Dimensions and Threads
The description of this program is "international service business management". This can analytically be partitioned to reflect three distinct dimensions:
- Functional dimension: In the context of the IBM SSME framework, this curriculum emphasizes management of services over science and engineering. Students are presumed to have work experience, and may be attending this class while in parallel with a day job. As compared to a traditional curriculum, functional foundations (e.g. marketing, finance, accounting) have been kept in mind, with the most relevant business issues today drawn to the fore.
- Sector dimension: As a way of drawing out intuitions on leading and operating a service business, cases (or less formally, examples) are discussed. Comparisons of services across a wide variety of segments (e.g. professionalism in nursing, customer service in restaurants, coordination in courier delivery) illustrate practices and conventional wisdoms that may be adopted or challenged in other service sectors.
- Cultural anthropological dimension: In the 21st century, information and computer technologies and open borders for shipping and travel have made international business a part of everyday life. Service business may operate multinationally, but each has evolved in a history from a country of origin, with adaptation to each new culture that it meets. Since a "global" business can not be understood as more than a stereotype, the approach in this curriculum is to build bridges. Thus, the challenge of globalization is understood as a bridge from the local culture (e.g. Finnish practices for Stadia students) to various foreign styles (e.g. Indian-style business, Chinese-style business).
Based on these three dimensions, the content is a blend of three threads:
- Conceptual thread: A broad and deep set of readings is provided to draw out the most essential ideas and issues in service businesses today. In the interests of currency, articles have been prescribed rather than multiple textbooks.
- Interpretive thread: Guest lectures from services practitioners (possibly supplemented by audio recordings or assigned television programs) can relay personal understandings of cross-cultural challenges and day to day work issues.
- Experiential thread: Students will apply their learning to a business research project with a real business — potentially one in which each is employed. This will be supported with introductory content on research methods and coaching by course instructors.
