Global  Business  Horizons
Module  7
Course  Information
Professor:   Madhu  Viswanathan
Office  Phone:   (217)  333-­‐4550
Office:     183  Wohlers  Hall
Dates:   9/5/14  to  11/1/14
Course  Number:   BADM
Email:   mviswana@illinois.edu
Course  Overview  /  Objectives
At  the  dawn  of  the  21st  century,  business  and  society  is  confronted  with  a  confluence  of  factors   ranging  from  environmental  degradation,  widespread  poverty,  and  the  need  for  renewable   sources  of  energy.    The  diverse  sources  of  information  that  point  to  an  uncertain  future   suggests  that  a  “business  as  usual”  approach  has  to  be  replaced  with  more  proactive   alternatives  that  address  the  needs  of  the  environment,  and  the  society  at  large.    This  course  on
Global  Business  Horizons  engenders  an  appreciation  for  the  global  challenges  as  well  as   opportunities  that  lie  ahead  and  the  important  role  that  businesses  can  play  in  addressing  these   challenges.      This  course  will  consist  of  two  immersive  and  interactive  modules  organized   around  understanding  global  challenges  and  designing  business  solutions  on  the  topics  of
poverty  and  environmental  sustainability.
The  first  module  entitled   Sustainable  Businesses  for  Subsistence  Marketplaces   focuses  on   understanding  subsistence  marketplaces  and  designing  business  solutions  for  the  4  billion  living   in  poverty  in  the  global  marketplace.  To  develop  understanding  of  subsistence  marketplaces,   we  will  use  exercises  to  enable  participants  to  view  the  world  from  the  eyes  of  subsistence   consumers  and  entrepreneurs,  facilitate  bottom-­‐up  understanding  generated  by  participants,   and  provide  insights  from  extensive  research.    To  envision  solutions  for  subsistence   marketplaces,  we  will  use  group  assignments  as  well  as  a  project  involving  the  development  of   a  solution  and  a  business  plan  to  serve  a  need.
The  second  module  entitled   Sustainable  Businesses  Enterprises   will  explore  current  challenges   and  opportunities  facing  firms  in  the  area  of  environmental  sustainability.  Through  interactive   exercises  and  discussions  and  a  project,  we  will  examine  topics  such  as  unsustainable  consumer   behavior,  sustainable  product  design,  and  sustainable  supply  chains,  and  develop  a  sustainable   business  plan.
Tying  the  two  modules  together  will  be  the  arena  of  emerging  markets  with  poverty  alleviation,   upward  mobility,  and  burgeoning  middle-­‐class  segments,  and  associated  issues  of  consumption   and  sustainability.

Textbook    &    Course  Materials
Readings:
Subsistence  Marketplaces  –  by  Madhu  Viswanathan  -­‐  e-­‐text
Evaluation  &  Grading
Projects...............................................................      50%
Class  Participation  &  Assignments........................  50%
Attendance  &  Participation
50%  of  the  grade  for  this  class  is  for  assignments,  participation  in  in-­‐class  assignments  and   discussions.    Therefore,  attendance  is  very  important  and  a  necessary  condition  for   participation.    Students  who  do  not  attend  class  regularly  cannot  participate  effectively  and  can   easily  lose  one  or  more  letter  grades.      In-­‐class  work  will  involve  presentations  and  assignments   throughout  the  course.
Project
The  course  emphasizes  hands-­‐on  experience  and  applications.    Therefore,  a  sizable  portion  of   the  grade  is  for  projects.    You  will  work  in  a  group  which  will  serve  as  a  resource  for  completing   several  assignments,  presentations  and  written  reports.    Each  individual's  contribution  to   his/her  group  will  be  assessed  by  peer  evaluation.    A  deduction  in  the  points  earned  for  group   assignments  will  be  made  in  proportion  to  the  group  peer  evaluations.    This  often  leads  to   reduction  of  an  individual’s  overall  grade  by  one  or  more  letter  grades.    Free  riding  will  be
identified  &  penalized  in  this  course.
Grading
The  two  most  important  aspects  for  grading  are  in-­‐class  work  and  participation  in  the  group   project.    Therefore,  lower  performance  in  class  work  or  in  participation  in  group  work  (as   indicated  by  peer  evaluation  below  100%)  can  lead  to  reduction  in  overall  grade  by  one  or  more   letter  grades.

Course  Schedule
Assignments  before  September  5
September  5  Morning
September  6  Morning
Individual  Assignment  1  -­‐  Analysis  of  Interviews
and  Readings
Readings
Chapters  1  and  2  of  book
ITC  e-­‐choupal  case  –  please  read  in  preparation  for   in-­‐class  individual/group  assignment
Understanding  Subsistence  Marketplaces
•
Introduction  to  Global  Business
Horizons
• Introduction  to  the  Subsistence
Marketplaces  Module  and  Approach
• Virtual  Immersion  Into  Subsistence
Marketplaces
• Understanding  Subsistence
Marketplaces
Module  1  Project  -­‐  Identifying  Problem/Need  to
Focus  on
Poverty  Simulation
In-­‐class  Assignment  -­‐  Poverty  Simulation  Reflection
Virtual  Interactions  for  Understanding  Subsistence
Marketplaces/Designing  Solutions
Understanding  and  Designing  Solutions  for
Subsistence  Marketplaces
•
Virtual  Immersion  Refresher  &  Finalizing
Project  Topic
• Needs,  Drivers,  and  Context  Presentation
• Core  Solution  Generation  Exercise
•
Designing  Solutions  for  Subsistence
Marketplaces

Assignments
September  19  Morning
September  19  Evening
September  20  Morning
Assignments
•
Case  Analysis  –  ITC  e-­‐choupal
Project  -­‐  Finalizing  Problem/Need  to  Focus  on
-­‐  Listing  Need/Drivers/Context
-­‐  Generating  Core  Solution
-­‐  Preparing  for  virtual  interaction  to  assess
solution
Individual  Assignment  2-­‐  Analysis  of  Readings
Readings
Chapters  6  and  8  of  book
View  Movie  Shakti  Rising
Unilever  Case  –  please  read  in  preparation
for  in-­‐class  individual/group  assignment
Group  Assignment  1  –  Design  of  Core
Solution/Preparation  for  Virtual  Interaction
Developing  Products  and  Business  Plans  for
Subsistence  Marketplaces
• Unilever  Case  Discussion
•
Generating  Aspects  of  Business  Plan
•
Business  Model  Innovations  for
Subsistence  Marketplaces
Movie  Reflection
Project  -­‐  Developing  Elements  of  Business  Plan
Virtual  Interactions  for  Designing  Solutions
Developing  Business  Plans  for  Subsistence
Marketplaces
Project  -­‐  Developing  Elements  of  Business  Plan
Individual  Assignment  3  -­‐  Analysis  of  Readings

October  3  Evening  and  Assignments
October  4  Morning
Assignments
October  17  Morning
October  18  Morning
Readings
Chapters  5  and  10
Section  Summaries  1  and  2
Group  Assignment  2  -­‐  Module  1  Final  Presentation
Virtual  Interactions  for  Designing  Elements  of
Business  Plan  –  Late  Evening  (7:00  to  8:30  pm)
Sustainable  Business  Practices
•
What  is  Sustainability
•
Understanding  Sustainable  Consumer
Behavior
Project  -­‐  Identifying  Focus  and  Target  Segments
Module  1  Final  Presentation
Individual  Assignment  4  –  Sustainable  Business
and  Consumption  Practices
Reading
Nike  Case
Group  Assignment  3  -­‐  Nike  Case
Sustainable  Business  Practices
•
Understanding  Sustainable  Product  Design
•
Conducting  Sustainable  Market  Research
•
Designing  Sustainable  Value  Chains  and
Value  Propositions
Project  -­‐  Designing  Product  and  Conducting
Market  Research
Sustainable  Business  Practices

Assignments
November  1  morning
• Putting  Sustainable  Business  Plan  together
• Sustainability  In-­‐class  Assignments
• Nike  Case  Analysis
Sustainability  –  Challenges  and  Opportunities  for
Business
Individual  Assignment  5  -­‐  Personal  Statement  on
Global  Business  Horizons
Group  Assignment  4  -­‐  Conducting  Market
Research
Group  Assignment  5  –  Module  2  Final
Presentation
Global  Business  Horizons  -­‐  Linking  People,  Planet,
and  Profit
Module  2  Final  Presentation  and  Report

Assignments
Individual  Assignment  1  -­‐  Analysis  of  Interviews  and  reading  due  before  class  September  5th  as
hard  copy
Read  Chapter  1  and  2  of  the  book  and  write  about  your  broader  impression  of  living  in   subsistence.    In  completing  this  assignment:
• Please  focus  not  just  on  the  economic  realm  as  in  product  and  market   interactions  but  on  life  circumstances  in  subsistence  as  well  where  the   marketplace  is  one  aspect
• Compare  and  contrast  the  circumstances  of  the  two  persons  in  Chapter  1  –  you   can  consider  level  of  poverty,  literacy,  family  situation,  etc.
•
Identify  key  life-­‐changing  circumstances  for  each  individual
•
Reflect  on  what  you  learned  about  living  in  poverty  –  i.e.,  the  types  and  nature  of   challenges  that  individuals  have  to  face  in  different  areas  such  as  food,  etc.
• In  a  final  paragraph,  please  read  and  incorporate  Chapter  2  into  your  write-­‐up  by   specifically  linking  your  independent  conclusions  to  topics  covered  in  this   chapter
•
Prepare  to  discuss  and  incorporate  these  issues  in  in-­‐class  discussions  and   subsequent  assignments
2  double-­‐spaced  pages  (maximum)
Individual  Assignment  2  –  Analysis  of  Readings  before  class  September  19th  as  hard  copy
Read  Chapter  6  and  the  model  presented  in  the  figure  in  it.    Link  it  back  to  the  interviews,   videos,  images,  the  movie,  and  virtual  interactions  from  previous  sessions,  as  well  as  your   project.    Provide  the  following  in  your  write-­‐up.
What  are  the  key  takeaways  from  the  chapter  in  terms  of  transactions,  in  terms  of  the   interactional  environment,  and  in  terms  of  the  larger  context?  Are  there  elements  you  would
add  to  the  model  in  the  chapter?    What  are  the  key  takeaways  for  your  project?
Read  Chapter  8.  Highlight  key  takeaways  for  your  project  for  the  class.    Be  specific  in  your  write-­‐ up.
2  pages  maximum  double  spaced.
Individual  Assignment  3  –  Analysis  of  Readings  due  before  class  October  3rd  as  hard  copy
Read  Chapters  5  and  10;  and  Section  Summaries  1  and  2  in  the  book.    Identify  a  key  insight  in   each  set  (i.e.,  treat  Chapter  5  and  10  as  one  set  and  Section  Summaries  1  and  2  as  another).
Assess  whether  each  insight  translates  to  the  middle  or  upper  classes  in  emerging  markets.
Assess  whether  each  insight  translates  to  advanced  economies.
1  page  maximum  double  spaced.

Individual  Assignment  4   –   Sustainable  Business  and  Consumption  Practices  –  due  as  hard  copy
before  class  October  17th  as  hard  copy
This  assignment  has  two  parts
Part  1  -­‐  Find  an  example  of  a  company  and  engages  in  sustainable  business  practices  and   describe  and  critique  it.    The  assignment  should  cover  the  following  issues:
• What  is  specifically  meant  by  sustainability,  i.e.,  what  is  being  sustained,  in  the  firm’s   mission  or  value  statements?
• What  are  the  firm’s  specific  sustainability  goals  and  how  are  they  measured?
•
What  specific  strategies,  tactics,  or  practices  does  the  firm  employ  to  achieve  its   sustainability  goals?
•
What  are  the  strengths  and  weaknesses  of  the  company  as  it  relates  to  sustainability?
Part  2  -­‐  Maintain  a  personal  inventory  of  your  own  tendencies  as  a  consumer  over  the  course  of
1-­‐2  days  in  terms  of  unsustainable  consumption  practices  is  a  useful  way  to  begin  to  identify
potential  obstacles  to  adoption  of  sustainable  solutions.
Provide  a  discussion  of  your  unsustainable  consumption  practices  and  resistance  to  sustainable   products  and  practices  in  general  based  on  your  personal  inventory.
3  pages  double-­‐spaced  (maximum)
Individual  Assignment  5  -­‐  Personal  Statement  on  Global  Business  Horizons  due  by  November
2nd  as  email
This  is  an  unstructured  assignment  on  your  learning  about  global  business  horizons  and  how   you  will  incorporate  it  into  your  personal  and  professional  endeavors.    Topics  to  cover  include   new  insights,  your  personal  and/or  professional  vision  as  it  relates  sustainability  or  other  global   challenges,  and  how  this  would  affect  your  day-­‐to-­‐day  activities  and  decisions.
2  pages  double-­‐spaced  (maximum)
Group  and  in-­‐class  assignments  will  be  described  during  sessions.
Group  Assignment  1  -­‐  Design  of  Core  Solution/Preparation  for  Virtual  Interaction  –  Due  on
September  19
Group  Assignment  2  -­‐  Module  1  Final  Presentation  –  Due  on  October  3
Group  Assignment  3  –  Nike  Case  Analysis  –  Due  on  October  17
Group  Assignment  4  -­‐  Conducting  Market  Research  –  Due  on  November  1
Group  Assignment  5  -­‐  Module  2  Final  Presentation  –  Due  on  November  1