General Information
Promotional Video
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Instructor Bios
Bernardo Blum is an Associate Professor of Economic Analysis and Policy and Director of the Institute for International Business at Rotman. Bernardo’s research falls into three broad areas: international trade, where his work examines the determinants of international trade patterns and the economic institutions that facilitate trade; urban economics, where his work examines the impact of urban agglomeration on the productivities of, and so returns to, different kinds of skills; and the determinants of income inequality.
Walid Hejazi is a Professor of Economic Analysis and Policy. He has researched, advised, and testified extensively on global competitiveness, and is currently working on a series of studies which shed light on the competitiveness and productivity of Canadian firms. He teaches Macro and Global Economics in Rotman’s MBA and EMBA programs. He has delivered lectures in over 30 countries and has taken students on study tours and trade missions to the Middle East, India, Europe and the United States.
Format
During the Fall Term, running from September to December, 2023. Classes meet in person on Thursday’s from 11:30am – 1:30 pm, and will have several guest speakers. The final exam will take place during the December exam period.
Course Mission
This course develops a thorough understanding of the economic challenges and opportunities firms face when engaging in the global economy. For any given company, it is essential that comparative advantage is complementary to its offerings abroad – that is, is the country environment must be consistent with what the company seeks to sell abroad? This alone, however, is not enough to be successful in the global economy. Managers must understand how to navigate the many challenges companies face when entering foreign markets, including but not limited to an understanding of trade costs, tariff and non-tariff barriers, free trade agreements, the creation of global supply chains, protections for intellectual property, consumer preferences and tastes, trade finance, product affordability, and managing exchange rates risks. This course, therefore, develops the managerial skills required for the internationalization of firms.
Course Scope
This course will be taught by two of Rotman’s leading Economics Professors, Bernardo Blum and Walid Hejazi, and in conjunction with Rotman’s Institute for International Business. It will involve a mix of the theory which underlies the ability of companies to deploy global strategies with real world examples. In this sense, the course allows students to understand which industries and companies are able to compete internationally, and why others will have challenges. These learnings are reinforced using case studies and real-world examples. (After completing this course, students are eligible to participate in and earn 2 subsequent experiential course credits which involve working with actual companies that are in the process of deploying cross border strategies. These additional credits are in partnership with The Government of Ontario and Global Affairs Canada. More details below).
Evaluation and Grade Breakdown
| Component | Weight |
|---|---|
| Case Solutions: Group Submission | 10% |
| Case Solutions: Individual Submission | 10% |
| Peer Feedback | 10% |
| Final Group Project: Paper Submission | 20% |
| Final Exam (December Exam Period) | 50% |
Required Resources
This course will have a reading package with all required readings for the course. There will also be a variety of online sources including extensive background data, news articles, and video interviews to provide additional context to understand complex international business environments.
Opportunity to enrol in and an ISP and a GCP for hands-on practice, and to earn the Global Manager Initiative
Students enrolled in RSM 2123 will be eligible to also enrol in an ISP which involves (i) undertaking training in international trade preparedness and (ii) working with companies to help develop their global strategies, including helping these companies leverage their participation at an International Trade Mission or Trade Show. Students completing this ISP will be eligible to enrol in a GCP and join the trade mission with travel abroad with other enrolled students and the companies, with financial support provided by Rotman. The exact dates for the ISP and GCP are to be determined every year, but usually occur during Fall 2023 and Winter 2024 (pending third party participation). Please note that students who take RSM 2123 in Fall 2023 have the option to enroll in an ISP and GCP either during the Fall 2023 semester (pending third party participation), or the Spring 2024 semester (pending third party participation). For more details, please contact the professors. The activities that take place during the ISP and GCP will be supervised by the professors. More details are available here.