Business Finance for Non-Financial Staff

Although most trade theories conclude that the net welfare impact of trade is positive, those welfare benefits are not distributed equally, giving rise to somewhat predictable patterns of resistance and support for trade policy. Whereas economics predicts trade patterns on the basis of which country can produce which good most inexpensively, political economics recognizes the constraints to trade arising from these coalitions of resistance and support and their interaction with political decision making.

This one-day course develops participants’ strengths and competencies in performing a ‘size up’ – a detailed situation assessment and comprehensive review of strategic growth options for small to medium-size enterprises (SME) engaged in the B.C. export sector. During the course, participants will work in teams and learn an innovative approach to SME situation assessments (using the business diagnostics ‘size up’ methodology) along with an evaluation model to map optimal strategic directions.

This course presents the opportunity to discuss the implications of globalization forces and intercultural leadership amid polarizing shifts in political and ideological perspectives. We will introduce intercultural theories, models and tools to develop intercultural competences for professional life in international business. Participants will be engaged in self-assessments, discussions, presentations and the examination of critical incidents/case studies to experience practical dilemmas presented by various intercultural scenarios. We will explore their own unconscious and conscious culturally-based behavioural norms, expectations and assumptions to consider the perspectives of others. Finally, participants will develop strategies and methods for intercultural development.

During this one-day course participants develop a common language and shared understanding of the marketing concept and the similarities and differences between domestic and international marketing. Mapping a Canadian small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) journey to international expansion, and introducing the strategic international marketing planning framework, the course will strengthen the Ministry of Internation Trade's capabilities to support and advise SMEs in this journey. While the course focuses on international marketing from an SME perspective, the planning framework and tools are equally applicable to international goverment markeing initiatives.

This one-day course will develop participants’ strengths and competencies in performing a high-level assessment of the impact of strategy and change on an organization and its employees, and forecasting the likelihood of implementing wide-scale change successfully. During the course, participants will work in teams and learn an innovative approach to assessing the probability of implementing organizational change successfully.