Study Tour to China

PMBA 8303 - Study Tour to China

Spring 2017

Dr. Jia Shen Email: [email protected] Office: Sweigart Hall 369 Phone: 609-895-5535

Course Description

This course provides first-hand insights into technology-based businesses in China, and experiences of the Chinese culture. Given the significance of the Chinese economy, and its rising IT sector, this study tour provides American students in business and other disciplines a timely exposure to technology and innovation in a modern China. The course has three components. First, students will be introduced to the business environment of China, and its IT landscape through twelve hours of pre-departure classroom experiences. Second, during the ten- day study tour to China, students will visit companies and organizations in Beijing, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong, such as Baidu, Alibaba, Huawei, or similar technology firms as well as cultural sites in the three cities. Lastly, the course will conclude with a post-departure meeting where students will discuss their research and reflect on the study tour experience.

Learning Objectives

This study tour course has the following objectives:

1) Develop an understanding of China and its business environment, including history, culture, economy, and China’s place in the global economy 2) Obtain first-hand experiences on the Chinese culture, and critically evaluate cross- cultural differences that impact business 3) Gain knowledge of the driving forces behind China’s economy growth, including policy, market, consumers, and technology 4) Develop an understanding of the IT sector in China, and its current state of development, including key companies, strategies, and the role of innovation 5) Develop research skills in identifying topics, conduct research, and communicate professionally 6) Develop a sense of independence and a broader view of the world through international travels.

1 Required Reading

The following resources are required for this course: 1. Terri Morrison and Wayne Conway, (2006) Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands Asia: How to Do Business in 12 Asian Countries, Adams Media, ISBN: 978-1598692167 2. Jeffrey Towson and Jonathan Woetzel, (2014) The One Hour China Book: Two Peking University Professors Explain All of China Business in Six Short Stories, Jeffrey Towson, ISBN: 978-0991445028 3. Edward Tse, (2015) China's Disruptors: How Alibaba, Xiaomi, Tencent, and Other Companies are Changing the Rules of Business, Portfolio, ISBN: 978-1591847540 4. Thomas Friedman, (2007) The World Is Flat 3.0: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century, Picador, ISBN: 978-0312425074 5. Shaun Rein, (2014) The End of Copycat China: The Rise of Creativity, Innovation, and Individualism in Asia, Wiley, ISBN: 978-1118926765 6. Henry Kissinger, (2012) On China, Penguin Books, ISBN: 978-0143121312

Additional reading and learning materials may be distributed on Canvas or in class.

Course Requirements

The table below shows the required course components and grading weights.

Course Requirements Weight Class Meetings & Assignments 20% Cast Study 10% Participation in Site Visits & 20% Completion of Questionnaires Journal & Personal Reflection Paper 20% Final Research Paper & Presentation 30%

Class Meetings & Assignments: [Learning objectives 1-5] Attendance is mandatory at all pre-departure classes as well as at the post-departure class. Students are expected to have read and be prepared to discuss all assigned readings.

Class assignments include group presentations on assigned topics in preparation for the study tour. Refer to the Schedule of Classes (see attached) for a list of topics.

Case Study: [Learning objectives 1-5] Students will be divided into groups and each group will conduct a case study on an IT company in China and their business strategies with a focus on innovation. The IT companies will be selected with the consultation of the professor. The case study will include a discussion of the

2 company’s business, opportunities and challenges. Students shall research and apply strategy models in analyzing the company’s business opportunities, with a focus on the role of innovation. Relevant financial information and business context information shall be included in the analysis. Implications to international companies shall be provided. The case study will be presented to the class.

Participation in Site Visits & Completion of Questionnaires: [Learning objectives 1-6] Attendance at all scheduled activities in China is mandatory. You are expected to attend each session well prepared with knowledge of the company, and actively participate by asking questions when appropriate and responding in discussions. Unexcused absence in site visit will lower your grade by one letter grade for each occurrence.

A completed site visit questionnaire (see attached) is required for each visit.

Journal & Personal Reflection Paper: [Learning objectives 1-6] You will keep a daily journal in which you will reflect upon your experiences and respond to directed questions. The journal shall document your experiences, including observations in culture, natural environment, business operations, interactions with local people, and technology experiences.

Upon the conclusion of the travel portion of the course, you will complete a three-page Personal Reflection Paper (see attached).

Final Research Paper & Presentation: [Learning objectives 1-5] After the completion of the study tour, you are responsible for writing a fifteen page research paper that addresses a topic that is directly related to the experiences provided as a part of the study tour and the materials covered in the pre-departure class meetings.

You will be asked to come up with your topic for this paper during the pre-departure class meetings based upon the assigned readings and materials discussed in these classes. All topics must be approved by the professor prior to the beginning of our travel to China and all students are expected to develop their own topics (i.e., students may not form a group to research a single topic).

Once your topic is approved, you will be researching your topic both independently (prior to departure) and during our travels. All students are expected to incorporate their experiences or knowledge gained during the study tour into this final research paper.

This paper is due by the post-departure class meeting. During this class, students will be asked to give a brief summary presentation on their final research paper to the rest of the class.

3 Schedule of Classes

Pre-Departure Meetings:

Meeting 1 – September 2016 – 5:30-7:00 p.m. Introduction to China – Culture and Historic Overview  Introduction to study tour and course requirements  Background and discussions of Chinese culture, history, and business environment  Assign group presentation and discussion topics for the next class

Required readings before the next class: o Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands: Asia, pp. 1-20 o The One Hour China Book: pp. 1-123 o On China: pp. 5-32

Meeting 2 - October 2016 - 5:30 -8:30 p.m. China’s Business Environment and Drivers for Economic Growth  Analysis of similarities and differences between China and U.S. cultures, business environment, and practices  Group presentations and discussions on the driving forces behind China’s economic growth: Urbanization, Manufacturing Scale, Rising Chinese Consumers, Financial Systems, Brainpower, and the Chinese Internet

Required readings before the next class: o China’s Disruptors: How Alibaba, Xiaomi, Tencent, and Other Companies are Changing the Rules of Businesses: pp. 33-116

Meeting 3 – November 2016 – 5:30-8:30 p.m. IT in China – Key IT Companies and Entrepreneurs in China  Analysis on the IT landscape in China, including the constantly changing business environment, and innovative ways entrepreneurs solve the multiple changes they face  Group presentations and discussions on key IT companies and entrepreneurs in China, such as Alibaba and Jack Ma, Baidu and Robin Li, Huawei and Ren Zhengfei, Tencent and Pony Ma, Lenovo and Yang Yuanqing, and DaJiang Innovations and Frank Wang  Initial draft on the final research paper topic and proposal outline  Selection of case study topic and team formation

Required readings before the next class: o The World Is Flat 3.0: pp. 1-49 o China’s Disruptors: How Alibaba, Xiaomi, Tencent, and Other Companies are Changing the Rules of Businesse: pp. 119-199 o The End of Copycat China: pp. 1-85

Meeting 4 – December 2016 – 5:30-8:30 p.m. From Copycat to Global Innovator? - Technology and Innovation in China, and Implications to International Companies

4  Discussions of IT and its impact on creating an interconnected world, and implications to business strategies  Group presentations and discussions on case studies of IT firms in China and Innovations  Case study and analysis on the strategies in technology innovations and change management. Apply research models to analyze Chinese IT firms and their innovation strategies. Discuss implications to international companies  Finalize on the research paper topic and proposal  Wrap-up of discussions of technology-based business and innovation in China.

Meeting 5 – February 2017 – 5:30-7:00 p.m.  Final trip preparations, discussion of logistics

Post-Departure Meeting

March 2017 –5:30-8:30 p.m.  Summary of major study tour experiences  Presentation of student research paper  Completion of course evaluation materials

5 Organization/Site Visit Questionnaire

Please review this Questionnaire prior to our organization/site visits and complete one Questionnaire for each visit. You may use the Questionnaire to help you formulate questions that you would like to have answered during our visit. Not every question will apply to every organization or site. If a question is not applicable, simply answer it “N/A.”

Your Name: ______

Organization/Site Name: ______

Date/Time of Visit: ______

Name(s) of Presenter(s): ______

1. What did you know about this organization/site prior to the visit, based on the pre-departure meetings and your own research? What questions do you want to be answered during the site visit?

2. What did you learn about this organization/site at the visit? Was there anything that stood out, surprised, or impressed you the most during the visit?

3. What were your impressions of the people working at this organization/site? What was your impression of the offices/physical plant/facilities of this organization/site?

4. What were the biggest challenges or obstacles faced by this site/organization? What were their biggest business opportunities?

5. What are the companies in the US that offer similar products and/or services, if any? Based on what you learned, what are the similarities and differences of the products/services offered?

6. What can the US companies learn from the Chinese counterparties, and vice versa (e.g. the way they run businesses, design products, service customers, etc.)

6 Personal Reflection Paper

Upon our return, you will draft a Personal Reflection Paper. You shall refer to your daily journal from the trip, and summarize the experiences with additional reflections. The paper shall be about 3-pages, typed, double-spaced, and respond to the following questions:

1. What amazed you or struck you emotionally? 2. What disappointed or concerned you? 3. What did you think of the people you met? Socially? Professionally? a. Did you like them? Trust them? Feel comfortable with them? 4. What did you perceive to be the major differences between living in China versus living in the United States? Were you surprised by these differences? 5. How did this trip impact your understanding of the trends and forces that affect the way business works in a global environment? 6. Overall, what was the most valuable lesson you learned and how has it changed you?

Working Itinerary Spring 2017

Date Location Activities

March 10 Depart From Depart from Newark (Flight TBA) Friday Newark March 11 Arrive in Welcome to China Saturday Beijing Afternoon ~ Transfer to hotel for check-in Evening ~ Welcome Dinner March 12 Beijing Explore Beijing Sunday Morning ~ Forbidden City + Tiananmen Square Afternoon ~ National Opera House + Rickshaw Hutong Tour Evening ~ Group Dinner (Peking Duck) + Peking Opera Show March 13 Beijing Business, IT, and Culture Monday Morning ~ Business Visit #1 (e.g., Baidu) Afternoon ~ Business Visit #2 (e.g., University of International Business and Economics) March 14 Beijing Going Global Tuesday Morning ~ Business Visit #3 (e.g., Alibaba) Afternoon ~ Half day trip to the Great Wall March 15 Beijing/ Transfer to Shenzhen Wednesday Shenzhen Morning ~ Transfer to the airport One-way flight from Beijing to Shenzhen Transfer to your hotel for check-in Afternoon ~ Half day city tour in Shenzhen and visit to Chinese Folk Culture Village Evening ~ Chinese Hot Pot Dinner March 16 Shenzhen China’s Silicon Valley Thursday Morning ~ Business Visit #4 (e.g., Huawei) Afternoon ~ Business Visit #5 (e.g. Da-Jiang Innovations) March 17 Shenzhen/ Transfer to Hong Kong Friday Hong Kong Morning ~ One-way bus ride from Shenzhen to Hong Kong Afternoon ~ Business Visit #6 (Science and Technology Incubator) Evening ~ Victoria Peak Visit March 18 Hong Kong Explore Hong Kong Saturday Morning ~ Lantau Island Visit Afternoon ~ Aberdeen Fishing Village, Repulse Bay, Stanley Market Evening ~ Farewell Dinner on cruise and program conclusion March 19 Depart From Depart for USA Sunday Hong Kong Morning ~ Transfer to the airport for flight back to U.S. Arrive in Newark in the evening