General Information
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Target Audience
The class is designed for MBA candidates who are pursuing careers in corporate management and strategy, consulting, finance, real estate, and economic and urban development who need to understand how companies can make better location decisions and better engage their communities.
Format
This course will run as an intensive format for five-and-a-half hours a day for five days. Classes will open with a short lecture to frame the issues being covered. Then, classes will have a combination of guests and in-class group presentations.
- There are five class sessions, running from July 22 through July 26, 2024, from 9:30am until 3:00pm. The course will feature a mix of lecture, class discussion, group activities, and guests.
- Because of the intensive format of the course, it will require some pre-work. This will reduce the load during the intensive week, and also help students prepare for class so they can get the most out of it.
- Students should take time to review the syllabus and course materials prior to the start of the course.
- To make the intensive format more effective and to lighten the load during the intensive week, the first individual assignment will require pre-work and be due on the first day of class, July 22, 2024 at 9:30am. The syllabus details the assignment, and an explanatory video will be provided three weeks prior to the start of the course.
- The second individual assignment will be due August 9, 2024 at 9:30am, two weeks after the last session of the course.
- Because of the intensive format of the course, this class will require intense time commitment over the course week.
- Group presentation assignments will require time outside of class for group meetings.
- In addition, time will be required to complete group assignments which will be due within the course week.
- Students must be present in class at each group presentation.
Course Mission
A goal of this course will be to ignite your own passion for location, urban development, and cities. This course will provide you with deeper understanding of the role of location decisions in business performance and it will equip you with the knowledge and understanding you need to make better, more informed location decisions for yourself and your family.
Cities are the key engines of economic growth. Clusters of people and companies are key to innovation and productivity. Where a firm locates – and where you locate – is key to economic success. In fact, location decisions are perhaps the central dimension of corporate strategy. They are among the most expensive decisions a company makes and they are hard to reverse. Where you choose to live and work will also have enormous impact on your career choices and mobility, your personal and professional networks, the people you meet, and the opportunities for you and your family.
Course Scope
The course is designed to impart a basic understanding of the role of location and community engagement in corporate strategy, and give you the tools to make better location decisions for yourself and family. Its scope includes three main objectives.
- To help you better understand the importance of location and community engagement as key components of corporate strategy and performance.
- To help you understand how to make better location decisions for yourself, your career, and your family.
- To help you better understand what cities and other levels of government can do to spur economic development.
Evaluation and Grade Breakdown
| Component | Due Date | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Class Participation – Individual | Ongoing | 15% |
| Group Presentations (x3) – Group | TBA | 10% each |
| Assignment 1 – Individual | July 22, 2024 at 9:30am | 20% |
| Assignment 2 – Individual | August 9, 2024 at 9:30am | 35% |
Required Resources
Students will read parts of three of Richard Florida’s books, The Rise of the Creative Class, Who’s Your City?, and The New Urban Crisis. Students will focus on core readings, videos, and podcasts. The instructor will also provide supplemental readings and materials for those who want to dig deeper into course themes. All required course materials listed are free through the University of Toronto library, web, or via sites that allow for a limited number of free articles.