(Note: the following email usually provides the most rapid response, and
must be used when submitting class related questions and/or assignments.)

dr.jec@comcast.net

Please include the course number and your last name in the subject line of email.

I.    Protocol for Electronic Submission of Course Work:

Students bear sole responsibility for ensuring that papers or assignments submitted electronically to a professor are received in a timely manner and in the electronic format(s) specified by the professor.  Students are therefore obliged to have their e-mail client issue a receipt verifying that the document has been received.  Students are also strongly advised to retain a copy of the dated submission on a separate disk.  Faculty members are encouraged, but not required, to acknowledge receipt of the assignment. 

Note: I will acknowledge receipt of assignment & simulation files submitted electronically, but not routine emails, to which I generally respond within 1 day. 

II.    Protocol for use of Cell Phones and Pagers:

Out of courtesy for all those participating in the learning experience, all cell phones and pagers must be turned off before entering any classroom, lab, or formal academic or performance event.

Note for this class: If an urgent need exists, it will be acceptable to leave these devices on if you have them set to a silent mode.  If you decide to answer, please do so outside of the classroom.

III.    Mercer University Honor Code:

Plagiarism The use of ideas, facts, phrases, or additional information such as charts or maps, from any sources, without giving proper credit to the original author. Using direct quotations, paraphrases, or reproductions of any material which is not of the student’s own authorship is also considered plagiarism. Failure to reference any such material used is both ethically and legally improper.

IV. Students with Disabilities:

Students with a documented disability should inform the instructor at the close of the first class meeting.  The instructor will refer you to Richard Stilley, Assistant Dean of Campus Life, (678-547-6823) for consultation regarding evaluation, documentation of your disability, and recommendations for accommodation, if needed.  To take full advantage of disability services, it is recommended that students make contact immediately.  The office is located in the Davis Building, Room 223.

Course Description: This course is designed to give the student a contemporary view of the overall business environment and covers issues related to the changing world economy. The content of this course changes as topical and strategic impacts occur that could affect existing or new firms. Current topics may include: ongoing changes in the world economy, e-commerce, economic development in developing nations, and others. Technological, social, cultural, political, legal, regulatory and other environmental issues are covered. Students are expected to investigate worldwide business topics.

Scope of Course:

Students nearing the end of their EMBA program are expected to know how to formulate relevant business questions, research background information on these questions, analyze the data collected, document appropriate strategic opportunities and recommend actionable solutions. In this course, you will be provided the opportunity to do not only this, but to also draw upon your individual expertise for the benefit of the rest of the cohort.

Initially, we will focus on the concepts of (1) e-commerce & the Net Enhanced Organization (NEO) and (2) the effects of Economic Globalization & Outsourcing. We will then shift to a series of presentations by students which identify the strategic effects of these trends on the industry and company of your choice.

While the specific topics and timing are listed in the Class Schedule below, the course is designed to be flexible, and customizable to your individual interests to the degree that they fit within the overall course parameters. Therefore, the details regarding the industry to be covered, etc. will be added following submission and approval of the team report proposals. It is therefore essential that all project deadlines be met. Since late delivery of any portion of the proposal or the report impacts the entire class, it will affect your final grade.

Each industry reviewed will be a class-wide participatory effort, developed in a collaborative manner, and led by a student team. Details are shown in the Industry Review Project document. Please note the high level of flexibility I have allowed for your report proposals. Though I have provided a suggested structure and expectations of what is required, you are free to suggest any viable alternative you deem appropriate as long as it addresses the course topics mentioned above. However, you should not proceed to do any significant research or work on the project without final instructor approval in order to prevent overlap with other team proposals.

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