The purpose of this course is to provide the student with a foundation in the understanding of the impact of cultural variations on managerial practices within global organizations.  Topics include cultural variations in organizational strategy, motivating employees, leadership styles, group dynamics, and managerial direction and control.  Political and economic risk and human resource implications are addressed.  This course utilizes lectures, case studies and/or experiential assignments in addition to readings.

Field Work

We will study the Port of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and meet with administrative personnel who manage the Port.  This will include a tour of Port operational areas, warehousing facilities, and administrative areas.  Meetings with Port officials will be held to discuss the administrative structure of the Port, public/private partnerships, intermodal transportation systems within the Port area, typical cargo and materials handling processes, labor/management relationships, and other concepts related to the management of the Port operations. Additionally, there will be a focus on understanding how the Port officials view their unique strategic advantage over their competitors, both other ports and other materials transportation systems in general.  Students will be prepared with information about the Port, prior to the lab, along with investigative questions to assist in their analysis. Academic Objectives: 1. Students will be able to discuss the operations of a major international port, from managing arrivals and departures, to warehousing, working with in-bound transportation (railroads, trucks, etc.), working with shipping lines, etc. 2. Students will be able to discuss the structure of a major international port, the departmentalization within the port, the assignment of responsibilities, as well as the public/private partnerships involved in the authorization and funding of the port, etc. 3. Students will be able to discuss the human resources aspects of a major international port, including management/worker relationships, expatriate versus host country employment practices, performance evaluation processors, etc. 4. Students will be able to perform a Porter’s Five Forces and Porter’s Value Chain analysis of the Port.