Global Business | 3 Credits

In this project, students select a product that is currently being imported to the U.S. and that could possibly be manufactured domestically. They identify and analyze the reasons why manufacturing of this product has been outsourced. They calculate the components of Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for the chosen product at a current location abroad and in the U.S. The TCO Estimator enables aggregation of all cost and risk factors into one cost for simpler, more objective decision making regarding outsourcing. Students estimate TCO components in future years to account for input cost fluctuations, sustainability issues, economic growth, and other changes in the external environment. Based on the analysis, they decide whether to continue manufacturing abroad or bring manufacturing back to the U.S.

• Explain the strategic reasons for doing business globally.
• Describe the benefits and challenges of global business.
• Describe current trends in global business.

Students will be working for a hypothetical company and conducting research on one of several countries to come up with a recommendation as to whether or not this hypothetical company should consider expanding into that market as a new sales territory. Students explore and analyze the economic, technological, and cultural dimensions of doing business in the selected country and prepare a formal report for an executive.

Required text: Glenn, Cheryl and Loretta Grey, The Hodges Harbrace Handbook, 2009 MLA Update Edition, 17th Edition. ISBN: 978-0495797562

Successful completion of this course satisfies credit equivalents in the following competency areas: Global Business (1) and Business Communication (1)

• Examine major global political and economic systems.
• Articulate the role of cultural differences in managing interactions within global organizations.
• Design effective documents and data displays.

Prerequisites

• BAOS 310x Reshoring Product Manufactoring
• CGS ENG 102x Critical Writing, Reading, and Research II