Entrepreneurship and Globalization

Catalog description

Entrepreneurship and Globalization examines how entrepreneurs shaped the global economy from the 1800s to the present. Students will read and discuss case studies that examine the lives of some of the most prominent business founders and leaders in modern history through the framework of globalization. The cases explored in this course provide a dynamic framework for exploring the challenging decisions entrepreneurs faced in different eras of globalization between the nineteenth century to the present across a broad range of contexts and industries. Topics include the opium war, music, the fashion industry, bananas, sports and global media. We will learn about the creative ways that business leaders navigated cultural differences, information asymmetries, and conflicting interests. A typical class tries to get into the minds of the protagonists, establish the context in which they took decisions, debate the legacy of those decisions, and discuss how the class would have acted in those circumstances. Throughout the semester, students will research and develop a historical case study. Prerequisite: Completion of at least one Business foundation course (BUSF, MKTG, MGMT); junior standing or above Fulfillment: IMB Business elective, IMA/IMB elective for the IMB major; IMB minor; BUSF non-finance elective; BUSM non-marketing elective.