TED ROGERS SCHOOL OF

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

GMS690 The North American Business

Environment
W2021
 MODULE 1.1
INTRODUCTION
Who is your Instructor?
• Mark Viminitz
• 27 Years with Johnson & Johnson Inc.
• 20 Years as Senior Commercial
Executive – Medical Devices
• 20 Years on the Canadian
Management Board
• Managed Commercial sales >$250M
• Involved in Domestic and Global
Product Launches
• Texas A&M University/APIU/University
of Illinois
• BBA/MBA/MSM

Source: Johnson & Johnson Annual Report (2019) Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
Source: Johnson & Johnson Annual Report (2019) Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
 Course Description
This course provides an overview of the North American business
environment.
• It examines the cultural, political, and economic environments in
Canada, the USA, and Mexico.
• Trade and the degree of economic integration are discussed,
including an assessment of NAFTA/USMCA. The key institutions
that impact trade and economic activities will also be examined.
• Current and controversial issues such as the impact of the Keystone
Pipeline, Tariffs, and Nova Scotia Fisheries will be discussed and
their impact on the NA business environment analyzed.
• The foreign market entry strategies of multinational corporations
active in this region will also be discussed.

Source: Mark Viminitz GMS690 Course Outline Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
Course Objectives
• To provide the student with:
• an overview of the North American business climate
• Understand the historical integration of economies in North America
• Apply the knowledge learned in the various functional areas of global
business studies on a holistic basis to a North American setting.
• Knowledge of International competition and entry strategies.
• Understanding the impact of NAFTA on gaining access to competitive
factors of production
• The inherent complexities of doing business in North America
• Close communication and cooperation exercises in group work in order
to perform relevant business analysis and quality decision-making for
businesses competing in the North America arena.

Source: Mark Viminitz GMS690 Course Outline Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
 Key Concepts
Economic
• GDP (Real and Nominal (w/o inflation))
• GDP-to-Debt Ratio
• GNP
• Consumer Price Index (CPI) - Inflation
• Money Supply M2
• Employment

Source: www.economicshelp.org
Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
Key Concepts
• Financial
LIQUIDITY RATIOS SOLVENCY TURNOVER PROFITABILTY MARKET VALUE
RATIOS RATIOS RATIOS RATIOS
CURRENT RATIO TOTAL DEBT RATIO INVENTORY GROSS PROFIT PRICE-TO-
TURNOVER RATIO EARNINGS RATIO

QUICK RATIO EQUITY DAYS SALES IN NET PROFIT MARKET

MULTIPLIER INVENTORY MARGIN CAPITALIZATION

CASH RATIO INTEREST TOTAL ASSET RETURN ON

COVERAGE RATIO TURNOVER ASSETS

OPERATING CASH RETURN ON

FLOW RATIO EQUITY
DUPONT
IDENTITY

MAXIMIZE SHAREHOLDER VALUE

Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
 Key Concepts
• Financial Reporting
• Canada/Mexico = IFRS
• United States = GAAP
• GAAP vs. IFRS
• Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
• International Finance Reporting Standards
• Differences
• Local vs. Global
• Rules vs. Principles
• Inventory Methods (LIFO vs. FIFO)

Source: https://www.pwc.com/us/en/cfodirect/publications/accounting-guides/ifrs-and-us-gaap-similarities-and-differences.html
Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
Key Concepts

• Liberal Democracy
• Corporate Socialism
• Responsible Government vs.
Separation of Powers
• Party Platforms and Spectrum
• National Treatment What does it mean?
• Most Favored Nations
• Alternative Facts
• Moral Courage

Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz

 Key Concepts
Trade Theory

Source: https://saylordotorg.github.io/text_international-business/s06-01-what-is-international-trade-th.html Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz

Business Critical Thinking In Action
• Allocating Resources
• Analyzing and Explaining Risks
• Analyzing Markets
• Evolving Long term Goals and Plans
• Communicating effectively with Team
Members
• Evaluating the Effects of Initiatives
• Anticipating the implications of Actions
Taken

Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz

 Information Sources 5
• Go to Ryerson Library Portal
https://library.ryerson.ca/?s=EIU 1
• Log in (if you have not done
so)

Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz

Information Sources
• SEC- US Securities & Exchange
Commission
• EDGAR – Electronic Data
Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval
System
• http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml

Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz

Information Referencing
• APA – American Psychological Association
• Official APA Style Guide http://www.apastyle.org
• https://www.ryerson.ca/content/dam/studentlearni
ngsupport/resources/citation-
conventions/APA%20Basic%20Style%20Guide.p
df
• Zotero and Mendeley are examples of citation
downloads that can help you organize and cite
appropriately
• Microsoft Word – will also help you with formatting
(References tab)

Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz

Information Referencing
• Other sources to help
• https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/res
earch_and_citation/apa_style/
apa_style_introduction.html
• Type in “Citation Generator”
• www.scribbr.com
• www.easybib.com
• www.citationmachine.net/apa/
cite-a-website

Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz

Group Planning - Meetings
• When2Meet planning tool
• https://www.when2meet.com/?Abo
ut
• There are others this is just a
suggestion
• Set an agenda for each meeting
• Set milestones and deliverables
• Set series of meetings
• Identify meeting leader and scribe
• Send follow up notes

Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz

 D2L Discussion Boards
• The second segment of the class
will require you to access
Discussion boards on D2L.
• You are required to actively
participate both in thoughtfully
posting and responding with your
views on the topic.
DISCUSSION DUE
• There will be additional DISCUSSION BOARDS D2L 2ND PART OF LECTURE
discussions that you will need to
DISCUSSION BOARDS D2L PRIOR TO NEXT LECTURE
participate in that will be due
during the week prior to our next
lecture

Source: Mark Viminitz GMS690 Course Outline Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
 Lecture Decks
• Lecture decks will be posted on
D2L (PDF) files.
• Some material may be changed or
updated during the course of this
class.
• Any changes will be announced in
the announcement section of D2L.
• Any supplement decks may be
added as required.

Source: Mark Viminitz GMS690 Course Outline Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
 LIVE LECTURES
• 75 - 90 Minute “Live” Zoom Lectures
• 60 Minute Discussion board topics on D2L
• 30 Minute Office Hours
• “Live” lectures will be recorded – Available on D2L
• Discussion boards will be developed for ”3-4” discussion topics
per week
• Active and Insightful participation will impact grade

Source: Mark Viminitz GMS690 Course Outline Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
 LIVE LECTURES
• How to ask Questions
• Use the CHAT function in Zoom.
• Number your Questions – follow
• Example
• Student #1 has a question – Type 1. When is our first exam?
• Student #2 has a question - Type 2. How long did you work in the US?
• Each question needs to be numbered to make it easy for me to
recognize

Source: Mark Viminitz GMS690 Course Outline Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
 How are you being Measured?

MEASUREMENT PERCENT OF TOTAL GRADE

MIDTERM QUIZ 1 25%

FINAL QUIZ 2 25%

GROUP OF 4 CURRENT ISSUES PRESENTATION 10%

GROUP OF 4
FINAL PROJECT ASSIGNMENT 40%

TOTAL 100%

Source: Mark Viminitz GMS690 Course Outline Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
 MODULE DESCRIPTION
1.1 Introduction

Outline 1.2
2.1
Current Issues
Global Trade/Trade Theory
2.2 Trade Agreements
Course is set up in Modules 2.3 NAFTA
and Sub-Modules: 2.4 USMCA (CUSMA, MUSCA)

1. Introduction/Trade Theories 3.1 CANADA

3.2 Geography/History
2. Trade Agreements NAFTA 3.3 Government/Politics
3. Canada 3.4 Economics/Trade
4. United States of America 3.5 Culture/Social
4.1 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
5. Mexico
4.2 Geography/History
6. Corporate Environment 4.3 Government/Politics
4.4 Economics/Trade
4.5 Culture/Social
5.1 MEXICO
5.2 Geography/History
5.3 Government/Politics
5.4 Economics/Trade
5.5 Culture/Social
Source: Mark Viminitz GMS690 Course Outline 6.1 Corporate Environment/Ethics Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
Major Assignment – 40%
• Groups of four (4) – D2L
• 2 parts
• Milestone due dates
• See “Major Assignment” deck for
details
Section Key Date - 2021 What is Due Time it is Due Value %
Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Part 1 – Business Case February 10th Part #1 11:59PM 25%
March 17th Part #2 11:59PM 25%
April 7th Final 11:59PM 40%
Part 2 - Questions April 7th Final 11:59PM 10%
TOTAL 100%

Source: Mark Viminitz GMS690 Course Outline Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
Current Issues Presentation – 10%
• Groups of four (4) – D2L
• Select 3 Current North American
Issues
• 1 from Canada
• 1 from United States
• 1 from Mexico

• Present to class in Lecture

• See “Current Issue Presentation”
deck for details

KEY DATES DUE TIME

Week of FEB 22nd Presentations Begin 2nd Hour
15 Minutes

Source: Mark Viminitz GMS690 Course Outline Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
Quizzes – 50% (Midterm 25%/Final 25%)
• There will be two (2) quizzes
• Quiz will be administered Online
• Quiz will cover all slide and
lecture material up to test date
• 50 questions multiple choice, T/F
• Quizzes are open book
• Final quiz is NOT cumulative

• Proposed Dates
• Quiz #1 – Week of March 1st
• Quiz #2 – Week of April 5th

Source: Mark Viminitz GMS690 Course Outline Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz
 IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

SPECIAL NOTE:
• EVERY EFFORT WILL BE MADE TO MANAGE THE COURSE
AS PROVIDED IN THIS COURSE OUTLINE. HOWEVER,
ADJUSTMENTS MAY BE NECESSARY AT THE DISCRETION
OF THE PROFESSOR AND ANY CHANGES WILL BE
ANNOUNCED IN CLASS. IT IS THE STUDENT’S
RESPONSIBILITY TO BECOME AWARE OF ANY
ANNOUNCED CHANGES IN CLASS.

Source: Mark Viminitz GMS690 Course Outline Copyright 2020 Mark Viminitz