Program and Course Description MKTG 714 Marketing in a Mega-Market New Delhi & Mumbai, India January 2-14, 2018 Introduction How exciting and challenging is it to do business in a country that (a) is the world s largest democracy, (b) has a population of over one billion people, (c) is divided into 29 states and 7 union territories, and (d) has over 15 official languages? This global elective is a once in a lifetime opportunity to find out firsthand. Over the past two decades, India has emerged as a powerful economic player on the world stage. Experts across the globe are unequivocal in their opinion about India as an important business destination owing to its exceptional rate of economic growth over the past few years, its burgeoning middle class, and its commitment to democracy. A recent Economist article suggests India has a rare opportunity to become the world s most dynamic big economy (Economist print edition, Feb 2015). While we may read many media reports on "India Inc.," it is difficult to truly appreciate how the confluence of socio-cultural, economic, technological, infrastructural and political elements gives rise to the excitement and frustrations of doing business in India. Our J-term class will offer students a fabulous opportunity to visit the country, meet its citizens and learn from business professionals about how they navigate such a complex business environment. MKTG714 (India: Marketing in a Mega-Market) will allow students to gain knowledge about the business environment and practices in India, improve their skills in analyzing and evaluating marketing and business situations, and ultimately make better marketing decisions in India and other global mega-markets. As a part of this class, the business study activities are complemented by city tours, meals, and other cultural experiences allowing students to also gain a broader understanding of Indian culture and way of life. UST MBA Study Abroad MKTG714 (India 2018) 1
Course Requirements MKTG714 (India: Marketing in a Mega-Market) is available to active graduate business students in good academic standing who have completed MKTG600 or MKTG625. Students from other UST graduate programs may be eligible with the instructors permission. Students should expect a workload similar to a regular MBA course with readings, case discussions, written deliverables, etc. Course Structure Two On-campus Orientation Sessions - Fall 2017 This course is divided into two parts. During the fall semester of 2017, there will be two on-campus orientation sessions (Friday, November 17 th and Friday, December 8th). These sessions are intended to give students an exhaustive understanding of the Indian context (from historical, sociocultural, economic, and political perspectives) and prepare them for their upcoming visit to India. Recommended readings for the two on-campus sessions include a book, 4-5 HBR type articles and one case. Please note that the readings are suggested to be done front-loaded during the pre-travel portion of the class so that you are fully prepared for your visit. Visiting India - An Immersion Experience The visit to India is meant to be an immersive, interactive experience - call it a field seminar! We will be visiting New Delhi and Mumbai, important centers of Indian government, commerce and culture. As our time in-country is limited, our days (including weekends) will be busy meeting with business leaders and engaging in cultural activities. This immersion will allow students to personally experience Indian culture and observe firsthand how the Indian context affects marketing and other business practices. Students are expected to leave MSP no later than January 2 nd so that they arrive in New Delhi on January 3 rd (late night) or the wee hours of January 4 th. The on-the-ground portion of the class will finish in Mumbai on January 14. Our partner on the ground in India will be WorldStrides, and they will be arranging all of our company visits through their extensive business network. Due to the nature of business in India, the final list of companies we will be visiting will not be set until roughly two weeks prior to the trip, and even then we will need to remain flexible as things may change even after we arrive. Business Meetings in India On weekdays, we will be visiting companies (typically two per day) and meeting with business executives representing different types of organizations, from small local companies to larger multinationals, across a wide range of business sectors including consumer products, information technology, professional services, health/medical, energy, finance, and manufacturing. These business meetings will offer you an opportunity to learn a great deal about doing business in India. Cultural Activities in India As a part of our visit, the planned cultural and historic site visits include guided tours to the Taj Mahal, Lotus Temple, Humayun s Tomb, Elephanta Island, and Gateway of India, among other possibilities. Students will also have free time on several evenings to explore New Delhi and Mumbai and experience the local markets, architecture and cuisine. UST MBA Study Abroad MKTG714 (India 2018) 2
Course Schedule Pre-Travel Course Meetings (Fall 2017; date and time TBD) November 17, 2017 Minneapolis Campus Introduction/Classroom Orientation December 8, 2017 Minneapolis Campus Orientation Session Travel to India (January 2018) (Note: specific companies, sites and cultural activities are being finalized) Tues., January 2 Depart Minneapolis Travel Day Wed., January 3 Thurs., January 4 Late night arrival in New Delhi New Delhi Group transfer to hotel at most common arrival time; check into hotel Safety & cultural orientation, cultural exploration activities & tours, welcome dinner Fri., January 5 New Delhi 2 company visits Sat., January 6 Agra Day Trip to the Taj Mahal Sun., January 7 Mon., Jan. 8 Wed., Jan. 10 New Delhi; travel to Mumbai Mumbai Travel as group to Mumbai; cultural exploration activity; check into hotel 2 company visits per day (total 6 visits) Thurs., Jan 11 Mumbai 1 company visit; Dharavi slum tour; Farewell dinner Fri., January 12 Mumbai Cultural activities, group social events, free time Sat., January 13 Mumbai Final class meeting (9AM-12 noon) in the hotel conference room; free afternoon and evening; group transfer to the airport at most common departure time; late night departure Sun., January 14 Arrive in Minneapolis Overnight travel; early to mid-afternoon arrival The goal of OCB graduate-level study abroad programming is to immerse students in a set of shared academic, professional, and social experiences to deepen their understanding of the course topics and the cultural and business environments of other countries while building connections among the group. Students are expected to participate fully in all planned program activities, and non-student guests are not allowed on any of the group visits or excursions. Travel with a non-student guest or spouse should be planned for before or after the class portion of the trip. UST MBA Study Abroad MKTG714 (India 2018) 3
Program Instructors Avinash Malshe, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Marketing Avinash Malshe is an Associate Professor of Marketing and he teaches marketing and brand management graduate courses in the Full-Time, Evening and Health Care MBA programs in the Opus College of Business. He received his Ph.D. in Marketing from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and has been teaching at St. Thomas for over nine years. Prior to starting his academic career, Prof. Malshe worked for over five years as a Brand Manager in the pharmaceutical industry with Pfizer Inc. and Ranbaxy Labs in India. Prof. Malshe has provided training and consulting for business executives globally in both for profit and non-profit sectors on variety of marketing issues. He has also been interviewed and quoted by media outlets on various business topics, and writes occasional Outside Consultant columns for the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Prof. Malshe is an accomplished academic researcher. His primary research interest is marketing strategy- especially the interface between sales and marketing functions and its impact on strategy creation and implementation. In addition to his recently published co-authored book on this topic (Business Expert Press, 2014), his academic papers are published in renowned marketing and management journals such as Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Journal of Product Innovation Management, Journal of Management, European Journal of Marketing, Journal of Business and Industrial Marketing, Industrial Marketing Management, and Journal of Personal Selling and Sales Management. Michael DeVaughn, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Management Dr. Michael L. DeVaughn is an Associate Professor of Management in the Opus College of Business at the University of St. Thomas where he teaches in the undergraduate business, Full-time and Evening MBA programs. Dr. DeVaughn has also taught at the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. He has taught courses in Organizational Behavior, Strategic Management and Strategic Leadership. Dr. DeVaughn s research interests include organizational learning, entrepreneurship and strategy. His work focuses on the role of different types and forms of experience in entrepreneurial founding teams and their implications for new firm outcomes. Before his academic career, Dr. DeVaughn spent nearly ten years working for Ralston Purina, PepsiCo and Fleet Financial Group (now Bank of America), where he was a Vice President in the bank s Commercial Services Group. Dr. DeVaughn holds an undergraduate degree in Economics and Organizational Behavior & Management from Brown University, an MBA in Marketing and Human Resources Management from Indiana University s Kelley School of Business and a Ph.D. in Business (Strategy and Organization Theory) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. UST MBA Study Abroad MKTG714 (India 2018) 4
Program Costs In addition to your standard tuition for three credits (rate varies per program), the following fees are billed to your UST student account in December 2017: Estimated Program Fee*: Double Occupancy $2,775 Single Occupancy add $777 The program fee includes four nights of hotel accommodations in New Delhi: Vivanta by Taj Ambassador Delhi (or similar) and six nights in Mumbai: Vivanta by Taj President Mumbai (or similar); daily breakfast and internet access included at both hotels); group transportation by bus to company visits or cultural activities; group airport transfers and air travel from New Delhi to Mumbai; city tours and cultural activities; and eight group lunches and two group dinners. *NOTE: The estimated program fee is based on current exchange rates, however, it may differ at the time of billing due to currency fluctuations. Any significant changes will be communicated to students ASAP. Additional costs, NOT included in the program fees above: Airfare. Students must arrange their own airfare from the U.S. to New Delhi, and from Mumbai back to U.S. Airfare is estimated at $1,300-1,700 round trip, and like any air travel, rates can vary greatly depending on the timing of purchase. Students arranging their own travel allows everyone to potentially use loyalty miles/points, to incorporate workrelated travel, and stay/travel additional days before and after the course if they choose. Other transportation. Group airport transfers and transportation for corporate visits and cultural activities are included in the program fee, but students may choose to use taxis for dinners or excursions during open evenings. Meals & incidental/personal expenses. Students are responsible for their own personal expenses, incidental hotel charges, and some of their meals during the program (reminder: daily breakfasts are included at the hotels). WorldStrides advises planning $10-20 for (two) lunches; $20-40 for (eight) dinners; plus your meals during your travel, so a reasonable estimate would be approximately $500-700 for meals and incidental travel expenses, but this can vary greatly by students individual interests, tastes, and sightseeing plans. Passport/visa fees: Students are responsible for obtaining/renewing their own passport. Please note that U.S. citizens (and citizens of most other countries) are required to obtain a tourist visa to enter India, and you are responsible for obtaining the visa and paying the visa fee (depending on the processing option or service selected, can vary from $150-200). More information regarding visa processing options will be provided to approved students. UST MBA Study Abroad MKTG714 (India 2018) 5
Student Application Requirements Required prerequisites: Students must have completed MKTG600 or MKTG 625 (or permission of instructor), and be eligible to enroll in graduate elective courses. Students should be in good academic standing in their program (cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 or greater). Application Process To apply for the course, please complete the UST Study Abroad online application form for MKTG714, upload the requested materials, and make the required deposit. (If the page does not open initially, login to the Study Abroad website using your UST username/password, then click the link again.) Submit your application as soon as possible, ideally before the priority application deadline of Monday, September 22, 2017. Interest in the study abroad programs is typically high and we recommend applying early to ensure a place. All applications received by this initial deadline will receive equal consideration. A waitlist of approved students will be established once 24 students are approved. After September 22, the course will be filled with qualified students on a first-come, firstserved basis if there is room for additional participants and our logistics partner can still accommodate additional students. Professors Malshe and DeVaughn will review and approve applications after all application materials have been received, and the graduate student services office will notify students of their enrollment status. Questions/Contacts For application process questions, please contact: Graduate Business Student Services Office, TMH 100 OCBGradServices@stthomas.edu 651-962-4200 For questions regarding the course, please contact: Dr. Avinash Malshe or Dr. Michael DeVaughn amalshe@stthomas.edu deva2917@stthomas.edu For academic advising questions, please contact your program adviser. UST MBA Study Abroad MKTG714 (India 2018) 6