Assignments and Grading

Assignments and Grading:

The grading for the course is allotted for the following course requirements.

(1) Pre-Departure Assignment15%

(2) Final Investment Recruitment Pitch (In Doha)30%

(3) Professionalism in Guest Lectures and Site Visits15%

(4) Final Report40%

(1) Pre-Departure Report: DUE December 2 by 5:00pm

SUBMIT BY EMAIL WITH FILE NAME: lastnamefirstnamefirstreport.doc

Each student will write a two page paper to be submitted prior to departure. All of you need to read the three required articles. Then write a paper that addresses the following three questions:

1. The three articles were written at different times (2000, 2006, 2011). Based on these three articles what do you see as the evolution of our understanding of clusters over the past decade?
2. How do you believe regional cluster theory can be most effectively used for policy making decision- making?
3. How do you believe regional cluster theory can be most effectively in impacting company strategic decision-making?

(2) Investment Recruitment Pitch

In this course I have set up a hypothetical situation based on real circumstances. The overall scenario is that SolarWorld ( SunPower ( EWTInternational ( Vestas ( and Bright Source Energy ( are considering some form of direct investment (R&D facility, component and/or product manufacturing plant, etc.) in Qatar to take advantage of the momentum in green building/development. The companies and region are real and some of them may actually be contemplating such a strategic move (while some of them may not be).

Your team will be assigned one of these companies. Then your team will utilize the course content, including readings, lectures, guest lectures and site visits, to develop an ‘economic development’ pitch to incent the assigned company to invest in Qatar. The approach your team takes will be based in our study of the competitive advantage of nations, economic clusters and firm strategy.

Your team will gradually build up to its 10 minute pitch; a visual portion of the presentation is expected.

- Class 2: We will discuss each team’s pitch concept – the angle your team is going to take.

- Class 3: Your team will make a 2 minute pitch. The focus will be a Cluster Assessment.

- Class 4: Your team will make a 5 minute pitch. The focus will be Cluster Assessment + “Fit-1” (Renewable Energy and Qatar)

- Class 5: Your team will make a 7 minute pitch. The focus will be Cluster Assessment + “Fit-1” (Renewable Energy and Qatar) + “Fit-2” (The Company + Qatar Industrial Policy)

- Class 6 is the final presentation – a 10 minute pitch. This final pitch will include at least the following: Cluster Assessment + “Fit-1” (Renewable Energy and Qatar) + “Fit-2” (The Company + Qatar Industrial Policy) + “Fit-3” (The Company + Qatar Market)

(3) Professionalism in Guest Lectures, Team Assignments and Site Visits

Student participation in all classes and site visits is encouraged. In addition, equal contribution to the team-based assignments (pitches, final report) is required.

(4)Final Report –Regional Investment Opportunity Assessment

The Final Report flips on end your team’s Pitch. In the pitch assignment, your team played the part of Qatari officials trying to entice foreign investment. In this final report, you are now in the position of the company’s executive leadership team presenting to the company’s board of directors. The BOD has requested a significant analysis of the investment opportunity and clear rationale for a ‘go/no-go’ decision. You will write a 10 page research paper on Qatar’s cluster-related competitiveness and the prospects for such an investment. The paper is due by 5 PM on January13th. Paper should be submitted electronically.

Here is the recommended outline for the Final Report:

Regional Economic Cluster Analysis – Renewable Energies/Solar or Wind
Demand Conditions
Factor (Input) Conditions
Related and Supporting Industries
Context for Firm Strategy and Competition
PLUS: Quality of the National Business Environment
Company Strategy and Structure
Global Structure (HQ, regional operations)
Product Lines
Manufacturing and Sourcing Strategies
Pros and Cons of Investment Opportunity in Qatar
Conclusion and Recommendations
If ‘go’, then why, what, how and when
If ‘no go’, then why

Please double space your paper, use size 12 font, and leave a one inch margin on the top and sides. You are limited to 12 pages, but you may add appendices as necessary.

The paper should be based on extensive research on the industry and the company, utilizing materials that are intellectually sound. You should refer to the source of all major information and ideas within the body of the paper, utilizing the MLA convention of author, year and (when direct quoting), page number. For example, a source could be referenced as: (Levy, Taylor, & Boyacigiller, 2010). The full reference is then given in the reference list at end of the paper, in alphabetical order with the other references.

Your grade on the project will be determined as follows:

Overall quality of analysis:50%
Quality of research:20%
Course tools and concepts used:20%
Paper organization and quality of writing: 10%

Qatar Background Reading – Suggested/Recommended

Christopher Earley and Elaine Mosakowski, 2004. “Cultural Intelligence”. Harvard Business Review, October: 139-146. (in library electronic journals)
Abdalla, I. A. and Al-Homoud, M. A. 2001. “Exploring the implicit leadership theory in the Arabian Gulf States”. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 50 (4): 506-531.

Feghali, E. 1997. “Arab cultural communication patterns”. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 21 (3): 345-378.

Course Schedule: Topics, Assignments, Readings and Guest Lectures/Company Visits

Class 1: Global Competitiveness and Regional Economic Clusters

Saturday, November 17th, 09:00 to 12:00 @ PSU

Topics

Course Overview
Cultural Intelligence and Leadership Competencies
Regional Economic Clusters

Assignment

Pre-Departure Culture Report, Due December 2nd by 5:00 pm

Required Readings:

Porter, M. 2000. “Location, Competition, and Economic Development: Local Clusters in a Global Economy”.Economic Development Quarterly14: 15-34.
Cortright, J. 2006. Making sense of clusters: Regional competitiveness and economic development. Metropolitan Policy Program, The Brookings Institution: 1-46.
Next Generation Economic Clusters: Incubating and driving economic development. 2011. ATKearney.

Class 2: Regional Competitiveness in a Global Context: The Case of Qatar

Sunday, December 9, 13:00 – 15:30 @ Doha

Lecture/Discussion Topics

Competitive Advantage of Nations
Resource-based and Knowledge-based Economies
Qatar – Economic Overview

Readings

The Global Competitiveness Report 2011-12. Klaus Schwab, Editor: Geneva, Switzerland. World Economic Forum. (only read the sections on United States and Qatar).
Qatar National Strategy 2011-2016.
Ibrahim, I. and Harrigan, F. 2012. “Qatar’s economy: Past, present and future.”QScience Connect. Qatar Foundation.

Class 3: Assessment, Drivers and Outcomes: The Case of Green Development/Construction in Doha

Monday, December 10

9:00 – 11:00

Company Visit/Guest Speaker

Dr. Esam Elsarrag, Research Manager, Gulf Organization for Research and Development

13:00 – 15:00

Company Visit/Guest Speaker

Mohammed Al Jaber, Chairman, Al Jaber Companies

16:00 – 18:00

Class Topics

Assessment of Economic Clusters
Policies, Incentives and Voluntary Schema
Outcomes of Economic Clusters
Green Building/Development as a Regional Cluster

Assignment:Conversation about Initial Pitch Concepts – nothing turned in; not graded.

Readings

Collaborate. Leading Regional Innovation Clusters. 2010. Council on Competitiveness.
Alusi, A., Eccles, R. G., Edmondson, A. C., and Zuzul, T. 2011. Sustainable Cities: Oxymoron or the Shape of the Future? Working Paper (11-062), Harvard Business School.
Allen, J. & Potiowsky, T. 2008. “Portland’s Green Building Cluster: Economic Trends and Impacts”. Economic Development Quarterly, 22 (4): 303-315.
Mahroum, S. and Alsaleh, Y. 2012. “Demand-led related diversification: Green construction in the GCC as a prospective case.” Faculty & Research Working Paper. INSEAD.
GORD to establish Qatar as Middle East “Capital of Green Building” (at 27 April 2011. Qatarisbooming.com.

Class 4: Global Industries and Corporate Strategy: Renewable Energy as Supplier to Green Construction/Development in Doha

Tuesday, December 11

09:00 – 11:00

Company Visit/Guest Speaker

Issa Al Muhannadi, CEO, Msheireb (prior to this visit read the Msheireb Properties website at

13:00 – 16:00

Class Topics

Global Renewable Energy Sector
Renewable Energy as Supplier to Green Construction/Development
Global Strategy of Multinational Companies
Global Structure of Renewable Energy Industries

Required Reading

“Renewable Energy Coming of Age”, Journal of International Energy Agency.
Doukas, H., Patlizianas, K. D., Kagiannas, A. G., and Psarras, J. “Renewable energy sources and rationale use of energy development in the countries of the GCC: Myth or reality”. Renewable Energy, 31: 755-770.
Ghemawat, P. 2007.“Managing Differences: The Central Challenge of Global Strategy”, Harvard Business Review, 59-68 (in library electronic journals)