How the Robinson College prepares MBAs for the global workforce
by Jenifer Shockley
Tip O’Neill famously said, “All politics is local.” Although the adage once applied to much
of business, it does no longer. Large or small, public or private, domestic or multinational, all
business is global. Through its curriculum, degree programs and study abroad offerings, the
Robinson College is developing the next generation of leaders for the international economy.
“Wherever our graduates land a job–whether Georgia USA or the Republic of Georgia–they
will be part of the global economy,” says Robinson College Dean H. Fenwick Huss. “They must
understand business through a global lens.”
From the first day of class, incoming students in the Robinson College’s Professional and
Flexible MBA programs learn to think about business in an international, cross-cultural
context. The process begins with Managing in the Global Economy, a mandatory, entry-level
course that introduces them to fundamental business concepts, the interdependencies
between functions, and how to regard operations from the perspective of a global manager.
The course was instituted in 2004 after the MBA Steering Committee determined that
students were not taking an integrated business course until fairly late in their studies.
According to Dean Huss, “Managing in the Global Economy sets the stage for the MBA
program by painting the big picture.” Huss adds, “Having a broad-based understanding
of how organizations operate internally and interact with customers, government and
society on an international scale helps students better understand the specialized courses
they take later.”
Chris Lemley, an instructor in the Department of Marketing who was part of the
committee that recommended and created Managing in the Global Economy and now
serves as course coordinator, characterizes the case- and readings-based syllabus as a mix
of the classic and contemporary. He cites two examples.
“We examine creating value by looking at how Hulu [an online video service with U.S.
and Beijing offices] has changed the dynamics within an industry.” To illustrate Michael E.
Porter’s seminal paper “The Five Competitive Forces That Shape Strategy,” first published
in 1979, the class turns to Apple Computer. “We look at how Apple has morphed from
its beginnings as almost a hobbyist-type business to how it defines itself today, which is as
the world’s largest mobile company.”
Rubbing elbows with MBA classmates from 30-plus countries also helps Robinson students
learn to look at business through a global filter. “When a student from the U.S. sits by
a student from Brazil, South Africa, Russia,
China or elsewhere, it adds to their global
perspective,” says Dean Huss. “It’s also
why Georgia State has invested in bringing
international students to the university.”
“It’s one thing to read and talk about
a global case,” Dean Huss notes. “But
it’s much more valuable for students to
have the experience of interacting with
businesspeople who run companies
outside the United States. That’s why we
encourage students in our Flexible and
Professional MBA programs to participate
in an optional study abroad program.”
Marta Szabo White, a clinical associate
professor of managerial sciences, concurs.
“Most study abroad participants have
not worked outside North America,”
says White. “Interviewing managers in
other countries and seeing firsthand
the economic, political, legal, social and
cultural factors that influence business in a
region adds a significant and eye-opening
dimension to the classroom experience.”
Robinson College study abroad programs
span a variety of disciplines, regions and
economies. This year’s slate includes
programs in Western Europe, former
Soviet countries, the Middle East, Asia and
Latin America examining functional practices,
specific business sectors and interactions with
governing bodies. (See “Where They Go” chart below.)
An international residency is built into the
college’s Executive MBA program for midcareer
professionals. Destinations vary by
year and, explains EMBA program director
Laura Crawley, are very much a sign of the
times. “Japan was a top choice during the
country’s economic boom in the 1980s, as
was Hong Kong in the years before, during
and after its handover to the Chinese. In
recent years, it’s been China.”
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| During a 2009 study abroad trip to South Africa, students saw how, through microfinance, Tapologo AIDS Hospice reduced working capital requirements and increased productivity by setting up former employees as brick suppliers. |
When the current EMBA cohort departed
for its international residency in late April,
its destinations were China and Thailand.
By the time they were on the ground in Shanghai, civil unrest in the Buddhist nation
had escalated to the point that the latter
part of the itinerary had become untenable.
Business visits in Bangkok were canceled,
replaced with meetings and tours in Beijing.
“Although sudden and unfortunate, the
change in plans opened up some great
opportunities,” notes Crawley. On a
philosophical note, she adds that “constantly
changing realities, new openings and the
need for grace under pressure–that’s a day
in the life of today’s global executive.”
Imagine receiving briefings from UPS
executives in Washington, Brussels and
Beijing about how the supply chain giant
adjusts its business model by country,
economic region and form of government.
Interacting with corporate and government leaders is one of several experiential
components of Robinson’s Global Partners
MBA program.
The 14-month, four-continent program
includes modules in Atlanta, Paris and Rio
de Janeiro. During that time, members of
the cohort study at the Robinson College,
IAE-Sorbonne and COPPEAD-Federal
University of Rio de Janeiro; conduct a
business tour of China; and undertake
a four-month international internship in
locations ranging from Ecuador to Ethiopia
to London in business, nonprofit and
government settings.
“We designed the program to challenge
and expand students’ cultural sensitivities,”
says Karen Loch, a professor of international
business and Global Partners MBA director.
“By the conclusion of the program, they
understand commercial diplomacy and
sustainable leadership and are equipped
with the skills and knowledge to navigate the
intricacies of the global marketplace.”
What starts in a classroom in Atlanta leads to
never-ending possibilities. With Robinson’s
multifaceted, real-world approach to
global education, the college has set a new
standard for preparing the next generation
of global business leaders.
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