Course Pack

Brazil March 2024

Table of Contents

Briefing

Briefing for Brazil:
13 February 2024
18h00-18h45

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88938864522?pwd=V1FsbC9rMlNIYmkrUUU4Q1N5L2tndz09
Meeting ID: 889 3886 4522
Passcode: 314912

Brazil-Study-Tour-Briefing-Presentation.pptx-1

Overview

Brazil March 2024

Brazil, a Portuguese-speaking country, occupies roughly half of South America and is currently emerging from a deep economic recession which has resulted in prolonged decelerated growth. In 2015 and 2016, the Brazilian economy faced a negative growth rate due to political instability, high unemployment and unfavourable tight credit conditions (World Bank report, 2017). Despite the challenges, Brazil is Latin America’s largest economy with rich biodiversity, abundant agricultural, mineral and energy potentials, coupled with enormous internal growth potential.

 

As global leaders, it is vital to understand the business and socio-economic cultures of countries around the world. This course is an on-field, unique learning experience that exposes students to these key issues:

  • Review the history, social-cultural background, and political economy of Brazil.
  • Overview of Brazil’s economic performance.
  • South African corporate investments in Brazil.
  • Brazil’s economic success and challenges.
  • Degree of Brazilian interest in South Africa and the African continent.
  • Nature of global investment in Brazil.
  • South Americans (in particular Brazilian) employees’ values and behaviours.
  • The risks and opportunities of doing business in Brazil.
  • The central role of politics when doing business in South American countries.
  • Private enterprise and the specific challenges facing start-ups.
  • The special and evolving characteristics of capital markets and related risks in Brazil.
  • The emergence of an increasingly powerful middle class and its impact on the consumer market and corporate social responsibility.

This study tour exposes students to different economies and cultures in various destinations, as well as different organisations in Brazil,  including business schools, government agencies, state-owned enterprises, and private corporations.

 

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

  • Draw on contemporary knowledge about business practices in Brazil that will assist them to appraise the basics and standard protocol of interactions with the business environment in that country.
  • Critically assess the economy of Brazil and determine the strengths and weaknesses of Brazilians for doing business.
  • Compare and contrast different cultures and the way of life in Brazil in relation to that in South Africa.
  •  Evaluate and analyse business models of selected companies in Brazil.

This study tour underpins all other MBA courses as it contributes to the overall MBA qualification by providing a capstone integrated learning experience in which students can bring to bear their knowledge of the entire MBA programme to analyse foreign economies and businesses in those economies. In addition to this, the tour directly supports the core themes of the MBA in terms of critical engagement within the context of South Africa and also issues of sustainability.

Decisions and methodologies that students are exposed to during their company visits and cultural in-country interactions—from Strategy to HR to Operations to Marketing—are expressed as the underlying issues and learnings of this course.

 

Curriculum linked to the context in South Africa

This study tour draws on various South African companies’ experiences in different markets. The extensive use of company site visits highlights comparisons between the same companies’ operations in South Africa and Brazil.

 

Curriculum linked to the  context in African and other dynamic emerging market economies

The overarching objective is to identify the opportunities for growth on the African continent,  as well as the challenges faced by African countries, such as the slow-down of the Chinese economy and the associated drop in commodity prices. The impact of these global issues on individual African countries and major firms in those countries is explored in order to stimulate students to start considering these issues at a management level.

 

Sustainability

The visits to companies and institutions that form part of the study tour,  address the optimal overall resource allocation in economies and the role of this allocation in free markets and command economies, or mixtures of these, in Brazil.

 

Entrepreneurial action

The visits to companies and institutions provide the students with insights into innovation and entrepreneurial actions and (managed) risk-taking, thereby guiding them to make decisions at a management level.

 

Critical engagement

By focussing on examples of successful and unsuccessful business ventures in Africa and other emerging markets, the course enables students to acquire a better perspective on foreseeable and unforeseeable consequences of business decisions and actions.

Course assesment and assignments

Essential Readings
  1. Abreu, M. (2004). China’s emergence in the global economy and Brazil. No. 491. Department of Economics PUC-Rio (Brazil).
  2. Batten, J. A., Szilagyi, P. G. and Wong, M. C. S. (2014). Stock Market Spread Trading: Argentina and Brazil Stock Indexes.” Emerging Markets Finance and Trade 50.sup3, 61-76.
  3. Berg, J, and Sandrine C. (2007). The Doing Business indicators: Measurement issues and political implications. Geneva: ILO.
  4. Lael, B. and Martinez-Diaz, L. eds (2009). Brazil as an economic superpower? Understanding Brazil’s changing role in the global economy. Brookings Institution Press.
  5. Hallward-Driemeier, M. and Lant, P. (2015) “How business is done in the developing world: Deals versus rules.” The Journal of Economic Perspectives 29, 3, 121-140.
  6. Mercenier, J. and Sousa, M. C. S. “Structural adjustment and growth in a highly indebted market economy: Brazil.” 1994. op. cit (1994): 281-310.
  7. Neto-Advogados, Pinheiro. Doing Business in Brazil. Juris Publishing, Inc., 2013.
  8. Nayyar, Deepak. “China, India, Brazil and South Africa in the world economy: Engines of growth?” Southern Engines of Global Growth 1 (2010): 9-27.
  9. Peng, M. W., Wang, D. Y., & Jiang, Y. (2008). An institution-based view of international business strategy: a focus on emerging markets. Journal of International Business Studies, 39, 920-936.
  10. Sinha, M., & Sheth, J. N. (2017). Growing the pie in emerging markets: Marketing strategies for increasing the ratio of non-users to users. Journal of Business Research (May), 1-8.

The course assessments will be weighted as follows:

  • 75% Individual assignment
  • 25% On-field syndicate assignment
    No examination

Please note: A student is required to sign and attach the WBS Plagiarism Declaration to each assignment submitted

 

Pass Mark Requirements

In terms of the Standing Orders, to pass a course a student is required to achieve a final accumulative average of 50% for a pass mark, and a subminimum of 35% in the examination. When an assignment is an exam equivalent, failure to submit on time will result in a student being ‘failed absent’, with the result that the student will be failed off the programme.

Purpose:

Based on the above MBA core themes, students will be exposed to experiential and on-site learning. Thus students will need to contextualise the selected country and company in line with strategic management decisions.

 

Objectives:

By the end of this assignment, you should have gained practical skills in assessing business opportunities in Latin America.  Your ability to conduct market sensing and due diligence will be enhanced. Finally, you should be familiar with various business opportunities in Latin America.

 

Assignment brief:

Assume that you have recently been appointed as an organisation’s Head of International Markets. With consistent growth over the past 5 years, the Board of Directors believes that it is time to enter new markets to sustain further growth and profitability. So, your organisation has sent you on a business trip to Brazil. Your task in your new role is to determine, among other things, the business opportunities in Latin America, and in particular Brazil.

 

During your trip, you are required to address the following issues:

Is Brazil a suitable market for your organisation to enter for ONE of the industries discussed during your lectures in Brazil?

 

(Choose one industry ONLY.) You may also choose an industry that was not discussed, but with which you are familiar.

Some of the key issues to consider for this brief, are:

  1. Should your company enter Brazil? Why, or why not?  Motivate the reasoning and rationale for your decision.
  2. What business opportunities and challenges are present in Latin American countries?
  3. What are the cultural implications that your company may need to consider when entering these markets?

Instructions:

  • Your report must be 2 to 3 pages long (without references and appendices).
  • Please submit a hard copy to Karen Trent at the International Relations Office with a plagiarism declaration
  • Use 1.5 line spacing and a 12-point font.
  • Please ensure that you reference correctly, as per the WBS guidelines.

Penalty for late submission: For every calendar day, or part thereof, that your assignment is late, 10 % will be deducted from your marks.

 

Mark allocation criteria:  

Application of theories developed and learnt throughout the MBA programme 30%

Integration of theories learnt and experience acquired during the study tour 30%

Research and use of relevant data to complement the assignment 30%

Presentation: Referencing, style, presentation, etc. 10%

TOTAL: 100

Purpose

The purpose of this assignment is for you to think quickly on your feet. It’s fun and interesting. You will be put in a syndicate group and will need to work as a team. The purpose of this assignment requires you to think out of the box and familiarize yourself with the environment. As a suggestion, download maps, know the history of the country, all online attractions and all modes of transport.

 

At the end of this exercise, each syndicate group must provide the following:

  • A brief report on the success, challenges and lessons learnt during the exercise (maximum 500 words).
  • Pictures of the locations visited and any other thing of interest relevant to the task.
  • A short video summarizing the core of the assignment (professional editing not needed)
  • Provide receipts for the use of public transport and/or special facilities during the exercise.
  • Provide all the above (except receipts on a memory stick).

Details of the assignment will be provided by the tour leaders.

Assessment Weighting (%) Submission Date
Individual assignment 75% 27 March
Amazing Race 25% Check Schedule

Tour Schedule

This schedule is subject to change without prior notice and is to be read in conjunction with your travel itinerary.

Pre Tour Briefing (South Africa/Zoom)

Briefing for Brazil:
13 February 2024
18h00-18h45

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88938864522?pwd=V1FsbC9rMlNIYmkrUUU4Q1N5L2tndz09
Meeting ID: 889 3886 4522
Passcode: 314912

DATE WEEK DAY TRANSFER ACTIVITY CITY
1/Mar Fri Departure from Johannesburg Johannesburg South Africa
DATE WEEK DAY TRANSFER ACTIVITY CITY
2/Mar
Sat
09h30 Amazing Race Lunch Included (Finishing at 14h00)
Rio De Janeiro
15h00 Leave the Hotel
16h00 Samba Evening at Samba City
3/Mar
Sun
Leave Hotel 8h45
Rio De Janeiro
Maracanã (confirmed)
Lunch excluded
Leisure
4/Mar
Mon
YES
 Check out at 8h45
Rio De Janeiro
10h00 H.Stern (confirmed)
Lunch included
14h00 CCBB (Banco do Brasil Cultural Center – confirmed)
Depart São Paulo
DATE WEEK DAY TRANSFER ACTIVITY CITY
5/Mar
Tues
NO
 08h00 Prof. Aldo will meet everyone at the Hotel, leaving at 8h15
São Paulo, Brazil
09h00 – 10h30 DIRCO presentation at IBS
10h30 – 13h00 Lecture Prof. Luiz Carnier
13h00 – 14h00 Lunch included
14h00 – 17h00 Lecture Prof. Luiz Carnier
19h00 Evening Event
Leaving hotel at 8h00
6/Mar
Wed
YES
 09h00 Odontoprev (confirmed)
São Paulo, Brazil
11h30 – 13h00 Lunch included
13h30 – 15h00 Microsoft (confirmed)
16h00 às 18h00 Volkswagen (Field Marketing Management – confirmed)
Evening Leisure
7/Mar
Thurs
YES
 Embraer
São Paulo, Brazil
Lunch Included
Natura
Leisure
8/Mar
Fri
YES
 FIESP
Lunch Included São Paulo, Brazil
Consulate: Closing Ceremony
BBQ Farewell Dinner
9/Mar
Sat
YES
 Leave Hotel at 13h00
São Paulo, Brazil
Return to SA

N/A

Itinerary

Download Itinerary

Additional Info and Contact Details

Additional Information
Don’t forget your documents and chargers. Obtain the relevant adaptor when travelling outside South Africa.

 

Bring Formal Wear (School ties and scarves will be provided) and Business Cards for Company Visits.

Weather

Travel Tips

Maps

Kindly bring formal wear and business cards for company visits. The following dress code applies:

 

  • Conservative suits for men with subtle colours are the norm;
  • Women should avoid high heels and short-sleeved blouses;
  • Both men and women should wear subtle, neutral colours;
  • Casual dress should be conservative as well;
  • Men and women can wear jeans. However, jeans are not acceptable for business meetings.
EMERGENCY NUMBERS FOR THE TOUR LEADERS, HOTELS AND SOUTH AFRICAN EMBASSY:
SOUTH AFRICAN EMBASSY – BRASÍLIA, BRAZIL

Address
Lote 06 – Quadra 801, SHCS – Brasília,
DF, 70406-900, Brazil

Phone
(+55) 61 3312-9500

Email
brasilia.admin@dirco.gov.za

Dr Renee Horne is an International Political Economist. She joined WBS in September 2013 as a Senior Lecturer in Economics and Business in Africa.  She is also the WBS Management Advancement Programme Director, Chairperson for the South African Supplier Diversity Council (SASDC) South African Broadcasting Corporation Non-Executive Director and a member of the Institute of Directors in Southern Africa. Dr Horne is also a Senior Associate at the University of Johannesburg, School of Leadership.  Dr Horne holds five degrees, three degrees (BA – Law, Hons, MA) from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and two degrees (MSc and PhD – IPE) from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. Her area of interest is Business in Africa, BRICS economies, Macroeconomic Policy and Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment.

 

Experience: With more than 20 years’ experience as an award-winning political journalist, war correspondent, editor and political economist, Dr Horne has been acknowledged by government, business and academics as an expert political economist and journalist on Sub Saharan Africa and the Middle East.

 

Internationally, Dr Horne has advised governments, media, and business on the political and economic policy of South Africa, Iraq, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, and Uganda. She has worked extensively in regions and countries such as East Africa, Southern Africa, the Middle East, Europe, the United States and Brazil, etc. Dr Horne has worked with institutions such as Transparency International, Delta Economics, Royal Africa Society, Exclusive Analysis, Royal United Services Institute, BBC, SKY, ITV, SABC and the World Entrepreneur Society.

 

During this period, she interviewed politicians and high-profile personalities such as South African Presidents, Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki, Jacob Zuma, former Finance Minister, Trevor Manuel, former Palestinian National Authority (PNA) President, Yasser Arafat and former Israeli Prime Minister, Shimon Peres. Since 1994, Dr Horne has been a lecturer and guest speaker on Political Economy and International Relations in Africa and the Middle East at numerous institutions such as SOAS, the University of KwaZulu-Natal, the University of Rhodes and Johannesburg University, John Hopkins University, and the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Washington DC. Passionate about enterprise and skills development, she was also the Head of the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Unit.

Dr Simphiwe Goba

Company visits and activities

Visits
Company Website
CCBB – Centro Cultura Banco do Brasil (Bank of Brazil Cultural Center) https://ccbb.com.br/rio-de-janeiro
Cidade do Samba (City of Samba) – Carnaval Experience https://bileto.sympla.com.br/event/69173/d/198976
H Stern https://www.hstern.com.br/institucional/sobre-hstern
Odontoprev https://www.odontoprev.com.br/
Microsoft https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/about
Volkswagen https://www.vw.com.br/pt.html
Maracanã https://www.estadiodomaracana.com.br/historia-do-estadio-do-maracana/
Natura https://www.natura.com.br/a-natura/nossa-historia
Embraer https://embraer.com/br/pt/sobre-nos
FIESP https://www.fiesp.com.br/sobre-a-fiesp/

Student Commitments

Learning Contract and Student Commitments

Learning Contract

Please note, all visits and events on the global study tour are MANDATORY. Please refer to the standing orders regarding the tours. As a student you should review the Learning Contract and ensure you are fully aware of the methods and implications of the assessment approach as mark allocations cannot be changed retrospectively. If you have any concerns about the assessment you should raise this with your tour leader at the start of the course.

The Importance of Preparation for the Study Tour

The above readings should be read before departure. Students should also research on the companies that will be visited. The scope of this course covers a wide range of topics, thus a variety of readings have been carefully selected to provide different perspectives. It is essential that students focus on these readings and embark on company research. Appended with the readings are the links for ease of access. However, should you encounter any problems with the links provided consult the WITS library e-journals catalogue or consult the WBS Librarian.

Teaching Methods

Teaching emphasis in the MBA Global Study Tour is experiential and involves on-site action learning. The tour itself would entail visits to one or more destinations to provide broader international learning exposure for the student. Students should keep a learning log on insights that they gain from each business or organisation that they visit, and these logs are used for debrief sessions during the tour as well as to compile a post-study tour assignment on what they have learnt.

Legal Declaration of Indemnity, Undertaking and Consent
 
  1. The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (hereafter referred to as ‘the University’) has insured itself for its liability arising from the acts and omissions of persons acting on its behalf, and that its registered students, staff and individuals who are subject to the University’s rules, regulations, policies, procedures and standing orders as amended from time to time are insured during the course and scope of their registered courses and/or within the scope of University’s business. This is subject to the proviso that the University’s maximum liability will be limited, whether for a single or multiple events, to the extent that is covered thereof;
  2. When the University arranges for me to travel to locations which are outside of the University’s precincts, and when traveling in vehicles which do not belong to the University’s and/or are not driven by University staff, I will enjoy only such cover as referred to in Section 1 above, provided that I depart and travel from the University’s precincts and return to it from an excursion arrange by the University, on a route agreed upon in advance by the University;
  3. In cases where no fault can be attributed to the University, I hereby indemnify, absolve and hold harmless the University, its officials, employees, students and invitees in respect of any damage the property, death or bodily injury to/of myself and/or third parties, whether on/off the University precincts, or whilst engaged in any related activity to the University abroad; and
  4. I understand that I attend and participate in the WBS Global Study Tour in various designated countries around the world during specified periods at my own risk where the event falls outside the cover provided to or by the University.
  5. I acknowledge that I have read and understood the contents of this indemnity in every respect.
This document is applicable to all modes of delivery of the Global Study Tour from 2017 onward. 
 

Assessment Policy
All assignments, including the attendance of the Amazing Race and all scheduled visits to businesses, other organisations and cultural activities, is compulsory.

Failure to comply with this policy will result in an automatic failure off this course. A record of attendance at each prescribed tour activity will be kept by the Tour Leader and will be submitted to the International Office as a formal record for student assessment. Should a student fail (including as a result of non-attendance and failure to participate), the tour will have to be repeated.

A candidate who has not completed all the requirements for this tour by the end of the minimum period of study and who is permitted in terms of Senate Standing Orders to continue will be required to register again for this tour at the beginning of the following academic year and pay the relevant fee.

 

Registration for the Global Study Tour
A candidate is required to register and pay in advance for the Study Tour in order to be admitted to complete the course.

If a candidate wishes to amend his/her selection of destination, a prescribed period of time will be permitted as indicated by the Global Study Tour Coordinator. However, no changes to selection of destination will be entertained once confirmed.

 

International Applicants
Applications from international exchange and immersion students are welcome. All international students need to conform with the University’s requirements and the South African legislation that pertains to such students.

 

Credits towards MBA or MM to other degrees
Students may be granted credits for this tour at international partner schools however please note that the granting of credits is based on the credit weighting exchange between the WBS MBA and other international programmes.

 

Pass mark for this course
In order to pass the study tour, a student must obtain a minimum of 50% as a final mark subject to the subminimum rule.

 

Fees
Students must register for the Global Business Study Tour (BUSA 7442A) in order to pay the travel component cost for the study tour. Students will be advised as to the Rand value that has to be paid for the study tour of their choice. The deadline for the choice of study tour and payments will be communicated to students by the School’s International Office. Failure to pay the full fee for the Global Study Tour in advance or failure to attend the tour for whatever reason will still hold the student liable for the full amount as indicated for the selected tour package. Please note that fees may not involve the same costing as certain travel destinations are cheaper than others. Also note that whenever indicated students will be responsible for their own transport and cost of meals and incidentals on each tour. Tour leaders do not carry additional funds to allow for students who do not make personal provision for their own expenses.

 

Allocation of Marks
The mark composition for each assignment will comprise a combination of marks awarded for assignment projects and field work, both individual and syndicate work. The mark allocation for the course is detailed in the course pack.

Syndicates may apply to have non-performing members excluded from the syndicate mark for their assignment, or have a portion of the total mark allocated to the non-performing student.

 

Publication of Final Course Results
The results of the global study tour will be published by the Faculty Office as soon as possible, normally within four weeks from assignment submission.

 

Disputes and Grievances
Any disputes or grievances that arise as a result of the application of, or failure to apply, the provisions of these Standing Orders should be managed within the Faculty’s existing appeals and grievance procedure. Problems should always be resolved as close to the source as possible. The grievance procedure policy and applicable forms are available from the Faculty Office.

 

Code of Conduct
All students will abide by the daily dress code as indicated by the Tour Leader depending on the daily schedule of events and places visited.

Students are also advised that whilst they are encouraged to enjoy the tour, they are reminded that they are participating in a Wits Study Tour programme and are not traveling for their own leisure purposes. As such, the prime focus is on teaching and learning and at all times students will need to participate in all prescribed activities and field visits.

Students are advised to heed the guidance and instruction of the designated Tour Leader on each trip. In addition, students are advised to serve as professional ambassadors of Wits University and the Wits Business School at all times whilst on tour. Students are also advised to download a copy of the Wits Student Code of Conduct to familiarise themselves with the policy.

During visits, students are to ensure that all mobile phones are switched off.
Students are to be punctual for all visits, failure to attend a visit without a valid reason will render your attendance as incomplete.

Failure to adhere to the above could result in a disciplinary action being lodged against the student.

 

Recording of Global Study Tour Activities
Business visit sessions may only be recorded (by audio, images or video) with the express written permission of that organisation. Students will be required to agree in writing that:

    • recordings will only be used for purposes of their own private study and revision;
    • recordings will not be copied, shared, communicated, published or distributed in any format whatsoever and using any medium whatsoever, unless requested to do so by the lecturer;
    • unedited copies recordings will be provided to the lecturer if requested to do so; and
    • Copyright of all recordings remain the property of the University.

It is noted that infringement of any of these conditions may result in disciplinary action being taken against the student.

Standing Orders, Indemnity and Bio Forms

Click here to complete the Indemnity Form
Click here to complete the Standing Orders Form
Click here to complete the Bio Data Form
NB: To be completed before you leave.