Bangalore, India, Study Trip

Smith MBAs to Visit Silicon Plateau of India

When you think about high technology and business education, the Smith School is one of the top institutions that come to mind. What about high technology and global business? India is surely one of the countries at the top of the list. Besides being the second most populous country and the largest democracy in the world, it is one of the fastest growing markets and an emerging global force on the world technology stage. Smith MBAs will explore this new Silicon Plateau early next year in their global field study trip to Bangalore, India, January 9-20, 2002.

India has earned a reputation for being a quality provider of software and a hotbed for technology companies. As businesses continue to globalize at an increasing speed, it is critical for managers to have a good understanding of Indias business progress and the opportunities and challenges that India offers to businesses worldwide.

Widely known as The Garden City for its beautiful landscape, vegetation and mild temperatures, Bangalore has recently emerged as the Silicon Valley or Silicon Plateau of India. The high-tech surge began in the mid-1990s and now hundreds of international companies have operations in Bangalore, including: Motorola, Oracle, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Sun Microsystems, and American Express.

Each year the Smith Schools Center for Global Business arranges international study trips for MBA and undergraduate students to provide a first-hand look at business operations around the world. The one-to-two week programs combine seminars at leading business schools and visits to executives. Cross-cultural team assignments, trips to historic sites, and social events ensure that Smith students leave with an appreciation of the countrys culture and people as well as its business environment.

The Bangalore study trip will be led by Venky Shankar, Ralph J. Tyser Fellow and associate professor of marketing and entrepreneurship, and Marty Gannon, professor of management and organization and director of the Center for Global Business.

There will also be a cultural trip to Mysore, a scenic neighboring city that boasts of the famous tourist attraction, Brindavan Gardens (pictured, left). A distinguishing feature of this trip is the student group project on a high-tech business issue of relevance to India and the U.S.

The Center for Global Business will accept applications until October 5, or until the class is full, whichever comes first. Enrollment is limited to 20 students. This is the only study trip for MBAs offered in Winter 2002. The Winter 2002 undergraduate study trip is to Cuernavaca, Mexico, January 7-25, 2002.