications firm
- A business coalition dealing with HIV/AIDS
(*) Note: The actual cities and organizations that the group will visit are subject to change. A Thailand-Vietnam Seminar Itinerary will be posted soon at
http://web.mac.com/jreinnoldt/UW_Explore_Seminar/2008_Programs.html
 Student Free Time
Thailand and Vietnam have a rich history and culture as well as some world-class shopping and sightseeing. Students will have time and opportunity to take advantage of both through activities such as sightseeing tours, group dinners, a beach BBQ, and a visit to the sprawling weekend markets of Bangkok.
Academic Goals, Course Credit and Participant Qualifications
Academic Goals
The academic goals of this Exploration Seminar include:
- Develop a set of research tools and resources necessary for identifying and analyzing the key opportunities and challenges for businesses and other organizations in an increasingly globalized environment.
- Understand the key economic, political, legal, social and cultural institutions, forces and issues that are shaping the global business environment.
- Understand globalization’s impact on the people, societies, cultures and environments of developing countries like Thailand and Vietnam.
- Understand the negative side effects of globalization such as HIV/AIDS, political conflict, exploitation of labor, and illegal immigration.
- Understand the increasingly important role of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in globalized business strategies.
- Understand how local businesses, MNCs and other organizations in Thailand and Vietnam are responding to the opportunities, challenges and impacts of globalization through global strategic planning and execution.
- Enjoy a rich cultural experience and develop a high degree of cross-cultural understanding and empathy.
- Learn about practical skills in cross-cultural management and about effective global communication skills.
- Stimulate curiosity about other cultures, economies and societies in an increasingly globalized world and the many challenges they face.
- Develop the skills and confidence needed to travel independently among various countries in the world.
Course Credit
Upon successful completion of the seminar, participants will earn five credits in their choice of the following two classes:
- CHID 474: Asia Study Abroad (UW Seattle - I&S)
- B BUS 480: The Global Environment of Business (UW Bothell)
Participants should check with their advisors to determine how these credits will count towards these and other departmental requirements.
A separate document Thailand-Vietnam Syllabus provides more information on seminar guidelines and expectations, coursework, assignments, grading policies and the like. This document can be downloaded from
http://web.mac.com/jreinnoldt/UW_Explore_Seminar/2008_Programs.html
Participant Qualifications
Students from all disciplines are welcome to participate in this seminar. However, please take note of the following:
Non-Business Majors:
Due to the seminar’s strong business focus, non-business majors will need to demonstrate a strong interest in and aptitude for the business topics that the seminar will cover. Please state your interest in the seminar’s Academic Goals in your online application.
UW Bothell Business Majors
For UWB business majors who are seeking BUS 480 Capstone Credit, the normal BUS 480 prerequisites will apply. Please check with your advisor or see the BUS 480 Course Description at the following URL for more information:
http://www.washington.edu/students/crscatb/bbus.html
UW Seattle and UW Tacoma Business Majors
Business majors from UW Seattle and UW Tacoma are also welcome to participate. As the seminar will be taught as a UW Bothell Business Capstone Course, all business majors should check with their advisors to see how these credits will count towards business departmental requirements.
Regardless of a student’s academic concentration, all seminar participants will be expected to attend all classroom sessions (in Seattle and in Thailand), guest lectures, site visits and other planned academic activities. In addition, participants will be expected to complete all assigned readings, homework and research projects in order to complete the course.
A separate document Exploration Seminar Syllabus-Thailand & Vietnam 2008 provides more information on seminar guidelines and expectations, coursework, assignments, grading policies and so on. This will be provided to all successful applicants, although a copy is currently available upon request.
 About The Seminar Director
The Seminar Director, James Reinnoldt, currently teaches Global Business (Senior Capstone and MBA) and International Marketing at UWB and also teaches Executive Education courses at UW Seattle. He conducted a UW Exploration Seminar to Thailand and Cambodia in 2007 and the student photos from this seminar can be seen at http://uwexplore.smugmug.com/ He can be contacted at jreinn@u.washington.edu for any questions about this seminar.
Seminar Fees
$ 3,375 Program Fee (Includes tuition fees)
$ 200 IPE Concurrent Enrollment Fee
The Program Fee includes tuition, teaching and instruction, transfers, hotel accommodations on a twin-sharing basis, some meals, orientation and sightseeing tours, and return air tickets to Hanoi, Vietnam. It does not include return airfare to Bangkok, Thailand that is estimated at $1,300 depending on when and where the ticket is purchased.
A separate document Thailand-Vietnam Estimated Fees and Expenses provides more information on expenses that are covered in the Program Fee, airfares, and personal expense estimates. This document can be downloaded from:
http://web.mac.com/jreinnoldt/UW_Explore_Seminar/2008_Programs.html
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