Developing Individuals, Transforming Organizations

Study Abroad: Bulgaria & Greece-Course Details

Course Intro | Course Details

BA 400 – EXPERIENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

SUMMER 2008

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I. Course Description:

The Experiential International Business (BA 400) course is going to expose students to practical considerations and critical issues that are relevant to the ways of doing international business. Experiential learning will introduce course participants to the cultural considerations of doing business in the diverse markets of Southeastern Europe through on-site meetings with government officials, industry experts and corporate executives in Bulgaria and Greece. Students will also have the opportunity to strengthen the knowledge acquired in previous international courses.

The program will take place in Sofia (Bulgaria) and Thessaloniki (Greece), important historical, and modern vivacious business and cultural venues of Bulgaria and Greece. As knowledge of ancient history is highly valued by the Greeks and Bulgarians, the study program will also include several field trips to historic sites from ancient Greek, Roman, and Thracian times. Housing during the program will be in centrally located hotels full of local color.

The program is open to all students, both UT and non-UT. The course grade will be based on the quality of student participation in experiential exercises during the three-week, three credit course.

The projected itinerary of the program is Sofia (BG) [May 7 to May 12] - Thessaloniki (GR) [May 12 to May 18] - Sofia (BG) [May 18 to May 25]

II. Course Instructor:

Dr. Detelin Elenkov has earned his Doctorate Degree from the Alfred P. Sloan School of Management of Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has gained teaching experience at several universities in the United States and Europe, including University of Maryland, Stockholm School of Economics, New York Institute of Technology, University of Memphis, and last but not least University of Tennessee. He has also performed duties as Vice President of the United States Foundation for Eastern European Business Research and Education and Director of Development for Southeastern United States at the Academy of International Business. In addition, Dr. Elenkov has worked as a business consultant for Deloitte & Touche (Europe), and he served as a Regional Manager at Honeywell-Europe, Inc. His professional affiliations include membership in the Academy of Management, Academy of International Business, Strategic Management Society, and International Academy of Business and Economics. Dr. Elenkov has published several books and book chapters as well as numerous articles in academic journals and professional magazines, including Academy of Management Journal, California Management Review, Journal of Management, Strategic Management Journal, Journal of International Management, Journal of Management Development, International Studies of Management and Organization, The Columbia Journal of World Business, Journal of International Marketing, Advances in Applied Business Strategy, Journal of Economic Studies, Journal of Business Research, Review of Business and Economics, and Research Policy.

III. Office Address & Hours:

Before the Field Trip:
405 Stokely Management Center
Tuesday and Thursday 4:55pm – 6:00pm or by an appointment
Phone: 865-974-1679

During the Field Trip: Students, who have personal questions or would like to share personal ideas and/or concerns, are encouraged to meet with me at times and places of mutual convenience (based on the exact location and the day of the trip). As I am going to be with the course participants almost all of the time, I hope that making an appointment for a meeting with me will be relatively easy for everyone.

IV. Course Objectives:

The class is designed to help students

Become familiar with the evolving patterns of international business practices.
Understand the mechanism through which socio-cultural, institutional, and internal organizational factors influence managerial decisions about doing business in a foreign environment.
Developing international and intercultural competences.
Developing communication and teamwork skills.
Developing a view of the big picture of international business.

V. Required Textbook: Experiencing International Business and Management: Exercises, Projects, and Cases by Betty Jane Punnett; Publisher: M.E. Sharpe, 2005.

VI. Student Eligibility for this Course:

Students should see Fred Pierce (Extension 4-2341) to check their eligibility for the course before enrolment.

VII. Statement of Student Responsibility:

The College of Business Administration’s mission is to provide an educational experience that fosters success in both business and non-business environments. To achieve this, we believe that it is inherent that students assume responsibility for their own learning experience. Student responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Reading and becoming familiar with the materials provided by the instructor, including the syllabus.
Attending class meetings on a regular basis.
Actively and effectively participating in class meetings. This includes arriving on time, exhibiting professional behavior and respect for classmates and the instructor, and being prepared to participate in class discussions.
Using available technology tools.
Communicating with other students in the class regarding missed classes or assignments and collaborating actively on team assignments.
Communicating with the instructor when concepts or class material is not clear.
Proactively addressing emergencies or other conflicts that may affect student performance in class.

VIII. Statement of Academic Honesty:

The College of Business reminds students that the University is governed by an academic honesty policy (http://web.utk.edu/~homepage/hilltopics/28-37.) The policy of the College of Business Administration is that any academic dishonesty shall result in a grade of “F” for the course.

IX. Grading:

(There may be minor changes announced later in the course)

Term Project. This is a written assignment designed to integrate the knowledge students will gain (or have already gained) and to provide an opportunity for demonstrating experiential learning and continuous progress in the class. Essentially, the assignment consists of a formal write-up of the most important lessons from the program. For this purpose, each team of students should choose at least three of the lecture themes and provide examples from the business practice in Bulgaria and Greece that support (or contradict) the established theories. Each report will be due within a week after the end of the program (June 1, 2008). Student reports will be graded based on the consistency of the presented line of reasoning and the demonstrated depth of experiential learning.

X. Class Activities and Discussion Topics:

Topic #1: Influence of Religion and Cultural Traditions on International Business Practices

Activities:

Formal Greeting at the Presidium of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and a Lecture on the History of the Bulgarian Cultural Traditions
Meeting with Representatives of the President’s Office of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, one of the Oldest Academic Institutions of Higher Learning in Europe
Meeting at Aristotle University, the Largest University in Greece
Liturgy in St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Trip to the Rila monastery
Alexander the Great Tour: For more information look at http://www.palandjian.gr/en/tours2.php?tour_id=2
Trip to see the historical sites around Sofia, including Boyanski Monastery and Church Museum and the Crypt near St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, which boasts having one of the best collections of icons in the World

Topic #2: Similarities and Differences between Students (Future Leaders) in the United States and Southeastern Europe.

Activities:

Meeting with Members of the Club of Bulgarian Student-Friends of America
Meeting with Students from Sofia University
Meeting with Students from Aristotle University

Topic #3: Influence of Local Industrial Associations on International Business Practices

Activities:

Meetings in the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry 16-19 Alabin Str.
Meeting with Mr. Eng. Peter Denev, the Secretary General of the Bulgarian Industrial Association
Meeting at Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Topic # 4: Influence of State and Local Government Agencies on International Business Practices

Activities:

Meeting with Mr Angel Ivanov, the Deputy Minister of the State Administration and the Administrative Reform
Meeting with the Economic Advisers to the President of Bulgaria
Meeting with the Secretary of Economic Affairs of the Provincial Government of the Greek Province of Macedonia
Meeting at the Department of Foreign Economic Relations of the
Ministry of the Economy of Bulgaria

Topic # 5: Ecology and Business in Southeastern Europe

Activities:

Trip to Mount Vitosha and a Lecture by the Director of the Institute of the Ecology of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

Trip to Panichishte in the Rila Mountain (the tallest mountain on the Balkan Peninsula and Eastern Europe: Musala Peak has been measured at approximately 10,000 ft. of height), and a stop for sightseeing at the hottest spring in the world “The Geiser” in Sapareva Banya (water temperature 103 degrees centigrade)
Visit to the Ministry of the Ecology and Water Resources.

Topic # 6: European Union: Integration and Accession Issues. New International Business Opportunities and Potential Obstacles Activities:

Meetings with Economic Experts and Business Scholars in both Bulgaria and Greece

Topic # 7: Managing Political and Other Risks in the International Arena

Activities:

Meeting at the Institute of Economics of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Meeting at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”

Topic # 8: Industries that Offer (or are Likely to Offer) the Greatest Opportunities for Foreign Investors in Southeastern Europe.

Activities:

Meeting with Palandjian World Travel Ltd., a Leading Company in the Greek Tourist Industry
Visit to Helexpo, one of Largest International Trade Expositions in Europe

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Detelin S Elenkov, Associate Professor
405 Stokely Mgt. Center
Knoxville, TN 37996-0545
Phone:(865) 974-1679
Email:delenkov@utk.edu

Innovative Leadership in Management Education and Practice



The Department of Management 408 Stokely Management Center Knoxville, TN 37996-0545 Phone: (865) 974-3161 Fax: (865) 974-2048 Email: ghurst@utk.edu

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Developing Individuals, Transforming Organizations

Study Abroad: Bulgaria & Greece-Course Details

Course Intro | Course Details

BA 400 – EXPERIENTIAL INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

SUMMER 2008

For more information, please contact:

Innovative Leadership in Management Education and Practice

The Department of Management