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Cox School's MBA Students Learn Global Business Firsthand MBA Students Cast Themselves as Virtual Leaders Students Observe Business Practices in a Struggling Global Economy

DALLAS, Texas (SMU) -- SMU's Cox School of Business is sending all of its first-year MBA students on a global business experience beginning Friday, May 3, 2002. For two weeks, three groups of MBA students will visit either major cities in Asia (Taipei, Shanghai, Beijing, and Tokyo), Europe (Stockholm, Munich, and London), or Latin America (Monterrey, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro), as part of the American Airlines Global Leadership Program (AAGLP).

With each visit, the MBAs will focus on comparing industries and functions across regions and around the world, examining how marketing approaches vary among countries, how culture influences the manner in which business is conducted, and how government and trade regulation affect overall economic structure. They will present their findings and analysis of the international business environment at the AAGLP Symposium, May 23, 2002.

To better organize the preparation required before the trip and the analysis required afterward, each of the three geographic groups organized itself into a corporate leadership structure. Individuals were assigned different roles and responsibilities, from chief executive officer and external relations to accounting and corporate researcher. Under the leadership structure, the groups were able to more efficiently produce the 250-page business overview required to submit to faculty advisors before the trip. The structure will be utilized throughout the trip as well as during the Symposium.

Students consider this year's AAGLP to be an optimal opportunity to learn firsthand the keys of business practices. In a year where many countries are feeling the pressure of a struggling global economy, the Latin America group will visit one of the hardest hit countries. Ten years ago, Argentina was a growing economy, with gross domestic product expanding from $141 billion in 1990 to $298 billion in 1998. Now experiencing a complete collapse of its currency, the country is struggling to maintain political and economic stability. Corporate representatives in Argentina have encouraged the students to return this year, considering the experience to be a true representation of business education. In Argentina, the MBAs will visit Bank Boston, Frito-Lay, Ministry of Economics and Finance, and Repsol/YPF.

"The AAGLP gives our students a firsthand, extensive understanding of foreign business environments and complexities, a knowledge and perspective leaders need," said Linda Kao, director of MBA international programs at the Cox School. "Understanding business today requires understanding diverse cultures and histories as well as the global economy."

Each group of MBAs will visit 15 - 20 companies throughout its respective region, meeting with executives, managers, employees, and government representatives. They will tour well known multi-national corporations, including BMW, Ericsson, Embraer, Rede Globo, Sony, Motorola, and China's largest semiconductor plant SMIC.

In the months preceding their trip, the students participated in monthly orientation sessions with foreign consular representatives, global corporate representatives, government officials, and university experts, including the Consul Generals from Mexico and United Kingdom, Honorary Consul Generals from Sweden and Argentina, China's economic commercial consul, as well as representatives from the Federal Reserve Bank. When they return from their global visits, the students will participate in a symposium on the SMU campus to share their observations with the Cox School and the Dallas business community. David Cush, American Airlines vice president of international planning and alliances, will be the symposium's keynote speaker.

The AAGLP is a mandatory program unique to the Cox School. No other business school has ever offered an intensive two-week global program to an entire MBA class. Funded by American Airlines, AAGLP is also offered at no charge to the students. Over 40 companies around the world participate in and support this program. Sponsors also include Brinker International, Wells Fargo, and Dawson "Tog" and Allison George.

ASIA - AIC, AIG, Beijing 2008 Olympic Committee, BenQ, CitiBank, Compal, Hsingchu Science-Based Industrial Park, Ichia, Ito Yokado, Mitsubishi, Motorola, MTV, SMIC, Sony, TCC, UMC, U.S. Department of Commerce, VIA Technologies

EUROPE - Allianz, Bank of England, Bavarian Government, Bayerische Landesbank, BBC, BMW, Ericsson, Ernst & Young, EXEL, GlaxoSmithKline, HSBC, Kista Industrial Park, KPMG, Ledstiernan Venture Capital, Marks & Spencer, Ministry of Industry

LATIN AMERICA - ABN Amro, Alfa/Nemak, Andean Asset Group, Arcor, Bank Boston, Banorte, BMF, Embraer, Embratel, FEMSA, Frito Lay, Grupo Vitro/Crisa, IMSA, Light, Lojas Renner, Metalsa, Ministry of Economics & Finance, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Rede Globo, Sanchez-Devanny, Repsol/YPF