Alberta School of Business
BUEC 444/ SMO 648: 3 credits
Winter/Spring 2014
European Study Tour
“Competitive Dynamics and Cultural Differences:
Family Business and Entrepreneurship in European Governance Systems”
Course Dates: January 25, March 29, and April 27 – May 10, 2014
Instructors:
Dr. Rolf Mirus (Professor Emeritus), Ross Bradford (MBA, LLB)
e-mail: rolf.mirus@ualberta.ca
rbradfor@ualberta.ca
Phone:
(780) 492-2921 (Mirus)
(780) 492-5819 (Bradford)
Office Hours: By appointment
Website:
TBA
Course Outline:
This European Study Tour requires four 1.5 hour classes for preparatory work, for which attendance is
required, namely January 25, 2014, 9:00 – 12:00 and March 29, 2014, 9:00 - 12:00.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
This course stresses the important role of entrepreneurship and family business in different corporate
governance systems throughout the world. The field trip focuses on Europe and examines Germany in
particular. There are four objectives:
1. To become familiar with the diversity and relevance of family business and entrepreneurship in
different governance systems, with focus on Europe;
2. To understand governance differences within Europe that impact family businesses and
entrepreneurship relevance;
3. To provide face-to-face interactions with key business executives and scholars regarding issues
affecting entrepreneurship and family businesses in Europe;
4. To understand European culture, the political and economic dynamics of that continent, and its
role in the global economy.
ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING:
The following components make up the final grade:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
An individual assignment (see also 6.)
A group case study
An overview on a trip visit or trip activity
Participation in class activities
Good behaviour (student code of conduct applies)
Pre-trip video-viewing (add-on to 1. above)
30% (=preliminary course grade)
30%
10%
10%
10%
10%
1. Individual Assignment: individual response paper to “Europe’s Reluctant Hegemon”, The
Economist, Special Report Germany, June 15, 2013, 20 pp.
Max. 4 pages, 1.5 spaced, 12 point-Times Roman font, essay form, MS-Word file:
a) Describe what was most interesting to you and provide reasons.
b) Update the contents of the article with post-election news to the present (what has
happened in Government/Business/Politics since June 2013?).
The objective of this individual response paper is to prepare for discussions with Europeans on
topics that are a likely focus of the tour.
This assignment serves to determine the preliminary grade. Criteria for evaluation are: a)
content (issue formulation, relevance, depth of analysis, creativity) and b) format (conciseness
and style, organization, format).
Deadline: electronic submission to Rolf.Mirus@ualberta.ca, by March 29th, 12:00;
2. Group case study: Wolters Brewery (A), Negotiating Restructuring, IVEY Case 9B12M009, 2012
Taking the perspective of the owners, of the Management Buy-Out (MBO) team, and of the
Workers’ Council, answer specific questions during a case session at TU-Munich; a maximum 15minute-presentation by each group;
Case will be handed out on January 25th, groups will be assigned on that day, and each group will
be given a specific question to address.
Criteria for evaluation are: a) content and support for your arguments, and b) clarity, logic,
effectiveness, and attention to detail of your presentation.
3. Overview of visit or activity during study tour: on March 29th each student will be given one
activity that the study tour will involve (e.g. visit to European Parliament in Strasbourg, castle
Neuschwanstein visit, Champagne House visit); the student will prepare one-page of background
information on the activity (Times Roman 12 points font, 1.5 spacing); this is to be shared with
all classmates, so 30 copies should be provided during the field trip and prior to the activity.
Criteria for evaluation: a) content/relevance, b) form;
4. Participation: During the course you are expected to participate and contribute by raising
questions/issues, share experiences, and assume an active role in presentations.
5. Good behaviour: The complexity of a field trip requires cooperation and consideration by all
participants. Missing deadlines for deliverables, showing late for activities and bus departures,
inappropriately casual dress for activities like meetings, company visits, or lectures, and other
actions that cause significant problems for the group as a whole are to be avoided. A first
offense will result in a warning, a second offense means loss of one grade symbol (e.g. A to A-),
and a third violation will result in a letter grade reduction. These sanctions are the joint
decisions of the two instructors and are non-negotiable. A fourth violation will have
consequences that will have to be determined at the time.
6. Pre-trip Video Viewing: is part of the individual preparation for the study visit.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0IWICH3rY (just for a laugh)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdWmaEA50P0 (German business etiquette)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uad1Ma5DSMA (How Germany became Europe’s richest; PBS)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7XYbiEV-hU (German Mittelstand; from The Economist)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttuXQWV_dtQ (Cartoon explaining the Euro-Crisis)
FORMAL POLICY STATEMENT
1. Students are expected to be familiar with the standards regarding academic honesty and to
uphold the policies of the University in this respect. The provisions of the Code of Student
Behaviour apply (online at www.ualberta.ca/secretariat/appeals.htm). Behaviour that could
result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an
offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious violation and can result in expulsion from the
University.
2. Pictures will be taken during the activities of the study tour and might be uploaded for
marketing purposes.