MBA International Programs

Spring/Summer 2014
Spring Break 2014
Investing in China
Brief Description: One of the most important developments in business and finance over the past twenty
years is the dramatic economic rise of China. As the second largest economy in the world, China is important
for its industrial output and its growing consumer market. This course explores business issues for operating
in China with some emphasis on finance topics. We will meet with bankers and other providers of capital to
learn about operating in China and project selection. We will discuss foreign exchange markets, with a focus
on the Yuan, issues with trading Yuan, and the controversy concerning the Yuans relative value. Other topics
include the legal environment in China, such as doing business with a local partner and the enforcement of
contracts. Finally, we will gain further insight into the political and economic risks involved in doing business
in China. We will tour, explore, and experience Beijing and Shanghai.

Instructor: Professor Mark Walker
Location: Shanghai/Beijing China
Dates: March 8-15, 2014
Estimated Program Cost: $2,400 USD (based on 10 students) plus tuition and airfare

Trend Spotting for Culture and Design
Brief Description: Based in London, England, students in this program will learn Trend-spotting, or cool-
hunting, a consumer behavior research technique dedicated to observing and predicting the new cultural
developments that drive the demand for certain goodsand the demise of others. In a society where culture
is no longer dictated from the top-down by a recognized establishment but bottom-up from within the
popular sphere, and where digital media deliver new ideas and practices with historically unprecedented
speed, firms need dedicated diffusion researchers to study how and what innovations spread. Diffusion
research is a means of risk management, and a pathway to cutting-edge brand extensions and product
developments. Trend-Spotting for Culture and Design is a weeklong short-term study abroad (STSA) course
in the theory, methods, and praxis of the hunt for the next big thing.
Prior to leaving for the trip students would meet for three preparatory weekend sessions. Trend-Spotting for
Culture and Design would be an appropriate STSA choice for MBA students who have identified
concentrations in Marketing Management, Innovation Management, or Entrepreneurship and Technology
Commercialization. Recommended (but not required) prerequisites include Consumer Behavior (Wood) and
the Consumer Innovation Practicum (Reid).
Instructor: Professor Colbey Reid
Location: London, England
Dates: March 8-15, 2014
Estimated Program Cost: $1,740 (based on 10 students) plus tuition and airfare



Summer 2014
Innovation & Marketing Systems
Brief Description: Innovation is a complex process that requires extensive market and technological
knowledge to be successful. Companies often utilize a system of innovation and marketing, involving a
network of customers, research collaborators, suppliers, marketers, and other partners especially when
competing in the global marketplace. This course studies important aspects of effective Innovation &
Marketing Systems. Topics such as customer involvement, fast-cycle innovation, market partnerships, and
innovation processes are covered with selected readings and examples. Several visits to highly-innovative
companies will demonstrate best practices in managing innovation and marketing systems. The course takes
place in Germany, which has been ranked by INSEAD as the #2 global innovative country, behind the United
States. The local culture will also be explored and experienced.

Instructor: Professor Jon Bohlmann
Location: Munich, Germany
Dates: May 10-17, 2014
Estimated Program Cost: $2,500 (based on 10 students) plus tuition and airfare
BioScience Technology in Ireland
Brief Description: A principal aspect of the BioSciences MBA is the STEP project, a short-term project where
students work directly with bio-agricultural, bio-industrial, medical devices, diagnostics, or pharmaceutical
firms. This is essentially an in-action learning module that results in information that is instantly useful to both
the company and student teams. The outcome is that students learn the tools needed to pursue management
in biosciences and pharmaceutical environments in either science-based functions, such as research and
development, or business functions, such as market analysis. In turn, the sponsors receive approaches and
solutions to improve performance, and position themselves for enhanced competitive advantage.
During the STEP project, students use the management tools they learned during the first year of the MBA
program and apply it to the needs of the sponsor institution. The offerings afford those participating in the
practicum a number of options ranging from evaluation of supply chain efficiencies, performing data mining,
examining companys patent positions, or surveying the competitive landscape in order to forge strategic
partnerships. An extensive array of potential sponsor organizations within the NovaUCD business incubator
associated with University College Dublin allows these projects to be readily accessible.

Instructor: Professor Richard Kouri
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Dates: May 10-17, 2014
Estimated Program Cost: $1,300 (based on 10 students) plus tuition and airfare

Doing Business in Brazil
Brief Description: In Doing Business in Brazil, students will gain firsthand knowledge of Latin America's
largest country and one of the worlds most dynamic and growing economics. Participants will include
students from the Poole College of Management MBA programs as well as Master and Doctoral students from
NC States School of Public and International Affairs, and Graduate Students from across disciplines at the
University of Sao Paulo. This truly international group will be lead by Professors Steve H. Barr, Poole College of
Management, and Mark T. Nance, School of Public and International Affairs, along with Professor Janina
Onuki, from the University of Sao Paulo. Students will hear from panels of faculty and business leaders from
Sao Paulo, as well as government officials familiar with Brazil and U.S. business practices. Site visits will be
included at business, government and non-government organizations. Students will work in teams to develop
an environment-strategy fit and a strategy-structure fit for an on-going organization doing business in Brazil.
All instruction is in English.

Instructors: Professor Steve Barr and Professor Mark Nance (CHASS)
Location: Sao Paulo, Brazil
Dates: May 10-17, 2014
Estimated Program Cost: $1,400 (based on 10 MBA and 3 CHASS students) plus tuition and airfare


Doing Business in China ONLINE MBA
Brief Description: How did China become a global economic power? What business challenges will it face in
the future? How can China evolve from a low cost producer of goods to a global provider of higher-end
services and innovative solutions? And most importantly, what does it mean for you what are the
opportunities and challenges of working in and with China? We will address these questions as well as others
in this course which takes us to Beijing, the political capital of China. Beijing is a thriving, rapidly growing
metropolis with a diverse economic base. This includes manufacturing and services companies, high tech and
R&D centers, and entrepreneurial start-ups. We will use pre-readings, a variety of company visits covering
multiple industries while in Beijing, and post-trip reflections to maximize your learning experience. We will
also visit a number of cultural and political sites while in the Beijing area.
Instructor: Professor John McCreery
Location: Beijing, China
Dates: May 9-17, 2014
Estimated Program Cost: $2,150 (based on 20 students) plus tuition and airfare


REGISTRATION INFORMATION AND DEADLINES
MBA Students interested in any of the International programs will sign-up via the study abroad website.
Please see the links above for the specific program registration.

Please note the following deadlines for registration and payments.

December 6, 2013 Sign-up Deadline for all MBA Programs via the Study Abroad Website
December 17, 2013 Deposit (50%) of program fee due
January 17, 2014 Last day to Drop out of Program and class (no refunds after this date)
January 31, 2014 Balance Due for Program Fee

Please note that students will be charged the program registration fee associated with the individual program.
Students will also be registered for the associated class and will be charged MBA tuition.

Programs must meet minimum enrollment numbers. If they do not, they will be cancelled and students will
have the option of switching to another program (pending space availability).

If enrollment goes beyond our minimum requirements, students will receive a refund that aligns with the
updated program cost.

Online MBA students may sign up for any program, but are encouraged to sign-up for the Doing Business in
China Program for the Online Program. Other MBA students can sign-up for this program if space is available.

If you have any questions, please email poole-global@ncsu.edu.