IXP Course: Malaysia; Unstuck from the Middle - Harvard Business School MBA Program

IXP Course: Malaysia; Unstuck from the Middle

Course Number 6035

Associate Professor Diego A. Comin
Several on-campus meetings during the Fall and Winter Terms
Program fee & travel costs (see details on financial aid eligibility)
January Term travel
1.5 credits applied toward Winter term requirements
Enrollment: Limited to 30 students

Career Focus

This course is intended for future business leaders who have an interest in understanding the challenges and opportunities of emerging markets and in particular of open developing economies. The primary focus of this course is twofold. First, we will study how companies can move up in the value chain. Second, we will study what type of government policies can facilitate this transformation.

Educational Objectives

Through a series of field exercises and projects conducted by the students in teams, the IXP is design to attain the following educational objectives:

  1. Understand the challenges of globalization for business and countries.
  2. How countries and companies in developing countries are reacting to the rise of China.
  3. Understand first-hand the new economic development strategy of Malaysia to move away from cheap manufacturing to higher value-added products and services.
  4. Provide a hands on educational experience on the challenges faced by companies when trying to move up in the value chain, what are the constraints they face and help them design business plans to overcome them.
  5. Study the politics of reform and how racial conflicts shape economic policies in Malaysia.
  6. Evaluate the success of the New Economic Model over the last two years and its prospects.

Course Content and Organization

The course will combine student projects with field exercises and some meetings with key business and political leaders. All of these activities will allow us to obtain a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities in some key sectors of the economy as well as to evaluate whether the government strategy to foster growth is coherent with these challenges and opportunities.

Field exercises: Several field exercises will allow students to get a first-hand contact with Malays and develop their own assessment on some of the most contentious issues such as the degree of racial harmony, the effectiveness of the education system, whether companies can move up in the value chain, etc.

Meetings: We will take advantage of the very strong links between HBS and Malaysia to meet collectively or by groups with key business and political leaders.

Sectors: Sectors studied include commodities, tourism, electronics, logistics, banking/ institutional investment.

Projects: Students will be organized in groups and each group will conduct one project about one of the central questions that motivate the IXP. Projects will allow students to interact directly with our Malays partners.

Prerequisites

BGIE

Course Credit and Fees

Students who successfully complete this IXP will earn 1.5 course credits, which will be posted in the Winter term. HBS will provide in-country logistics for IXPs (including accommodations, select meals, and local travel) but students will need to contribute a fee of $2,500 towards defraying a part of these costs. In addition, students are responsible for their round-trip air travel to Malaysia. Students who have applied for financial aid may submit for additional financial support to participate in this IXP. Please see the Financial Aid website for more information on financial support for IXP courses.

Please see the IXP website for information regarding student accommodations on IXP courses.