Prerequisites: Course is opened to MBA, MS and fifth year students who have completed required foundation courses.

Description: This two-week study tour course, from May 9, 2008 through May 24, 2008, will examine the rapid growth of high-tech companies in Ireland. Immersion in the Irish culture and environment provides the background for understanding Ireland’s technology-driven economic transformation over past decade.

The course will focus on the factors, policies and practices behind Ireland’s growing competitive advantage in the creation and expansion of high-tech companies. Government policies and business practices promoting increasing global competitiveness and investments in Ireland will be analyzed. Visits to local and international financial services, accounting, biotech, and other high-tech companies in Dublin, Galway and Cork provide insights on the infrastructure support, and management practices promoting success. Guest speakers from the Irish government and trade bureau, universities and the business community will present their perspectives and participate in discussions.

The culture, both urban and rural will be experienced in order to provide a unique perspective on the rapid Irish economic growth. The first week will be spent in Dublin with city walks and visits to cultural sites. On the weekend golf, hiking and special events are available. We will stay in Bed and Breakfasts the second week, meeting local people and experiencing the country life, music and local pubs.

Goals:

· Explore the characteristics of Ireland’s competitive advantage, and the reasons why this country has emerged as a global leader in technology.

· Determine the conditions promoting success of local, national and international technology-based companies in Ireland.

· Study the infrastructure supporting companies in Ireland.

· Understand the business climate in Ireland, and examine business practices.

· Identify lessons from Ireland for promoting the growth of high-tech companies in other countries and regions.

· Experience the culture of Ireland.

Course Requirements:

· A mandatory orientation is part of the course requirements. This will consist of two pre-trip sessions. The orientation will include lectures by the faculty course coordinators providing students background information on business in Ireland, factors promoting the development and expansion of companies, and requirements of hi-tech companies.

· Attendance is expected at all course-related lectures, company visits and cultural events in Ireland.

· Preview readings and answers to questions are required prior to departure.

· A research paper based on the information gathered through readings, company visits and lectures is due late June.

Readings:

See Blackboard or web site for copies.

Grading:

Topic	Percent	Comments
Attendance and class participation	20%	Active attendance and contributions expected at pre-sessions and morning lectures
Homework	20%	Assignment based on readings.
Journal	20%	Daily journal will contain reflections on the day and comments on economic and technical insights gained
Final Project	40%	A study and final report analyzing either the management of the technology or the system architecture

Project: After completing the readings, students will decide on a focus, either the management of technology, economic development, infrastructure requirements, or the system architecture. The topic must be submitted and approved prior to departure. Projects may be done individually or in pairs. Students will gather information through research and from the companies in Ireland. A research direction and questions to be asked should be developed early and notes acquired throughout the trip. Projects will be reviewed, revised, completed and submitted no later than July 1, 2005. Projects are expected to be 18 – 20 pages long not including the references. (Note: It is expected ALL material acquired from the web, company documents, written material or interviews will be cited).

Background

Driven in large part by innovation and technology, the Irish economy has outperformed industrial economies worldwide over the past two decades. Since 1993, average annual employment growth in Ireland has exceeded that of the European Union (EU) and the United States. Irish labor productivity has almost doubled over the past 20 years while unemployment has fallen from over 15% in the early 1990s to under 5% in the twenty-first century.

Reasons for Ireland’s dramatic economic transformation include: rapid export growth, significant inflows of foreign direct investment, and a well-educated and highly skilled workforce. Favorable demographic trends have played an important role. But more critical to building Ireland’s competitive strength has been public and private sector policies that create an environment conducive to success in the New Economy. Government policies regarding tariffs and regulations, for instance, have encouraged an openness to international trade; public support of research and development (R&D) and broadband infrastructure have promoted an openness and accessibility to new ideas. Companies in Ireland have fostered innovation, productivity growth, and high value-added exports.

Technology lies at the heart of the Irish transformation. Ireland recently has been ranked 13^th in a technology achievement index and 12^th in high-tech exports in the United Nations Human Development Report. The IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook has ranked Ireland in the top 10 most competitive economies. By the turn of the century Irish companies and consumers were spending more on information technology (IT) than any other European country. Moreover, along with the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, Ireland has been cited by the Legg Mason Precuror Group, as one of the “Broad Band Four” countries most likely to succeed in the New Economy.

Informatics, which includes software, communications, computer hardware and related services, is a vital segment of Ireland’s high-tech sector. Other key components include health care and pharmaceuticals, electronics, process control & instrumentation, and biotechnology. Among the leading IT companies are now located in Ireland are: Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, Microsystems, SAP, Hewlett Packard Apple, and Symantec. More generally, Irish companies provide high-tech goods and services to clients worldwide including 3COM, Seimens, Nokia, EMC, Fidelity Fujitsu, NEC, Pfizer, Motorola, Nortel, and Philips.