Sept. 3-7, aside from teaching responsibilities, I accomplished 3 high level interviews with the following organizations: INCOP, FUNDES, and PROCOMER. INCOP is the Port Authority for the Pacific; FUNDES mission involves working to develop small to medium-sized businesses internally. PROCOMER continues where FUNDES leaves off to assist companies with their exporting activities. Several themes are emerging specific to my research focus which have implications to logistics, human resource development, and infrastructure development within the country and the region. I'm taping the interviews (in Spanish), and the Institute is assisting me with student workers who are typing transcriptions for me. I don't know what I would do without the Institute. They've been instrumental in opening all the doors for me.
Sept. 12: (highlight): I was invited by a professor in the Economics Dept. to give a guest lecture to his class. I focused on transnational company trends specific to their supply chain "factors of production" choices. I tied in the importance of these trends to Costa Rica's economic development. This was fun to do.
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A View of the Pasantía (Stay) with my Colegas Ticos, by Elaine S. Potoker, Ph.D.
Flag of Costa Rica
"Ticos": It is a famous expression in the Latin American world for Costa Ricans.
Biezanz, Richard, Biezanz, Karen Zubris, & Mavis Hiltunen Biezanz (1982). The Costa Ricans. p. 1.
"Costa Ricans call themselves Ticos. This name is said to stem from the colonial saying 'We are all hermaniticos (little brothers).' It also reflects their custom of referring to many things in the diminutive, ending in -ito., as in the other Spanish-speaking countries, and more characteristically in -ico. They even combine the two into a super-diminutive. Thus something small may not simply be chico or chiquito, but chiquitico."
Biezanz, Richard, Biezanz, Karen Zubris, & Mavis Hiltunen Biezanz (1982). The Costa Ricans. p. 1.
Blog Archive
My Fulbright Responsibilities
- The College and My Award:
- While in Costa Rica, I will be teaching at the University of Costa Rica in San José, which is right outside of the city in an area called San Pedro Montes de Oca. My Fulbright award is as a "Lecturer-Researcher." Therefore, 70% of my time will be research (investigaciones)and 30% in teaching (la docencia). Believe it or not, 30,000 students attend the University of Costa Rica, none of whom live in dormitories. (There are none).
- ...Regarding research, my Fulbright proposal commits me to investigate the challenges that companies are facing in the region specific to implementation of DR-CAFTA guidelines. Related areas of interest involve issues regarding technology integration, port security, and human resource capacitation. This will be a qualitative research endeavor. I have identified the following companies as potential interviewees: P/O Nedlloyd, Seaboard Marine, Remarsa, Junta de Administración Portuaria y de Desarrollo Económico de la Vertiente (JAPDEVA), Instituto Costarricense de Puertos del Pacífico (INCOP), Fed Ex Corp. (Gerente Director Regional), empresas locales: Hewlett Packard, IBM, Teradyne, Sykes, Baxter, Procter & Gamble I hope to involve my students in this effort, to include discussion of qualitative methodology--often under-emphasized or an "afterthought" in higher education business courses. The subject of DR-CAFTA is a political "hot potato" here, as Costa Rica is the only country that has not ratified it. There will be a referendum in November to decide the question.
...Regarding teaching, I will teach in the Business Administration Department in the area of Strategic Management. The "Facultad de Administración de Negocios" counts on 130 professors, 50% of who are part-time. There will be 5 sections of this course for 4th year students. For other Programs and Colleges at the University, go to http://www.ucr.ac.cr/facultades_escuelas.php and for the Business Administration Department visit http://www.ean.ucr.ac.cr/.
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