5th Term MBA-2016 MBA Program
Prof. Carlos García Pont
1/2 credit Academic Director Second Year
Prof. Jaume Ribera
jribera@iese.edu
MANAGING GLOBAL OPERATIONS
Introduction
There are many reasons why companies go global in their operations: growth (finding new, untapped
markets for the company existing products), efficiency (looking for economies of scale or economies
of scope, using lower cost resources), knowledge (getting skilled labour and talent in other countries,
acquiring technologies), competition (grasping first mover advantage in the new markets), etc.
The trend towards globalization usually occurs at selected stages of the value chain. Either the
company decides to enter a new market in a different country and start by opening a representative
office or a distribution center, or it decides to procure its products and services internationally and
sets up a purchasing unit in closer to the new suppliers, or decides to outsource part of the production.
But if the company is successful in its growth strategy it will likely end up having to manage operations
in a global context.
The course will leverage on the fact that it is taught in Shanghai and use China as an example, so, we
will explore global operations issues both for Western companies operating in China and for Chinese
companies going to Europe or America. You will have the opportunity to contact with managers of
companies based in those areas.
Objectives
Understand the key concepts and issues of managing operations in a global context, both for
manufacturing and service companies. Explore the globalization strategies of different companies and
discuss with some of their leaders the learning points after applying some of these strategies.
Learning Outcomes
After the course, participants will understand the key concepts and issues of managing operations in
a global context, both for manufacturing and service companies. They will be able to dissect the
globalization strategies of different companies and have relevant discussions with their leaders
regarding the current trends in operations globalization.
Competences
Understand the changing trends of globalization of operations in firms around the world, having
a working knowledge of how to analyze a decision to move globally or stay local, the rate of
change, the need to re-localize some operations, etc.
Being familiar with and able to contribute to the management of operating facilities in different
cultural environments
Content
The following issues will be covered during the course:
Factory networks: roles to play and how to optimize knowledge sharing.
The reversing offshoring trends. Is manufacturing and service delivery returning to Western
countries?
The globalization of solutions. How companies that decided to move from offering products to
offering solutions are facing their global growth.
The globalization of sourcing, manufacturing, selling, distributing and servicing.
Globalizing from a developed country to an emerging economy, and vice versa. What are the key
challenges?
Managing a globalized supply chain network. Global business risks.
Managing quality in a globalized supply chain network: preventing problems, inspections and
recalling defective products.
Methodology
This intensive course (two full dedicated days, from morning to evening, and a half day) will consist
of case studies, lectures, presentations by managers, panel discussions, and visits to local companies.
Evaluation
Participation in the activities and a summary of the learning log that the participants will complete
during the course.
Course Outline
In designing the outline we need to keep the flexibility to take advantage of the upcoming
opportunities, so it is difficult to establish a predefined outline. In previous years, we have visited (or
had visitors from) the following companies:
Chervon
Nader
Roca
Nokia Solutions Networks
Olympus Shanghai
Yangshan Deep-Water Port
Interchina consultants
Lifestyle Logistics
You can expect something similar in this year’s program.
Title of Session & Material
China business trends
InterChina Inside: Bigger is no Longer Better
1
Woetzel, J., Five myths about the Chinese economy, McKinsey Quarterly, Nov. 2015
Towson, J. & Woetzel, J., All you need to know about business in China, McKinsey 2014
Supply Chain risks
Case: KEL673 Nokia's Supply Chain Management
Huang, M. H., Eliminate the middleman?, HBR, March 2006
2
Cole, R., What Really Happened to Toyota? MIT Sloan Management Review. 2011 Vol. 52 No.
4
Simchi-Levi, D., Schmidt, W. and Wei, Y., From Superstorms to Factory Fires. HBR 2014
Global supply chains
Case: KEL725 Polaris Industries Inc.
3 Farrell, D., Smarter Offshoring, HBR 2006
Malik, Y., Niemeyer, A. and Ruwadi B., Building the supply chain of the future, McKinsey
Quarterly, Jan. 2011
From China to the world
4
PN-498-E Sourcing from China - Insights from a manufacturer
Maritime logistics: connecting the world
5
IIR072 Ribera & Castillo, Untangling the knots in the New Silk Route, Expert Insight IESE
World class manufacturing in China
6 Locke, R. & Romis, M., Improving work conditions in a global supply chain, MIT Sloan, Winter
2007
Globalization of a Spanish company: the case of Roca
7
Brennan, L.et al., Manufacturing in the world. Where next?, IJOPM, 2015
Factory networks
Ferdows, K., Shaping Global Operations. GCG. 2009 Vol. 3 No. 1
8 De Meyer, A., Vereecke, A., How to optimize knowledge sharing in a factory network.
McKinsey & Company. 2009
Globalization of Chinese companies
9 Tsai, H., Eisingerich, A., Internationalization Strategies of Emerging Markets Firms.
California Management Review. 2010 Vol. 53 No. 1
10 Supply chains for global luxury products
Professor Biography
Prof. Jaume Ribera
Professor of Production, Technology and Operations Management
Chair of the Operations Department, IESE Business School
Director of CRHIM – Center for Research in Healthcare Innovation Management
Port of Barcelona Chair of Logistics, CEIBS, China
Prof. Ribera served as Deputy Dean of Faculty at IESE Business School from 1993-2001. He is a founding
member and past president of the European Operations Management Association and was formerly
secretary of the U.S. Operations Management Association. He served on the editorial board of the
International Journal of Operations and Production Management and is currently on the Editorial
Board of the Harvard Business Review China and the Japanese Operations Management and Strategy
Association (JOMSA) journal. He has published teaching materials (case studies, technical reports and
electronic workbooks), academic research (Transportation Science, International Journal of
Operations and Production Management, etc.) and casebooks and textbooks on these topics.
Prof. Ribera has been active in consultancy in operations management, supply chain management and
project management and has extensive experience of working with private and public companies in
different sectors (textile, pharmaceutical, automotive, electrical components, etc.). He has also
participated as a consultant and project manager in health sector management projects in Spain, the
European Union, Central and Eastern Europe, and South America with private, public, EU and WB
financing. He was the president of the Board of Caixa Terrassa, Unnim Caixa and Unnim Banc, and is
currently chairing the charity foundation which evolved from these institutions.
