MBA 501 Discussion Questions
Week 1
1. Select a country which is known for its "high context" culture and a country with a "low context" culture. Explain how the differences in cultures affect the way business is conducted in each country.
2. Communism is based on a collectivist view of the world, while free markets are focused on the individual. How has this difference in focus lead to these very different economic systems?
1. We will watch and discuss the three episodes of the Commanding Heights on the PBS website during this class. Discuss an interesting fact of concept found in Episode one of "The Commanding Heights" documentary. (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/index.html)
Week 2
1. We will watch and discuss the three episodes of the Commanding Heights on the PBS website during this class. Discuss an interesting fact of concept found in Episode two of "The Commanding Heights" documentary. (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/index.html)
2. What is meant by "opportunity cost?" Give an example, which illustrates how understanding opportunity cost can help you make a decision.
3. Select a story, which has recently been in the news and explain how it illustrates the "Supply and Demand" model.
Week 3
1. Discuss an interesting fact of concept found in Episode three of "The Commanding Heights" documentary. (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/lo/index.html)
2. Using the Aggregate Demand-Aggregate Supply model, how would you expect a significant increase on oil prices to affect both GDP and the price level?
3. Identify a factor that you believe is important to a successful economy, and explain why you believe it is important to economic success.
Week 4
1. What is Dependency Theory and why hasn't it worked? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dependency_theory
3. Give an example of how the Internet is changing the global economy.
Week 5
1. What is environmental scanning and how can your business or a business with which you are familiar use it to gain a competitive advantage?
2. During the last few weeks, we have been discussing economics. How can you use your knowledge of economics to enhance your ability to effectively scan the environment for the benefit of your own organization? Give an example of an environmental factor that you now recognize as being important to the success of your organization and explain why.
3. How can you use the Internet to facilitate environmental scanning? Using the approach that you just described, give and example of an important fact that you discovered using the Internet, which most people in your organization do not understand.
Week 6
1. Identify a new technology which you believe may have a significant influence on economic growth in the future. Explain why you believe that this technology will be important.
2. How can your company keep up to date on technological developments, which can benefit its business?
3. What can you personally do to keep your own technology skills and knowledge up to date?