CBA-317: Emerging Nations Study Tour: Cuba
Spring 2012
Travel: March 10–18, 2012
Dr. Susan Denbo, Legal Studies SWG 263 609-895-5466
Dr. Lauren Eder, Information Systems SWG 371 609-895- 5521
Supply Chain Management
Dr. Cynthia Newman, Marketing SWG 352 609-895-5512
Course Textbook and Cases:
Aviva Chomsky, Barry Carr and Pamela Smorkaloff, eds., The Cuba
Reader (selectionsto be determined)
Moon Handbooks: Cuba (Third Edition) (Christopher Baker)
Articles as Noted
Caribbean Sugar: Implications of European Connection
Biotechnology in Cuba
Note on Economic Sanctions on Cuba
A Note on the Cuban Cigar Industry
Course Description: This course will expose Rider students to the developing nation of Cuba. Following the demise of the Soviet Union in 1991, Cuba has been gradually opening up to the world following three decades of isolation. Cuba’s 12 million people represent the largest potential consumer market in the Caribbean. Cubans are not only aware of most American brands but demand for American products is great. Since the U.S. embargo against bilateral trade with Cuba was imposed in 1960, American businesses have been unable to enter an emerging market with long-term growth potential that rivals that of many Asian nations. Nevertheless, in 2001, the United States enacted legislation that created certain exceptions from U.S. sanctions: for agricultural, food products and medical exports, including medical devices and pharmaceutical products. Thus, there presently exist opportunities for U.S. companies to do business with Cuba even under the embargo. In a more recent development, the United States has just expanded the rights of Americans to travel to Cuba.
In 2008, Raul Castro succeeded his brother Fidel as Chief of State and President of Cuba. Since that time, the Cuban government has taken steps to privatize some segments of its economy. Due to its economic crisis, the U.S. economic embargo against Cuba, an excess of government employees and low productivity, the Cuban government has decided to lay off 500,000 employees in 2011 to cope with their growing State budget deficits. To ease this transition, the government will now permit self employment in Cuba in certain segments of the economy, including taxi drivers, hairdressers, private restaurants and the renting of rooms for tourists. Cubans who run these private businesses must buy a license and pay taxes. In April 2011, the Congress of the ruling PartidoCommunista de Cuba will meet and it is expected that significant changes to the system of economic management will be formulated.
The purpose of this experiential course is to familiarize Rider students with the people of Cuba and their history during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. We will examine the Cuban Revolution and attempt to understand why the revolution took place. We will trace the relationship between political change in Cuba and the influence of wider international forces and look at various sectors of Cuban society. We will also examine the impact on Cuba and the United States of the American embargo, the personal role of Fidel Castro in shaping the history of Cuba, the changes that have transpired since Fidel Castro ceded power to his brother Raul and the future of United-States-Cuban relations. Particular emphasis will be placed on a review of the Cuban business environment, healthcare system, tourism industry and legal system.
We will begin our exploration of these topics in four pre-departure classes at Rider during the Fall 2011 and Spring 2012 semesters. We will travel to Cuba in March 2012 and have one post-trip class meeting in April 2012. You will register for the course in Spring 2012.
Learning Objectives: This course is an interdisciplinary, experiential learning course. After completing the course, students will:
- Develop an understanding of national culture and how it affects local business practices and development issues
- Demonstrate knowledge about Cuba and its place in the global economy
- Develop another perspective of the United States, increased political awareness of the world and be sensitive to and understand news reports in the United States about Cuba
- Be able to clearly, concisely, and professionally communicate orally and in writing.
- Be able to perform research and use technological skills to locate, analyze, and evaluate relevant data on the global business environment from multiple Internet and library databases
- Gain a sense of self-confidence and independence that comes from international travel, while also developing an awareness and appreciation of the cross-cultural differences that impact different national approaches to business and global economic development.
Course Requirements:
1. Attendance, Participation and Homework: Attendance is mandatory at all pre-departure classes and at all scheduled activities in Cuba. Students who fail to attend these classes and activities without an approved excuse (e.g., documented medical situation) may NOT receive credit for the course. You are expected to have read, and be prepared to discuss, all assigned readings. You must also complete the written homework assignments for each class session. Your attendance and participation in all scheduled classes and activities and your homework will constitute 20% of your course grade.
2. Written Report and Presentation: To prepare for our trip, you will be responsible for researching one aspect of our itinerary and sharing your findings with the entire class. You must draft a 3-5 page written report of your findings and make a 15-minute presentation to the entire class. Your written paper will constitute 10% and your oral presentation will constitute 10% of your course grade.
3. Trip Participation, Personal Reflection Paper and Journal: While in the Cuba, you will keep a daily journal in which you will reflect upon your experiences and respond to directed questions that we will pose (see sample journal guidelines). You will also be expected to participate in all discussions while we are in Cuba. At the end of each business/cultural site visit, as appropriate, you will complete a Site Visit Questionnaire (see guidelines below). Upon the conclusion of the travel portion of the course, you will complete a Personal Reflection Paper (see guidelines below). Your journal, personal reflection paper and participation will constitute 25% of your course grade. Journals, Site Visit Questionnaires and Personal Reflection Papers are due on April 6th.
4. Research Paper: You are responsible for drafting a 10 page (typed, double-spaced) research paper on a topic related to the course content. The appropriate instructor must approve all research paper topics prior to departure. Your paper will constitute 25% of your course grade. You will also present your findings to the class during a post-trip class meeting in the spring. Your oral presentation will constitute 10% of your course grade. Research papers are due on April 20th. The oral presentation will occur on April 27th.
Course Logistics:
1. You must have a passport with a validity extending from September 18, 2012 or beyond. Apply for a new or renewal passport if you do not meet this requirement.
2. Health and Safety Issues.Travel overseas, especially to developing countries and emerging markets, may expose participants to health and other risks different from those that they may face at home. Although we will do our best to make participants aware of such risks and will make efforts to minimize risks, the ultimate responsibility lies with the participant. Participants are advised to check with the Centers for Disease Control and with the United States State Department for information on health and safety issues, respectively. (The Centers for Disease Control Travel Section provides a wealth of information on travelers’ health). Each participant must obtain, at his or her own expense, any vaccinations, inoculations or other medications considered appropriate for a prudent traveler to Cuba.
SCHEDULE OF CLASSES
First Pre-Departure Session: (Denbo): Friday, September 23rd: 5:30 PM-8:30 PM
Introduction to Cuba: History, Government, Economy, Culture and People ; Doing Business in Cuba
Aviva Chomsky, Barry Carr and Pamela Smorkaloff, eds., The Cuba Reader (selections
to be determined)
Second Pre-Departure Session: (Eder) Friday, October 21st: 5:30 PM -8:30 PM
Business and Information Technology Issues in Cuba
“Cuba, Communism, and Computing,” Communications of the ACM, G. M. Mesher, R. O. Briggs, S. E. Goodman, J. M. Snyder, L. I. Press, November 1992/Vol.35, No.1.
“The Political Economy of the Internet in Cuba,” Nelson P. Valdés and Mario A. Rivera,
“Explaining the Global Digital Divide: Economic, Political and Sociological
Drivers of Cross-National Internet Use,” Guillen, Mauro F. and Suarez, Sandra L.
Social Forces, Volume 84, Number 2, December 2005, pp. 681-70.
Third Pre-Departure Session: (Newman): Friday, February 3rd: 5:30 PM-8:30 PM
Cuba as a Tourist Destination; Ecotourism; Environmental Issues in Cuba
Tourism in Cuba:
“International tourism in Cuba: Can capitalism be used to save socialism?” Henry Louis Taylor Jr, Linda McGlynn. Futures. Kidlington: Aug 2009. Vol. 41, Iss. 6; p. 405
“Tourism and the state in Cuba: from the past to the future.” Richard Sharpley, Martin Knight. The International Journal of Tourism Research.Chichester: May/Jun 2009. Vol. 11, Iss. 3; p. 241
Ecotourism in Cuba
GOING GREEN Alicia Gough. Travel Weekly. London: Aug 2008, pp. 28-30
ECO CHIC Katie Weeks. Contract. San Francisco: Mar 2009. Vol. 50, Iss. 3, pp. 36-37
Environmental Issues in Cuba:
Fourth Pre-Departure Session: Friday, February 24th, 5:30 PM-8:30 PM
Student Presentations of Destinations
POST-TRIP SESSION: April 27, 2012: 6:00-9:00 PM: Dinner and Student Research Presentations
KEEPING A JOURNAL
Below are some guidelines for your journal. Remember that your journal, personal reflection report and site visit questionnaires will comprise 20% of your final grade. Take time each day to write in your journal; otherwise, the task may become too overwhelming.
You will be a participant/observer in two cities: Havana and Varadero. What do you see going on? How are the people dressed? Are people friendly to strangers? How do people interact? Notice the architecture, the way the streets are laid out, the traffic patterns, and the natural environment. Would you be comfortable as an American studying or working here? What kinds of problems are you having if you don’t know the language?
As we drive and walk around, keep an eye out for evidence of globalization in terms of familiar brands of products and services. What global brands do you observe? Are they presented in a manner that is similar to that with which you are familiar or are they presented differently? Does the presence or lack thereof, of global brands surprise you – why or why not?
At the end of your visit in each location…
- How did you spend your free time? Do you feel that you got to know the place?
- How did being here enrich your understanding of the culture of Cuba?
- What was your opinion of the food, the hotels, and the transportation?
- Would you like to visit these places again? Why or why not?
- Analyze our tour operators in terms of their “eco” practices. Were we good “eco-tourists”—why or why not?
At the end of the trip
- How do Cubans view their relationship with their natural environment? Do they have a different perspective than many Americans? Has Cuba adopted practices to promote environmental sustainability (for example, recycling)?
- How did it feel to be an American in another country?
ORGANIZATION/SITE VISIT QUESTIONNAIRE
Please review this Questionnaire prior to our organization/site visits and complete one Questionnaire for each visit. You may use the Questionnaire to help you formulate questions that you would like to have answered during our visit. Not every question will apply to every organization or site. If a question is not applicable, simply answer it “N/A.”
Your Name: ______
Organization/Site Name: ______
Date/Time of Visit: ______
Name(s) of Presenter(s): ______
1. What was your impression of the offices/physical plant/facilities of this organization/site?
2. What did you learn about this organization/site?
3. What were the organization’s/site’s biggest challenges?
4. What was the atmosphere in the organization/site (for example, do the employees/workers seem to work collegially with each other; did the organization/site employ both men and women and, if so, did male and female employees occupy similar positions)?
5. How did supervisors interact with their subordinates?
6. What benefits does the organization/site provide to its employees/visitors?
7. What procedures, if any, has this organization/site instituted to limit its “environmental footprint”?
8. In light of your knowledge and experience with American businesses/organizations/sites of similar type, what similarities and differences did you observe?
PERSONAL REFLECTION PAPER
Upon our return, you will draft a Personal Reflection Paper (no more than 3 typed, double-spaced pages) in which you will respond to the following questions:
- What amazed you?
- What disappointed you?
- What concerned you?
- What struck you emotionally?
- What did you think of the people you met? Socially? Professionally?
- Did you like them?
- Trust them?
- Feel comfortable with them?
- How did your social, moral, religious, and personal values compare with the culture of Cuba and with the people that you met?
- How did this trip impact your understanding of the trends and forces affecting the world today?
- What are the major forces of change in Cuba and what do those forces signify for the future? How is the Internet affecting Cuba?
- Do you think you have an adequate knowledge of history to gauge what is going on in the world today and where the world is headed?
- What do you envision your professional role to be over the next 20 years? How has this trip impacted your vision of your career future?