Research and Strategy in Emerging Markets

This course complements the Student Multidisciplinary Applied Research Team (SMART) Program. The goal of the course is to offer students a unique learning and service team experience, working with entrepreneurs, NGOs, universities, and public agencies in emerging markets and economically disadvantaged communities. The field study component involves interaction with various companies, public offices, civic groups and other stakeholders that are related to the project. During the semester, students analyze the information and write up reports and case studies for the clients.

Syllabus
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Lead instructor for Colombia team in 2015 and 2016

Both years we worked with Federación Campesina del Cauca (FCC). A smallholders’ organization established in 1971 in Cauca Colombia to fight for social justice, political representation, and land ownership and that for over the past 16 years, developed the capabilities necessary to export coffee.

In 2015 we focused in the following topics: organizational challenges, cost of production and soil health analysis. The cost analysis caught the attention of Fair Trade USA and eventually we partnership to improve and expand the methodology to smallholders in Mexico, Peru, Honduras and other regions in Colombia. The SMART group 2016 focused in costs analysis. Recently, in partnership with the Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future and the Information Science Department at Cornell we are developing and testing an interactive tool that will expand a unified system where smallholders worldwide will measure their costs and identify actionable areas for productivity improvements.

I am very proud that after we opened the first SMART group to Colombia other researchers at Cornell have continue motivating students to support and learn with organizations in rural Colombia.  

SMART