Geringer, John  

Business

3.59/4.00

27 evaluations


AGED 293


5th Year Senior
A
General Ed
Nov 2016
Fuck this guy. Id like to stick my tounge up his ass.


Graduate Student
A
Elective
Nov 2016
The above review is a SCAM. Dr. Geringer never taught nor participated in any such course, here at Cal Poly, or elsewhere. These remarks are sad and whoever entered them, why would you?

BUS 303


Junior
N/A
Elective
Feb 2010
I am taking Dr. Geringer\'s course right now. Dr.Geringer is superb. He is knowledgable, honest, fun and caring. He cares about his students. He does not accept bullshit nor does he accept mediocrity. Geringer is outstanding and he is the reason I decided to concentrate in International Management. As for the comments from the student below, I guess you must check your ego at the door and study, Geringer expects alot and he gets it. This is the first class I have been in where the Professor does not accept bullshit and those who do are left to be bitter and likely get the grade they finally deserve. Geringer is awesome. Simply awesome!


Sophomore
N/A
Required (Major)
Apr 2010
Don\'t get me wrong; Geringer IS a good teacher. He\'s really smart, very pleasant and personable, and fair. My one complaint? He doesn\'t respect our time! He thinks we have all the time in the world to do all his assignments that demand a lot in a short amount of time. If you want us to do a good job, give us enough time to ensure we CAN do it well! I don\'t think he realizes that we take 3 other classes alongside his, and those other classes require work, too. I hate having to half-ass anything in life, but when there are so many constraints put on you, some things will inevitable slip through the cracks.


Senior
B
Required (Major)
May 2010
Geringer is such a smart man. His class is hard, but worth it. 303 consists of an online simulation that a lot of people have a hard time with, but it is very similar to operating a real international business. His class is definitely applicable to real life business settings, and you will learn a lot. His tests are extremely hard and he \"expects nobody to get all the answers right\" but if you come even close, you will get over 100 percent. He throws a fat curve on them afterwards because he recognizes how hard they are. Overall, he is an extremely intelligent man who any international business student should take at some point.


Sophomore
B
Required (Major)
Mar 2011
Geringer is the most knowledgable professor Ive ever had. Hes simply incredible. Though he is a fantastic teacher, his class is EXTREMELY difficult. There are 2 midterms and a final. I got a D on the first midterm and Cs on both the second midterm and the final. But got a B in the class. He knows his class is hard and curves to compensate everyone. The simulation you have to do with a group was fairly interesting. Make sure you read everything, study for days before the exams, and pay attention to everything in class. Overall I highly recommend anyone to take Geringer.


Junior
B
Required (Major)
Jun 2011
Hard class, but learned a lot. READ the chapters in the book or you'll be lost. Lectures tend to be a snooze as he talks for the straight two hours we had class. The optional exam reviews are a joke, so don't stress if you miss them, basically people just come and ask him questions about test. EXAMs are HARD! Questions will be like: choose A,B,C, or two of the above or all the above, so you really have to know the material. Make sure you have a good group for simulation.


Junior
B
Required (Major)
Jun 2011
Mr. Geringer is a great guy. Although his class can be hard, it forces you to learn the material and beyond memorization as well. Classes for the quarter were split like 60/40 with 60% being in class lectures and the other 40% being online video lectures. Some like it, some dont. During actual in class lectures you wont cover a lot of material from the book, spend more time applying it to current events etc. So if you arent read up on the material ahead of time its a little awkward. The simulation in the class is hit or miss, depending on your groups understanding of how things work. If you get into a lazy ass group, good luck, but if your group actually cares about their grade youll be good to go. The exams are difficult, but our class experienced a large curve. His tests are fair, and you can easily get an A on them after the curve is applied. Overall the class wasnt too difficult, you just need to put a tad bit of effort into. As for Geringer, he is a great guy and he actually cares about the success of his students and if you ever need assistance from him, he is readily available and willing to answer and explain things to help you understand.


Senior
A
Elective
Mar 2012
Most amazing and helpful class I have taken at cal poly. You learn about the international environment which is essetial in today's buisness world. We are all connected together today and this class shows you how. The simulation project is like running you're own company and I learned o much. It was so amazing. He was an maxing teacher and presented the materially clearly and consisely. I actually looked foward class with him. I have already started using info I learned in this class in my life nd job search. I am not looking more into doing something in international business. Amazing class which any business minded or interested person should take.


Junior
A
Elective
Jun 2012
Greatest teacher I've had in my time here at Poly. Will help you out in anyway you need, teaches the material well, and really easy A if you put in the work. Those that don't will likely get B's. Simulation is a lot of fun, and he will help you through it. Cal Poly is losing a great teacher in Geringer.

BUS 401


Senior
B
Required (Major)
Dec 2004
Mike is an awesome teacher who cares about teaching and cares about his students. He presents the material in an interesting way and stimulates class discussion regarding cases we read at home. The class does have a lot of reading, but other than that the workload isn't too bad. There is a lot of group work, but its fun stuff. Mike is a hard core teacher, but also a very understanding and cool guy. If you have the option I would definitly take him if at all possible. He was great and I truly enjoyed being in his class. There are only 3 easy quizzes (based on readings) and one midterm, which is based on class case discussions. No final, which is really nice.


Senior
A
Required (Major)
Dec 2005
On the first day of class, Geringer said straight out that his 401 class was 10x tougher than any other 401 class, and that fluency in finance, accounting, operations, and marketing were a must. This scared a 40 person class down to roughly 26 students after the first session. Those of us who stuck it out for the quarter worked hard too. His class is definitely challenging but you will learn more than you would have in any other class. The class itself is made up of 3 quizes, 2 midterms, 2 simulations, and write-ups for both simulations. There was no final, but that doesn't mean the workload is light. A huge part of the grade is how much you contribute in class towards discussions. Each session is made up of an in depth case analysis based of a reading from a case packet, and there is also another book which he doesn't lecture out of, but uses in applying it to the cases. The simulations are quite time consuming as well (one occurs over a few hours in one day, the other stretches over 5-6 weeks w/ decisions twice a week) and takes a good understanding as to how different parts of a business are related and how decisions made will effect differnt factors. If you're just trying to get through the 401 requirement take someone else. Even though Geringer worked us hard and I'm sure I could've gotten an A with a fraction of the effort with another professor, I'm glad I took him because I learned more in his class than I had in any other OCOB class.


Senior
B
Required (Major)
Feb 2006
Mike is by far one of the best teachers I have had at Poly. The first day of class he tells everyone that they will be required to work harder than all the other 401 classes... but if that doesn't scare you off, you will realize that Mike is there to help you and make sure you really understand business. The tests and quizzes were hard but he does curve. Mike cares in and out of the classroom; he spent half an hour on the phone for me serving as a reference for a job opportunity for after I graduate. He helped hook me up with a job and really cared for my learning.


Senior
C
Required (Major)
Mar 2006
He is the best professor I have ever had...ever. Smart, tough, and awesome. He is a hard-ass but oh so worth it. If you want to be challenged and get something in return, take him. If not, take all the flunkies that are teaching it - like Sena and Griggs....they suck. The only reason (I heard cuz I work in the office)) they are teaching it is cuz the MIS faculty suck and r overstaffed....how sad, eh?


Senior
B
Required (Major)
Mar 2006
Honestly this guy may have been my favorite professor at Poly so far (and I'm a 4th year). He's smart, communicates well, is realistic, and promotes a good class discussion. Some people may be deterred because they think he's harder than the other professors teaching 401, and he might be, but he'll also spark interest in the subject in such a way that it won't feel like a burden. Also for the Mike's Bikes simulation (if he decides to continue using it) take full advantage of the "rollback" function. It will save you from making any mistakes if you spend enough time with it. It's important to read the textbook as the quizzes and midterms will have fairly specific questions from the text. I would say it's almost to the point where you should take notes on the text as you read. GREAT TEACHER! TAKE HIM!!!


Senior
B
Required (Major)
Apr 2006
Mike is a great professor who knows what he's talking about and knows how to teach. His experience in business really stands out in how he's able to relate it to all of his lectures. The Mike's Bikes Simulation game gets fun and don't hesitate to stop by his office if you need help. Two midterms, a couple quizzes, and the simulation sum up the course. Highly reccomended


Senior
N/A
Required (Major)
Dec 2006
A challenging class--be sure to outline the chapters from the reading as you go and use that to study for his tests. His tests are VERY particular and you will need to know everything from the text. Same goes for his quizes which are just precursors for the tests. There is a simulation called "mikes bikes" to go with the course. This teacher and class is amaizing because he really incorperates every component of business to show you how it all ties together. He is an excellent lecturer and makes the course go by quickly. He is approachable and has won an Outstanding Teacher Award. If you do not want to work hard then do not take the course. However, if you do take the course and are willing to work hard, the material and simulation provides you with such an insight into business that you will feel very prepared for the "real world" and comfortable talking about your business understanding when going into job interviews. Loved the class and glad I took it.


Senior
B
Required (Support)
Dec 2006
Geringer teaches general management and strategy how it should be taught, hands on. The two simulations are considerably time consuming but vitally important for the curriculum. The first simulation is a one-time 6-hour group assignment where you all must meet at a specified time to complete a high risk business startup from inception to IPO. You do not get to leave without successfully going public and will most likely have to start over several times (BUT ITS A BLAST). Luckily, he credited us those 6-hours outside of class in place of the session before the midterm/final. The second simulation, Mikes Bikes, will extend throughout the quarter with weekly team meetings and decisions required. This is by far the most time consuming but really gives you hands on experience to practicing what Geringer "preaches" during class. The class sessions are not for regurgitating what you have read in the text. Rather, class discussion (and active participation) of the case studies are used to strengthen your understanding of the material. Geringer sometimes brings drinks and candy depending on the company being discussed. Dont be fooled by the term "quiz", these babies (3 in total) always left us mending our wounds. READ THE BOOK, KEEPING SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE LISTS (ie, "first, second, third") BECAUSE YOU WILL NEED TO KNOW THEM ON QUIZZES AND TESTS. Its unfortunate that the assessments have to be so "by the book" and less analytical, but he curves to ease the grade-shattering scores. All together, Geringer is one of the GREATEST professors I have had the privilege of taking. Hard work and study time comes with the class, but at the end of the day it was worth it.

BUS 402


Junior
N/A
Required (Major)
Mar 2010
First off, this guy\'s name is Mike, not John. He is probably the smartest professor I\'ve ever had, and the Cal Poly business department is lucky to have him. This guy is not only an excellent teacher who has won awards on 5 continents but he has real experience in international negotiations with fortune 500 companies. Tests: The key is to read and take really diligent notes on the slides that he posts (not very many), which make up a lot of the questions. There will also be a lot of test questions on the articles he assigns you to read. Each article is about 20 pages, but he only quizzes you on major points from them, so don\'t worry about exact percentages or dates or anything like that. There is no multiple choice, just about 10 short answer questions. He grades the tests on a 4.0 scale (4.0 is an A, 3.0 is a B, etc.) and curves them based on class average. He is extremely reasonable about the grading. FINS: This simulation requires a lot of work. The initial 10 page paper probably takes about 10 hours of research and group meetings, but after that the negotiations with other teams are pretty chill. I am writing this eval in the middle of the quarter so I can\'t tell you too much here, just be sure that you know your shit and worked hard and Geringer will recognize it. Cases: He assigns a case study probably every other class, and they\'re actually pretty interesting. The following class will involve a complete discussion of the case, so if you didn\'t read it you\'ll be pretty bored. There are a couple role plays, participate and he\'ll love you. Overall just show Geringer that you give a shit about his class. He obviously puts an incredible amount of time into his lesson plans and really enjoys being a teacher, so show him that you want to hear what he has to say. This guy should really be teaching at Stanford or Cal, so if you get a chance to take his class (even if its at 8AM) feel lucky and pay attention. Like someone below me said, this is why we pay money for our education.

AERO 403


Senior
B
Required (Major)
Jan 2010
Overall I enjoyed Geringer as much as the next, but I did experience a few flaws. His emphasis on LEARNING and APPLYING materials learned in class to current events/modern business practices is great in theory... I was, however, disappointed when his FINAL or 2nd test failed to encompass his theory and popped out as a lame, memorization focused, repetitive monster. Despite his few flaws, which include desperately needing attention and considering himself an academic outlier soaring above the rest, he is an potently honest and enthusiastic individual who gains your respect and demands performance. If your a person who enjoys learning through case studies, current events, and discussion i would recommend 403 to you. P.S. I would also touch up on Freud\'s theory of the EGO and SUPER-EGO before class as well. Just a heads-up.

BUS 403


Senior
N/A
Required (Major)
Mar 2007
I am an IB major because it rocks. I had Geringer in 401 and realized that he knows his shit and that IB is the way to go. I started in Marketing and am sick and tired of listening to faculty who diss my major and tell me that I cannot get a job because I am majoring in IB. My Father is VP of International Operations for Mattel. Get fucking real. Dad laughed and was impressed with my teacher (Dr. Geringer). Between him, Dr. Frayne (Colette as she asked me to call her) and the rest of the International Business Faculty, I do not think I will have a problem getting a job. Only take Dr. Geringer if you are serious about learning. He is the BEST person I have had the honor of learning from. I hope that I can repay him when I graduate.


Senior
N/A
Required (Major)
Jun 2007
Geringer is THE BEST. The course is hard, but worth it. READ, READ, READ, and make sure that you take his exams seriously. ALSO, read the cases and don't bullshit in his class, OK? I have learned MORE from Geringer in this class than any other class. Thank you, Dr. Geringer


Senior
C
Required (Major)
Mar 2008
By far, Dr Geringer IS the most intelligent and skilled person I have ever encountered. WHY he is at Poly remains a mystery to me and my friends. It was because of him that I became an IB major and it is because of him that I believe that I will succeed. Thanks, Dr Geringer, you ARE the beyond words! Gracias, mi amigo!


5th Year Senior
B
Required (Major)
Apr 2008
No other professor can simultaneously intimidate and teach the heck out of you like Mike. It is rare to find a professor, at least in my experience in OCOB, who is so fully aware of everything going on in the real world, regardless of its apparent relation to business. Mike shows you how to research information from all business areas (finance, technology, marketing, human resources) and mix it with critical environmental forces (culture, current events, etc.) to form a viable strategy. In fact, he's one of the most published and well-received authors in global strategy. You must go to class and fully absorb and analyze the cases and text. Exams are heavily text-based and detailed. The two group projects can be incredibly time-intensive. He does not make it easy to ace the class--in fact I thought a retake could be in my future--but I feel the trade-off is that it will be easier to land an ace job. I would recommend this professor to anyone who came to Cal Poly with the intention of getting an education.


Senior
B
Required (Major)
Jun 2009
THIS. IS. WHY. WE. PAY. MONEY. FOR. OUR. EDUCATION. Geringer was absolutely the most challenging professor I have ever had, he kicked my ass, and for that I am SO THANKFUL. I feel like he actually prepared me to work as a professional unlike any other professor has. If you take his class, please allow yourself time for all of the reading/work. Don't have time? Make time. It will be well worth it. Read early, don't get behind, and please read the cases before class. Don't worry you can do it!! It's sooo worth it. Classes begin going over current events, merge to relevant facts and concepts that should be understood for the day, and then the rest (majority) of class is spent going over the case. ALSO PLEASE NOTE: Do not be afraid of his tests/grading. Yes they're hard. I got a D on the first and a C on the second, and ended up with a B in the class because of involvement in class discussion (via case) and the simulation.


Senior
B
Required (Major)
Apr 2011
As just about everyone mentions, Geringer is a very smart instructor. However, he spends far too much time talking about current events when he should spend more time lecturing in class. The globus game that groups play in teams is fun, but overated and can consume valuable time. I guess since most IB majors will end up working in sales, he feels this is a valuable tool for the concentration. In order to prepare for his exams, know the material from the book. If you are good at memorizing material from the book, you'll have no problem with his tests especially since he puts a big curve on them.


Senior
B
Required (Major)
May 2011
Dr. Geringer (we call him Mike) is our central advisor for AIESEC, a co- advisor of the International Business Club and the International Business Concentration. I have taken 3 classes with Mike and he is also my mentor and career advisor. Each class was very rigorous and demanding. I enjoyed his current events discussions and it actually helped me in my interviews but also in my ability to apply the materials that were challenging. Geringer expects us to be prepared and also cares about what we learn and how we make sense of it all. Mike's tests are work but if you read and don't want til the nite before, or hope not for a quiz, then you will be fine. The simulations are a chance to "learn by doing". I actually shared two of them with my cousin who works for Nestle in a business unit dealing with Global Strategy for emerging markets. I am graduating and have spent many hours with Mike talking about careers/options/ etc. In my opinion, and I speak for many of our students, Dr. Geringer is without a shadow of a doubt, the best professor I have ever had. Thank you Mike!