Last revision 12/28/2007

Global Connections – Central Europe

Wednesdays, 3:30-6:30pm, GSB  3.138

Professor: David Spence Office: CBA 5.210 Office Ph: 471-0778 Email: david.spence@mccombs.utexas.edu

GRA: Rich Walker Richard.Walker@mba08.mccombs.utexas.edu MBA Program Office liason: Susan Masson Susan.Masson@mccombs.utexas.edu

A. Introduction

This course will provide students with an opportunity to understand and experience first-hand how Central European firms manage business across borders and within the European Union (EU).  We will concentrate on the many ways in which political, regulatory, and legal institutions of Central Europe and the EU constrain and promote the conduct of business among the EU member states.  In particular, the course will focus on two former eastern block countries and recent entrants to EU membership, Hungary and the Czech Republic.

We will meet for six class sessions in Austin, during which we will introduce students to Hungary, the Czech Republic and the European Union. We will look at the history of the region and of these two countries, and the current environment of business in each. We will examine the structure of the EU, the roles played by its major institutions, and how membership is changing each of these two countries and the business environment within each. For a full list of classroom topics, including reading assignments, see the schedule and links below.

In early March, students will travel to Budapest and Prague for company and cultural tours, and project work.  We will also make a very brief stop in Bratislava, Slovakia. 

It is not required, but you may find it helpful to register with The Economist online. This is one of the best sources of English language news coverage of these two countries, and several of the optional readings come from this site. The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Financial Times also cover EU matters fairly well. See also the “useful links” below.

This online syllabus is the official syllabus of the course. Please check it periodically, as it will be revised over time. The professor will communicate with students via the blackboard email list. If you are not enrolled as a user on the blackboard site for this class, you may not receive group email communications.

Student responsibilities:

1. The major work product of this course will be the student practicum project. Student teams will investigate and analyze a problem connected with business in the EU, or in EU accession nations, on behalf of a business client/sponsor. The practicum project will comprise 50% of your grade. Practicum project grades will be based upon interviews with student teams, interviews with project clients, and a review of the team work product. For a list of the project teams and projects, click here (link TBA).

2. All students will also be expected to participate actively in class discussion during the pre-trip classroom sessions (see below). As part of that effort, during the 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th class sessions, small groups of students will brief the class on subjects pertaining to business in central Europe. Each presentation should be based upon the group’s research, should consume about 20 minutes of class time, and should include powerpoint or handouts. Here are the briefing topic assignments:

Privatizing state-owned industries after 1989 in Hungary and the Czech Republic	Hongtao Chen, Justin Griffin, Forrest Bloede, Christina Chou,
The macroeconomy of Europe and central Europe (basic growth and trade data) today	Drew Burke, Kathryn Hite, Josh Byrd, David Chapa, Victor Lu
Major business sectors in Hungary today, including growth and employment data, and where business opportunities lie	Renata Junqueira, Valerie Andersen, Hitoshi Emura, Andy Lusk, Shena Yang
Major business sectors in the Czech Republic today, including growth and employment data, and where business opportunities lie	Arlina Garcia-Bravo, Edward Wiedemann, Devyani Gupta, Shohei Takigami, K.J. Yang
Hungarian politics (current – major players and domestic political issues) and its effect on the business climate	Gretchen Stieren, Julia Harvey, Hazel Hong, Sun Woo Nam
Czech politics (current – major players and domestic political issues) and its effect on the business climate	Kerry Birnbach, Lauren Burrows, Daniel Kim, Jeffrey Sears

Class participation (including your team’s briefing) will comprise 25% of your grade. Readings that are not web-based will be handed out in class, except for the first class’s reading assignment, which should be picked up outside Prof. Spence’s office (CBA 5.210).

3. The remainder of your grade will be based upon the trip portion of the course, particularly company visits. Groups of students will prepare short written briefings on each of the companies we will visit in Central Europe, for distribution to the class. These same groups will offer a synopsis (reminder) of the company briefing immediately prior to each company visit (on the bus or in the hotel). The purpose of these briefings is to provoke interest in the company presentations. Ideally, that interest will translate into a lively Q&A session following each company presentation. In any case, all students should take responsibility for being engaged in discussions and asking questions during company visits.

Student Professionalism Policy: Per the professionalism policy for all Global trips, your course grade cannot exceed the professionalism grade you receive for the course. The policy covers all of your conduct in Europe, not simply company visits. If you have any questions about this policy, please ask Deidra Stephens of Prof. Spence before we depart for Europe.

B. Useful links concerning the EU, Hungary and the Czech Republic - TBA

C. The class roster can be found on Blackboard

D. Pre-departure classroom sessions

Click on each session link for a list of readings and discussion questions for that session. Readings that are not linked via the syllabus will be provided as handouts.

Session #1 – January 16, 2008: During the first part of this session, all 6 Global classes will meet together. During the second half, we will meet in our classroom and address the following topics.

· Introduction to the program and trip itinerary

· Introductions to Hungary and the Czech Republic -- Link

· Organizing practicum project groups

· Organizing in-class briefing groups

· Timeline: History of central Europe

· READING ASSIGNMENT: Ivan Klima, “The Spirit of Prague” (pick up outside Prof. Spence’s office, CBA 5.210)

· ASSIGNMENT: Complete this European Geography Quiz and report your score by email to Rich Walker. (Score data will be kept confidential from the professor and from other students.)

· Powerpoint

Session #2 – January 23, 2008: History of central Europe to 1989, speaker on Hungary, – Readings/Assignments

· History of central Europe through uprisings of ’56 and ‘68

· Hungarian political economy since WWII -- Guest Lecturer: Dora Piroska, PhD, Lecturer, Department of Government – powerpoint slides

· Powerpoint

Session #3 – January 30, 2008: Speaker on the Czech Republic, post-1989 history of central Europe – Readings/Assignments

· The Czech Republic and the Czechs: Guest Speaker, Prof. Craig Cravens, Dept. of Slavic and Eurasian Studies - Powerpoint

· Student briefing: Privatizing state-owned industries after 1989 in Hungary and the Czech Republic - Powerpoint

· From communism to the European Union

· Powerpoint

Session #4 – February 6, 2008: Student economy briefings, European Union regulation – Readings: browse “external links” in blackboard on the Hungarian and Czech economies.

· Student briefing: The macroeconomy of Europe and central Europe (basic growth and trade data) today

· European Union regulation of business

· Student briefing: Major business sectors in Hungary today, including growth and employment data, and where business opportunities lie

· Student briefing: Major business sectors in the Czech Republic today, including growth and employment data, and where business opportunities lie

· Powerpoint

Session #5 – February 13, 2008: Student politics briefings – Readings/Assignments link TBA

· Student briefing: Hungarian politics (current – major players and domestic political issues) and its effect on the business climate -- Powerpoint

· Student briefing: Czech politics (current – major players and domestic political issues) and its effect on the business climate -- Powerpoint

· The European social model, and “old” and “new” Europe

Session #6 – February 20, 2008: Predeparture Session

· Pre-departure briefing

· Review of itinerary and student responsibilities

· Distribute information about the companies we are visiting

February 27 – We will meet briefly to discuss last minute trip information

March 26 – Post trip class meeting

E. Practicum Projects

TBA

F. Trip

This portion of the syllabus will be updated periodically to reflect new information about the spring trip.

1. NOTE: Important information for non-USA citizen students:  Of course, we will make every effort to provide you with accurate information about your visa requirements. However, as these requirements vary by country of citizenship and are subject to change without standardized postings, it is your responsibility to confirm the requirements for your travel to these countries. Non-USA students may need visas to travel to countries for which the rest of the class needs no visa.  Please contact Rich Walker (see contact info above) and Deidra Stephens (in the MBA program office) for assistance with this issue. Please understand that our information is only advisory and that you must confirm travel authorizations independently. You should do this ASAP, in case special arrangements or permissions are required.

2. For now, here is the tentative itinerary: link TBA

Budapest:

· Hotel Erzsebet

· Link to our hotel

Prague:

· Hotel Julis

· Link

G. Post-trip

As we know more about the timetable for completion of individual practicum projects, this section of the syllabus will be updated to reflect post-trip activities.