COURSE: BA 0303-397-01

Study Tour to Japan

Spring 1999

Study Tour Album           Study Tour Reports

Go Back to Home Page

Course objectives

The purpose of this study tour is to introduce the student to the many facets of the Japanese business environment. Pre-departure preparation will include a broad understanding of the historical, cultural and economic underpinnings of the Japanese business environment. Students will become familiar with:

1) Japan’s current financial crisis and how its financial markets are likely to change in the near future

2) the regulatory, managerial environment facing MNCs pursuing entry into Japan

3) how joint ventures with Japanese companies are managed

4) the different marketing strategies in Japan

Course format and content

Students will be expected to think critically about and apply concepts learned from the reading. Students are expected to complete the reading assignments for the day and be prepared to participate in the discussion of the material.

Notations will be made on student participation throughout the course of the term based on frequency and quality of comments. NOTE: Attendance ? Participation. As with all business communications, comments and questions should be thoughtful and to the point. This is possible only when the reading has been completed and some critical thinking dedicated to the substance of the reading.

1. Communication strategy and skills
   Students are required to participate actively in class discussion before the trip on course topics and during the trip on company visits. Notations will be made for each student.
2. Each student is required to present a company profile on one of the firms we visit along with a one-page summary of the company. In addition, students must had in a 15 page research report.
3. Leadership dynamics and Innovation
   Students will be responsible for taking a leadership role in introducing the class to the firm he or she researches for the company profile. Students should have questions prepared to lead off the discussion at meetings.
4. Ethical perspectives
   The course will look closely at Japan’s business ethics and explore the relationship between ethics and Japan’s current economic crisis. The class will explore the implications of this crisis not only on business, but on various segments of society.

Projects, assignments and exams

• Projects and assignments
  - One company presentation
  To prepare us for the company visits, each student will research a company and brief us in a 10-12 minute presentation. This presentation should be accompanied by a 1-page "fact sheet" on the company along with a 5-6 questions that you are interested in asking during our meetings. Students should take these fact sheets to Japan and review them before meeting with the companies.
  - Resume
  Because we will be visiting Japanese companies and homes, prepare a one-page resume. Include information such as your birthplace, major, current or previous jobs (detailed work description is not necessary), and your hobbies. Attach a small 2"x2" black and white picture (similar to a passport picture) to the upper right hand corner. We will be faxing these resumes to companies that request them and to our contact in Japan setting up the homestays.
  - Final project
  The final project should be 10-15 pages long excluding references and appendices. To be of interest and value to you, the project should be a research paper on a functional area of interest to you, e.g. finance, accounting, marketing, organizational behavior, and how one of these functions operates in Japan. The project can be done individually or in a group of no more than 3 people.
• Exams
  - Midterm
  The midterm will be based on the materials covered in the readings and in class. Questions will be designed to test your practical knowledge of Japanese history, culture, society, economics and business practices.
  - Final exam
  The final exam will consist of a series of essay questions which I will hand out on the plane. You will be able to answer these questions based on your experiences and observations in Japan. I will not require you to "sit" for the exam for any length of time. Instead, it will be more valuable for you to keep a daily journal and review your notes to answer specific questions. With some planning, you will avoid spending a large chunk of time writing answers.
• Miscellaneous
  Homestay in Kyoto. There will be an opportunity for you to stay with a Japanese family for one night and have a free day in Kyoto. We will cover Japanese "home" etiquette in class.

Grading

Grading is based on a curve and not based on percentages. This means all grades are relative to how you rank compared to your peers.

Administrative details

If there is a problem that you need to discuss with me, call me or stop by during office hours, e-mail me. I cannot effectively deal with problems without information from you. It is up to you to keep me informed. I am very accessible via e-mail or phone.

• Phone etiquette
  Feel free to call me at home, please call between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. If I am not available when you call, please leave a message, I will return your call at soon as I can.
  
• Class starts on time
  Class begins on time. Students who show up late disrupt lectures or discussions. Students who come to class late will be required to tell a joke or sing a song; no exceptions.
  
• Due dates
  Assignments are due at the BEGINNING of the class day on which they are due. PLAN AHEAD! Printers break down, parking is difficult to find, floppies get lost or can get corrupted. The penalities for late submissions are as follows: 10% grade penalty after first 10 minutes of class, 15% at end of class, 10% deduction per calendar day after that.
  
• NO MAKE-UP EXAMS WITHOUT A WRITTEN MEDICAL EXCUSE.

The readings are not boring or dry. They are written for a non-academic audience. Please make an effort to read them and participate in class with questions about the reading.