MGMT 656-003: Global Immersion Program India (Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi) Fall 2016: Q2 Mondays 4:30pm-6:30pm Classroom TBD ______
Faculty Director Staff Director Mallesh Pai Christine Sweeney Coordinator, Co-Curricular Programs
MBA Program Office- suite 300 Jon M. Huntsman Hall Phone: 215.898.5623 Email: [email protected]
Course Overview Wharton Global Immersion Programs (GIPs) are elective, half credit courses designed to provide a high- level survey of the economic, cultural and geo-political drivers behind regions integral to the global economy. GIPs are designed with a focus on the student and include opportunities for participant input in shaping the experience. They are recognized as unique opportunities, providing students with exclusive access to high-level business, cultural and political leaders. Since its inception in 1993, more than 2,100 Wharton MBA students have participated in the GIP. Many have returned saying it was one of the highlights of their Wharton careers. This year, the Fall 2016 India GIP (MGMT656-005) will travel to Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi
On-Campus Lectures: The India Global Immersion Program begins with a full quarter of on-campus sessions designed to establish a foundational knowledge of the region while introducing relevant topics in business, government, politics, culture, and safety, which are conducted by faculty and staff area specialists. Along with a series of faculty lectures, co-curricular sessions may be included in preparation for group travel. For example, during one session, professionals from Student Health Services will provide an important health and safety overview and travel health documents to inform students of necessary immunizations and other health and safety resources. Students are responsible for obtaining the requisite medical clearances distinct to the region. Students are also provided information on business etiquette, language and cultural expectations. On campus sessions take place during quarter 2
Immersion Experience: The immersion experience (study tour) will take place between December 28, 2016 - January 8, 2017. The program will travel to three distinct places: Mumbai, the center for finance, commerce and entertainment as well as the most populous city in India; Bangalore, the tech hub of India; and Delhi, the country’s capital. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to visit Agra, the location of the famed Taj Mahal.
The two-week immersive travel experience will include organizational visits designed to introduce students to the region through direction interaction with locally based companies. Through meetings with business, government and cultural leaders, students experience unique aspects of business in the region, better understand how market forces influence decision making and explore potential concerns
and opportunities for continued group. Additionally, the immersion experience is punctuated by opportunities to explore regional culture, thus building toward an appreciation of its influence on society. Cultural experiences often take the form of planned group events including excursions to areas of cultural significance or interactions with Wharton alumni. Cultural experiences introduce students to societal norms without the constraint of prescribed expectations. In this safe environment, students are encouraged to learn through exploration.
Course Websites
Canvas: The website for this course can be found on Canvas: https://canvas.upenn.edu/courses/
• Lecture Slides & Recordings: Each class session is recorded and available via Canvas, as are the lecture slides so students can refer to these resources when writing their final paper upon returning from India. • Assignments: Detailed instructions and grading rubrics are available via Canvas • Assigned and suggested readings:
Global Activities Registry (GAR) is Penn’s central resource for collecting information about the travel plans and activities of faculty, staff, and students preparing to travel abroad for academic, educational, extracurricular, clinical, research, or University business purposes. GAR can be found at: global.upenn.edu/gar
Grading Policy The GIP course may only be taken on a Pass/Fail basis. For this reason, it does not count toward the 1cu of P/F permitted each semester. In other words, if you enroll in GIP, you are still permitted to take an additional 1cu pass/fail in that semester.
Each component of the course has a specific point value. Each student may lose 10 points and still pass the course. Students who lose 11 points or more will fail the course. There is no partial credit. The points system permits some flexibility for extracurricular activities, travel, homework, recruiting, etc. Unavoidable situations such as illnesses or family emergencies which may cause a participant to lose more points than allowable must be discussed with the program administration prior to the absence. Excuses provided after an absence has occurred may not be accepted. Missing an element of the course deemed indispensable may result in immediate failure.
Flexible Rigid Orientation /SHS Briefing 4 points Company Profile 11 points Each Faculty Lecture 6 points Visit Summary 11 points Pre-Departure Meeting 6 points Final Paper 11 points Org. Visits/ Reflections 11 points
Class Participation and Assignments
Reflective learning is achieved through faculty-led group discussions designed to draw forth and disseminate valuable insights before and during the immersion experience. Additionally, students are called to participate in several written assignments, which culminate in a final reflective piece.
• Company Profiles: Each student is expected to function as a member of a team and produce a profile of a company of regional significance, usually one to be visited during the study tour. Company Profiles provide the class with crucial background about the companies they are to visit, including relevant trends and issues. Completed profiles will be compiled in a program brochure. Students may be called upon to offer a brief presentation of their profile during the study-tour. • Visit Summaries: Each student is expected to function as a member of a team and produce a 1- 2-page summary of an assigned organizational or cultural visit. These summaries serve as a valuable resource while preparing the final paper. They must be posted to the GIP Canvas site prior to the conclusion of the immersion experience. • Reflections: During the immersion experience, students will participate in a series of reflective discussions designed to draw forth and disseminate valuable insights. Students are expected to participate by sharing their interpretation of group and personal experiences while reflecting on those of others. • Final Written Assignment: The final paper serves as a capstone for the experience. It is written by an individual participant and focuses on a singular theme pertaining to the GIP experience, drawing upon the knowledge obtained during academic study. The paper requirement is typically 2000-2500 words in length and is due approximately a month after returning from the immersion experience. Please see Canvas for a detailed description of the final paper as well as a grading rubric.
Class Schedule
1 Monday, October 24 Introduction & Student Health Complete Registration details Consultation (contact info, passport details, emergency contact, dietary restrictions, etc.) & Roommate Selection 2 Monday, October 31 Faculty Lecture #1 Recent Indian History 3 Monday, November 7 Faculty Lecture #2 Language, Class and Caste
4 Monday, November 14 Faculty Lecture #3 Economic Liberalization and the New Indian Middle Class Monday, November 21 NO CLASS- Thanksgiving Sign up for Company Profile assignment via Canvas
5 Monday, November 28 Faculty Lecture #4 Visa and flight information due; Economic landscape/ business Complete Global Activities Registry climate Profile; Register trip details through
State Dept.
6 Monday, December 5 Pre-Departure Orientation Company Profile Assignment Due
Recommended Readings
• TBA
Travel Schedule
Student participants are required to be present for the entirety of the immersion experience. Students may arrive any time on Wednesday, December 28 and they may depart any time on Sunday, January 8. Note: A more detailed schedule will be provided on the final class meeting, December 5.
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Students arrive in Mumbai Mumbai Mumbai Mumbai
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Mumbai/Fly to Bangalore Bangalore Bangalore/Fly to Delhi Delhi Agra Bangalore Delhi
8 9 Departure Day
Code of Conduct Participants in Wharton’s Global Immersion Program represent not only themselves but also the Wharton School and the University of Pennsylvania. Public errors in judgment and/or inappropriate conduct may result not only in repercussions for an individual but also risk jeopardizing the safety and security of the group and causing irreparable damage to the Global Immersion Program, the Wharton brand and the good reputation of the University of Pennsylvania. As participants’ behavior will not be perpetually monitored it is incumbent upon the individual to consider the potential for the negative implications associated with unacceptable or dangerous behavior. Participants who engage in behavior deemed unacceptable by the Program Director or GIP administration will be removed from the experience.
Participants are required to be aware of and observe the laws of countries visited during the immersion experience. The GIP is a credit-bearing course sanctioned by the Wharton School and the University of Pennsylvania; as such participants are subject to and accountable for upholding Wharton and Penn policies regardless of physical location. The integrity of the course will be enforced by Program Directors. Violations of this integrity do damage to the Wharton brand and will not be tolerated. Attention should be paid to the stresses associated with balancing the demands of the individual and the needs of the group. Participants are expected to listen to and follow the direction of program staff throughout the immersion experience, especially in circumstances impacting the safety of the group or an individual.
Participants who have concerns about the conduct of the staff or their classmates should notify Program
Coordinators, Directors, GIP Administration, or the MBA Program Office.