Final Post

When I think back on the twenty days I spent in China, it seems like they were years ago now. Life has a way of jumping your mind from one task to another without fully understanding the transition taking place. Now working far from what I considered home and learning how to cope with yet another new career, change and instability have become my way of life.

The Beginning

When we set out for the trip I really did not know what to expect of China. I spent a lot of time preparing for China by studying their economics, the vast majority of that agricultural economics which tends to be falling way behind the rest of the country. I also studied some history and cultural items which turned out to be quite useful. Not until I had walked around that first day did I realize what I was in for. The population, smog, people, culture, and business were all absolutely foreign to me. That’s what made it great!

Having spent some time traveling in Europe and Mexico, I felt like I was a bit more prepared for this type of international travel and as it turned out I was. During the first week it was amusing to watch the people that had never really traveled before experience the same types of things I did my first time.

Business

Of course I am going to be biased and say the Papaya farm was the coolest business we saw there, I got to do it. Besides that, I really felt like all the business we visited gave me something. Even if I went into the visits uninterested in the industry, I ended up finding something interesting. One that really sticks out in my mind is KPMG. I was expecting a dull explanation on how the Chinese prepare financial statements, but what I got was an incredible overview of the Chinese business environment. I left that visit feeling cheated because it seemed as if the group had only scratched the surface of our presenter’s knowledge.

I was intrigued by the varying levels of western influence the business had. All the multinational firms we visited were western so that was obvious. The really interesting observation was the contrast between the Chinese multinationals and the Chinese domestic firms. The level of non Chinese influence the business had really changed the environment of the business. An interesting firm visit for a future trip would be with a Russian, Indian, African, etc firm to see the contrast.

Culture

As this was a business trip, it is understandable that culture was not as big a focus. Fortunately, I could not help but to absorb what was happening around me where ever we went. Whether or not I truly understand what I learned culturally on this trip now is questionable. I think this realization will come in time when I am pushed to work more closely with the Chinese.

I thought the food was good. Though some meals were defiantly better than others, I was not threatened by the food at all. There were times I was challenged by the cuisine, dried fish for example, but over all I enjoyed sampling. One of the most fun things was trying street food. I learned the key is to only eat at the venders that were really busy, no details on how I learned that lesson.

People and Myself

I probably learned the most from other people on the trip. The learning experience was not lecturing but interaction through myself and others. The people that influenced me on the trip were the Chinese people, professors, Chinese students, Chinese business people, and the MBA students. Observing peoples interactions with one and another can teach a person a lot about human nature. For example, with the MBA students, I learned how to interact better with people in highly trying situations. When people are tired, stressed, sick and irritable they can be a real challenge to interact with. Now I better understand how to be around these people. The Chinese people were fun to interact with. The inquisitive nature I observed with many was astonishing. It was really nice to interact with a people so eager to learn.

Overall I loved the trip and really cherish the opportunity it gave me.

Company Posts

Macau Polytechnic Institute
http://www.ipm.edu.mo

Interesting site. They regularly offer classes in three languages: Mandarin, English, and Portuguese???? The class list seems somewhat limited to a few broad areas. I was interested by the way schedules were set up for classes. The objectives of the university were very different than would be seen in an American university I thought.

Where do the majority of the students going to this university come from? Is it local?

Are there some specialties of the university or is it there to give a broad based education?

How has the governments involvement in the university system changed over the past 10 years or so?

Sands Casino
http://www.sands.com.mo

This place looks like fun. My favorite part of this sight was the restaurant portion. The Sands offers a variety of Chinese, American and other international choices. The Entertainment includes a cross section of western and Chinese type attractions.

When choosing entertainment for the casino, how do they get a feel for what international customers really want?

What are the most popular restaurants in the casino? Are the western types accepted well?

What does a cross section of management look like in this multinational firm?

New Century Casino
http://www.newcenturyhotel-macau.com

The website does not offer much information about the casino. It highlights some of the surround attractions offers a few links to local events. The site did not offer any information as to what was happening with entertainment or events at the casino.

Are there any differences in how domestic casinos are regulated as apposed to multinationals?

Who is the biggest casino in Macau?

What makes Macau a Casino hot spot?

Wynn Casino
http://www.wynnmacau.com/

This is a very professional looking website. Of the casinos we plan on visiting, from the website this looks to be the most luxurious. I see more services included in this casino with shopping and a spa. The entertainment link had nothing on it.

What is the role of entertainment in the Macau casino industry?

How does the Macau casino compare to the Las Vegas location?

Lisboa Casino
http://hotelisboa.com

I found this site very confusing and difficult to explore. The casino seemed nice in the limited pictures that were shown. I am starting to see a continuing pattern in the Chinese casinos. Their sites are more functional and not so much entertaining. Maybe this has something to do with the fact that none of the casinos have an extensive entertainment list in Macau.

What is this casinos theme? In other words, what separates it from the others?

Is there a demographic difference in the visitors of western casinos and domestic?

What do Chinese casinos offer there guests that western casinos do not?

International game Technology
http://www.igt.com/au

There was a problem with this website

Suzhou Industrial Park
http://www.sipac.gov.cn

Suzhou Industrial Park was a joint partnership with Singapore. It was created in 1994 by the government of China. This project created the largest economic and technological cooperation between China and Singapore. Today it acts as a door to Chinas development into international business. It is one of the fastest growing and most successful of its type in the world.

How are economic zones like these governed and what are their tax systems like?

Will the government be developing any more of these in the future?

How much economic progress can be contributed to these zones?

Carrefour China
http://www.carrefour.com.cn/

The Carrefour China’s website did not give much insight into the companies dealing in China. This site was more of a consumer site meant for customers. The English site gave an overview of product offerings and briefly discussed them. The site offered access to Carrefour’s online shopping page.

How was Carrefour’s relationship started in China and was it before Wal-Mart?

What is Carrefour’s outlook for greater China?

What other Asian countries has Carrefour started doing business in?

21 Manager
http://www.21manager.com

The site looks kind of like a Blog. There a many picture of animated animals.

Thompson
http://www.thompson.com

Thompson is a publishing group that seems to focus heavily on regulatory type publications. They were started in 1972. The company has online resources, books, Blogs, and email alerts available to it customers.

What are the sources of their information and how do they deal with accuracy?

How do they determine the most lucrative industries to add publications for?

What are their most lucrative markets in China?

Peking University
http://en.pku.edu.cn

This impressive university consists of 31 colleges, 15,000 undergraduates, and about the same in graduate/doctorate students. In the recent news section, almost all of the publications included some US university personal visiting PKU. The university has some pretty interesting programs for undergraduate, graduate, and PHD international students.

What are some of the major events of the international cultural festival?

Do masters and PHD students get as personal attention like some California universities?

How long does a typical graduate of PKU look for a job after graduation? What are there salaries like? Do many of them work outside China?

Wal-Mart Global Procurement Center

http://www.walmartstores.com/GlobalWMStoresWeb/navigate.do?catg337

The site has all the usual bare bones Wal-Mart stuff. I saw lots of references to sustainability on the site. Additionally, diversity came up quite often.

What has prompted Wal-Mart to push themselves to the front of the pack in social issues such as sustainability and diversity?

What were the three biggest challenges breaking into the Chinese market?

Do they source any products from the US and what are they?

Yantian Port Logistics (YPL)
http://ytport.com

This is going to be a fun visit. The site is not very user friendly for English speaking clients however it does seem to have a lot of information. I would like to see what is being discussed on the logistics link.

How does the port system in China work? Are there specialized ports for certain products? Who manages these ports? What is the government involvement? What is the technology like? What are the major challenges in getting products to the ports?

Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall

http://supec.org/index.html

This site offers information to visitors who want to see where Shanghai is going in the future. Because the site is in mandarin, it is hard to tell what kind of information is actually on it. The graphics of the site tells me that it is of relative importance.

What exactly is the purpose of a place like this?

What were the influences leading up to its construction?

Shanghai Museum
http://www.shanghaimuseum.net/

The site was one of the better Chinese sites I have seen yet so far. There will be a lot to learn here about the Asian continent. The coins and furniture seem like they could be interesting exhibits. In the special features they are having a 300 years of American art display. Looking at is from their perspective will be different.

What periods of history contribute most to the museums collection?

Is there any censorship in the museums collection?

KPMG
http://www.kpmg.com.cn/

I found it interesting that KPMG was the first accounting firm grated a partnership license in china for their industry. Having an office there since 1945 made them an early player in the Chinese market. There services seem very similar to the ones offered in the US.

What is the single management structure highlighted on the website?

How has there early presence in the market affected there business relationships?

Has KPMG played any role in aiding the Chinese government with regulation type issues?

Starbucks
http://www.starbucks.com

The Starbucks China website was really interactive and fun looking. I can really see how people could make a culture around something like this. Of the international sites, this was one of the most developed. Seeing how extensively Starbucks has covered China was really a shock to me.

What are the challenges of sourcing products for the Chinese market outside China?

Who are the other players in Chinas coffee/tea market and how are they different?

Are there any issues and if so what are they in transporting supplies to inner China locations?

Callison Architecture
http://www.callison.com

This company should be a good source of information to the group. There portfolio covers many countries, some of which are sill in their developing stages. There projects make them seem like a large player in the industry.

How did Callison get started in China?

Do they employ Chinese architects to keep with more modern styles of Chinese taste?

Where in China do they do the most business?

Is China a significant part of their business and how significant will it be in the future?

CF Racing
http://www.cfracing.cn

I could not read much on the website but the models spoke an international language. A lot of American brands showed up in their commercials. It was funny how the site was not in English, but yet the clips shown on the side panels were.

Why does the website use English phrases in there advertising?

What role does sex appeal have in this industry?

Are there any similarities between the Chinese racing industry and the US. NASCAR? INDY?

Augmentum
http://www.augmentum.com

Augmentum is a startup software firm in the Silicon Valley. They offer software solutions for a variety of business around the globe. They offer software that is compatible with many different operating systems and platforms.

What is their relationship with China and what companies are they currently working with there?

Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Technology
http://www.zhku.edu.cn/english/english.htm

The website is under construction.

I would like to know what type of Agricultural work they do here.

Is their work production or research based?

Where are the largest majority of student coming from in China to study Agriculture?

Winglok Textile Factory
http://www.gzpyyl.cn

It looks to me like this company makes clothing for off brand type shops. I did not see any brand names on the sight nor did I see any reference to retailers. The English link did not work and the sight seemed to be unfriendly to western computer formats.

Who is the target market for their clothing?

Because the sight is not in English, do they only sell domestically?

What is the incentive for them to improve their sight?

VTREK Audio and Video Products
http://www.elec-vtrek.com

Not a bad looking sight. Looks like a electronics manufacture with quite a large range of product offerings. The products look stylish and clean. Very up to date looking. Saw some reference to I-pod products.

Is this a Chinese company?

The company is named a car audio company yet it seems like the majority of stuff I see is for home use.

What is the demand for car audio equipment in China?

Pegasus Footwear Company
http://www.pegasusshoes.com

Hey, these guys make my favorite brand of boots. Ariat is a brand little know to most people, but in the boot world it is one of the best. Very good sight with good pictures and media. This looks like an American company manufacturing shoes in China. I could not find on the sight where they made any reference to producing in China. The company did say they were based out of New York.

With 75 brands, how do you manage your supply system effectively?

How many factories are producing shoes for this company?

Where do they source the majority of their raw materials?

The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy

Brief Synopsis:

The travels of a T-Shirt in the global economy was a good book for those interested in economics and how they affect global business decisions. This book takes the reader from the cotton field of west Texas to the factories of eastern China and back to the United States. Winding its way through the journey, the book mainly focuses on fiscal policies adopted by counties to encourage and hinder trade.

Viewpoint and Audience:

The audience of this book is defiantly not high level economists nor is it your everyday man. Background knowledge of how trading between countries is done and regulated is useful for a better understanding of what Rivoli is getting at in the book. So, I would call the audience of this book an educated bunch with an interest in where the imports and exports of there nation are ending up. To truly appreciate this book, the reader must enjoy soft macroeconomics. A person apposed to trade may find some of the ideas in this book insulting because this book seems to be pro globalization.

Strengths:

I really liked the way this book broke down some of the complex economics of trade reform and tariff/quotas. Reading this information in a story type book make is more palatable to the reader. The history of the book is very informative. I liked how Rivoli developed each segment of the production process from a historical point and took it to modern day.

The politics of the book were very insightful. Rivoli introduces a very powerful lobby sector in the US. Thought the book does not say it, agricultural institutions are said to be the 10^th largest lobby group in Washington. Consequently, no matter how hard the WTO or other nations push the US to quickly eliminate domestic supports, there will be a fight. Agriculture, like GM and Ford, is a staple in the American way of life. Efficient or not, policy makers will fight for it.

Another strength of the book was the discussion on the race to the bottom. In my international food policy class this quarter we discussed this topic in great detail. As a manager it will be important for me to be able to identify the best solutions to sourcing issues internationally. The race to the bottom is not something I really believe in however. I feel as if moving production to underdeveloped countries to take advantage of their most abundant resource (labor) helps that country establish a capitalistic government. In that establishment they begin to enjoy the benefits, such as increased wages and standards of living.

Of course I liked the history from the agricultural perspective in the beginning of the book. Though it was not as informative as it could have been, it served its purpose to inform a reader with little to no background in the subject.

One topic I found particularly interesting was the market for used clothing. I never knew it existed. It is good to see that the stuff spoiled Americans throw away is going to a better use.


Weaknesses:

My main criticism of the book was its one sided argument. I think Rivoli could have done a better job presenting some of the negative aspects of trade. Yes, he continually brought up how jobs were being sent over seas and little towns across America were disappearing, but there are better arguments out there. I will not go off on a rant here.

Personal interests:

I felt like this book help me understand some of the micro and macro teaching I received in the MBA program. I especially enjoyed the synergy between the book and my AGB classes. Much of the micro economics we discussed in world food policy showed up in this book. Having this happen is comforting because it lets me know the information I am being taught is not just political/technical garbage. I feel as if my new job will benefit from some of the knowledge I gained in this book.

My Overall Impression:

Overall I liked the book. It made some very important economic issues more clear to me. The simplified way in which the author presents the information made it a somewhat easy read.

Chinese Business Etiquette

When reading this book I found my self thinking of a businessman sitting on a plane bound for Beijing. He would be sitting there going over in his mind all the things to say and do once he gets there and what a challenge it will be. Once he skims the book and maybe reads the key points at the end of each chapter he realizes he is not at all prepared to address his host in the ways the book lays out. What to do?

I use this example because that would be me having not read the book before embarking on a trip to China. I do not want to call this book a must read but it is defiantly one of those that should be read before trying to do serious relations with the Chinese.

Seligman captures the essence of what it is like to deal with the Chinese quite well I though, well at least to my knowledge. I liked the way he used his own experiences to demonstrate the right and wrong ways of approaching issues. The examples he gave of both himself and friends encountering problems and overcoming them are encouraging to the reader.

I was particularly intrigued by the idea of face. While it is implied in my family I never really thought about what it really meant or how it was given. Seligman really emphasizes it in the book and uses it as sort of a cornerstone of dealing with the Chinese. Personally I think this should be integrated more into American culture. The idea of being respectful to others and spending more time on making other look good rather than the customary putting others down would be a vast improvement. The biggest problem I have with it though is the indirect actions. I would not feel comfortable receiving important news from a messenger, face to face is much more trustworthy.

The amount of structure that is give to meeting and presentations is really over board by western standard. In the fast pace business environment I am used to dealing with, meeting all the demands of these protocols would be tough, especially getting the attention of important officials.

The chapter on hosting the Chinese did not seem too different than what is expected in most all cultures, those that I personally experienced anyway. It seems only appropriate to fully accommodate foreign visitors, especially if they have only been to the country a few times. I know I would expect the same kind of treatment.

One of the issues I though Seligman dealt with well was the idea of maintaining your culture while being polite to there’s. He never once says to abandon your own beliefs to bend to there rules. In by opinion those are words to live by. A person should never disregard where they come for and who they are. If I were to host a Chinese business person here, I would not expect them to act like an American. Yet, Seligman does point out the benefits of expressing interest in the Chinese. This seems like good advice. It seems only respectful to take an interest in your host and your host way of life, especially if you plan on doing business with them often.

The tit-for-tat system would take some getting used to. While I am very willing to do favors for people, I rarely expect favors done in return. To buy or give gifts for this benefit would be a stretch to the culture I am accustomed to.

I can defiantly take some of the lessons for this book and apply them. Since my girlfriend happens to be Chinese a lot of these issues I have already encountered with her family who was born it Taiwan. The face and respect to the eldest son and father are crucial in the family. As a guest I am always encouraged to eat more and try everything that comes my way. Turing it down usually gets me a slap on the leg from my girlfriend, I never really understood why. The gift thing is really interesting to. They are constantly exchanging little trinkets, it really makes sense now. This book has a lot more to it than just business etiquette.

Overall the book did an excellent job of getting me up to speed on how I should carry myself around the Chinese. Had I not read this book I am sure some of the things I will encounter in China would have perplexed me. The quirkily little things such as giving a business card with two hands and using the opposite end of the chopsticks to serve other are great tidbits of informant that will definitely be of use some day.

China Rises

I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the information presented in the video. Of course my favorite chapter was the discussion on food and agriculture (surprise, surprise) in Chinas growing economy. Chinas consumption of arable land and the rate at which it is being paved over sends chill down my spine. How could a country with so many starving people neglect such a resource? Easy, MONEY……. The video has it everywhere, the glamour’s lights of a shanghai night, zealous consumption of land, food, labor and natural resources for the soul purpose of becoming rich.

Throughout the documentary hints of rebellion and uprising are common. There are many examples of how the government has oppressed the people and what negative influences it has had on the lives of not just individuals but families and entire communities. However, if what this documentary is saying is true, the balance of that power seems to be shifting slowly back toward the people. As artists and musicians are allowed to express themselves more openly, messages to the public can bring anger and uprising. In my opinion China is spending to much time focusing its energies outward on global superiority and not inward on its peoples well being. This may just be the beginning though.

Do not get me wrong, I see Chinas growth as a positive thing for both the world’s economy and China. The opportunity and increasingly better life style available to an urban Chinese citizen proves progress is being made, though the conditions in there outlying provinces are nowhere near the level I believe necessary to be considered a developed nation. As negative as I was in the above paragraphs on land consumption, I also see it as an opportunity for myself. If China continues to neglect its natural resources, like the leather factory river and the sand dunes which once used to be fields of green, nations such as the US can profit by either supplementing these resources or consulting on there rejuvenation.

Simply based upon the information given in the video, I have a very pessimistic view of Chinas ability to sustain there growth under current conditions. What if the 2008 Olympics turn into a peasant revolt, unlikely as that is, how then will China be perceived by the world? How would it handle the situation if it did happen? Would countries such as France and UK approve of there tactics?

The Book

Origins of the Modern World

by Robert B. Marks

Synopsis

This book is a brief overview of the history of the modern world. Unlike most western textbooks, this book displays how many others nations around the globe contributed to the industrialization of mankind. Each chapter is like taking a walk through a century in time. Marks presents a story of how economic development in opposite parts of the globe could lead to the birth of empires or the death of centuries old regimes. He begins by explaining the birth of Agriculture, or what he calls “the biological old regime”. This regime is a cornerstone for many of the events depicted throughout the book. Marks explains why so many nations both rose and fell and uses this old regime to explain concepts such as; trade, colonization, population and plague. From the domestication of agriculture to the industrialized world that we are so familiar with today, he emphasizes that wasn't only European countries developing the world.

Relevance to China

Marks intent with this book is to show how China and other lesser known countries were an important piece of the world puzzle and without them would put the world back decades. Some of the major events relating to Chinese history explained are; the inclusion of China in early trade and how there advanced technology helped to shape Europe and the middle east, how parts of the Chinese nation were responsible for the black death and what resulted from it, how great emperors in China ruled both trade and goods for thousands of years and how so much success can come crashing down so easily for such things as silver and opium.

Critique

I really enjoyed this books twist on the history of the modern world. It seem to me like I have heard all these stories told throughout my youth but I have never really had the glue to put them together into a chain of events. This book provided the little pieces to the puzzle that made clear why China is considered, or was considered, a developing nation and how it got there. Another interesting topic touched upon in the book was how the Muslim faith spread all over the world as it did. I was amazed by the speed and distance this religion spread and the political repercussions of it. As Marks said the book was brief. Many times I felt left hanging because stories were not complete or were to brief to truly appreciate. I felt like Marks wrote a great book with an extremely interesting plot line but lacked the detail a lengthier novel would have provided. Regardless of its length, because of it content I think every high school student should be required to read this book.