Case Studies for Business English

ECTS: 5
Department: TC
Degree level: 1^st year of Bachelor
Teaching contact hours: 22
Instructor: Joanna BASTIAN

Getting students talking in genuinely communicative business contexts (authentic company cases),
Understanding various aspects of business (from marketing to product development, communication to personnel management, in different countries and different types of company,)
Understanding different points of view depending on the position held in the company (managing director, plant manager, marketing manager, financial controller, etc.),
Working in teams, coming to a consensus, being able to communicate ideas effectively and influence the final decision
Using adequate business vocabulary in English,
Delivering effective oral presentation to present the final outcome to the rest of the class,
Preparing and using effective visual presentation materials

Changing names: a bicycle manufacturer, which has its head office in Italy and several factories around Europe, must decide if it needs to change its corporate name and to reduce the number of brand names it uses.
Polluting the river: an American manufacturer of refrigerators has been draining chemical waste from its manufacturing process into the river next to its factory. Managers meet to decide what, if anything, can and should be done about this pollution.
The chocolate factory: an Australian chocolate manufacturer must choose a site for its new factory, which will manufacture a new range of handmade products for its own specialist outlets.
Other cases might be added depending on time available.

Group of 28 students: mostly case studies (groups of up to 6 students) worked during weekly 2-hour sessions (with preparatory and follow-up sessions)

Intermediate assessment (efficiency of teamwork)
Final oral exam – group presentations of the final decision(s) and recommendations

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