Announcements
Bruce Heiman's FALL 2009 Classes
Most Recent Update:
[ UPDATED 14 Sept. 2009]
Students: Newest announcements appear at the Top of page!!
You are responsible for reading, understanding and
acting appropriately on all announcements.
14
Sept. 2009 (yes it has been updated)
UPDATED--All
students:
TA email: heiman.ta@hotmal.com
(Svetlana Isayeva)l
Download current Syllabi for my classes from iLearn (main source of much course material) or the main page of this site.
Here are links to two useful "how-to" resources--
1. A memo describing Financial Times options. Download and read it carefully.2. A visual (1 page) guide to accessing the FT via SF State Library resources (for free). Get the guide.
--Get a larger, easier-to-read version of the same file (may be harder to print) here.3, If you do not already have a PIN for off-campus access and wireless access from on-campus, this info might help.
Students will have to set-up a Library PIN in order to access Factiva from an off-campus location via their own internet service provider.
Here's the link to set-up a PIN:
http://opac.sfsu.edu/screens/viewinfo.html
All Students:
From here on downwards on this page is some great advice that is
useful for all students in ALL my classes.
Please consider this assigned reading (it will help you a lot). Above
this text are more recent announcements--read those
too!.
FAQ: Much of this material is NOT mentioned in class, but can be of HUGE help to you!!
I STRONGLY prefer the following or a close variation thereof for CASE analysis in class:Describe the case, ask the class to identify the key problem.What does your group think the key problem is? Tell the class.
Than ask the class to solve the problem in a discussion that you
lead. Then tell the class what your group came up with for a
solution after you thought long and hard about it.
FAQs:
Q: The chapter is about 45 pages long, and you said that you want the reading summary to be short and to the point, but with a chapter as long as we have is it ok to take a little more time on the summary to make sure we get everything we need in there?A: OK, but think this about the summary: What are the 5-10 most
important points? Make those and the summary is over. Summary
does not mean you mention everything the chapter says.
Q: On the critique, we are also having a little difficulty coming up with something to disagree with in the chapter, we each have read the chapter and discussed as a group and it doesn't seem like there is anything concrete to disagree with. Would you be able to point us in the right direction for the disagreement?
A: OK, an example (from IBUS 590)--
(the approach works for other classes too):
In Ch. 2, p. 62, in the top colored box, thebook seems to ASSUME that the EU model for regional unity is the
best approach for the AU. I disagree with this--First, the EU is
not necessarily a success in many people's eyes so it may not be
a great model to follow (cite some sources that state this from
the popular literature). Second, the AU attempt for unity with
the EU model seems to not work: the AU is highly flawed (cite
some sources criticizing the functioning of the AU--easy to
find). So Africa needs to develop its OWN model of unity, not
one that tries to imitate a region (Europe) with which it has
little in common at present.
Hope this example helps--in this case I am disagreeing with an
implicit assumption that the book has made. I am ALSO looking at GRAPHICS and TABLES for stuff that I might disagree with--this is a huge hint!
Q: How can I understand Porter's 5 Forces model better and correctly?
A: Two ways:
1) read Porter's 1980 book, COMPETITIVE STRATEGY;
2) Check out my original 2 page download of powerpoint slides.
3) BUS 690 students: Pay attention to Chapter 5 of D&M!
Final Project Advice
Professional Business Attire is required for the presentation (except for Exec. MBA students).I hereby repeat my advice regarding final projects; Start them NOW (early) rather than at the last minute. This will truly help you to avoid nasty surprises later (like your project needing to be started over from scratch--it happens). Discuss the firm and the problem you are considering with your group. remember the Project updates are coming up in a few weeks and they are part of your project grade.
I have some old final project papers in my office that you should drop by to look over(!) This can be very useful for helping you to map out your own paper's structure!
Remember that the MAIN TEXT of your Final Project Paper must be double spaced, 12 point, times new roman font, with 1 inch margins all around the page.
HOWEVER, for notes, bibliography, tables, charts, illustrations, etc., the format is flexible (at your discretion); for example, single spaced 10 point Helvetica would be fine for the above-mentioned non-main-body-of-text sections! Take advantage of this, but be certain that the result looks professional and is readable.Please indicate the word count on either the first or last page of your paper. Also-do not go over the page limit or you will be penalized.
Concerning Plagiarism: DON'T. Don't even think about trying it. I WILL catch you and it is not worth failing the final project (this might cause you to fail the entire class). YOUR ENTIRE GROUP WILL SUFFER IF I DETECT PLAGIARISM IN THE FINAL PAPER. NO EXCEPTIONS. PLEASE read your group members' written contributions to the Project Paper carefully--if you have doubts, contact the group member and fix any problems BEFORE turning in the paper. After that it is too late.
Please explore the links discussed below to obtain a greatly enhanced understanding of citing references in your work and formatting. It can only help you if you get this stuff right and it hurts to ignore the issues and format requirements. The Chair of IBUS, The Amazing Dr. Joel Nicholson, has prepared an amazing resource page! The link takes you his home page. From there, on the LEFT, click on APA WRITING HELP to get to the target page (APA is the simplest of the professional formats, and owing to that, many think it is also the best). Of particular interest: The sample paper. Download it. Experience it--it is pretty interesting reading: very self-referential. I am QUITE interested in your ability to cite sources correctly. Failing to cite sources properly will affect your final project grade, as well as critical notes grades.
ALSO: Download citations.pdf! It is a file that can help you format and understand how to do in-text citations and references at the end of your written submissions (it was a handout in the first class, so you may already have it in hard copy). It is useful because it is so short, but it still has the important info (in the form of examples) whthin it. Enjoy. You can also use this in the furure for other classes. Thanks to Linda Lam for her assistance with this document. Just click on the link at the start of this paragraph to download.
Advice Regarding In-Class Presentations (Assigned readings)
Remember: Interact meaningfully with me BEFORE your day to present your assigned readings in class! This is NOT optional! Email is fine if you throw in a bit of detail...Your entire group does not need to be present if we meet in person, but at least one representative of your group need to make contact (two is a better minimum than one, because you will retain more remarks/advice).Regarding participation from the audience: This is not easy, but it IS IMPORTANT, so take notes during the presentations, and think carefully about what you will say before you say it..also--practice this skill (in your head in class, and by trying to participate in every class at least once).
Example Digests/handouts (these are optional, but I have rarely seen them hurt students' grade--send me your drafts!):
Digest page 1 (revised in PDF format)Digest page 2 (revised in pdf format)
Advice on Critical Notes
Here is a link to a great example of a critical note Click here to see what earns a "10." The name has been removed to preserve anonymity.
Below are links to three other critical note examples that you can view onscreen, print or download. All notes got a "10." These are examples of great critical notes. Note IBUS 331 critical notes are longer--see the specific syllabus!Link to THREE more critical notes to look at:
Critical Note 1 (in pdf format)Critical Note 2 (in pdf format)
Critical Note 3 (in pdf format)
Important features of these note include (1) they mention what they disagree with in the beginning of the note (first or second sentence), (2) references are complete and professional, (3) The example(s) are convincing, and they support the author's argument (what he/she disagrees with), and (4) The assertion disagreed with is a major assertion from the chapter (not trying for the whole chapter). Hope this helps.
More on critical notes: In general, I have found that the "best" notes are those that focus on ONE aspect of ONE part of a given reading. Discuss this aspect of the article you choose critically (DISAGREE with it convincingly--agreeing with the point you choose to "critique" will get you a low grade, quite low). The point you critique should be a major theme of the reading. Do NOT discuss the "whole reading" in an overview (umbrella) mode and offer a very general critique. That is not a good formula. Use of examples (outside the book) will be rewarded. Examples that use firms from the popular press or your own experience are fine. Sometimes your own (personal) experience is most convincing.
You can download the Peer-Evaluation form at this link, if your class uses such a document.
Eclectic and Useful Tools and Advice (Read Me!)
Making Critical Reflections in class (strongly encouraged)
The format for student feedback, (critical reflections, which we discussed in the first class), "good-thing, bad-thing," during critical reflections, forces comments into a proper perspective--if it is used, and used correctly. I want to strongly emphasize that feedback needs to be constructive, and not personal--identify areas for improvement without being cruel. This is an important aspect (READ: SKILL) of being a manager. Further, I want to see people commenting on content issues, and not so much on presentation style, as that will come with time, if people practice. I want people to really emphasize what was good about the presentation, NOT just use that comment to set up for some major negative element that is inappropriate. Positive feedback is as important (if not more so) than negative. people really need to know what is really working for them.That said, I STILL want sharp critical comments, mostly pointing to the content and questions for clarification, or further deepening the discussion. If there are major flaws in the presentation they need to be identified in a reasonable manner that benefits the group (and does not insult any individual). We will all be sharpening these critical-commenting skills throughout the semester, and yes, just like in the real world, this is difficult, and occasionally awkward.
Here's a very cool link that let's you look up phone numbers (and more) for ANYONE, ANYWHERE in the world, if their name is in a telephone book. Note: Some of the sites linked to by this site are NOT in English (It's OK, you're International Business Students--you can handle it)!
Insight on my 593 paper (in the reader): Understanding why some countries (including European countries) dislike the US helps us understand a major reason for the breakdown in US-European relations in recent years--the Trans-Atlantic Divide seems to be growing. What are the key prescriptive (actionable) findings and what policies might policymakers pursue as a result of these findings? What are the possible flaws in this research?
Looking for a poject idea? Here is a link to a VERY interesting international business story about how a Biofuel project that initially looked like it was great for the environment turned out to be a terrible disaster for the environment. Click here. The research was done in NL, so it is relevant for IBUS 593 students as weell as 590 students...much of the story revolves around activities in Indonesia, a former Dutch colony. You shouls consider a renewable/sustainable/alternative energy oriented project--these will help to prepare yopu for the realities of the future!
For help on the printed version of FT:
Mail: useducation@ft.comAsk for Heather. Be polite and professional.