Trip Policies
Please consider the following: We are meeting with professionals and our group consists of full-time, or soon-to-be full-time employed professionals.
Since these meetings take place among professionals, professional dress and behavior are expected.
Please act accordingly -- specifically, dress well, and during all presentations, please keep visits to the bathroom, eating, and drinking to a minimum.
Typically the talks last 1 - 2 hours -- please take care of any needs before or after the meetings.
Eating, crinkling food wrappers, drinking, talking, getting up to take care of personal needs, and especially sleeping, is extremely rude and distracting.
An appropriate level of decorum is also expected outside of the 'classroom.'
We are ambassadors of the U.S. and of Philadelphia University. Consider that people do things differently where we're going and I ask that you attempt to be sensitive to these differences. In most cases, what is considered impolite or inappropriate in the US is also discourteous in
Berlin and Prague. People in these countries tend to be more formal and expect you to use titles (Mr., Mrs., Dr., etc.) and surnames (Smith, Jones, etc.).
Please 'go the extra mile' in being polite to our hosts in the various companies, hotels, and yes, even the motorcoach drivers.
We would like to return with other students and would hope that our hosts will not hesitate to invite us back in future years.
Remember, the primary focus of this trip is to gain exposure to viewpoints and experience of as many professionals as possible.
Cultural exposure is also important, but is secondary. You are encouraged to go out in the evenings and have fun, but only to the point that these activities do not interfere with our visits.
In other words, have fun, but do not stay out too late the night before a visit.
Know your limits and remember that you represent the school and your firm.
Don't make bad choices that will affect your appearance or actions while on our corporate visits.
Have fun, but do return to the hotel at a decent hour and get enough sleep and food so you stay alert and can participate in the discussions.
I can not and will not allow individual's behavior jeopardize the reputation of the school or the MBA program.
This applies to behavior at all times, whether during a company visit, at our hotels, while traveling, and touring.
During visits, stay engaged. That means participate; actively think of personal applications to the topics being discussed.
Ask considerate questions. Are the questions you intend asking appropriate and related either to the presenter's field of expertise, or to the topic being discussed?
If not, or if you are unsure, don't interrupt the presentation to ask the question.
At the end of the discussion, if there is time, introduce your question by saying something like "this may be a little out of your field of expertise..." or "I know this is not related to the topic, but would you be able to tell me..."
Please do not ask long, multi part questions. Our hosts are doing us a great favor by making their presentations in our language and while they usually have an excellent command of our language, long questions can be quite confusing.
Put yourself in their place. Your boss asks you to make an hour-long presentation to a large group of bright people.
Oh, and by the way, please do it in German or Czech.
I hesitate to mention all these items, but in years past we have had some difficulties.
I do reserve the right to have individuals remain in the hotel if these guidelines are not met.
Unprofessional behavior will also have an impact on the final grade.
Adaptability is key to success in business, but particularly when dealing with people with different backgrounds and traveling in unfamiliar surroundings.
We have done everything possible to insure a safe and pleasant trip for all.
Nevertheless, we are likely to have a few surprises simply because we are a large group.
Try to remain flexible, but realize that if there is a problem, you need to let me know and I will do whatever I can to rectify the situation.
Remember, my role is instructor, not tour guide or travel agent, but if you want to 'eat American' or are not getting along with your roommate, please let me know and I will steer you to a nearby McDonald's (reluctantly) or have a talk with the roommate.
You should have your passport and visas in hand by October before we leave and
it should not expire until the October after we return. In 1995 someone had to finish up the paper work while we were in Europe (it was doubtful at times whether he'd get to visit
the next city with us) and in 1996 someone had to go to New York and had to pay $400 to expedite visa processing. Don't wait until
Mid-November to begin application process - you may not get your documents in time. If you need to, Accent can connect you with a visa service, but be forewarned, it can get expensive. By the time classes begin, you should have all visas and a passport. If not, please let me know at the end of the first class.
The US Embassy visit is subject to special requirements. I don't ask for personal data (birth date, etc.) lightly.
I will collect this information at the beginning of the semester. All participants
will receive a letter and short form requesting personal information.
You may want to exchange some currency before we leave (available at major banks downtown and at the airport during the day at Thomas Cook booths). Rates at airports or train stations, and especially at 'cambio' booths are typically not as good as banks' rates. The WORST place to exchange money is at the hotel front desks.
Take a small gift for your hosts if invited to someone's home. Also take 1.5 times the film you think you'll need (5 rolls instead of 3, etc.) - it can be expensive in Europe ($9/roll).
Although everyone's spending habits are different, an average amount of spending money is $600 for the 10 ten days (some spent as little as $350, others as much as $1,000). Please use this as a rough guideline only.
Do not leave luggage unattended. One student lost a piece of luggage because it got mixed up with another group.
His passport and clothes were on their way to Italy while we were on the way to Paris (all was returned, but we got really lucky on that one).
Another student left a piece of luggage on a train and never saw it again.
Do NOT, even in jest talk about, mention, or suggest in ANY way that you or someone in the group has some explosive device, weapon, or drugs.
Security is tight around the globe and you WILL be detained and possibly arrested.
Author/contact information:
Dr. Lloyd C. Russow, Ph.D.
Philadelphia University
School of Business Administration
School House Lane & Henry Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19144-5497
Ph: 215-951-2819
Fx: 215.951.2652
E-mail: RussowL@PhilaU.edu
top of page 5
Date of creation: April 22, 2001.
Date of last update:
December 19, 2005.
Copyright © 2001.
|