Microsoft Headquarters in Paris

Microsoft is ever innovating, and during our visit we were shown a demonstration of Windows 7 and Microsoft Office 2010. These new versions have new, creative features and a sleek look. We were also shown some new computer technologies, namely a touch-table computer. What at first appeared to be a small coffee table ended up being a computer system operated by the touch of one’s fingertips.

Microsoft’s Paris headquarters is quite large and serves the French region. Microsoft has adopted a cultural approach through which it places virtually independent subsidiary offices in each region where it operates. Microsoft first began to penetrate Europe in 1982 when it began operating in the United Kingdom. The Microsoft offices throughout the world are considered subsidiaries to the Microsoft Corporation and are run by locals. This decentralization has made a significant difference in the way Microsoft operates around the world. Each subsidiary more or less operates on its own. This has helped increase the levels of responsibility and accountability that personnel take on in each of the subsidiaries. Microsoft Corporation places them in charge of marketing strategies in their respective areas. These local offices conduct surveys and do “experiential marketing” in order to determine the best strategies for the corporations various marketing segments.

Our visit to Paris was the epitome of a computer guru’s dream. The headquarters in Paris made me think of the things I’ve heard about the workplace at Google. There were a lot of conveniences and services that made it appear to be a great place to work. One thing that we students enjoyed was the vending machine that dispensed free drinks! One our way I heard students saying “I could work here!” The environment was clean, fun, convenient, and exciting.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization

NATO was organized in 1949 as a military alliance between several countries. The first members of the alliance included countries from Central and Western Europe, Canada, and the United States. The crux of the agreement stated that “an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all.”

The main purpose of NATO was to discourage the communist movement and neutralize any threat of Soviet invasion. According to James Snyder, an American civilian at NATO, the alliance is the reason we call it the Cold War. He asserts that NATO successfully dissuaded Russia from taking any military action or activating its missiles, such as those which were stationed in Cuba.

Owing to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, NATO’s initiative was activated for the first time. NATO’s 28 members stood behind the United States in mourning the loss of lives and in taking action against the perpetrators. Currently, NATO sustains 80,000 troops and other personnel in three continents. One point Mr. Snyder emphasized during this presentation is that “Americans are the not the only ones in Afghanistan.” Troops and personnel serving to promote stability in Afghanistan are from 42 countries. He also stated that NATO and the United States forces that primarily support it are not there establish democracy. There are there to remove threats and establish political and economic security. As he said, “You cannot have anything first except security.”

Since the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989, NATO’s mission has changed significantly. Since then it has been striving to re-define its role, and as apparent, it has focused its efforts on promoting security in the Middle East. For more information about NATO and efforts in Afghanistan see

The Afghan Star (video)

The War Briefing (video)

Return of the Taliban (video)

A Soldier's Dilemma in Afghanistan (video)

Talking to the Taliban (video)

Anheuser Busch - InBev

InBev is one of the world’s largest brewers and has four facilities in Brussels. We went to the brasserie produces the Stella Artois brand. We learned about how the beer is made from the ingredients to the brewing, fermenting, and bottling. It was fascinating to learn about the checks involved that ensure clean, quality processing of the beer. The company takes measures to make sure every can or bottle of beer is exactly the same. Our guide talked about the possibility of losing face with the world because of a mistake with even one bottle of beer.

As for the process of making the beer, barley is used for Stella Artois. The boiling process takes hours, and then large tanks are filled and the beer is allowed to ferment for one to two weeks. There are 72 tanks, and each holds 650 hectaliters, or 65,000 liters. They are huge cylinders 59 feet high and 24 feet in diameter. As I looked at these enormous tanks and pondered on the large number of them, it I was impressed by the investment that went in to building the facility. Before an ounce of beer could be produced, the entire plant had to be clean, complete, and working perfectly. At the bottling facility, recycled and new bottles are cleaned three times and then filled. Many measuring checks follow to ensure that each bottle is clean and that each bottle has the right amount of product. If a can or bottle does not measure up, an arm ejects it from the line.

The process is impressively clean and efficient. What intrigued me most is that the beer business could be considered “sinful,” yet the innovations this company has made in quality assurance technology are great examples for other food producers. What more, the company recycles and sells the byproducts of its processes so that most of it is reused rather than disposed as waste. The level of efficiency and quality assurance this company carries is astounding.

Huntsman Chemical Corporation

Our visit to Huntsman Chemical was fascinating and eye-opening as to how a multinational company in Europe operates. To begin our tour, we were debriefed by a safety director regarding safety rules and policies. We could immediately tell that the company vigorously strives to maintain a safe environment.

Huntsman operates all over Europe and allows its facilities a lot of autonomy. Many companies in Europe are decentralized, and they must be in order to be adaptable to the cultural variance. The past year and a half has seen a significant world recession, and Huntsman Chemical has made several adjustments in order to weather the economic storm. Nick Webster, a director at Huntsman Chemical, hopes that within the next year the company will be back on the same financial feet it was on before.

Huntsman Chemical supplies companies with various chemicals. They are used in industries such as plastic, automotive, textiles, footwear, construction, agriculture and health care. During our visit in Brussels we learned particularly about chemicals that are used for plastic products (such as polyurethane), insulation materials, chemicals for making foam padding, and adhesives.

It is important to note that Jon M. Huntsman, the owner and founder of this company, virtually funded our trip to Europe. In the fall of 2007, Mr. Huntsman donated some money to the College of Business at Utah State University, and the professors have used it to fund the Huntsman Scholars Program. The business school was thereafter named the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business in his honor. For more information about Mr. Huntsman and his many gracious contributions to the world, visit http://huntsman.usu.edu/htm/about-the-school/huntsman.

European Free Trade Association

EFTA was founded in 1960 as an alternative for countries that were unable to join the European Economic Community. It originally had seven members, and currently has four - Iceland, Switzerland, Norway, and Leichtenstein. It has offices in Brussels, Luxembourg, and Geneva, where we went to visit.

While visiting with an EFTA representative, we learned that one of the reasons behind EFTA's existence is to provide some independence and strength for those countries who do not want to join the European Union. Switzerland knows that it is in the middle of the European Union, but does not see necessity in joining. Membership in the EU requires extensive policital adaptation, or comformance with EU policy.

EFTA is small and based on what we learned, it could dissolve at any time. Yet it remains as a functioning organization and provides economic alliance between its member countries.

The World Trade Organization

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is headquartered in Geneva. It has 153 members, and its policies are made by consensus. With so many members and with the organization operating by consensus, it is very difficult to establish new policies.

We visited the WTO and had an opportunity to learn more about its operations. The WTO is an evolution of previous agreements that began in 1944 with a proposal that led to the creation of the International Trade Organization (ITO) in 1947. The ITO never effectuated any real change in world trade, but propelled the idea of open trade along with the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade which was also established in 1947. In 1994, the GATT led to the establishment of the WTO, which adopted the principles of the GATT and bore responsibility for their execution.

The effect of these organizations on world trade has been great, and currently, the Doha Round is underway in which the members are seeking to develop a policy that will abolish export subsidies in developed countries. Economically speaking, the WTO represents a great deal of progress in the world, yet there are many who oppose its movements, such as domestic workforce groups in and also environmentally conservative groups. Business and trade across the world are the cause of much harm to the environment.

One thing that I find particularly interesting about the WTO is that it does not nor can it impose its policies upon its members, even if they have previously agreed to them. The members work together to motivate members and non-members alike to adopt WTO principles. Members who do not comply will likely be subject to tariffs and other economic barriers from other members, which barriers may lead a member country towards conformance with WTO policy.

International Committee of the Red Cross

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a fascinating organization and accomplishes much good around the world. The ICRC provides food, medical services, family member reunion assistance, and even visits prison inmates in over 80 countries. The life of ICRC personnel requires language skills, relocation, a strong knack for negotiating, and the willingness to risk one’s safety. We learned from the mouth of one who had been all over the world in the name of the Red Cross.

The Red Cross originates from a Swiss businessman and social activist, Henry Dunant, who witnessed a terrible battle in Italy. He consequently wrote a book promoting the establishment of relief committees and rules of war. This led to the eventual creation of the ICRC, which today is supported by every country in the world save seven.

The Red Cross maintains its strategic position through neutrality and offers aid and relief to both sides when it comes to war. The Red Cross encourages countries and groups to keep the universal Rules of War and to uphold the International Humanitarian Law (IHL). I had never learned about the ICRC, and to say the least, was moved by the good it does in the world. I felt like I had been in the presence of a saintly organization. Our group left with a challenge to choose something specific and commit to doing it in an effort to make the world a better place.

• For a special highlight of the ICRC, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2zLOi8egz8

Crédit Agricole

As of January 2009, Crédit Agricole (CA) and Société Générale (SG) agreed to merge their asset management (AM) operations, known as CAAM and SGAM. Marie-Pascale Bonhomme, a managing director at Crédit Agricole, visited us in Switzerland and provided an interactive presentation. Both of these notable banks are located in France, and Crédit Agricole is the largest retail bank in Europe with 58 million customers in 74 countries.

As part of her discussion with us, we divided into several groups and brainstormed about the issues surrounding the merger effort. My team focused on the legal aspects, and the main issues we identified were anti-trust laws and workforce reduction. Just like in the United States, laws are in place to prevent monopolies from being created, and Crédit Agricole being such a large institution, it would likely be required to defend itself in that vein. Although I knew beforehand that laying someone off in France is more difficult than in the United States, it didn’t dawn on me until this discussion that it could be such an issue. Unions have a strong influence in France, and companies must provide explanation that there is no other suitable job and report why the person is being let go. Furthermore, regulations exist that require companies to offer large severance packages.

Marie’s presentation gave me a different look into businesses operations in Europe, particularly in France, and the implications of the merger coincide well with what I have learned about French culture. Most pointedly, the people place a high value on job and economic security, and the national policies strongly reflect it.

The McRaclette and the McM

McDonalds is just about everywhere, including Switzerland and Belgium, yet it’s not the quite same. In Switzerland, the featured menu item was the McRaclette, a large burger by American McDonald’s standards, with a round beef patty and a square bun. It came with pickles, sauce, and of course, a plenty of raclette cheese. A delicious burger, but by my wallet, not a great bargain. The Swiss franc is currently worth about 98 cents, and the burger alone came to 7.10 in francs. In Belgium, the big feature was the new “M” or McM burger. Made with a popular Belgian roll, the McM was also a large burger by McDonald’s standards and had a beef patty, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and a tangy, white sauce. The economics being a little different in Belgium, the burger was €4.50 in Euros, which equates to $6.75 U.S. dollars.

So, one might ask, why is the food more expensive than in the United States?

- Food is generally more expensive in Switzerland and Belgium
- Costs due to offshoring could play a part, since McDonalds is an American company
- In Switzerland and Belgium, McDonalds is not perceived as “fast food” like it is in the United States.
- McDonald’s food is quite arguably of better quality than that which is served in the United States. To add some validity to that, today I heard a native Indian talk of how he will not eat at McDonalds in the United States and he misses the McDonalds food that is served in India.

Despite having many twists depending on where in the world a particular McDonalds restaurant is located, the McDonalds I visited it carried some American qualities that are not always characteristic of restaurants in Switzerland and Belgium.

- Water was available at no extra cost
- Restrooms were available at no extra cost
- There was a play-place for kids

One might argue that I wasted my time going all the way to Switzerland and Belgium and ending up at a McDonalds. Even though I was visiting an American company, I ordered in French. I can say it was well worth the experience, and as you can see, it offers a lot of insight into the way things work throughout the world.

Swiss Grapes, Cheese, and Government

When we first arrived in Switzerland it was astounding to see all of the grape vineyards that line the mountains. Saying that juices and wines are an integral part of Swiss culture would be an understatement. Dominique introduced us to his vineyard and we put ourselves to work picking fresh grapes. I had supposed that the art of producing juices and wines was a passion for them, but I was still amazed as Dominique shared his knowledge about the grape vines – when to prune, when to pick, when to prepare them against the onset of winter. He also talked about the process of making juice and of making wine. The Swiss love their wine, and it shows in the fact that only about five percent of Swiss wine is exported.

Dominique also talked about raclette and the work involved in making the fine tasting cheese. The name “raclette” actually comes from the French verb racler which means “to scrape.” The cheese is made in wheels. In preparation for eating, a wheel is cut in half, then a warmer is used to melt the flat side of the half-wheel and the melted layer is scraped off onto a plate. In general, Swiss cheese is also a significant part of the culture. It is a common menu item at every meal, whether to eaten plain, or placed or melted with something.

Dominique also presented for a few minutes on the Swiss government, which has some similarities to the U.S. government system. The legislative wing or parliament is bicameral, being made up of the Council of States and the National Council. The executive wing is called the Federal Council and is made up of seven ministers, of whom one serves as the president. There is of course a judicial wing which is titled the Federal Court. Considering the Swiss system from my perspective as a traveler, it was interesting to notice how orderly everything seemed. The country is very clean, the drivers were very courteous and did not drive fast, and the trains were always right on time. The Swiss are very orderly and, in general, seemed to be strong law-abiding citizens. One last notable feature about the country is that it is the home of three languages. The west side is French speaking, the south side Italian, and the east side speaks Swiss-German. Most people in the Italian area were bi-lingual, speaking both French and Italian, but the French and German speaking regions were not as linguistically accommodating to their neighbors.

Don Linford & Banco Itau

Banco Itau is an organization of notable size and is furthering its propensity towards growth by its current merger with Unibanco. It is one of the largest banks in Brazil and accounts for 11 percent of the Brazilian Market. It also has banks throughout the world, including New York, London, Tokyo, and Shanghai.

Don Linford serves as the head of International Securities Operations for Banco Itau. As he joined with us in Switzerland it was a great experience to meet with him and have him present to us about his work and his advice for us as prospective international business people. I was intrigued by his background and his yearning for an education despite growing up on a farm and in a family that did not consider or support the idea of higher education. Don shared his philosophy about luck – there is none, and if there is a definition for it, it is when preparation meets opportunity.

He shared other philosophies about how to approach life and work. Despite his accolades and successes as a businessman, he said, “I do not feel like I am successful. There is still more I want to do, more growing for me to do.” His insights were meaningful to me, yet it was hard to be completely persuaded by him. As I thought about family and work-life balance, and I didn’t feel like he had a healthy one. Still, his experience and words of wisdom were powerful and very applicable, and I gained a lot from his presentation.

Day with Dean Douglas Anderson

Dean Anderson is an amazing individual, and I’m grateful for the opportunity we had to visit with him and have a more individual experience with him. While at the Bel Air Hotel in Switzerland, we spent a day in the breakfast room and had an interactive presentation with him. We learned about his background as a Harvard professor, an entrepreneur, a professional business consultant, and as a counselor to the Secretary of the United States Treasury.

As we met and conversed, one of the most engaging parts of the day was the time when he opened up for suggestions and ideas regarding the Huntsman School of Business. We discussed ideas as to how to market to top students, how to manage the business degree program, and ideas for the building itself.

Part of our discussions encompassed strategic thinking, and how easy it is to get sidetracked from reality. A prerequisite for a good strategy is seeing the environment as it is, not as we would like it to be. He made a good point when he said that we usually don’t wake up each day and say to ourselves, 'I’m going to live out of reality today, I’m going to dream all day about what I wish I could be rather than where I am now.'

We also discussed creativity, and talked about how we so often think of mistakes as outright failures and don’t see them as avenues to greater learning and success. We watched a film about IDEO, a design and innovation consulting firm. The aim within the teams of this company is to fail fast and learn the best ways of doing things by quickly finding what doesn’t work. What an unconventional approach! But it’s how we learn, so why not speed it up? IDEO is a very successful organization, and their approach to finding new ways to improve works.

As I consider how I would sum up what I gained from the day with Dean Anderson, I’d say it helped open my mind to the possibilities of my career and it made me think differently about how I approach life and learning. Also, it gave me the opportunity to get to know my dean a little better, and he is a great leader and is an individual capable of taking the Huntsman School of Business to amazing new heights.

IMD - International Institute of Management & Development

IMD is a top-notch educational facility for professional development. It is arguably the world's best when it comes to management education. We had the opportunity to tour the institute and meet with administrators and current students, or participants, as they are called. As we asked questions and learned about how the programs at IMD work, we learned about the interactive culture that IMD fosters.

In the MBA program there are 90 participants that have 5 -7 years of work experience, their average age is 31, and they speak 2-7 languages. The institute's working language is English, yet the participants span numerous nationalities. Similar to the other programs, IMD manages its MBA program so that the participants learn from and teach each other, and the "Discussion Leader" facilitates that learning environment. Unlike your typical professor, the Discussion Leader understands that he or she may not be the most well-versed or experienced person in the room. The participants take on various real-life situations and they debate and share ideas in order to come up with the best solutions. I am fascinated by this approach, and I see it as a model for education throughout the world. It creates a powerful environment of learning that opens the doors of communication, drives the participants to work people from various cultures and opens their eyes to new perspectives. What better training program could there be for the world's leaders and managers?

Another distinct feature of IMD is the "what's next?" advising it offers to the participants as they complete the program. IMD gives personal attention and helps inspire personal development and discovery. As I look at IMD as a whole, it brings people from all around the world and provides a great environment and challenging adventures that allow them to teach each other. IMD is coordinator of learning; a place where experienced professionals gather to help each other grow and prepare for an exciting future as leaders throughout the world.

Hospice of Saint Bernard

Ever wondered where St. Bernard’s got their name? This hospice resides high in the Swiss Alps in a small community. Dating back more than 1,000 years, travelers coming through the Great Saint Bernard Pass struggled in the winter cold and were often found trapped in the snow. The hospice was built in 1050 and became a spiritual and physical refuge from residents and incomers alike. Priests who served and resided in the monastery would rescue and assist travelers and offer them hospitality until they were well or until storms passed. Naturally, the priests had to know how to ski, and they would go out twice day with food and pass around the mountains looking for stranded travelers.
Nowadays the beautiful area serves as a spiritual refuge for those looking for peace and tranquility in an increasingly busy, materialistic world. Joseph, our host for our visit, has been a priest for eight years. He grew up in a town nearby and that is how he is acquainted with Dominique. He decided that this life is service was his calling, and was called to serve in this area while in living Paris.

St. Bernard was the priest who built the monastery and began the tradition of helping the passing travelers. The St. Bernard dog was essential to the help they rendered as the dogs are strong and enduring enough to carry sleds. They also helped find people who had been buried in the snow. With their help, the priests were able to help and save the lives of many people.

Impressions Before Leaving

I have been super excited about this trip, and my excitement levels have changed as the big day has gotten closer and closer. When I first learned that I would have the opportunity to take part in the fall semester program, I was almost in disbelief, and I felt like I was walking on air. I would be able to participate in an intense business program with others who are at the top of their academic game and who will probably play a big role in the world of business and at large. I was intimidated from the start. As the semester began and the workload piled up high, I was stressed. As I look back on those first two weeks, I recognize that it helped me learn how to better deal with knowing that I have quite a bit more than I know I can do in a specified time frame.

As the day of the trip was about a week away, I was thinking a lot about the papers and assignments that were due on the day before our departure, and I was wondering a little bit why I wasn’t more excited. The mental burden I carried of all the work yet to be done left me a little worn out by just thinking about it. At the same time, I tried to take what I had learned and put faith in everything turning out alright. The night before our departure, I was busy getting things ready, and I could hardly believe that I would be leaving the next day for Europe. I have been looking forward to the opportunity to learn more about European life, how the businesses that traverse numerous cultures and languages make it all work. I’d be meeting with big businesses and political organizations that make the world quite a different place to live. The feeling has been surreal, and the opportunity to become acquainted with people from a different world has me mentally bracing for whatever comes next.