• Group 1
• Group 2
• Group 3
• Group 4
• Group 5
• Group 6
• Group 7

• Presentation Tips
• HTML & RTF Tips
• Group Process Issues
• Assignment 2

General Instructions 

There will be three group assignments in this course, each worth 20% of the final grade: 

a. NAFTA Chapter Briefing Note 
b. Industry Briefing Note 
c. Auto Strategies Under NAFTA 

The assignments were selected so the students could look at NAFTA from three different levels of analysis: country (macro level), industry (meso level), and firm (micro level). The first (macro) assignment focuses on the actual NAFTA chapters and side agreements; these were the key topics of debate at the country negotiator level. The second (meso) assignment looks at specific industries and how these industries have been affected by NAFTA. The third (micro) assignment examines the responses of particular auto multinationals to the NAFTA. 

The general procedure for handing in each of the group assignments is as follows (note that late assignments will lose points): 

[i] Each group must submit one copy of the assignment to each of the three instructors (3 copies in total) AT LEAST THREE DAYS PRIOR TO THE CLASS. 

[ii] Each group is also responsible for putting its briefing note on the class web site AT LEAST THREE DAYS PRIOR TO CLASS (i.e. assignments must be emailed to the NAFTA webmaster no later than 5 p.m. on the Sunday prior to the date the class meets). 

[iii] The group must provide the instructors at each location with a  Resource File  containing: (1) a copy of all background materials collected for the topic and (2) copies of all correspondence among the group on this topic (3 files in total). 

[iv] Students must provide individual and local team-evaluation reports to the three instructors. These reports will be used as one component of each student’s participation grade. 

[v] During the trilateral video-conferencing portion of the class, one member from each group will make a short (5 minutes) presentation on the group project. Students in the other groups are expected to have read all the group assignments and come prepared to (1) ask questions of the authors and (2) engage in a trilateral discussion of the overall contents of the assignment. The details of each assignment are outlined below. 
 
 

 Working in Groups 

Because of the investment in the trilateral character of the class, the assignments will be done in groups, with each group comprised of students from each of the three countries. While some of you may be disappointed that you are unable to pursue a research project of particular personal interest, we feel that the learning that will occur through the group assignments will give each of you an experience that is quite unique. 

Faculty will review student interests and capabilities carefully before striking the groups. We will attempt to create groups of six students, two from each location. This will require students to work together at two levels: local and cross-country.  GROUPS WILL REMAIN THE SAME FOR THE THREE ASSIGNMENTS. 

Groups will be set up following the class on January 14, 1998. Because the first assignment will be due early in the semester it is essential that students decide at the outset whether they will remain in the class or withdraw. As you will appreciate, withdrawals after the groups have been structured will pose a problem for those who remain. 

Because the working in groups electronically  across countries is likely to be a new experience for most students, it is important that attention be addressed to some of the issues that will have an impact on the capacity of the group to complete the assignments.  Among the issues that need to be considered/negotiated  by each group immediately after the group assignments are made is: 

[a] How will group decisions (e.g.  choosing the group topic for each assignment) be made? 
[b]Who will take the lead on each assignment? 
[c] How will tasks be allocated among the group? 
[d] How often should the group meet (weekly? Biweekly?) 
[e] What methods do members prefer for communications (email? Newsgroup?)? 
[f] What is the attitude of each member of the group to meeting deadlines? 
[g] How regularly do group members read their email messages and respond to them? 
[h] What happens if someone gets sick? Does not perform his/her assigned task? 

We recommend that the Texas A&M students, because the NAFTA WWW page is maintained at TAMU, be responsible for converting each of the three group projects into HTML format and for giving the converted projects on disk or by email to the NAFTA Webmaster for installation on the NAFTA WWW home page (see below). 

Because this is the first time this course will be taught in a distance learning format, we are particularly interested in obtaining your feedback as we move through the course. This feedback will help us address any problems that might arise during the semester and should enhance the quality of your educational experience. With this in mind, we have asked Dr. Zoe Barsness, Assistant Professor of Management at Texas A&M, to be Team Facilitator for the three classes.  She can be reached by email at zbarsness@tamu.edu. In addition, Carole Dence, of Carleton’s Teaching and Learning Centre, can also  be approached by Carleton students who may have questions arising out of the class format.  During the course of the semester, you may be asked to provide feedback to the Team Facilitator (i.e. answering occasional questionnaires). These will be developed with reference to course concepts and projects, and will be fully debriefed in the classroom. Participation is strictly voluntary. Your contributions will help improve the quality of distance-learning education at the three universities. 
 

• Rich Text File (.rtf)
• Word 97
• Word 6.0

• Rich Text File (.rtf)
• Word 97
• Word 6.0

• Rich Text File (.rtf)
• Word 97
• Word 6.0 : part 1, part 2

• Rich Text File (.rtf)
• Word 97
• Word 6.0 : part 1, part 2

As a part of our efforts to enhance your learning experience and to continue to refine and improve this course, we will be asking you to complete a values assessment questionnaire and four short group reports during the course of the semester.  The values assessment questionnaire and group reports focus on cultural values and your approach to managing groups. 

Your input is critical for two reasons.  First, in this course you will be studying the political, business, and regulatory environment in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. in order to enhance your understanding of the impact of NAFTA and public policy more generally.  To operate effectively as a policy maker, it is important that you understand the cultural as well as political, economic, and regulatory context in which you work.  The trilateral structure of this course offers an excellent opportunity for you to develop a better understanding of the three cultural contexts that influence the NAFTA policy making process and the success of NAFTA policy initiatives.  The information that you provide on the values assessment questionnaire and group reports is designed to help us and you understand these cultural contexts more fully. 

Second, as a manager and/or policy maker, an ability to perform in groups is critical.  Since it is important for you to experience group situations, you will be assigned to a transnational project team for the duration of the semester.  Through your work on the group projects in this class, we hope that you will enhance your understanding of how to manage groups and cross-cultural teams more effectively.  As a part of our efforts to evaluate the group facet of the course, we will be asking you to complete a short group report at the completion of each group project.  Each of these reports is to be completed individually and should turned in on the same day that the group project is due.  We will provide more information about each report the week before each group project is due. 

We are also asking each group to keep a FULL RECORD of all their electronic interactions.   If your group runs into trouble, it will be helpful for Dr. Zoe Barsness, the team facilitator, to have an electronic history of your group interactions.  Please send copies of all your electronic mail messages and chat room transcripts to the following email address:   User10@cgsb.tamu.edu.  To do so, simply add this email address to the “cc” line at the top of each of email you send. 

By enhancing our understanding of how you manage your transnational teams, we hope to improve the educational experience that the course offers to students in the future.  Please be assured that your responses on the values assessment questionnaire and group reports are completely confidential.  Your responses will not affect your grade.  At the end of the semester you will receive individual feedback directly from the course’s team facilitator.  This information will be sent directly to you.  In addition to individual feedback, you will receive information about cultural (U.S., Canadian, & Mexican) as well as University (A&M, Carleton, ITAM) averages so that you may compare your individual results to those of your classmates.  Under no conditions, will any individual responses be made public. 

Please feel free to contact Dr. Zoe Barsness, the team facilitator, if you have any questions or concerns or if your team encounters any problems during the semester.  She may be reached at the following email address:  zbarsness@tamu.edu. 

Thank you very much for your cooperation and enthusiasm!