The Idea of Synthesis

This activity is the capstone for the module. As you see in this profile, Blooms Tax_Online, the culmination of any learning process is the act of synthesis. Technically, synthesis refers to the ability to put parts together to form a new whole. This may involve the production of a unique communication (theme or speech), a plan of operations (research proposal), or a set of abstract relations (scheme for classifying information). Learning outcomes in this area stress creative behaviors, with major emphasis on the formulation of new patterns and structures.

Arguably, the basis of insight and innovation is the act of synthesis-that is, connecting consumer behaviors, market needs, technology trends, institutional positions, environmental trends in new, neat ways creates the basis to think differently. Hence, the goal of synthesis pushes you to organize, manipulate, prune, and filter gathered data into a cohesive structure for that supports insight. Ultimately, synthesis reveals a cohesion, organization, and clarity.

For our purposes, therefore, synthesis is the act of integrating the various themes that you've seen through through a particular module into a coherent, cohesive, insightful interpretation of an aspect of the global business environment that you find particularly intriguing.

Setting the Basis of Synthesis

Maps are perhaps as fundamental to society as spoken language and the written word. They are an enduring, powerful means of recording and communicating information about all sorts of locations, all sorts of spatial characteristics, and all sorts of intriguing aspects of the world. Maps of all forms are used by people in virtually every aspect of day-to-day life. Millions of maps are produced and used annually throughout the world by scientists, scholars, governments, and businesses to make sense of environmental, technological, demographic, economic, political, and social situations.

For our purposes, maps let us recognize spatial distributions and relationships and make it possible for us to visualize and, hence, conceptualize patterns and processes that operate through the global business environment. Maps also provide an efficient method of presenting information and communicating relationships. Indeed, maps help us convey information and findings that are often tough to express verbally, but, once seen in map-form, shed profound insight on our sense of the world.

Discussion Board Participation: Instructions

1. Take a look at the maps below.

2. Choose the map that you find the most interesting.

3. Briefly explain in your discussion board post why you find it the most interesting.

o Advisory Notes:

If uncertain where to start, I find it usually helpful to simply ask: what does this map mean to my personal interests or professional ambitions?

Let me just add that this activity is wide-open to any and all interpretations. Its goal is to prompt you to take a new look at your world as well as hear how your classmates see the same. As such, I'm looking for thought provoking creativity.

And, by briefly, my expectation is that your statement runs 125 to 250 words.

4. Finally, Canvas gives you the option to "Like" a particular post. Using this feature, mark those posts that you feel are particularly thought-provoking and imaginative. Depending on the distribution of likes the post that receive the most "Likes" wins 1 to 3 bonus points.

Discussion Board Peer Reviews

Immediately following the submission deadline of this assignment Canvas will notify you that you have been randomly assigned two of your classmates' submissions to formally evaluate. In short, this sort of peer review activity provides a powerful means to expand your understanding of core aspects of international business as well as help you develop useful executive skills--please see Pedagogy_Peer to Peer Reviews for a fuller explanation of the purpose and promise of the peer review activity.

Peer Review Evaluation Criteria

As you develop your synthesis post, keep in mind that your peer will apply the following rubric to evaluate your performance. Their evaluation, along with mine, of your performance in terms of "Creativity, Connectivity, Clarity, and Coolness," determines your grade for this assignment. See Peer Review Role in Grade Determination for a fuller explanation.

Mapping task file (Link Below)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/1qpe4dvtff8qr96/Mapping%20your%20World%20Synthesis%20Task%2831-10-17%29.rar?dl=0