Courses

The course examines a number of issues particularly critical to the management of international businesses or multinational firms. These topics include an examination of comparative management practices including similarities and differences in cross-cultural management styles; a comparison of Pacific Rim, European Union, and North American value systems; analysis of best practices and their impact in industries such as automotive, electronics, education, and medical services. It also includes discussion of current international business issues including the future of globalization, the impact of outsourcing, and particular areas of corporate risk including foreign exchange and the political/social climate; and an exploration of current economic and business planning in multilingual organizations.

This course provides students with an understanding of the legal environment in which Canadian businesses operate. The course focuses on key areas of the legal environment that particularly impact business decision-making. This includes an understanding of the Canadian legal system, risk management, business torts, contractual principles, corporate formation and governance, and employment law. The course also examines the often challenging legal regime within which international businesses operate. This includes an overview of key legal systems around the world, international dispute resolution, understanding treaties and conventions, international contract issues, and intellectual property concerns.

This course explores important accounting and finance issues for firms operating in a multinational environment. The course provides an overview of international differences in accounting and financial reporting and the need for international harmonization of accounting standards. It particularly examines accounting and finance issues faced by corporations operating in the United States, Europe, and the Pacific Rim. The course also explores the implication of governments, standard setting bodies, and other regulators in both developed and emerging markets increasingly requiring the use of IFRS either by listed companies or all companies.

This course provides a direct introduction to global business practices. The course is normally taught as part of an overseas travel experience. This provides students with experiential as well as classroom learning and enables students to better grasp the differences between cultures, and to understand each culture’s respective management techniques.

This course explores the process of creating a new venture, including opportunity recognition, feasibility analysis, business plan creation, and financing. This course looks at factors that lead towards entrepreneurial success including characteristics of the entrepreneur. Class discussion and case analyses present decision-making techniques and skills required to evaluate business start-up strategies.

This course focuses on the development of strategies for financing entrepreneurial ventures. It includes analysis of numerous funding sources including debt, venture capital, and private equity financing. It includes a study of the contractual and operational relationships that exist between suppliers of venture capital, intermediaries, and the entrepreneurial firm. The course also assists managers in understanding how to pragmatically structure and negotiate the financing deal.

This course familiarizes students with writings and research in the areas of e-marketing, global marketing, internal marketing, relationship marketing, services marketing, and sports marketing, particularly with respect to how each impacts the growing enterprise. The rapidly evolving field of marketing requires extensive discussion around these various topics and the ability to connect these seemingly disparate topics together within an integrated theoretical marketing framework.

Growing enterprises often encounter leadership, management, and systems problems caused by their growth. To sustain growth, the activities of entrepreneurs usually have to change from innovation to delegation, with greater levels of communication and organization. Different functional and leadership skills are needed at various stages of growth. External supports, such as accountants, lawyers, and investors, often have to be incorporated into the operations of the firm. In addition, corporate systems require significant change as the enterprise grows. This course is designed to identify the reasons for, and the tools to make critical leadership, management, and systems change as the enterprise grows.

This course provides students with an understanding of the legal environment in which Canadian businesses operate. The course focuses on key areas of the legal environment that particularly impact business decision-making including the legal system and risk management, contractual principles and issues, corporate formation and governance, partnerships, agency, employment and human rights issues, intellectual property considerations, and business torts.