COURSE NUMBER: MBA 256.1

This course is cross-listed with the EWMBA Program.

COURSE TITLE: Global Management Skills

UNITS OF CREDIT: 3 Units

INSTRUCTOR: Ernest Gundling

E-MAIL ADDRESS: egundling@aperianglobal.com

CLASS WEB PAGE LOCATION: bSpace

MEETING DAY(S)/TIME: Thursdays, 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

PREREQUISITE(S): None.

CLASS FORMAT: Lecture, discussion, group projects, role plays, video, and student presentations.

REQUIRED READINGS: Texts plus course reader

BASIS FOR FINAL GRADE:
33% Careful reading of required texts and active participation in class activities

33% Productive teamwork in group project

33% Final paper on global management subject of student's choice (with instructor's approval)

ABSTRACT OF COURSE'S CONTENT AND OBJECTIVES:
This course addresses practical skills for global managers. It examines common issues and best practices for managing a global workforce as well as relations with important customers and partners. Managers with keen strategic insights often fall short when it comes to practical implementation because they lack the skills required to interface effectively with their counterparts from around the world.  

Frequent cross-border management pitfalls are discussed and then linked to specific skill areas, including establishing credibility, building relationships, obtaining information, evaluating people, giving & receiving feedback, training & development, meeting management, motivation, persuasion, sales & marketing, negotiation, and conflict resolution. Beyond such person-to-person skills, global organization development and related skill areas such as multicultural team building, technology transfer, innovation, and change management are also covered.  

Generic skills are applied and adapted to the specific business practices of different localities. Geographical examples are drawn from Asia, Europe, Latin America, Russia, and the Middle East as well as North America. Assigned readings will be supplemented by meetings with professionals in the field, video materials, and simulations of common situations by course participants. International students at Berkeley are encouraged to attend.

Central Questions:
1.What are common problems and pitfalls faced by global managers?
2.What are the key global management skills required for successful implementation of strategic plans?
3.How can these skills be applied successfully across different cultural and geographical locations?

Objectives for Course Participants:

Familiarity with major ideas about global management.

Development of hands-on skills in key areas.

General acquaintance with business practices in primary world markets.

Specialized knowledge of one non-U.S. culture/region, and of a particular management issue selected by the student

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH:
Dr. Gundling is a co-founder of Aperian Global, Inc., and has been involved with the company since its inception in 1990. With offices in North America, Europe, and Asia, Aperian is the largest privately held firm in the intercultural management industry. He currently acts as a co-President of the company's operations. His job is to assist clients in developing strategic approaches to global leadership development, change management, innovation, and organizational learning.

Dr. Gundling holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. He wrote his dissertation on Japanese management training programs; his field research was funded initially by a U.S. Department of Education Fulbright Fellowship. He also received a Master's degree from the University of Chicago, and a B.A. from Stanford University. Dr. Gundling has been involved with Japanese language, culture, and business for over twenty years, including more than six years' residence in Japan; he has worked and traveled extensively elsewhere in Asia, and lived for extended periods in Germany and Mexico. He has also been engaged in client projects Europe, the Middle East, and key emerging market locations. Dr. Gundling is currently a Lecturer at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, where he has taught since 1993. He formerly worked as the Director of Consulting and Organization Development at Clarke Consulting Group.

A partial list of clients that Dr. Gundling has served includes AT&T, Canon Information Systems, Cisco Systems, Ford Motor Company, Fujitsu, GlaxoSmithKline, Hewlett-Packard, Hitachi, Hollister-Dansac, Honda, Intel, Intuit, Kodak, Levi Strauss, LG Electronics, Lucent Technologies, Mazda, Morgan Stanley, Motorola, Procter & Gamble, Saudi Aramco, Sauer-Danfoss, Schneider Electric, Texas Instruments, and 3M. Dr. Gundling is the author of numerous publications, including: The 3M Way to Innovation: Balancing People and Profits; Working GlobeSmart: 12 People Skills for Doing Business Across Borders; and Global Diversity: Winning Customers and Engaging Employees within World Markets. He has also been a scriptwriter and co-producer of Aperian Global's video series entitled, Working with Japan, and a contributor to its other video series: Working with China, and Globally Speaking: Skills and Strategies for Success with Asia. Currently he serves on the Organization Development panel of the Society for Human Resources Management.