China’s Upcoming Leaders - Joint MBA Class with Shanghai Jiao Tong University
by Bernard Ablola
Sep 29, 2008 Bernard, China Study Tour 2008
Joint MBA Class with Shanghai Jiao Tong University
One of the most valuable and memorable parts of the China Study tour was the joint MBA class with Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Seattle University. We discussed two important topics, doing business in China and marketing to the Chinese consumer.
I walked into the classroom thinking that the Chinese students would be quiet because we were foreign students and that they may not know English too well. In contrast, as we walked into the room, these students firmly shook our hands and engaged us. They had tons of questions and stories and provided answers to all of our questions. It felt like any class back home in the United States.
I was surprised that language was not a barrier. Before I entered the room I did not know what to expect. I did not know how well they spoke English, and of course I did not know Mandarin.
The SJTU students were able to understand and clearly present their ideas to the entire class. These students clearly were China’s next managers and leaders in the business world. They were vibrant, smart, entertaining and well educated. The only difference was their background. The average Chinese MBA student in the room was from a local town, did not own a car and was paying out of pocket for their tuition, with help from family and friends. They were here because they are the best and brightest of the pack.
As a business person and student in the United States I am interested in opportunities to learn business on a global level. Shanghai would be a good option. It would give me the experience of doing business globally and provide something I could take back home and apply. However, the time to do so is now. As Chinese business students learn the skills and language needed to grow U.S. companies in the local market, there will be less need for U.S. employees. Most of our company visits were facilitated by expats, Americans who work in China. They established a career in China to help U.S. companies set up management and operations. I predict that next year’s business leaders will be from local and surrounding Chinese areas. U.S. companies based in China will look more towards local talent for their management and operation needs of their global operations. There is a ton of local talent from the China Universities that will be able to cross the language barrier and have the management skills needed to run business on this level.
I was fortunate to learn and connect with these future business leaders. This experience outweighs any text book or article I have read about doing business in China. It was great to experience it all hands on from the students.
Suzhou Science and Technology Park
by Bernard Ablola
Sep 29, 2008 Bernard, China Study Tour 2008
Our next company visit took us to the Suzhou Science and Technology Park. Often the “Made in China” label is associated with mass manufactured goods at a low cost. These two visits provided me with a different view of China. I now see China as a major player in technology innovation of the future.
This trip to the Suzhou Science and Technology Park reminded me of the technology incubators that started springing up in the early 2000’s following the dot com rush. When I lived in Maryland, I remember visiting these locations as a bright eyed entrepreneur. I had the same level of excitement as I walked through the Suzhou tour and listened to the future of China to come.
During our pre-departure class we were asked to evaluate specific cities in China that would be best to start a business. We could only answer the question with the information provided in our text book “Source Code China.” Visting these cities in person provided me with a different context that I did not expect. The Suzhou Science and Techology Park and surrounding areas was modern and had the feeling of a new up and coming city. The buildings and infrastructure were set up for rapid growth.
Insights to the Chinese Manufacturing Worker
by Bernard Ablola
Sep 29, 2008 Bernard, China Study Tour 2008
Our company visits brought us to a telecommunication equipment company, a technology science park and a consumer products plant, Andrew Telecommunications, Suzhou Science Park and Black and Decker. These three companies provided us with a glimpse of Suzhou’s upcoming expansion and its workforce.
During a candid question and answer session with Andrew Telecommunications, we got a glimpse of the Chinese manufacturing plant worker’s life. The Chinese manufacturing worker is relatively young, 20 to 27. Turnover is an issue with these workers because the more skilled they are the more they can easily find jobs, especially in the industrial park. An extra $100 to $250 dollars a month means a lot to them, therefore an additional $1.00 an hour can cost the company an employee. They don’t own their own apartment and may share one room with three or four other workers. Company culture, management and respect is important to them. Productivity level is high as long as you manage correctly.
As future managers of a diverse workforce we should strive to understand our employees’ backgrounds, motivators and drivers in order to empathize with them. As China goes through its rapid growth period, strong management is key to keeping key talent.
The Modernization of China - Suzhou, China
by Bernard Ablola
Sep 29, 2008 Bernard, China Study Tour 2008
A week into China we had traveled from Beijing, to Hanzhou and now to Suzhou. Suzhou, one of the most prosperous cities in China, was home to three of our company visits. Entering Suzhou you notice the large highways and skyscrapers. The city was ready for the upcoming growth and you could tell by its infrastructure. The skylines were filled with modern office buildings and lofty condos. The highways were larger than any U.S. highways and with no traffic.